Frogfoot Networks, a licensed open-access fibre network provider, has announced that it is piloting Frogfoot RISE, a prepaid, uncapped internet product that is designed to bring fibre connectivity to more South Africans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frogfoot RISE<\/strong><\/a> will be rolled out across 40,000 to 45,000 connected homes over the next 3 to 6 months, with areas in Vrygrond and Phillipi in the Western Cape earmarked for the initial phases. All areas fall outside Frogfoot\u2019s current footprint and fall in higher-density, underserved areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrogfoot Networks\u2019 ambition is to bring access to uncapped connectivity to as many South Africans as possible. Of course, this will have to be accomplished through a mix of technologies, but it makes more sense to provide the communities that border our footprint with fibre-based wireless connectivity.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Frogfoot RISE will provide them with a more stable and cost-effective internet experience with uncapped access for less than R10 per day,\u201d says David Coleman, Frogfoot Networks\u2019 Chief Product Officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Retail packages will start from a 10\/5 Mbps voucher for 7 days at R69, to a 50\/25 Mbps voucher valid for 30 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike traditional fibre installations, Frogfoot RISE simplifies access for residents<\/strong><\/a> by installing an optical network terminal (ONT) that includes built-in WiFi capabilities. This means that there is no extra fibre installation required by the ISP, while residents don\u2019t need an additional router in order to access the internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLocal partners play a pivotal role in building the fibre network, installing ONTs, conducting activations and recharge campaigns, as well as network maintenance – bringing longer-term benefits to the communities that they live in.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Engagement has been going on for some time now in the pilot areas, and working closely with the community enables us to build these virtual highways in a way that local communities feel part of it,\u201d says Coleman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coleman points out that Frogfoot Networks\u2019 has for long had a schools programme where registered schools falling within their fibre footprint were given a 1 Gbps line with the ISP of their choice, and this will continue with schools in the Frogfoot RISE coverage area<\/strong><\/a>, bringing further benefits to these communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrogfoot Networks has been focusing on maximising our investments to date, including evaluating various options for geographic expansion of our network paired with the right offering aimed at improving fibre penetration across more communities.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n “More areas located within close proximity to our fibre backbone with similar characteristics to the pilot areas will be considered beyond the pilot phase,\u201d says Coleman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Community engagement is key<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n