Nokia and Fibertime have announced a historic partnership to extend fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) coverage to an additional 400,000 locations in underserved townships in South Africa.
This initiative represents a significant step toward closing the digital divide and enhancing broadband availability in historically underserved places.
Wi-Fi 6 fibre access points, Nokia’s cutting-edge Lightspan access nodes, and the 7750 Wireless Access Gateway will all be utilised in the rollout to provide a seamless connectivity experience, enabling users to move freely around the township without losing their internet connection.
Nokia’s ONT Easy Start platform
Nokia’s ONT Easy Start platform, which automates modem provisioning and eliminates technician visits, is a noteworthy innovation in this rollout.
This automation guarantees that consumers can access high-speed internet more quickly and conveniently while also lowering setup expenses and delays. Townships, where logistical obstacles have long impeded digital inclusion, are particularly in need of this technology-driven efficiency.
Additionally, Fibertime has made broadband more affordable by implementing a very accessible payment model. Customers can buy prepaid vouchers through spaza shops or banking apps for as little as ZAR 5 per day. With no contracts or commitments to debit orders, this daily voucher provides 24 hours of unlimited data. The standard offering offers 100 Mbps at the same rate, but speeds can reach 950 Mbps in some places.
Underprivileged communities’ access to digital services will be revolutionised by this adaptable, affordable model, creating new avenues for communication, entrepreneurship, and education.
Fibertime’s broader goal to connect two million homes by 2028
In line with South Africa’s national broadband target under the South Africa Connect initiative, the 400,000-home expansion is a component of Fibertime’s broader goal to connect two million homes by 2028.
This project makes a substantial contribution to the goal of universal broadband coverage by 2030, as only 14.5 per cent of households had fixed internet access as of 2023.
Additionally, it aligns with a continental push to enhance internet access, joining efforts by Google’s Equiano cable, MTN, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies, all of which seek to reduce connectivity costs and enable digital transformation throughout Africa.
This partnership strengthens Nokia’s position as a major facilitator of IP automation and broadband infrastructure on the continent. It is a significant step for Fibertime to be able to utilise cutting-edge AI-driven solutions, like Nokia’s Altiplano Fibre Health Analyser, to maximise network performance and guarantee dependability.
By working together, the businesses are not only building more infrastructure but also promoting significant social and economic advancement, demonstrating that high-speed, reasonably priced internet can be a potent equaliser for underprivileged communities in Africa.