Altron's Altech Radio Holdings (ARH) has been appointed by the Limpopo provincial government, through Limpopo Connexion, to roll out a broadband network in the province.
ARH is to establish an affordable, secure, open access broadband network across the province, in line with the SA Connect national broadband policy.
The first phase, which will cost R585 million, will see ICT connectivity provided to government departments, municipalities, businesses and households across the province over a three-year period.
"It is a priority of government's National Development Plan to connect all South Africans to broadband infrastructure. Broadband is an economic enabler, and the South African government has identified the need to invest in information communication technologies, including broadband infrastructure, to support economic growth, development and social cohesion," says Brett Nash, MD of ARH.
"As a result of this and other public broadband networks, public services, health and educational information products will become accessible to all."
Additional services to be provided to Limpopo include a network operation, control centre and data centre.
Acting CEO of Limpopo Connexion, Baldwin Ramasobane says the Limpopo government aims to empower community members to participate in an inclusive information society and mainstream economy.
The Limpopo broadband network will reduce the cost of doing business for government, industry and civil society, and is a prerequisite for effective e-service implementation in the province, says Ramasobane.
ARH has done a similar roll-out in Gauteng: the implementation of the Gauteng Broadband Network incorporating 1 600km of high-speed fibre-optics. This network connected in excess of 400 buildings, 45 community service centres (Thusong Centres), 20 identified priority townships, nine Economic Development Zones, six urban renewal nodes and several hundred schools under a build and transfer deal.
ARH is also in a joint partnership to design, deploy, maintain and operate a citywide backbone broadband network for the City of Tshwane.
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