An Evotel Production
CPF Mass Patrol
Crime busters clean up the streets of Rustenburg.
WE BRING THE CHANGE!
BANDY WORDS WON’T GROW SOUTH AFRICA, BUT COOPERATION WILL!
In no time, we’ll be shouting “Hip Hip Hooray” as we express our excitement towards the end of a year that has been so difficult to navigate—much like streams of sewage spilling across suburbs, and all the power interruptions disguised as “load reduction” instead of load shedding. I know you share my frustration with all these challenges we face as a country.
But what can we do as ordinary citizens?
We must hold hands, do things right, and do the best we can. Soon, we will be shouting “Hip Hip Hooray” as we reach the end of this dark tunnel.
So far, we’ve been climbing exceptionally well over this cliff, working together like brothers and sisters, all aiming for the peak of the mountain. And now, we are close to the summit.
But here’s the challenge: Are we tired and ready to turn back, or do we carry on until we achieve our ultimate goal?
I say, let’s carry on, leaning on our hiking sticks, and steadily we will plant the flag at the summit of this mountain called life.
Yet, the bickering between fibre network operators (FNOs), fibre network owners, and government municipalities is dragging the country backwards. Instead of extending a helping hand to ordinary people, we are stuck.
It’s ironic that even government ministers want to see change, but those running departments, like DirectorGenerals, are often the ones standing between FNOs and our partners in the ISP sector.
Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, has indicated that the government is financially strained and wants to introduce technology in schools but lacks the funds to achieve these goals. Still, they want to introduce robotics and coding into the curriculum from January next year (2025), though in phases.
Well, Minister, other schools are already way ahead with robotics and coding, thanks to proactive heads of administration and FNOs like Evotel, which have connected these schools with free internet. They’re already reaping the rewards—how nice is that?
Efforts to set up meetings with a Director-General in the Departments of Basic Education, Communication, and Digital Technologies seem as difficult as requesting a oneon-one with the State President. Still, it could happen— who knows?
FNOs are prepared to help the government, and Evotel is already 60% ahead in connecting schools across South Africa. By the time this was written, 83 schools were actively surfing on our network, 15 more were pending, and another five had consented to be connected.
Now, all government ministers, especially those whose departments are driven by technology and telecommunications, want to make an impact in their first year after being sworn in. They claim to be connecting townships and schools with free internet.
Granted, some have, but it’s been a shoddy job—certainly not up to the standards of 4IR and the rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI).
No one in government has done a better job. They’ve tried with hotspots at various institutions, but a survey conducted by Evotel revealed that it’s worse now than when those townships had no hotspots at all—because expectations were raised, but nothing was delivered.
My parting shot: Let’s stop the bandy words and grow this country together.
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CRIME BUSTERS CLEAN UP RUSTENBURG STREETS! CPF PATROL
Rustenburg came to life as Evotel and various security clusters lit up the Platinum City with blue and red lights during a motorcade on Friday and Saturday night.
The event, organised by the Rustenburg Community Policing Forum (RCPF), saw a focused effort to patrol the high-risk Sector Two areas, with affiliate partners joining forces. The main objective was to reduce crime through enhanced policing efforts.
Police visibility, a key recommendation by global law enforcement agencies, plays a significant role in deterring criminal activity, and such initiatives often yield positive results.
The day began with an assembly in town, where tents and gazebos were set up.
Members from the central CPF, the Evotelsponsored Rustenburg Crime Combating Forum (RCCF), Fidelity/ADT, the South African Police Service (SAPS), and various other organisations participated in the exercise.
The two days of heightened action led to a noticeable reduction in crime on Friday, 20 September 2024, according to the organisers. All organisations worked together to raise awareness of SAPS and other crime prevention bodies.
The collaboration between SAPS, CPF, crime prevention groups, and the community helped identify crime hotspot areas across the city.
Approximately 14 leaders, guiding a team of around 150 participants, took part in the patrol of Sector 2. Key figures included Corne van der Byle (Marcus Haasbroek Sector), Clinton Cilliers (Wenzel van Vuuren Sector), Nkabele Molapisi (Manie Sector), Koketsi Sector, Harrie Swart (Tsepiso Sector), Dawie Odendaal (Jean Keyser RCCF), and Kobus Ferreira (Dawid Fourie).
The administration team consisted of Wilma du Plessis, Jolene Fouche, and Mercia Haasbroek, while Corlia du Plessis and Gizelle Le Grange were dedicated radio operators.
The motorcade commenced at Staan Saam Park and moved through various streets, supported by traffic law enforcement.
Aaron Phiri, Bojanala CPF District PRO, under the leadership of Captain Ntwaagae, stated that they are working tirelessly to counter the escalating crime rates in Rustenburg and surrounding areas.
“We organised this event to unite and combat crime in this area,” Phiri said. “As we all know, the city has high crime rates due to certain factors.
The motorcade covered all hotspots, and through our partnership with all CPFs, we fought a good fight.”
Rustenburg is currently ranked third in the province for crime, and Phiri emphasised the urgency of their actions.
“Evotel is a valuable partner, and we need affiliates like them,” Phiri added. “We must fight this crime, and we cannot do it alone. The community is concerned and anxious.”
