Western Cape-based fibre network operator (FNO) Octotel has launched Octotel Business, a new B2B brand bringing its existing business connectivity services together under one proposition.
The offering introduces Business Broadband, a new service for companies whose connectivity needs have outgrown standard shared fibre but do not require a fully dedicated connection, alongside Octotel’s existing Active Ethernet and Datacentre Interconnect services.
Octotel CEO Trevor van Zyl says the need for business connectivity is becoming less closely tied to the size of a company and more to what that business needs its connectivity to do.
“South African businesses are building increasingly sophisticated operations, and their connectivity needs are changing with them. We’ve spent the past 10 years building and operating a network, and Octotel Business is about using that experience to give businesses the infrastructure they need to grow and compete,” says van Zyl.
Annelee Le Grange, head of Octotel Business, explains: “The question is how you want to run your business and what is important. What level of critical systems, support and connectivity do you actually require?” For example, a boutique trading platform or a small creative agency working with large files, cloud applications and international clients can have more demanding connectivity requirements than a larger business whose operations are less dependent on connectivity.
Business Broadband is built on Octotel’s Gigabit Passive Optical Network (XGS – PON) and gives businesses a step up from standard shared connectivity, with a defined service commitment and faster response and repair times than shared services. It sits between standard shared GPON/ Fibre to the Business (FTTB) services and dedicated Active Ethernet, giving businesses a new option without requiring the infrastructure and cost of a fully dedicated connection.
Le Grange says the product came from identifying a gap between the two existing options: FTTB and Active Ethernet.
“We saw a clear gap in the market: businesses that need more support than standard services provide, but don’t require a fully dedicated connection. They need better support and closer alignment to dedicated capacity, at a price that makes sense for their business,” she says.
The distinction is largely around the level of service and configuration attached to the connection. Standard FTTB services operate on a best-effort basis, while Active Ethernet provides dedicated connectivity with a higher level of support. Business Broadband offers a defined service commitment for businesses that need more than a standard shared service, without moving straight to a fully dedicated connection.
Business Broadband offers speeds of up to 10GBPS and is available through selected ISP partners. The service is initially available in the Western Cape, where Octotel has its strongest footprint with more than 30 000 businesses passed.