Over the past seven years as one of South Africa’s leading providers of telecommunication cables, Dark Fibre Africa has grown significantly. With their open access business model allowing small and large businesses alike to connect to high speed, reliable and affordable fibre optic internet, the company strives to provide an environment that encourages and facilitates the growth and development of South African businesses, the economy and technological innovation.

Throughout the world, technological evolution is transpiring at an unprecedented rate. We have come to expect ubiquitous, high-speed wireless internet and access to the technologies that allow us surf the web for pleasure, leisure or business. In this respect, South Africa is no different; as the economy and infrastructure of this magnificent country flourish, the demand for products and services that we in the western world often take for granted is creating a vibrant and competitive market. In 2006, the monopoly of the communications field was overthrown, resulting in advent of numerous new companies looking to bring internet to the masses.

Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) is one such enterprise, diligently working to provide a fast, reliable and affordable fibre network throughout South Africa.  DFA began their operations in October 2007 and since then have invested over R5 billion to install 8000km of fibre infrastructure to transmit metro and long haul telecommunications traffic. Through leasing out space on their lines to a full spectrum of businesses, bodies and organisations, DFA customers avoid the exorbitant start up expenditure of constructing their own networks and also avoid the sometimes awkward bureaucracy of gaining their line supply from their competitors. Chief Strategy Officer at DFA, Reshaad Sha, has a dream to create ‘smart cities’ in South Africa; cities that utilise technology available to them to grow their companies, the economy and the reputation of the country as a powerful competitor in the global market. He states that ‘There are significant benefits to be had from SA investing in smart cities around the country, but to achieve these benefits, the right infrastructure needs to be put in place to harness advanced technologies that will improve education, traffic management, billing, city resources and asset management, crime control and public safety.’ As will be seen Sha’s dream is gradually being realised, as DFA under his watchful eye helps to propel South African into the future.

Boasting the largest open-access network in South Africa, DFA are able to supply not only major cities, but also smaller towns, and any enterprise regardless of size can rent out their lines. DFA provide customers with far higher bandwidths than most other suppliers, can install extra fibre at short notice, and exclusively use only the most up to date techniques and components in their wares. Furthermore, with an average uptime of 99.9%, the reliability and coverage of their services can be met by few other corporations in South Africa. Such a high percentage can be predominantly attributed to the dedication the company has for monitoring and maintaining their cables and services, which is a 24/7 operation.  The company are continuously modifying and re-evaluating their infrastructure to meet the complex needs of their varied client base and their specialist technicians tirelessly work to anticipate potential problems and work to prevent them at the earliest possible opportunity – usually within 4 hours of initial identification.  With such unparalleled attention to detail, the key role that DFA play in facilitating the growth and development of other allied and non-allied companies is plain to see. Consequently, as DFA help other businesses to grow and indeed the whole market and economy of South Africa develop, they too must follow suit in order to be able to meet the complex demands of their customers amid the quagmire of technological advancement.

A recent project involved the company launching their Umhlanga Tachyon Node in La Lucia, KwaZulu Natal, a specialist piece of equipment that acts as an aggregation point for Internet Service Providers to provide businesses within the nearby vicinity with high speed internet. Traditionally, the further away businesses are from the cable network access point, the more expensive their costs are. The Nodes will allow companies to place their connectivity equipment close to the fibre supply, both reducing costs and increasing network reliability. DFA are hoping to have installed 111 nodes by December 2015, with the first 20 having already been located by March 2015. Not only are they being placed in large metropolitan areas, but also in more sequestered, rural areas such as Ermelo, Witbank and Empangeni, extrapolating the availability of internet services to all that desire connect their business to the World Wide Web.

The most prominent project on the horizon for the company is their intention to provide high speed broadband internet to as many as 20,000 businesses before March 2016, a phenomenal sum that actually eclipses the current number of existing business connections that the company already has. Mr Sha has noted that‘Although there are several drivers leading to increased demand for connectivity, we have identified that globally, cloud computing is a critical driver for the adoption of fibre based connectivity. In order for cloud computing to deliver the benefits of cost saving, business continuity, and business agility, it requires a secure and super-fast connection that only a fibre network can provide’.  Sha’s statement not only demonstrates a keen awareness of international standards and expectations of his field, but also a compelling drive to update business practices in South Africa. The cloud technology that he speaks of is in its relative infancy in general, but the desire to incorporate it into the burgeoning industry of a country often considered developmentally behind highlights a real commitment to unleashing the true potential of South Africa as a contender in an ever growing global marketplace. Meeting this challenge will evidently require a substantial amount of capital, and although the company has not disclosed the exact amount, the very existence of the project is indicative of the financial success that the company is currently operating with.

In turn, such a feat has inevitably required DFA to expand their staffing level, with the aim of increasing the 4500 of those already in their employ by 20% over the next few months. The company will also extend their reach in terms of outsourcing, working alongside other companies to their mutual benefit. Furthermore, the company has shown a keen interest in extrapolating the reach of their employment drives. In 2014, they began to fund specialist Business Administration Learnerships for unemployed women with disabilities ranging from visual and hearing impairments to chronic illnesses. Administered by Randburg-based BEX Academy, DFA cover the cost of the womens’ education, along with a R1,500 monthly stipend per learner and the chance of placement at the company for successful graduates. However, it is not just potential employees that DFA try to help; DFA funded a permanent care home for up to 6 orphaned children and continue to provide monetary support to its upkeep. They have provided pupils at the Eendracht Primary School with laptop computers and in July 2013 began the process of installing and providing the Irene Middle School with access to high speed internet, investing R360,000 per month in an ongoing partnership.

Ironically, there is nothing ‘dark’ about DFA. If anything, the company is nothing but a shining beacon in South Africa for both its technical and philanthropic work. The fact that they are simultaneously aiding with bringing the country’s technology up to speed, expanding the market and economy and supporting those that may be at a social disadvantage, are true markers of a company that functions with integrity and dedication. With innovative projects on the horizon that will no doubt boost their own positive reputation and indeed that of their customers, DFA certainly seem to be a real game-changer in the South African Telecoms industry, helping businesses across the country to connect and conquer within the marketplace.

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