FibreCo Telecommunications is nearing completion of the Johannesburg-to-East London leg of its 12 000km fibre-optic network, and expects to launch managed fibre services on the link in early 2013.
FibreCo, a partnership formed in 2010 between Cell C, Internet Solutions and Convergence Partners, will invest R5 billion in a long-distance fibre-optic network over the next five years. The company says 800km of trenching for the project under way was completed yesterday - over 80% of the total route.
Construction on the 2 000km link between Johannesburg and Cape Town kicked off in May. Upon completion, the link will be connected through East London and Port Elizabeth in what FibreCo says will provide a wide range of rural and smaller urban areas along the route with access.
FibreCo says the project is expected to create close to 2 300 jobs, directly and indirectly, across the country. "An estimated 70% to 80% of the network construction relates to civil works, to be carried out by technology partner ZTE Corporation, in collaboration with local engineering firms and subcontractors."
In parallel with the trenching process, FibreCo is commissioning its repeater sites along the route, as well as the blowing, splicing and testing of the fibre.
Tech training
FibreCo says, together with ZTE, the telecoms venture has also committed to training at least 200 technicians who will be identified locally along the entire route of its phase one network between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
"Interviews have commenced to recruit trainees within the Free State Province, with the first training workshop scheduled to take place in the next few weeks, to be followed by workshops in Johannesburg and East London during early 2013."
FibreCo aims to integrate some of the successful candidates into the operations and maintenance of its network. This training programme is accredited by the Fibre Optic Association, where certification is recognised in the fibre networking industry worldwide.
Arif Hussain, CEO of FibreCo, says the remaining sections of the Johannesburg-East London phase "have their challenges", but the group is confident the project will stay on track.
Hussain says the fibre-optic technician training programme will go a long way to helping uplift the level of skills regionally for the splicing and maintenance of fibre-optic infrastructure. "This initiative will ensure that local candidates are better qualified to apply for the new job opportunities, which will arise in the operation and maintenance of our and other fibre networks expanding into these provinces."
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