Cape Town's R125m fibre-optic network completed

12 December 2011

Cape Town's 125 million rand (£9.2 million) 500 km fibre optic network project has been completed.

Part of a city-wide broadband infrastructure project, the network will ensure the city has access to low-cost broadband for municipal services and third-party network users, reports Engineering News.

Gibb, the consulting engineering firm that led the project and completed the construction monitoring and civil engineering design, said that it would reduce costs long-term and provide the city with a network of cables to meet its current and future needs.

Leon van Wyk, Cape Town's head of telecommunications, said that the project's main aim was to improve the bandwidth available in the city.

"Without adequate bandwidth, a modern city just cannot function," he explained, adding that the new network could help stimulate economic growth.

South Africa is one of a number of countries committed to improving its network access. Kenya recently announced it spends £278.8 million a year improving its ICT infrastructure.