Herotel is proud to announce that it’s expanding its Queenstown fibre network into the following areas: Stuttaford, Westbourne, CBD, Sandringham, Komani Park, New Rest, Aloevale and Victoria Park. Residents can look forward to speeds of up to 100Mbps at some of the lowest prices in the Eastern Cape. Our 10Mbps True Uncapped product costs only R499 per month and comes with a free install, free router and month-to-month contract. Most other fibre networks costs around R729 for the exact same quality fibre product.

Do you want DOUBLE YOUR SPEED for the first year that the new network is live? Host one of our fibre poles and you get a 20Mbps True uncapped connection for only R499 p/m during the first year that the network is live. Click here to apply.

If you are worried about possible damage to your property, we would like to put your mind at ease. Unlike most other fibre providers, Herotel builds its fibre networks primarlity above the ground, on poles,  because we have learned through experience that trenching (digging holes for fibre cables) can cause unforeseen damage to driveways, walls and prize-winning flower gardens. Trenching is also a slow, expensive process that, because of the costs, end up in higher monthly subscription fees for residents. By building above the ground we can pass the saving back to you through a better monthly price, which is why we are up to 33% more affordable than most other fibre providers.  Our local teams build the network by planting a single pole in the telecommunications servitude between you and your neighbours. These poles are neatly tucked away in your backyard and are rarely visible from the street, unless we need to do a road crossing. It is a process used all over the world, notably by large telecommunication companies such as Verizon and British Telecoms. We only need to plant a few poles on each street, so for those customers that host our poles we will provide double the speed of their fibre line for the first full year.

Our Direct Access model is the other reason we are able to offer better prices. We prefer a direct relationship with our customers, while most fibre operators choose to resell their services through national ISP middlemen. Dealing with two different companies becomes quite tricky when things go wrong, especially when you have to figure out who you are supposed to call. We believe that local is lekker, which is why will service the community out of our established Queenstown office. Our Direct Access model also helps us keep our prices low because there is no middleman ISP that also needs to be paid.  Why pay two companies when you only need one?

This philosophy of wanting to directly serve our customers also reflects in how we build – Herotel doesn’t allow outside contractors to build our fibre networks. We employ locally as much as we are able to. The Queenstown fibre network will also improve access to education, entertainment and open new business opportunities in town. As a further bonus to homeowners, it has also been proven that access to fibre increases the value of properties over time. We know residents have many questions, so we have captured some of the most commonly asked questions below for your perusal.

Q: Who is Herotel? 

A: Herotel is a Western Cape based business that began its journey in 2014 with the dream of connecting all South Africans to faster, more affordable internet. That vision was accelerated through a nationwide consolidation of 30 local owner-operated businesses, which now all proudly fly the Herotel flag. We united these businesses to help bring meaningful change to an industry that desperately needed a shake-up. Today, we are one of the largest fibre players in South Africa with 45 local offices all over the country. 

Q: Will Herotel employ locally?

Herotel is committed to sourcing at least 75% of labour locally during the initial construction of the network. Herotel will run the project out of its local office in Queenstown.

Q: Does Herotel have the necessary approvals to build fibre?

Yes, Herotel has consulted with the local municipality and has permission to engage with residents around the construction of the network.

Q: Is Herotel licensed to build and manage fibre networks? 

Herotel is a licensed telecommunications company. These licences are issued by ICASA. Herotel holds both an ECNS and an ECS licence from ICASA, which are both required in order to legally build and sell telecommunications services.

Q: Does Herotel have the right to plant a pole in any private property, wherever they want?

Herotel is required to get homeowner permission in order to plant a pole on private property. In the back of each yard, down the midblock, there is a registered telecommunications servitude. We will use this same servitude to provide an affordable fibre network to your town.  Homeowners can determine where in the servitude the pole should be located, and poles will only be installed on an appointment basis.

Herotel is offering an attractive DOUBLE YOUR SPEED promotion to those homeowners that agree to host a pole in their property. Terms & Conditions Apply.

Q: How does Herotel go about getting these pole permissions and what community engagement is undertaken? 

The Herotel team will move through the suburbs engaging directly with residents, during which time they answer any questions or concerns that homeowners might have. These staff members are employed by Herotel and will be clearly identifiable with security tags and by the uniform and branded vehicles that they drive. The team will also arrange information sharing days in town.

Q: What does a fibre network do to property values? 

Studies have shown that the presence of a fibre network increases property values over the long term. Access to high-speed broadband across the wider community will enable more of the citizens to enter the digital economy. The ability to run a business, entertain your family or learn from home is just around the corner. Herotel plans to assist these communities to narrow the digital divide and to help your municipality deliver on the economic promises of the 4th industrial revolution (4IR).

Q: Do these poles look like the old Telkom/Eskom poles?

No, they are much smaller and can easily be hidden in your backyard in the telecommunications servitude. They are rarely visible from the street unless we need to do a road crossing.

Q: Is an aerial network the same quality as a trenched network? 

Yes, it’s the exact same fibre cables. We just choose to build them above the ground, and not underneath it.

Q: Who should residents contact at Herotel if they have questions or concerns with the Pole Permission process, or if they would like to find out more about the fibre project or pricing? 

A: The Herotel team can be contacted at 087 160 0602 or sales@lcom.herotel.com

Sourced from: HeroTel. View the original article here.