FibreCo Telecommunications has completed a fibre optic network interconnecting Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, East London and Cape Town, providing the shortest and fastest optical fibre connectivity between these cities.

The achievement comes about two years after FibreCo signed an agreement with ZTE for the construction of its long distance fibre-optic cable system, as well as having secured BT, Cell C and Internet Solutions as the first three key anchor tenants on its open-access network.

FibreCo has completed the physical installation of around 1 000km of linear fibre-optic cable in just 14 months, for which it was recognised by the South African Institution of Civil Engineers as the 2013 Project Management and Construction Project of the Year.

The company has also collaborated with other fibre infrastructure operators and broadband networks in order to avoid duplication of fibre routes, providing both environmental benefits as well as economic efficiencies.

FibreCo has entered into a strategic partnership with MTN, which will also have access to the FibreCo route between Johannesburg and East London, complementing MTN’s own national and access fibre optic network footprint. MTN is the first operator to light up new capacity on FibreCo’s network into East London.

“This new fibre-optic link will provide broadband users in the Eastern Cape and Free State Provinces with faster and more affordable connectivity back into the national fibre grid,” says Andile Ngcaba, chairman of FibreCo Telecommunications.

“We are delighted with the progress we have made to-date. FibreCo is a clear demonstration of how private infrastructure investors and competitive operators can work together to deploy critical infrastructure quickly and cost effectively, whilst remaining truly open-access,” says Arif Hussain, CEO of FibreCo Telecommunications.