Nokia has announced a strategic partnership with fibertime to extend fibre broadband connectivity to an additional 400,000 homes across underserved communities in South Africa.
This expansion is part of fibertime’s broader vision to connect two million homes by 2028, aiming to bridge the digital divide in areas that traditionally lack reliable high-speed internet access. The rollout will leverage Nokia’s advanced IP and fibre access technologies to establish semi-mobile networks in these communities, offering residents unlimited high-speed internet from anywhere within their homes, businesses, or community spaces.
Under this collaboration, fibertime will deploy Nokia’s Lightspan access nodes and Wi-Fi 6 enabled fibre access points. The deployment will utilise Nokia’s ONT Easy Start platform to automate and simplify fibre modem activations, making the installation process faster and more efficient. Additionally, Nokia’s 7750 Wireless Access Gateway will enable the creation of a single SSID, allowing users to move freely within townships while maintaining a seamless connection.
fibertime’s CEO, Danvig De Bruyn, highlighted that with Nokia’s support, the company can accelerate its deployment of affordable, high-speed fibre internet services in South Africa’s underserved township areas. He shared that the company is currently connecting approximately 1,200 households daily, offering speeds of up to 950Mbps without requiring contracts or debit orders. Customers simply purchase vouchers at local retail outlets or via banking apps, enter the voucher number into the fibertime app, and instantly gain access to unlimited, unthrottled fibre internet at a cost of just R5 per day.
To further enhance network automation and scalability, fibertime will also implement Nokia’s Altiplano and Network Services Platform solutions, along with its Altiplano Fiber Health Analyzer. These tools enable early detection of network anomalies and potential issues, allowing for proactive maintenance and improved reliability.
CEO Danvig De Bruyn emphasised that Nokia’s automation and AI-powered tools not only improve operational efficiency but also ensure a more reliable subscriber experience by detecting disruptions early and resolving incidents swiftly. Sandy Motley, President of Fixed Networks at Nokia, underscored the importance of reliable broadband for community development, stating that Nokia’s fibre and IP solutions are transforming regions once considered too challenging to serve, powering education, healthcare, and local economies.
This new agreement builds on an existing partnership between Nokia and fibertime, which previously focused on deploying fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Gqeberha, Mangaung, and Stellenbosch, further reinforcing Nokia’s commitment to expanding broadband access across South Africa.
