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Vox steps up fibre game

Admire Moyo
By Admire Moyo, ITWeb's news editor.
Johannesburg, 23 Jul 2015
This Frogfoot Networks acquisition puts Vox Telecom in the fibre game in a significant way, says Jacques du Toit, CEO of Vox Telecom.
This Frogfoot Networks acquisition puts Vox Telecom in the fibre game in a significant way, says Jacques du Toit, CEO of Vox Telecom.

Vox Telecom has stepped up its fibre game with the acquisition of Internet services company Frogfoot Networks for an undisclosed amount.

The acquisition, which comes at a time when SA's competition on the fibre front is heating up, will see Vox fast-tracking its own fibre strategy by leveraging the existing skills, processes and installed fibre network of Frogfoot Networks.

Frogfoot Networks will operate as a separate entity within Vox Telecom's carrier and connectivity division, providing services to the group's customers, in addition to wholesale services to the market.

In an interview with ITWeb, Jacques du Toit, CEO of Vox Telecom, says the company aims to launch 23 precincts in Cape Town, and 58 in Johannesburg by the end of September this year.

"This partnership puts Vox Telecom in the fibre game in a significant way. It's an exciting time for our business," adds Du Toit.

Following the acquisition, the company says it is now in a position to provide both retail and wholesale fibre solutions.

"We apply two models for fibre roll-outs. One, where we don't have our own fibre, we will roll out our services on open access providers. And two, where we do, we will roll out full fibre and services where we deem it to be feasible," Du Toit says.

He adds the company's fibre strategy is the one thing that underpins Vox Telecom's vertical integration.

"The moment you have your own fibre and you're not relying on someone else's quality and pricing, you can offer the lowest price point for fibre, and from there build the vertical product set on top of that."

Abraham van der Merwe, MD of Frogfoot Networks, says the company was looking for a bigger player to partner with.

"When we started the roll-out of our own fibre network, we knew it was critical to be as aggressive as we could, to capitalise on the market opportunity, but were always aware that at some point, we would need to find a larger company to partner with," says Van der Merwe.

"Vox Telecom was a natural choice for us, and not only shared our growth ambitions, but also customer service requirements," he adds.

Commenting on the competition in SA's fibre roll-out, Du Toit says: "It's a land grab without doubt, which is good for the consumer.

"The difference lies in the quality of that roll-out - there are organisations that will roll out a proper network, proper quality and take time to get it right. "There will also be some organisations that don't - and will look to capitalise on the market opportunity that has been created," he points out.

For this reason, he notes, it is why the role of the FTTH council should not be downplayed, or underestimated. It has been established as a non-partisan organisation that shares guidelines and standards for the broader fibre provider market, and to protect the interests of the consumer, he explains.

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