Metrofibre Networx launched
A new fibre network operator called Metrofibre Networx has recently been launched and is headed up by former Dark Fibre Africa Marketing Executive Malcolm Kirby.
The company will be using Dark Fibre Africa to build a ‘Carrier Class Open Access’ metro network infrastructure that will provide a managed, high-level of SLA based performance assurance bandwidth over the “last mile” connecting Service and Application Providers to their customers.
According to Metrofibre Networx it is filling the gap that currently exists in the ‘Fibre-To-The-Premises’ (FTTX) Access market with two highly managed Carrier Class Metro Service types – Metrofibre and InfiNETmetro.
Products and pricing
The company will offer two products: Metrofibre E-Line and Metrofibre E-LAN.
The Metrofibre E-Line service is a Point-to-Point Ethernet Virtual Connection (EVC) that extends the End-User Ethernet sites to a Service Provider Network Cloud or between two End-Users for Ethernet Private Lines (EPL), Ethernet Virtual Private Lines (EVPL) and Ethernet Internet Access.
Metrofibre E-LAN Service is a Multipoint-to-Multipoint Ethernet Virtual Connection (EVC) bridging service that provides any to any connection to more than two End-User sites, for Virtual Private Local Area Network (LAN) Services, Multipoint Layer 2 VPNs, and Transparent LAN Services.
“The service offering from Metrofibre networx is from 2Mbps to 10Gbps carrier class Ethernet. (Layer 2) In addition we will also make lambda services available in future,” says Metrofibre Networx CEO Malcolm Kirby.
“As for Internet services, we are not a services provider at all but will provide bandwidth and connectivity to connect our customers to the international cable systems, at present Seacom.”
When it comes to pricing Kirby believes that they will be very competitive, especially considering their commitments on QOS SLA supporting it.
Competition
Metrofibre Networx will join established players like Neotel and Vodacom Business in the provisioning of fibre based services to businesses.
In March Neotel announced that it was nearly ready to offer businesses an affordable Fibre-to-the-Premise (FTTX) service with speeds of at least 10 Mbps.
The Neotel FTTX offering is deployed in areas where Neotel already have a fibre presence like the Sandton central business district. Neotel is currently pulling fibre into the buildings to offer their new FTTX service.
In April Vodacom Business launched its Metro-Ethernet Fibre network (Metro E) – a last-mile fibre connection aimed at businesses in metropolitan areas who require a “cost effective, scalable and managed communications solution”.
The Vodacom Business Metro-E service provides companies with service speeds from 2 Mbps to 1 Gbps; as well as greater control over how much bandwidth they need and total flexibility as to when they need it.
‘Go live’ of the Metrofibre Networx fibre network is subject to successful completion of the lab trials and is expected to happen towards the latter part of Q4 2010.
Metrofibre Networx << give your views
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