Telkom pilots high-speed broadband

Telkom has launched a pilot programme to test high-speed broadband, delivering speeds of up to 40Mbps in three of SA's provinces.

The fixed-line operator announced the launch of the pilot at a media briefing ahead of the annual Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (Satnac) yesterday.

This latest development is in line with Telkom's network transformation initiative plans, announced in June last year. The pilot follows the deployment of new-generation access network kits in Benmore Gardens, Fourways and Waterkloof in Gauteng, Durban North in KwaZulu-Natal, and Durbanville in the Western Cape.

Telkom's MD of wholesale and networks, Bashier Sallie, says the trials, which kick off today, will run until the end of January next year. After this, he says - if all goes “according to plan” - the operator will, in the near future, be able to deploy high-speed broadband across SA.

strategy to lead in the data and broadband space, as well as in the fixed-mobile convergence market. “The timeous launch of this pilot indicates the focused execution of our strategy.”

Telkom says it has achieved significant traction against its network transformation plans. Yesterday's announcement follows news of the operator's progress with regards to its access network in March.

At the time, Telkom said it would replace its infrastructure at telephone exchanges with Multi-Service Access Nodes (MSANs). According to Moholi, 53 MSANs have been deployed to facilitate the high-speed broadband pilot.

Sallie says the pilot will focus primarily on FTTx. “Arguably the most challenging, yet critical, milestone of the network transformation programme is the FTTx pilot, and our focus is essentially around this. Using a mix of fixed, wireless and satellite access technology, Telkom will be able to provide high-speed broadband in the most efficient way across the whole of SA.

“We can now start to truly capitalise on the investments made in underlying transmission and core network over the past few years. We have gone a long way in revamping our aggregation network, which is now able to support super-fast transmission and enable a superior browsing experience.”

Sallie says Telkom has also transformed its transmission network - which has “evolved from carrying Gbps to Tbps throughput with great resilience and manageability. Our international connectivity has received a major boost with the WACS cable becoming commercially available to ensure worldwide reach”.

Telkom will make its pilot services available to Satnac delegates for the duration of the conference - taking place in George in the Western Cape from today until Wednesday - with the backhaul being provided by an onsite MSAN.