DFA sets sights on future growth
Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) has appointed two new executives as the group looks to ramp up its future growth and sustainablity targets.
The DFA’s fibre network currently spans over 7,300km across South Africa, and the company says it plans to extend this by 1,200km over the next year.
To help with its growth strategy, the company has appointed Reshaad Sha as the DFA’s chief strategy officer and Brian Alwar as chief sales and marketing officer.
“Sha’s responsibility is to lead DFA’s future growth strategic planning as well as an increased focus in areas of the businesses that require both medium and long term direction,” DFA CEO, Gustav Smit said.
As chief sales and marketing officer, Alwar’s responsibilities will include seeking new market opportunities and co-ordinating the business development and sales teams, Smit added.
DFA has estimated that, through its open access fibre deployment, at least 4,500 jobs have been created directly as well as indirectly in its operation.
Gustav Smit
Financial performance
In March 2013, Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) reported a 41.1% rise in revenue for the six months ended December 2012, to R302 million.
The figures were reported in the financial results for JSE-listed holding company, Remgro, which has an effective interest of 43.8% in the CIV (Community Investment Ventures) group, active in the telecommunications and information technology sectors.
DFA is the key operating company of CIV.
While DFA’s revenue for the period under review increased by 41.1%, Remgro noted that one of the main operating challenge that DFA faces is the slower-than-anticipated customer site build which affects its ability to link the sites to the fibre network.
“Another challenge is the delay in way leave approvals from municipalities and road authorities which prevent DFA from completing fibre rings on time.”
“Both these challenges delay revenue income generation to offset increasing depreciation and finance charges incurred on network rollout costs, resulting in lower earnings for the period under review,” Remgro said.
Loading ...
