Metrofibre Networx readies itself to take a greater stake in the local fibre market
MetroFibre Networx, the locally owned and managed open access fibre network and broadband fibre provider, is posturing to take a slice of the Fibre to the Home (FTTH) market, while also extending its globally compliant network and services to local service providers.
Established in 2010, as a provider of dark fibre or layer 2 fibre for ISP’s and telecommunications companies, MetroFibre today boasts a strong leadership team where at the helm it has Executive Chairman and CEO Steve Booysen, formerly CEO at ABSA Bank, and founding members CTO Johan van der Lith and Eugene Slabbert Head of Network Planning and Project Management, as well as CFO Hendrik Opperman, Head of Sales Gary Webster, Head of Operations Wallis Short and Head of Human Resources Ntsiki Ntuli.
Today MetroFibre owns and manages South Africa’s first globally compliant Carrier Ethernet 2.0 (CE 2.0) open access fibre network, over which it connects in excess of 60 cloud, application, voice and Internet service providers with their customers. The company also enjoys active shareholding from Sanlam Private Equity (SPE), which also has representation on the MetroFibre board. The investment house invested in the company in 2013 to grow its own fibre network, marking this as the first investment of this nature for SPE.
With support from its primary shareholder Sanlam, as well as MetroFibre’s growing network of service provider customers, it is fast being recognised as not only a wholesaler of Carrier Ethernet connectivity, but also as a serious player in the local last mile fibre solutions market.
“Fibre is the way of the future for data connectivity, it is reliable, fast and cost effective, making it the ideal solution for service providers, telco companies and the home user,” states Steve Booysen, CEO at MetroFibre Networx. “Today we not only provide Carrier Ethernet solutions to myriad service provider customers, but are also rapidly rolling out FTTH solutions, coupled with broadband connectivity, to a growing number of residential and business areas in Gauteng.”
Although MFN started out as a pure Carrier Ethernet, Layer 2 connectivity provider, it recently started delivering Internet Access, VoIP and Cloud Services. According to Johan van der Lith, CTO at MetroFibre, MFN is leveraging its low latency, high bandwidth Carrier Ethernet connectivity to provide high-speed Internet Access, real-time media streaming and other cloud services to customers at affordable prices. Making use of the latest technologies and best quality products, the network supports the most demanding cloud applications, next generation data centre connectivity, high speed file transfer and business continuity solutions needed by today’s customers.
The company’s solution offerings include:
MetroFibre Service provider solutions
MetroFibre Networx delivers carrier class Ethernet-managed bandwidth and Lambda services over the “last mile”, connecting Service and Application Providers to their customers through its MetroFibre Networx Wholesale Access Solutions. These Last Mile Network services, offer clients the ability to partner with a highly secure “open access” Carrier Class Ethernet Network.
MetroFibre Network connectivity solutions
MetroFibre Networx is a carrier class, fibre optic open access infrastructure, based on Carrier Ethernet 2.0 services types providing managed broadband, over the “Last Mile” connecting Service and Application Providers to their customers. It enables managed bandwidth services of 2Mbps up to 1Gbps between customer and their preferred service provider, interconnecting services such as Internet access, e-mail, hosting, voice or even disaster recovery data.
MetroFibre Mobile Backhaul
MetroFibre Networx is building a certified Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) carrier class, fibre optic open access infrastructure, offering managed broadband, bandwidth over the “last mile” connecting Service and Application Providers to their customers, including Mobile Backhaul and Timing-as-a-Service.
MetroFibre home solutions
MetroFibre’s residential offerings include network connectivity that boasts speeds up to 1,000 megabits per second, facilitating super fast downloads, streaming TV, unparalleled gaming as well as access to cloud solutions. The company has a series of packages suited for the small and home office, body corporates, and property developers.
“The next big step for us as a company is to become the preferred FTTH provider in Gauteng – a goal we are on track with as we are currently developing and rolling out fibre in a number of areas in the north of the province. Looking ahead I do believe that cost effective quality fibre solutions will be the next step in opening up opportunities for business in South Africa and it’s a wave that we as MetroFibre want to be at the forefront of,” ends Booysen.
MetroFibre Networx is a MEF Forum member and is licensed by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to provide electronic communications services as well as electronic communications network services.