Converged communications network operator Neotel on Tuesday said construction of the first leg of the National Long Distance contract had commenced with completion still on track for before the Fifa World Cup 2010.

The first route of the national fibre network will extend from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal, incorporating Pietermaritzburg and Durban.

The network is set to cover a distance of 5000km, connecting major centres across South Africa.

Executive head of Neotel Business Support Services (NBSS), Imran Abbas said: "The optic fibre network will provide Neotel, Vodacom and MTN with almost infinite bandwidth capacity to carry more information - voice and data - at higher speeds over greater distances using far less power than copper cables.

"The deployment of high-speed, quality voice and data transmission is vital to remain competitive within the industry and to improve the overall customer experience for MTN, Vodacom and Neotel customers in the converged mobile and fixed line arenas in terms of availability, reliability and cost- effective end-to-end solutions. This will eliminate dependencies and enable these three companies to really take charge of their own destiny," Abbas said.

NBSS was formed following Neotel's acquisition of Transtel. The group was then awarded contracts to build the national long-distance fibre optic networks for Neotel, MTN SA and Vodacom.

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