Fibre network operator launches new 10Gbps B2B solution in Western Cape – Hypertext

Starting in its own backyard, Western Cape-based fibre network operator (FNO), Octotel, has launched Octotel Business. It is described as a B2B that brings its existing business connectivity services together under one solution.

That one solution comes in the form of an offering called Business Broadband, which seeks to give, “companies whose connectivity needs have outgrown standard shared fibre but do not require a fully dedicated connection.”

Here, the company explained that this latest solution is designed to meet a business’ actual connectivity requirements, and not simply look at the size of it. To that end, Business Broadband will offer speeds of up to 10Gbps, and will be made available through selected ISP partners.

Octotel Business is also said to be a first in the market, with it offering its new solution in the Western Cape initially, where it has more than 30 000 customers, before it looks to expand to other regions of the country.

“South African businesses are building increasingly sophisticated operations, and their connectivity needs are changing with them. We’ve spent the past 10 years building and operating a network, and Octotel Business is about using that experience to give businesses the infrastructure they need to grow and compete,” noted Octotel CEO, Trevor van Zyl in a release to Hypertext.

The head of Octotel Business, Annelee Le Grange, added that the rollout of this product came from identifying a gap between the two existing options, namely Fibre-to-the-Business (FTTB) and Active Ethernet. 

“We saw a clear gap in the market: businesses that need more support than standard services provide, but don’t require a fully dedicated connection. They need better support and closer alignment to dedicated capacity, at a price that makes sense for their business,” she explained.

“The distinction is largely around the level of service and configuration attached to the connection. Standard FTTB services operate on a best-effort basis, while Active Ethernet provides dedicated connectivity with a higher level of support. Business Broadband offers a defined service commitment for businesses that need more than a standard shared service, without moving straight to a fully dedicated connection,” Octotel Business continued.

It will be interesting to see what the uptake of the solution will be, especially as organisations start to look more closely at their connectivity requirements and shift to fibre that it fit for purpose.

“For Octotel, the launch represents a broader shift in how it takes its business connectivity capabilities to market. Rather than treating each service as a standalone product, Octotel Business gives ISP partners a way to build connectivity around the different requirements of their business customers,” the company concluded.

[Image – Photo by Denny Müller on Unsplash]