TelOne will see broadband subscribers growing nine-fold to 1million in three years in response to the fibre optic rollout. The company has 100 000 broadband subscribers.
BY TATIRA ZWINOIRA
The fibre optic rollout will be financed by the $98 million loan the company got from Exim Bank of China.
TelOne managing director Chipo Mtasa told NewsDay the company was aggressively working on increasing its current 3 000km of fibre throughout the country.
“The fibre rollout project is already in progress and we are currently aggressively pushing our Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) project to increase the number of connected areas,” Mtasa said.
“The TelOne FTTH footprint is being expanded to cover more suburbs in Harare and expanding the service to Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo.”
Since the unveiling of the Fibre to the Home product, TelOne has completed deployments in Zimre Park, Mainway Meadows, Mt Pleasant Heights, Westgate Area D, Tynwald North, Knowe (Norton), Turf Village in Ngezi and Mimosa Park in Zvishavane.
For the residential market, FTTH is being deployed using gigabyte capable Passive Optical Network (GPON) technology. GPON provides large downstream and upstream speeds capable of supporting bandwidth services such as high-speed Internet access, digital TV broadcast (IPTV), video on demand (VOD), and others.
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TelOne will use Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing technology which enhances transmission over long distances and offers increased capacity and has high upgradability.
“We are embracing new technologies that will help us ensure our clients experience world-class service. We have redefined ourselves as a broadband company and fibre is the technology for the future,” Mtasa said.
Beyond the current coverage, TelOne intends to have Fibre to the Home footprint to be spread to other cities like Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo.
Backbone coverage will be expanded to cover the Bulawayo-Beitbridge route, Mutare-Nyanga, Harare-Nyamapanda and into the Lowveld.
“Furthermore, in an effort to widen our sources of innovative ideas, the company is engaging universities and other institutions of higher learning with a view to forge partnerships for innovation,” Mtasa said.
To date, TelOne has upgraded Mazowe, Rusape, Plumtree, Nyanga, Karoi, Kariba and Chipinge as well as the major towns and cities, which were already running on digital exchanges.
“Prepaid voice service for households is now also available in these areas,” Mtasa said.
