By TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG  – INTEGRATED information and communications technology (ICT) provider, Voxx) has signed up over R662 000 (US$ 51 500) in fibre sales over the last few months following engagements with over 440 customers.
Officials disclosed the figures as the company finalised and lit up the first three precincts in Richards Bay, the first non-metropolitan town in its National Long Distance Fibre Project launched in October 2016.
With a thriving industrial and mining sector, combined with the harbour, Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal Province met the key criteria required to build a business case for fibre infrastructure investment, officials said.
“It is one thing creating the infrastructure and another connecting Richards Bay to other cities,” said Jacques du Toit, Chief Executive Officer of Vox.
He said they evaluated their options and could easily have gone via Durban or Ballito.
“But the route along the eastern leg of the country, along the N4 seemed like the best option, enabling us to deliver a better connectivity experience to the smaller towns along the route.”
The company experienced some delays such as issues with soil conditions and received way leaves from council which was later than originally expected, but despite these challenges said it was on track with the completion of the communications network.
“Thereafter, we anticipate that the next viable town will be Middelburg,” said du Toit.
Vox’s efforts at the moment are centred on delivering the remaining 15 precincts in Richards Bay and it is aiming to complete the exercise in the next 18 months.
Vox is looking at ways of deploying wireless links via a high capacity backhaul to the towns along the eastbound leg of South Africa.
“Partnership with the WISPS will be a critical enabler for better connectivity in the small towns and we are looking forward to advancing these as we make our way back along the N4 route towards Gauteng,” concludes du Toit.

– Guardian