Fibre optics roll-out for Empangeni
Empangeni has been earmarked as a preferred choice for the fibre rollout in the Zululand region
INTERNET users within Empangeni have some reason to celebrate, considering that they haven’t had the best connectivity in recent times, as fibre optic cables are finally being introduced into the area.
While other areas in Zululand will have to wait for their opportunity, Empangeni has been earmarked as a preferred choice for the fibre roll-out and this specific project has further been described as ‘the start of many big projects for the Empangeni area’.
The project is being headed up by Openserve, a distinct business unit within the Telkom Group, formed to offer a renewed focus on wholesale customers in particular.
The actual groundwork in Empangeni is being done by Unique Communications, who are subcontracted to Openserve.
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Speaking to the ZO, Rodney Chetty – Senior Project Manager for Unique Communications – said it should take up to two months before members of the public can choose fibre as a means to access the internet.
‘Openserve has an agreement with most of the service providers in the country.
‘This means you can continue using your specific service provider and Openserve will grant you access to fibre on their behalf.’
Openserve was launched in 2015 and is autonomous, responsible for its own profit and loss account.
‘The Telkom name has completely disappeared from the fibre space; Openserve is responsible for fibre, which is now being seen as the medium of choice in terms of connectivity.
‘Telkom is slowly moving away from copper and is shifting towards fibre –they are using Openserve to do this,’ said Chetty.
Openserve Managing Director, Alphonzo Samuels, recently announced their launch of G.fast broadband technology to its network enabling it to offer speeds of up to 100Mbps to more traditional DSL users.
The company says the technology utilises the copper tail or drop wire within the customer premises (as an alternative access technology), to deliver high speed broadband (up to 100Mbps) where viable.
Meanwhile Empangeni residents can keep tabs on whether they have access to fibre by logging onto the Openserve website and checking connectivity in their area.
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