Broadband Infraco, the state-owned company tasked with improving internet access and bringing down broadband prices in South Africa, will start selling wholesale bandwidth capacity to the country's telecoms companies and internet service providers in November according to SouthAfrica.info.  In October 2009, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) awarded Broadband Infraco an individual electronic communications network services licence (I-ECNS). The licence allows the company to sell high-capacity long-distance transmission services to licensed fixed and mobile network operators, internet service providers and other value added network service providers, which they can either use to expanding their own networks or resell to their customers.
According to an article on local website TechCentral this week, Broadband Infraco CEO Dave Smith says the company is now looking to the private sector to form partnerships, instead of replicating networks. “Instead of building multiple cables to Mtunzini, why not consolidate and build it together. It makes more sense,” Broadband Infraco CEO Dave Smith told the website, which goes on to explain that Mtunzini, on KwaZulu-Natal's north coast, hosts the landing stations for the SA-Far East, Seacom and the East African Submarine System cables.