Secunda to get broadband boost

Johannesburg - Secunda is to benefit from affordable internet as fibre infrastructure to the value of R16m will soon be deployed in the town.

The roll-out, part of local infrastructure provider Dark Fibre Africa's (DFA's) R3.5bn national fibre network, will increase bandwidth and reduce internet costs significantly, the company said in a news release on Thursday.

"DFA will not only launch towns such as Secunda into the digital age, but will also bring significant investment into these outlying areas.

"Furthermore, the socioeconomic benefits of fibre-optic networks are vast, as affordable broadband contributes to increased economic activity."

DFA provides the open access dark fibre infrastructure that enables licensed mobile operators like Vodacom Group [JSE:VOD], MTN Group [JSE:MTN] and Cell C, as well as internet service providers (ISPs) like Internet Solutions and MWEB, to give communities access to the network.

The company's CEO Gustav Smit is optimistic about prospects for small to medium businesses. "Being at the forefront of fibre roll-out in South Africa, DFA already has the fibre infrastructure to connect consumers to the rest of the world," said Smit.

Expansion of communications infrastructure brings about new business opportunities that are dependent on broadband, added Smit.

"Open Access broadband also stimulates competition within the telecommunications market, ultimately reducing internet costs. DFA is here to provide a long-term sustainable solution to the local community."

More importantly, the competitive advantage and productivity gains of broadband are enormous. Municipalities are able to provide electronic services, education levels improve with access to information and communities have access to eHealth and eLearning.

Smit points to the international submarine cables such as SAT3, SAFE, Seacom, EASSY and WACS as a key ingredient for a viable fibre network.

"You then need fibre to submarine landing stations. This is already in place with companies like Telkom, Neotel and Broadband Infraco offering fibre links from landing stations to major metros, along with intercity links."

Smit said South Africans simply don't know what 20Mbps or 100Mbps to the home means.

"An opportunity needs to be created for users to test drive serious broadband and ISPs need to play a leading role in mobilising communities," said Smit.

 - Fin24