Joburg’s broadband plans speed up
Taking place at Gallagher Estate, Midrand on 4 and 5 October, more than 200 delegates heard presentations on the way forward for digital cities and the challenges around rolling out municipal broadband networks.
The conference came at the right time: Johannesburg is ready to roll-out the first of its 11 trial broadband networks, the first steps on the path towards becoming a digital city.
Partner in the process is Neotel, the official second national telecommunications network operator. Speaking on day two of the forum, Angus Hay, the executive head of strategy and products at Neotel, said the company would focus on optimising the fibre-optic network infrastructure to metros. "Our focus is on the metros."
But he cautioned that municipalities played a crucial role in facilitating the deployment of new infrastructure, with smart digital towns "strongly encouraging high-tech companies to invest in their cities". Public investment alone would not do it; what was needed was real, vibrant competition.
Of particular interest was the progress of the Johannesburg broadband network.
The citywide roll-out of such a network was discussed by Jabulani Zimu, the programme manager for the City's chief information officer, which is driving the broadband roll-out, and Peter Ford, the internet business solutions director for Cisco Systems in the United Kingdom.
Setting the benchmark for other metros, the Joburg network would also benefit surrounding cities Ekurhuleni, Mogale City and Tshwane. The wide area network (WAN) would provide six megabits per second, "ensuring even our neighbours benefit", Zimu confirmed.
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