Johannesburg, 05 Dec 2007
Telkom`s roll-out of its R30 billion next-generation network (NGN) is "progressing well", preparing the fixed-line operator to offer converged services. These will include subsidiary Telkom Media`s Internet-based TV, which launches in mid-2008.
A source close to the process says Telkom`s NGN is ahead of schedule, currently in the third year of a five-year NGN programme, and has already laid large parts of the fibre network.
However, Telkom refused to comment on its NGN timelines, referring ITWeb to its group interim results for the financial year ended 30 September 2007. The report shows Telkom spent R2.647 million on the NGN during the six months ending 30 September.
Telkom says it will spend about R7 billion on fixed-line capital expenditure in the financial year ending 31 March 2008. The company previously said it had invested about R5 billion in its NGN in 2006.
Telkom also reported in November that it increased its ADSL footprint, and now has 2 501 digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs). A DSLAM is a network device, located near the customer`s location, which connects multiple customer digital subscriber lines to a high-speed Internet backbone line.
The fixed-line utility also deployed 52 metro Ethernet sites in Gauteng and the Western Cape, and grew its national and local transport network by 167 nodes. The company`s network bandwidth potential grew by 1.2Tbps.
Further expansion to increase bandwidth potential by 2.2Tbps is being planned, the operator says.
More to come
As part of the NGN project, Telkom this year launched its WiMax network. Other technologies that are expected to follow include a metro Ethernet, a passive optical network and symmetric high-bit-rate digital subscriber loop.
Telkom previously stated end-users will benefit from greater control and personalisation, ease of migration between services, and continuity of existing public switched telecommunications network line services.
Telkom CEO Reuben September says Telkom is positioning itself to take advantage of the future converged services environment that is fast becoming a global best practice. "To this end, we are developing the capabilities to offer the full suite of converged services that encompass fixed, mobile, data and multimedia services."
He notes that Telkom`s infrastructure building process is progressing well to adequately meet the demands of bandwidth-hungry applications. This is particularly important, he stresses, as Telkom is a key partner in delivering the 2010 World Cup to the global community.
Telkom Media spokesman Chris Van Zyl previously noted the company will launch its broadcasting services, both satellite and broadband-based, in mid-2008.
Commenting on the need for Telkom to deploy the NGN efficiently, BMI-TechKnowledge senior analyst Richard Hurst says Telkom Media will need the NGN, and the higher throughput it offers, to enable IPTV and other multimedia services when it launches next year.
"This [Telkom Media`s IPTV plans] should motivate Telkom to move faster on their NGN roll-out."
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