Openserve, the wholesale division of Telkom, today announced that more than 10 000 Pretoria East homes, including Faerie Glen and Garsfontein, will have access to fibre technology by end December 2015, making this area the latest in the company's fibre rollout strategy.

The division was launched earlier this month as part of Telkom's ongoing efforts to strengthen customer focus.

"Openserve is committed to Telkom's goal of reaching one million homes with fibre access by 2018 and already has the largest fibre network in the country," said Openserve MD Alphonzo Samuels. "We want to significantly impact broadband in South Africa and fibre offers the best internet experience."

At the end of September Telkom announced fibre rollout in Bryanston as well as to multiple additional suburbs of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Kimberley and Port Elizabeth.

Fibre to the Home currently allows for download speeds of up to 100Mbps, allowing users to download a standard definition 4.7GB video in under seven minutes. An entire music album can be downloaded in eight seconds, the company claims.

"Fibre optic cables transmit light and is thus not affected by interference from electromagnetic noise such as radios, motors, power lines, electric fences or other cables. Consequently, fibre broadband offers greater reliability and stability," it states.

During the October launch of Openserve Samuels said the separation signals Telkom's commitment to a more competitive market and lower prices for consumers. "Telkom has already begun reducing prices associated with wholesale network infrastructure access.

With the launch of Openserve, we want to make a significant impact on the way we provide open access broadband to all South Africans. We welcome a more open-access environment and believe that we, as Openserve, can make important headway in helping all South African bridge the digital divide."