Telkom launches SA's biggest fibre trial

Issued by Telkom Business
Pretoria, 01 Feb 2016

Telkom today launched an offer to more than 11 000 DSL customers across the country, who can now experience Telkom's leading fibre technology, at no additional cost.

In a one of a kind trial, DSL customers within Telkom's fibre footprint will be given the opportunity to upgrade their copper-based connectivity, to the more advanced fibre network. These customers will also have the opportunity to test Telkom's Boltspeed 10 Mbps and 20 Mbps fibre products, for free, for two months.

Telkom is offering these DSL customers the option to migrate from their copper-based DSL service, to an equivalent fibre-based service, in a phased approach. The trial offer starts on 2 February 2016.

This offers means that DSL customers, who are currently on 2 Mbps, 4 Mbps and 8 Mbps DSL products, can now, for no extra charge, move across to the more stable and reliable fibre network. During the two months trial, they also are able to test the 10 Mbps and 20 Mbps line options and can then make a call at the end of the two months, which package they choose to adopt.

"Telkom has the largest fibre network in the country and we want to take this high performing technology into our customers' homes, businesses and schools. This unique trial offer is a win-win for customers in that we will migrate them to our Telkom fibre, at no additional cost," said Telkom Consumer MD, Attila Vitai.

"We are delighted to be able to offer thousands of customers the opportunity to experience the speed and reliability of fibre. Our installation teams are working to secure installations within seven to ten days from order", he said.

Telkom customers will also not be charged any installation free, as long as a like-for-like installation is possible.

After the two-month trial, customers will be able to upgrade to the 10 Mbps or 20 Mbps options or, they can return to their original 2 Mbps, 4 Mbps and 8 Mbps speeds, however their line will permanently have been upgraded to fibre.

"Fibre is the next evolution of fixed-line broadband connectivity and we want our customers to enjoy the best technology experience we can offer. Not only does fibre offer faster speeds but it is less susceptible to electronic interference, lightning and water damage than the copper network," Vitai added.

"Ultimately, this technology upgrade and fibre trial is mutually beneficial to Telkom and our customers. Telkom will be better equipped to deliver stable and reliable services while customers get to enjoy the many benefits of Boltspeed fibre connectivity," concluded Vitai.

Telkom

Telkom is a leading communications services provider in South Africa. It had consolidated operating revenue of R16.8 billion and normalised profit after tax of R1, 683 million for the period ended 30 September 2015. Total assets amounted to R41.9 billion and equity attributable to the owners of Telkom to R23.5 billion as of 30 September 2015. The group generated normalised free cash flow of R1.4 billion for the period ended 30 September 2015.

As of 30 September 2015, it had approximately 3.3 million telephone access lines in service and 1 030 441 ports connected via MSAN access. It offers business, residential and payphone customers a wide range of services and products, including:

* fixed-line retail voice services using PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) lines, including ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) lines, and the sale of subscription-based value-added voice services and calling plans;
* fixed-line customer premises equipment rental and sales services both voice and data needs and these include PABX, computers, routers, modems, telephone handsets and other ancillary equipment;
* interconnection services, including terminating and transiting traffic from South African mobile operators, as well as from international operators and transiting traffic from mobile to international destinations;
* fixed-line data services, including domestic and international data transmission services, such as point-to-point leased lines, ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line) services, packet-based services, managed data networking services and Internet access and related information technology services;
* Data Centre Operations includes e-commerce, application service provider, hosting, data storage, e-mail and security services;
* W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), a 3G next generation network, including fixed voice services, data services and nomadic voice services;
* mobile communication services, including voice services, data services and handset sales through its mobile brand called Telkom Mobile;
* information and communication services including cloud services, infrastructure services, workspace services, global service integration management and hardware and network equipment sales locally, in seven African countries, the UK and Dubai through Business Connexion Group; and
* other services including directory services, through Trudon, wireless data services, through Swiftnet.

Convergence is one of its key strategic initiatives in building a sustainable future for Telkom. It will lead the provision of converged services in South Africa in support of its mission statement: Seamlessly connecting people to a better life.

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