Link Africa, a fibre-optic infrastructure company, has reported an increase in its market share in the fibre-to-the-tower (FTTT) and fibre-to-the-business (FTTB) segments after divesting a portion of its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) business to MetroFibre. Following the acquisition of Link Africa’s FTTH network and infrastructure in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal by MetroFibre in April 2021, Link Africa has focused on growing its FTTT and FTTB verticals.
Mark O’Donoghue, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Link Africa, stated that the company has strengthened its partnerships with internet service providers (ISPs) and mobile network operators (MNOs) to accelerate its network expansion across the country. Link Africa has expanded its coverage from Western Cape, Gauteng, and KZN to every province in South Africa. The company has also collaborated with major retailers, delivering fibre connectivity to shopping centres and malls and extending high-speed backhaul services to areas that previously relied on slower copper-based connections.
Link Africa builds and operates fibre-optic networks using a patented infrastructure deployment method across various modes of infrastructure. MNOs utilize Link Africa’s FTTT infrastructure to connect their towers, increasing bandwidth for their customers. Since its acquisition of ISP Internet Solutions’ fibre assets in 2019, Link Africa has expanded its reach and revenue streams, positioning itself as one of South Africa’s leading fibre network providers.
To meet the growing demand, Link Africa has expanded its sales teams and technical resources in Gauteng and KZN. The company aims to extend its deployment routes to underserved areas through new partnerships. However, O’Donoghue noted that remote areas still lack adequate fibre coverage, primarily due to the challenges of protecting the network from vandalism. Link Africa faces the unique challenge of network cables being mistaken for copper, resulting in damage and attacks on their teams during installation and repairs.
Despite these challenges, Link Africa’s strategic focus on expanding its network and investing in higher-capacity infrastructure has led to increased revenue, profitability, and market share in the FTTT and FTTB segments.
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