Metrofibre Networx has won a contract to install fibre broadband in the Beaulieu, Heathcliff and Blue Hills estates north of Johannesburg. It has been named the preferred high-speed fibre and data services supplier for the area.
The company said it will break ground at the end of February, with an expected completion date in April.
The homes in the area will be able to select from a combination of both trenched fibre as well as aerial installations.
A number of rival fibre providers pitched for the business, with a panel of experts investigating each offering. Metrofibre said it was chosen because of its promise to deliver symmetrical broadband (identical upload and download speeds) and its pricing.
Fibre sales during the project phase will be handled by Metrofibre Networx reseller Kiklo FTTH, after which the site will become an open-access network.
Residents will then be able to place orders with a list of Metrofibre-approved Internet service providers, as well as with the company directly, it said.
“The aerial component of Metrofibre’s offering remains very popular among residents, particularly those in areas like Kyalami, where large tracts of land are agriculture related and trenching is not only invasive, but also very expensive. Aerial installations cause little disruption to the existing environment,” the company said.
Metrofibre Networx is headed by former Absa CEO Steve Booysen. The company last year outlined plans to become a significant player in the fibre-to-the-home broadband market.
Booysen said in a recent interview with TechCentral that Metrofibre’s expansion plans include going to the market soon to raise R500m in private equity from new investors to allow it to expand its fibre footprint dramatically.
“By December 2018, we want 50 000 live fibre-to-the-home connections,” said Booysen. The company also wants 2 000 “live points” on its network, including locations such as office parks.
Focus areas for fibre to the home include the Johannesburg suburbs of Lonehill, Edenburg (Rivonia), Sunninghill, Barbeque Downs, Douglasdale and Kyalami, as well as the Sandton central business district and surrounding areas. It is also building infrastructure in the east and south of Pretoria.
When Metrofibre Networx started business, its plan was to deploy infrastructure only. However, since taking the reins, Booysen has expanded its focus to providing Internet services on top of the fibre, too. This is to ensure it can drive demand from consumers, he said. — © 2016 NewsCentral Media
