Technology firm HITec Sure, which supports security company SOS Protec with its infrastructure and IT requirements, is rolling out wireless internet access and fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) services in Johannesburg’s southern suburbs. By Gugu Lourie
HITec Sure is based in the suburb of Gillview in the South of Johannesburg and is promising customers’ internet access that is wireless, fast and affordable.
The tech firm that supports SOS Protec with its infrastructure and IT requirements has launched an internet access service, known as MYiweb.
The service is available on “special offer”. Customers can buy 4Mbps line capped 20GB at R399/month, 2Mbps uncapped at R399/month, 3G/LTE 1GB Data at R79/month.
This information is passed around on fliers handed out by SOS Protec security personnel at traffic signs in the South of Johannesburg.
Asked whether MYiweb Internet services were competitive, Andrew Barber, the managing director of HITec Sure said in an email response: “We feel that internet is becoming more and more a requirement in everyday life”.
He added: “In keeping with that, we try to offer a range of services to cater for the single income homes/students right up to the data hungry homes of the future”.
Barber said HITec Sure broadband uncapped services were all inclusive and priced to ensure that “we are cheaper than its ADSL counterpart at a lower contention ratio. So yes I feel that we are competitive.”
The tech company says on its flier that MYiweb Internet offers wireless, fast and affordable internet and asks “no more Telkom lines?”.
But strangely on its website, HITec Sure says: “You’ll need to add both your Telkom line rental fee as well as your data bundle fee to get an accurate price comparison”.
HITec Sure was founded in 2002 by Fyzel Hoosen and its staff is based at SOS head office. It also owns a wireless network tower situated at SOS offices in Gillview.
Barber said the technology company’s wireless infrastructure spans across most of Johannesburg Central Business District, Johannesburg South and the West Rand.
“We are currently expanding throughout Gauteng every day. We are busy planning a network rollout in KwaZulu-Natal,” says Barber.
He adds that HITec Sure has recently started offering its services to the private/home sectors and has more than 300 clients.
“Most of our clients are corporate and other sectors. We are offering service to anyone that would require the service,” says Barber. “If the client is not in our coverage area, we offer a two week turn-around time for us to expand the network to supply the requested service.”
Barber said the technology firm has so far invested more than R15 million of its cash in building its current infrastructure.
According to its website, the company offers fibre, wireless and microwave network infrastructure.
HITec Sure says it uses 2.4Ghz 5.8Ghz 17Ghz and 60GHz spectrum to deliver its services. “We have links which are in the licensed band but it is through a third party,” says Barber.
Meanwhile, the FTTH market is now so competitive big telcos are doing all they can – including snapping up smaller firms – to stay ahead of the game.
As part of its growth trajectory, Telkom aims to use its open access fibre broadband network to deploy FTTH to 500 000 houses by the end of 2016 and to reach one million houses by March 2018.
Unfazed Barber says HITec Sure was able to supply FTTH services to homes throughout South Africa. “This is subject to feasibility. In most cases FTTH will only be feasible to complexes, estates and high density real estate.”
He adds that HITec Sure was aiming to wire more than 150 homes a months to FTTH in the south of Johannesburg alone.
There are more players deploying fibre such as Cool Ideas, Cybersmart, Dark Fibre, iBurst, M-WEB, Sainet and Web Africa.
MTN, South Africa’s second largest mobile phone operator, is also expanding its FTTH network via acquisition and organic growth. The operator, which is rolling out its fibre across the country, recently bought Smart Village from MultiChoice for an undisclosed amount.
Smart Village fibre network services 29 000 residential homes in Gauteng, the Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Vodacom is also quietly deploying its fibre network and services. VumaTel is also connecting Johannesburg northern suburbrs to the fibre network.
Metrofibre Networx, a provider led by ex-Absa CEO Steve Booysen and supported by its active shareholder Sanlam Private Equity, has its eyes on the booming fibre market.
In July telecoms operator Vox Telecom acquired internet service provider, Frogfoot Networks, to hasten its move into the fast-growing fibre market.
Cell C is also planning to roll-out its fibre network soon.
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