Telkom's Openserve is introducing G.fast broadband technology on its network which will offer broadband speeds of up to 100Mbps.
Telkom group CEO Sipho Maseko made the announcement today at the company's annual results presentation for the year ended 31 March 2017. The innovative technology utilises the copper tail or drop wire within a customer premises to deliver high speed broadband.
"In areas where Openserve has an access fibre footprint, it is now possible for residents in townhouse complexes, smaller gated communities, multi-dwelling units and office parks, who already have existing copper access lines to experience high speed broadband speeds of up to 100Mbps," the group says in a statement.
"Openserve, is amongst the first few companies to utilise this technology globally and is geared to rapidly expand its high speed broadband footprint across the country," according to Openserve CEO Alphonzo Samuels.
"In our endeavour to utilise multiple technologies, G.fast enables us to further extend the use and lifespan of our existing copper infrastructure," he says.
Samuels says G.fast can help overcome the hesitation that some home owners associations and body corporates of multiple-dwelling complexes have with granting permissions to upgrade infrastructure on their properties.
"We've now have found a way to better make use of infrastructure that is already in place thus reducing any disruption or possible harm to the aesthetics of the estate or the associated expense," says Samuels.
In the last financial year Openserve's fibre deployment passed 2.2 million premises, an increase of 44% compared to the 1.5 million premises recorded in the prior year.
"We've completed testing G.fast technology in our labs with results indicating amazing suitability to our broadband network especially in scenarios where the length of the copper tail/drop wire is 150m or less. Our proof of concept is currently well underway in-field," Samuels adds.
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