Provider of open access telecoms infrastructure and platforms, Link Africa, has confirmed it has acquired the patents of focus technology to deploy fibre-optic networks in existing underground municipal service networks in South Africa and surrounding areas.

Rikus Matthyser, Link Africa chief executive officer, expressed his views regarding the acquisition, saying the benefit of focus technology over traditional methods of laying fibre optic networks was significant.

He said with the patented focus technology, Link Africa would be able to install fibre optic cables in existing underground infrastructure such as sewers or storm water pipes.

He added that the cables were four times faster in terms of broadband speeds, cheaper and with less disruption than the traditional method of laying fibre optic networks underground.

“In built-up areas laying fibre is difficult since traditional methods entail working in heavily trafficked areas, resulting not only in inconvenience and disruption for vehicles and pedestrians alike, but also resulting in health, safety and environmental issues,” explained Matthyser.

"The possibility of damaging previously laid infrastructure also exists,” he added.

"No other fibre optic network provider in the region utilises sewer and storm water pipes as ducts," Matthyser said.

Link Africa’s fibre optic network (FON) solution consists of a metropolitan transmission ring and last mile Fibre-To-The-Premises (FTTP), servicing telecoms operators and municipal customers alike.

Focus technology has been trialled in the eThekwini Municipality in Durban.

Link Africa said the tests were a success with the municipality declaring sewer based fibre deployment as its preferred method.

To date, the company has deployed more than 300 kilometres of fibre in various localities in the city.