Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Siyabonga Cwele said that South Africa is making strides in the roll-out of broadband as a result of government and private sector investments.<\/p>\n
Delivering his 2016\/17 Budget Vote, Cwele said in 2015 South African telecommunications operators invested R23.5 billion in broadband infrastructure \u2013 and were planning to increase this to R26 billion this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are making progress towards our 2019 mobile broadband target of connecting 80% of the population,\u201d said Cwele.<\/p>\n
Cwele said: \u201cmobile broadband 4G\/LTE coverage now stands between 35% and 53%\u201d in South Africa.<\/p>\n
The minster said state-owned companies were the largest investors in fixed-line broadband coverage, with Telkom having more than 147,000km of fibre.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn September 2015, Telkom announced their plans to connect 500,000 homes to fibre by December 2016, growing to one million homes by 2018,\u201d said Cwele.<\/p>\n
He said Broadband Infraco (BBI), despite its funding challenges, spent R203 million to add 1,000km of fibre to its network and establish 24 points of presence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year BBI will invest R75 million in infrastructure, including for an additional 17 POPs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Telkom and Broadband Infraco merger likely: report<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n