Dark Fibre Africa has embarked on a R72 million (US$8.5 million) fibre-laying project that will see over 100 kilometres of fibre laid within South Africa’s Eastern Cape Region.
Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) CEO, Gustav Smit said the company would provide the open access fibre infrastructure to enable licensed mobile operators and ISP’s including MTN, Cell C, MWEB and Vodacom to access the Net.
DFA is considered the largest open access fibre infrastructure provider in Southern Africa with an expenditure plan in excess of R3.5-billion (US$411.7 million) countrywide./p>
This expansion of communications infrastructure will see new business opportunities for companies emerge depending on broadband including banks and Internet Cafes. Other benefits include bringing of significant areas in which the cable will pass. Broadband affordability will also come with the fibre laying.
Smit called on ISP’s to play a primary role in ensuring in mobilizing communities, and ensuring that end-users get to understand what 20Mbps or 100Mbps to their home means.
The project comes after latest Internet penetration ranking had South Africa placed behind other African countries including Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria.
According to a study commissioned by Google South Africa, the country had 8.5-million Internet users in 2011, compared to 6.8-million people in 2010.
“This brings Internet penetration in South Africa to approximately 17 percent,” said the report.
With the laying of DFA cable, it is expected that the costs will be significantly reduced, especially in areas like Mthata and East London where it will pass directly.
