The fast and the furious

Fibre internet action in Ndlambe

The municipality is developing a wayleave policy for companies that want to install fibre-optic internet cables in Ndlambe. While only one company has so far been granted wayleave in Port Alfred, residents fear that successful future bids for network cable space by competitors could result in prolonged disruption of roads and pavements, and damage to underground infrastructure something Port Alfred can ill afford.

Some residents have expressed alarm at fibre digging works underway near their properties. For others, fibre can’t come quickly enough so they can have the best of both worlds and do corporate work remotely from a beautiful location.

We asked Talk of the Town online readers to weigh in on the matter and some expressed strong feelings about fibre internet. Some want fast internet connectivity no matter what it takes. Caryn Bruyns said: “I think we should go forward not backwards as we usually do! Give us fiber !!!! ”. While other readers are furious about the disruption to infrastructure that’s required to install it. Dirk Swanepoel said: “Bugger that ! I am not having wires draped across my bury yard or their in my cables view”- ? . why can’t they

At Talk of the Town, we’ve done our best to provide a situation report on optical fibre installation in Ndlambe.

Only Herotel has so far been granted a wayleave permit in Port Alfred, Ndlambe Municipality spokesperson Cecil Mbolekwa confirmed. Although Frogfoot and Igugu Holdings had also applied, he said there was no wayleave granted.

However, Telkom also upgrades their existing Openserve network at times and this can involve further excavation which they indicate to the municipality.

According to Openserve’s coverage map, Ndlambe residents in Alexandria and Kenton-On-Sea also potentially have access to Openserve fibre.

Herotel started installing fibre in Port Alfred in February last year. The process stalled in April last year when the Makhanda High Court granted an interim interdict in Ndlambe Municipality’s favour. At issue was the wayleave application process.

Herotel then resumed their work in Port Alfred on January 10 on the basis of a court judgment.

While it’s in their interest to keep residents on side, the truth is that once the correct wayleave application processes have been completed and approved, neither the municipality nor the fibre installer “has” to get permission from individuals or households to dig up the pavement outside their home.

Ndlambe Municipality’s spokesperson Cecil Mbolekwa said the municipality is not required to get residents’ permission to undertake work for essential infrastructure, but rather to inform them.

“The municipality will notify residents of any project that will take place. In terms of excavations, the area within the road reserve belongs to the municipality. The municipality does not consult residents; instead it informs them of the work to be conducted,” he said.

Herotel Eastern Cape’ Regional Growth Manager, Anne Bhagwan, said, “Herotel has been providing Wireless Internet services in the Port Alfred area for many years and we have built an excellent relationship with the local community. When we decided to bring fibre internet to Port Alfred, we engaged with the local municipality and residents, as we do in all of the areas we operate.”

ToTT asked Ndlambe: When infrastructure such as fibre is initiated by private companies, what role does, or should, the municipality play in rationalising the digging of trenches and installation of poles, in order to minimise disruption to municipal infrastructure?

Mbolekwa said the municipality was responsible for indicating the locations of existing services such as water, electricity and sanitation. There were different approaches depending whether a company’s primary installation was overhead lines or underground cables.

“Herotel’swayleave permit includes the requirement to locate existing services [before they excavate an area] and to re-instate the road layers to their normal state,” Mbolekwa said.

Bhagwan confirmed they have obtained wayleave from the local municipality, “as is normal for any infrastructure build of this nature”.

In addition to the municipal wayleave, Herotel also needed to obtain wayleaves from SANRAL which covers road crossings on the R72.

“Although our standard build methodology is to use aerial fibre installed above ground, some areas needed to be trenched underground, which we understand has caused some inconvenience to residents,” Bhagwan said.

“Part of our undertaking to the municipality and residents of Port Alfred has been to re-instate pavements and roads where we have had to trench or cut the roadsurface, which we have endeavoured to do diligently.”

And for those residents who want fibre yesterday already?

“After numerous delays during 2021, most of which were outside of our control, the build is fast nearing completion,” Bhagwan said. “We are happy to announce that large parts of Port Alfred have already been made live and many residents have already been connected to our Super-Fast Hero Fibre network.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of Port Alfred for their co-operation and support during our build phase, which we hope to complete in the next couple months.”

I think we should go forward not backwards as we usually do! Give us fiber

Wayleave policy

The process companies must follow for fibre installation in future is under discussion in the municipality.

“The municipality is in process of developing a wayleave policy that will outline the process to be followed by the companies interested to install their fibre networks in future. This policy will set out the proper process to be followed,” Mbolekwa said.

The municipality would consult with residents about fibre installation by inviting residents to comment on the draft wayleave policy.

“The proposed wayleave policy will be circulated for public comment before it can be implemented,” he said.