MTN has announced its commitment to an open-access business model that is believes will provide fibre to the home (FTTH) customers and independent Internet service providers (ISPs) with flexibility.
MTN is currently deploying this high speed fibre network in neighbourhoods across the country. It has already deployed FTTH to the gated community of Monaghan Farm outside of Johannesburg, and it is currently trenching in a number of suburbs including Parkmore, Morningside and Lonehill in Johannesburg, in partnership with residents associations.
Eben Albertyn, chief technology officer of MTN South Africa, says MTN South Africa is committed to an open access network environment in which it supplies world-class fibre infrastructure for service providers to offer residential customers solutions that provide high-speed internet connectivity.
“Such is our focus on creating an enabling environment to promote cost-efficient and flexible internet services, that we will have a wholesale commercial product offering for interested fibre to the home internet service providers by mid-August,” says Albertyn.
An open access network is a flexible platform that will allow any ISP with a valid Electronic Communications Services License, and who has signed an agreement with MTN, to integrate the services they provide to end users. This, in turn will enable a range of service providers to provide their customers with connectivity services via the MTN network.
“The key advantage of an open access network is that residents will have multiple options, and MTN will be holding discussions with a number of ISPs in order to provide its customers with a wider selection,” says Albertyn.