R3807 per Mbps on SEACOM

Have you wondered who is behind Screamer Telecoms and DigiChilli’s low cost uncapped ADSL services? Here is the answer.

Over the last few weeks numerous aggressively priced uncapped ADSL solutions were launched, notably DigiChilli’s uncapped 256 Kbps offering for R300 per month and Screamer Telecoms’ uncapped 384 Kbps service for R399 per month. 

Both Screamer Telecoms and DigiChilli were applauded for their affordable uncapped offerings, but what was not widely reported is that communications services provider BCSgroup is the backhaul bandwidth provider for both these ISPs.  BCSgroup is one of the companies which have access on the SEACOM undersea cable, and is quietly starting to provide ADSL service providers and corporate clients with international and local bandwidth.

BCSgroup currently has a single STM-1 connection (155 Mbps) on SEACOM, but according to BCSgroup MD Willie Olivier the company expects to light up their second 155 Mbps connection on SEACOM soon as the bandwidth demand increases.

Latest offerings

BCSgroup has recently launched their international wholesale bandwidth offering at R3,807 per Mbps per month with a 2:1 contention ratio.  This service makes use of SEACOM bandwidth, and companies which purchase bandwidth from BCSgroup before 16 December will get 2 months free.

Telkom has recently launched its City to City IPLC service, with an STM-1 connection between Johannesburg and London priced between R548,247 and R599,314 per month, depending on the contract period. 

This translates into around R3,700 per Mbps per month, around the same price as the BCSgroup’s pricing.  It should however be noted that BCSgroup sells smaller circuits priced per Mbps while the Telkom’s City to City pricing is based on a full STM-1 circuit. 

The company has also launched a wholesale ADSL service where ISPs can purchase ADSL data at R35 per GB with the added freedom of custom designed offerings which may include shaping and speed based ADSL packages. 

Big plans

BCSgroup is working closely with Africa.Inx in creating their own fibre metro rings in Gauteng, Cape Town and Durban.  While metro-Ethernet based services will only be available from BCSgroup at the end of February 2010, Olivier says that they have already signed up numerous large clients with a total bandwidth demand of around 100 Mbps.

While BCSgroup currently makes sole use of SEACOM for its international bandwidth needs, its partnership with Africa.Inx means that it should have full SAT-3/SAFE redundancy by early 2010.

BCSgroup has been flying under the radar up to now, and Olivier said that they intentionally don’t want to make a lot of noise until they are completely ready with a bouquet of tried and tested services.  Olivier added that BCSgroup is committed to passing lower bandwidth prices on to customers and consumers, something which will make the local broadband community very happy.

SEACOM bandwidth & BCSgroup - discussion

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