A week after announcing plans to aggressively deploy fibre in the provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, Herotel has revealed similar plans in the Western Cape.
The fibre and wireless broadband service provider this week said it will bring fibre Internet to more than 18 new towns in the Western Cape, taking the tally to 24.
Last week, the company said it is in the process of constructing 16 fibre networks in Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
In regards to the Western Cape, Herotel now says fibre networks are already live in Worcester, Swellendam, Riversdale, Robertson, Lutzville and Vredendal, with building under way in 10 more.
Herotel notes it has a long relationship with the Western Cape and has already serviced more than 30 000 Internet connections out of 12 local offices for more than 15 years.
Coert Smit, Herotel Breedenet general manager, says: “We cannot wait to introduce our already large customer base to fibre Internet.
“It is critical to the local economies of these towns that we build the best infrastructure we can, supported by great quality wireless Internet on the urban fringes and for farms.”
Herotel says it prefers to construct the majority of its fibre above the ground as mid-block networks by planting a single pole in the telecommunications servitude between neighbours.
The company notes it has learned through experience that underground (digging trenches for fibre cables) in suburbs can cause unforeseen damage to driveways, walls and flower gardens. It is also a slow, expensive process that, because of the costs, ends up in higher monthly subscription fees for residents, says the company.
Herotel sells a 10Mbps fibre line (true uncapped and symmetrical) for R499 per month, which it says is almost 33% more affordable than the majority of large fibre network operators (FNOs).
Direct access is the other reason Herotel offers better prices than most FNOs, which choose to resell their services through national ISP middlemen, the company notes.
“Herotel prefers selling directly to customers. Why pay two companies when you only need one? Dealing with two different companies also becomes challenging if things go wrong, especially when customers have to figure out who they are supposed to call. When you connect to a Herotel network, you only deal with Herotel’s call centre and Herotel’s physical support teams,” the company says.
It believes the Western Cape fibre network will improve access to education, entertainment and open new business opportunities across the province.
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