You may or may not have noticed a construction crew storm into your neighbourhood, dig up your much loved sidewalk flowers, and plant some very strange looking cables instead. Certain suburbs of Johannesburg, such as the parks surrounds, Killarney or Greenside, have recently received fibre optic cabling.
Although the process of installing these cables has not been the most pleasant experience, with correct management, having this cabling will take South Africa forward in keeping up with global standards of internet connectivity, speed and usage. According to global data, homeowners who have fibre in their homes can also expect the value of their properties to increase.
Joburg’s fibre broadband race
Several companies are rolling out fibre broadband networks in Johannesburg.
Telkom is targeting Houghton, Parktown and Westcliff in its FTTH build in Johannesburg.
Meanwhile, Fibrehoods, a joint venture between RMBD Holdings and Gauteng’s Waterfall Investment Company, is rolling out ‘aerial’ fibre networks across the city in suburbs such as Craighall, Craighall Park, Winston Ridge, Atholl, Inanda, Illovo and Elton Hill.
Killarney and Riviera are joining Parkhurst, Greenside and Parktown North in having Vumatel fibre broadband.
How does it work?
In the case of Parkhurst, where Vumatel has installed the cabling. Lines offering speeds of 4Mbps start for as little as R199 per month (plus a R1,500 once off installation fee and R999 ISP connection fee). Line speeds of up to 1000Mbps, which is about the fastest speed available globally, are on offer. Even the next “slowest” line speed of 50Mbps is more than 10 times faster than what you should be able to get via a Telkom ADSL line. What is more, as the Vumatel network is open access you are able to select the Internet Service Provider (ISP) of your choice.
Fibre wars
With fibre now installed, who should you choose as your service provider? Some of the top contenders in fibre neighbourhoods are:
1. Cool Ideas
2. Fibrehoods
3. Webafrica
4. VOX
5. Vuma
To get expert advice of which service provider will work best for your personal or business needs, contact Weloveit and our helpful and friendly staff will do their best to assist you. support@weloveit.co.za