FibreCo makes progress

The company is investing up to R5 billion in infrastructure over the next five years, with a vision of ultimately building a network of over 12 000 km.

FibreCo expects to introduce managed fibre services in early 2013.

FibreCo says it has completed 80% of its fibre optic link connecting Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and East London.

In September construction commenced on a 2 000 km link between Johannesburg and Cape Town, to be connected through Bloemfontein, East London and Port Elizabeth, providing access to a wide range of rural and smaller urban areas along the route.

The company is investing up to R5 billion in infrastructure over the next five years, with a vision of ultimately building a network of over 12 000 km.

FibreCo, which expects to introduce managed fibre services in early 2013, says that in parallel with the trenching process, it is busy with the commissioning of its repeater sites along the route as well as the blowing, splicing and testing.

“FibreCo is pleased with having completed 800km of trenching since the start of construction in May 2012. The remaining sections will have their challenges, but we are confident that the project will stay on track. We are also excited to have launched our fibre optic technician training programme to help uplift the level of skills regionally for the splicing and maintenance of fibre optic infrastructure,” Arif Hussain, CEO of FibreCo Telecommunications.

FibreCo and ZTE have committed to training at least 200 technicians who will be identified locally along the entire route of its phase 1 network between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Interviews to recruit trainees in the Free State have kicked off, with the first training workshop scheduled to take place in the next few weeks. Workshops in Johannesburg and East London will take place in early 2013.

The company aims to integrate some of the successful candidates into the operations and maintenance of its network.