Telkom connects with property developers

By Damaria Senne for Telkom
Johannesburg, 22 Nov 2006

Telkom plans to work with property developers, architects and construction-related services to plan the telecommunications in new property developments before building begins.

Through the Property Development Connect (PDC) initiative, the fixed-line operator will assist in preplanning the communication infrastructure requirements of businesses and residential developments, Telkom says.

PDC will also provide customers with a range of telecoms options to choose from, including high-speed Internet access, fixed-lines, prepaid lines, additional lines for children, and wireless hardware for setting up home networks, says Steven Hayward, Telkom's managing executive for retail marketing.

Drawcard

"Property developers will now have the support of Telkom to attract high-profile tenants by ensuring new developments are enabled with state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure, including broadband," he says.

The service excludes the registration of individual houses and is intended for gated complexes and business developments, he adds.

"Buying a new home or business property can be quite exciting, but it can be a nightmare once you discover there are no telephone lines or broadband connectivity.

"This initiative will ensure customers would not have to wait for lengthy periods to get access to a telephone line."

World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck says the inclusion of telecoms infrastructure in the planning stages of property developments is in line with international trends, where buildings are constructed with the view of being hi-tech-ready.

Goal Technology Solutions (GTS) CEO Adrian Macguire says while on the surface it might seem Telkom's PDC competes with GTS for the property development market, the services the two companies offer can be viewed as supplementary to each other.

GTS, which specialises in providing broadband over powerlines, also works with property developers to install infrastructure at new developments.

Common ground

There is enough common ground for the companies to potentially work together, Macguire adds, saying GTS offers value-add services, such as intercoms, Internet Protocol (IP) cameras and broadband Internet.

PowerNet Communications CTO Anton de Swardt also sees his company offering a good value proposition for homeowners.

An entry-level service from PowerNet Communications, which includes broadband and voice over IP with an 087 number, an internal intercom system and IP cameras, costs R550 per month, says De Swardt. This compares favourably with Telkom's 384 broadband services, he adds.

Telkom may have realised it is losing out to the mobile providers and broadband providers, such as iBurst, due to its lack of fast service delivery, says MyADSL founder Rudolph Muller. This initiative may see Telkom gain some ground in the new development department, he adds.

It may also result in an increase in fixed-line penetration rates, which is much needed, Muller notes.