Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) is investing more than R81 million (almost US$10 million) in 128 kilometres of fibre-optic cables to be installed in Klerksdorp to bring high-speed internet to the region.
The open-access fibre-optic telecommunications company will carry out their investment in the North-West province town over the next six months.
“The network is used by companies such as cellular network operators Cell C, Vodacom and MTN and landline operator Telkom, as well as ISPs like Internet Solutions and Mweb, media companies and high Internet usage corporations,” said Gustav Smit, Chief Executive of DFA.
DFA is connected to Seacom, Eassy, Wacs and Sat-3, which are all major undersea cables connecting South Africa.
“South Africans simply don’t know what 20Mbit/s or 100Mbit/s 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. We will be taking on some risk as we work to get fibre to every business and many homes and we anticipate 20 percent take-up over the next four years,” said Smit.
South Africa has already benefitted from 6,700 kilometres of fibre-optic cable installed across the country by DFA. Internet service providers will be able to enter into new markets once DFA’s expansions reach smaller South African towns and cities.
