Local telecommunications infrastructure provider Link Africa has acquired the exclusive rights to technology that will enable it to construct a fibre network underground, using municipal sewers and storm water drains as conduits.
The company, which provides licensed operators with open access telecoms infrastructure and platforms, has acquired the patents for Focus technology - tools that will enable the deployment of fibre-optic networks in existing underground municipal service networks in SA and beyond.
Rikus Matthyser, Link Africa CEO, says the benefits of Focus technology over traditional methods of laying fibre-optic networks, are substantial. "In built-up areas, laying fibre is difficult since traditional methods of 'excavate and lay' entail working in heavily trafficked areas, resulting not only in inconvenience and disruption for vehicles and pedestrians alike, but also health, safety and environmental issues. The possibility of damaging previously laid infrastructure also exists."
Matthyser says, with the patented Focus technology, Link Africa will be able to install fibre-optic cables in existing sewers or storm water pipes, four times faster, cheaper and with less disruption than the traditional method of fibre-optic networks in existing roadways and sidewalks. "No other fibre-optic network provider in the region utilises sewer and storm water pipes as ducts."
Link Africa says its fibre-optic network solution consists of a metropolitan transmission ring and last mile fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP), which services operators and municipal customers alike. Link Africa only sells services to licensed telecommunication operators and not to end-customers.
Tech to the test
Focus technology has been trialled extensively in the eThekwini Municipality (Durban) with regard to concerns that the fibre-optic cable would reduce carrying capacity of the conduit utilised, interfere with routing maintenance and cleaning, or contribute to blockages.
Link Africa says the tests were a "resounding success", with eThekwini Municipality declaring sewer-based fibre deployment as its preferred method.
To date, Link Africa has deployed in excess of 300km of fibre in various localities in the city and is also providing fibre services to a large mobile operator.
"[Link Africa is currently also] in discussions with large service providers about using the fibre infrastructure to provide FTTP services."
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