The transformation of the eThekwini Municipality’s fibre-optic network has been completed and is now a next-generation network meaning that the broadband network has reached a stage where it can be shared with businesses, schools, hospitals and tertiary institutions and residents at vastly reduced costs.

Durban is the only city in Africa to have reached this milestone and be in a position to provide users with affordable connectivity and low cost local phone calls.

This heartening news was conveyed to members of the press, the SmartCity forum and dignitaries from the eThekwini Municipality at a conference held on Wednesday August 20 at SmartXchange.

Jacquie Subban Head of Geographic Information and Policy at the municipality said that ultimately the network will span all businesses and residents in the greater municipal area at huge cost savings at vastly improved speeds.

Ms Subban confirmed that the broadband network is now fully operational and the City has appointed Dimension Data as the service provider to manage the network.

“The City will now start wholesaling spare capacity - of which there is a huge surplus – and a rollout plan including costs and timing schedules will be announced at the SmartCity Conference and Exhibition to held at the Albert Luthuli ICC, Durban on October 1 and 2.

The announcement means that Durban is the first city in South Africa to have in place a truly functional “Next Generation” or “Carrier Class” network.

Whilst other cities in the country have talked copiously about similar projects that have received masses of press coverage, Durban has quietly carried on with creating the infrastructure and making it the reality that it is today.