Broadband Infraco Intensifies Role in Connecting SADC

$Andrew Matseke of Broadband Infraco explains his company's role in connecting Southern Africa, and the changing landscape of African telecoms.$ By IT News Africa
June 7, 2019

Great network infrastructure, sound financial support and meaningful partnerships are key to unlocking potential growth for the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Chief Executive Officer for Broadband Infraco, Andrew Matseke, says South Africa, which currently acts as the gateway for international connectivity for the continent’s landlocked neighbouring countries, has seen the submarine fibre cables market explode in the last 10 years. BBI is an anchor tenant and has made immense investment on the WACS cable.

In fact, Matseke explains that there are many cables that land in South Africa and the telcos from neighbouring countries, including the landlocked countries, are consortium members in one or the other of those cables. He goes on to say that Broadband Infraco offers a transition from the landlocked countries, through the Terraco data centre, then from there to any of the undersea cables.

“Our role, as South Africa, and our role as Broadband Infraco, is to help enhance competition in that market with an intention of reducing the cost of telecommunication. That way a country like Zimbabwe can go from Beitbridge into South Africa through a number of market players, and not just the legacy operators. This is the current model, and it fits into our current strategy by aligning with our vision to offer just under a 100 GB line from the border, to the data centre, to a submarine cable by through expanded IP services.

“As Infraco, we see a lot of potential within the market, because we believe that the rest of SADC is tired of the incumbents that currently play in this space. They love our pricing, the engaged and personal service, they also love the relationships we bring to them and we’ve seen massive growth in SADC to date,” says Matseke. Broadband Infraco also plays a significant role at SATA (Southern African Telecommunication Association), where SADC Telecommunication Operators interchange on developments as well as innovation in the Region.