MTN, Neotel Plan to Build Fibre-Optic Network

South African operators MTN and Neotel have signed a joint agreement to co-build a national long-distance fibre-optic network. The network will cover a distance of 5,000 km, connecting the major centres across South Africa.

The first route of the national fibre network will extend from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal, incorporating Pietermaritzburg and Durban. Construction of the first leg is expected to commence in the first week of March 2009 with a completion date scheduled before the Fifa World Cup 2010.

The network will provide both MTN and Neotel with bandwidth capacity to carry more voice and data traffic at higher speeds over greater distances using less power than copper cables. MTN said that its initial network will have a capacity in the Tbps range. The initial route will assist MTN and Neotel to link up with the undersea cables such as Eassy and Seacom currently under construction along the eastern coast of Africa.