Telkom's very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) pilot has come to an end, after about five months of what the fixed-line incumbent calls a "successful trial" - and commercial services will be launched next week.
The pilot, which started in October last year, gave participating Internet customers access to DSL services with speeds of up to 20Mbps and 40Mbps.
According to Telkom's wholesale and networks MD, Bashier Sallie, the pilot saw participants experiencing broadband speed and throughput "of an outstanding quality".
Telkom says 90% of participants on the 20Mbps services consistently synced at 20Mbps, while 74% of the 40Mbps participants consistently synced at 40Mbps.
The company says, based on the VDSL trial outcome, Telkom Wholesale will launch DSL up to 20Mbps and DSL up to 40Mpbs options to the market from 4 March.
Network improvement
Telkom says the improved user experience is a result of its network upgrade - completed in pilot areas consisting of 53 street distribution cabinet sites, in five exchange areas (Benmore Gardens, Fourways and Waterkloof, in Gauteng; Durban North, in KwaZulu-Natal; and Durbanville, in the Western Cape).
According to Telkom, the network improvements entail, among others, replacing DSL Access Multiplexer technology with Multi-Service Access Nodes.
Sallie says the network upgrade and completion of the VDSL pilot marks a significant milestone for Telkom's network transformation plans. Telkom says it can now move forward with this transformation, on the back of positive results from the pilot programme.
"This upgrade is the next step in our efforts to provide ubiquitous, quality broadband in the country," says Sallie.
As of next Monday, says Telkom, customers can use the DSL tracker tool to check if they fall within the coverage areas for VDSL.
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