According to Numbeo, an online crime statistics database, Rustenburg’s crime levels are alarmingly high:
• Level of crime: 86% (very high)
• Crime increase over the past 5 years: 88% (very high)
• Concerns about home break-ins: 83% (very high)
• Concerns about being mugged or robbed: 77% (very high)
• Concerns about car theft: 75% (high)
• Concerns about items stolen from cars: 76% (high)
• Concerns about physical assault: 73%
• Concerns about insults: 54% (moderate)
• Concerns about physical attacks based on race, ethnicity, gender, or religion: 64% (high)
• Problems with drug use or dealing: 76% (high)
• Problems with property crimes like vandalism and theft: 79% (high)
• Problems with violent crimes like
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES GET THE WORLD TALKING!
Telecommunications networks are the vital infrastructure that keep the world connected – both for work and play. These networks enable consumers and businesses to meet the demands of a digital society, whether it’s hybrid working, online gaming, or video calling friends abroad.
As reliance on internet connectivity continues to grow, the spotlight is on the implementation of next-generation networks, which underpin the most exciting developments in technology, from Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the Internet of Things (IoT).
The World is More Connected Than Ever Before
The telecommunications industry can be broadly divided into mobile (also referred to as wireless) and fixed communications. Mobile services include the provision of voice, text, and data via wireless networks, generally with small personal devices such as smartphones or wearables.
Mobile usage has exploded across the globe over the past decade, with billions of connections consuming over 100 exabytes of data per month. Meanwhile, fixed communications include wired services such as home broadband and fixed voice or landline services.
While fixed voice usage has decreased with the rise of mobile communications, the number of fixed broadband connections continues to climb.
All Eyes Are on 5G and Fibre Networks
The upgrade of telecoms networks is currently focused on the introduction of next-generation networks.
Meanwhile, fibre broadband networks are enabling ultra-fast connections that surpass traditional copper cable services.
However, the rollout of these services has not been straightforward, with the replacement of ageing infrastructure requiring close collaboration between network operators, governments, and regulators.
Despite Challenges South African Networks Stand Strong
With all the trouble faced in the rollouts, it’s important to remember that the skills passed down by fibre operators are being sought after across the world.
While South Africa’s fibre network penetration continues to grow, even the first-world is calling on us to help build fibre networks for them as their infrastructure development has come second to other goals in their economies.
With South African skills helping connected the United States even, we can rest assured that this industry is a true boon for the South African economy.
The South African government has embraced the reality of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) with urgency and optimism. These are no longer distant concepts or futuristic dreams – they are shaping our present and defining the contours of our future.
Government’s approach is informed by the recommendations of the Presidential Commission on the 4th Industrial Revolution (PC4IR), which views AI as a tool that can drive both social and economic progress, according to Communications and Digital Technologies Minister, Solly Malatsi.
Across the country, numerous AI initiatives have been led by government, the private sector, academia, and civil society.
Minister Malatsi noted that they have crafted a strategy to bring together all stakeholders, ensuring alignment on national priorities and goals to foster growth and prosperity through AI adoption.
“The appetite for knowledge that we see across the country is a testament to our people’s ambition and readiness to lead the charge into an AI-driven economy,” he said.
The Minister also highlighted AI hubs at the University of Johannesburg and the Tshwane University of Technology, which are already delivering tangible results in sectors like automotive, healthcare, mining, and digital identity.
Speaking at the 26th edition of the Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC) in Mpumalanga, he referred to these hubs as “engines of change, driving localised solutions that respond to South Africa’s unique needs”.
“We will continue to expand these AI hubs across the country, ensuring that every region benefits from this transformative technology,” Malatsi added.
As a result, South Africa’s AI market is expected to grow exponentially, driven by increased investment, adoption across sectors, and an understanding that AI can improve efficiency, spark innovation, and drive economic transformation.
“This is not just about automating processes,” Malatsi cautioned. “It’s about elevating industries and empowering people with the tools of tomorrow.”
“Clearly, we are not merely participants in this global AI revolution – we are active contributors. We are a constitutional democracy. So, as we foster this connected society, we must also consider the ethical implications. AI has the potential to uplift – but only if we ensure it is deployed responsibly. It is our duty to create an AI ecosystem that respects privacy, human rights, and the dignity of every South African.”
“Our commitment to fostering an inclusive, connected society goes beyond AI. We have made significant strides in policy interventions to propel the digital economy.”
He explained that their Digital Economy Master Plan sets out a clear framework to grow this critical sector, while the SA Connect initiative focuses on closing the digital divide and ensuring connectivity in underserved areas.
As previously reported by this publication, Malatsi reiterated his commitment to developing pathways that will attract solutions to accelerate government’s ambition to connect all South Africans to the internet at affordable prices.
4IR & AI NO LONGER
LONGER A PIPE DREAM
“One such pathway is to make room for equity equivalent programmes where local ownership requirements present a barrier to investment. The second is to lower the cost of data and devices, and we hope to make announcements on this soon,” said the Minister, speaking at a venue near the Kruger National Park.
He also announced that, on 13 September 2024 in Brazil, he would accept the Presidency of the G20 for 2025 on behalf of South Africa at a gathering of Ministers of Communications and Digital Technologies from around the world.
The G20 meeting in Brazil focused on the following agenda:
• Digital inclusion, universal and meaningful connectivity
• Digital government and inclusive digital infrastructure
• Integrity of information online and trust in the digital economy
• Artificial intelligence for inclusive, sustainable development and addressing inequality
“I would like to build upon the achievements of past presidencies to bridge digital divides, promote equality, and support inclusive, sustainable development to improve people’s lives,” the Minister declared.
It’s
Time To Receive Our Wings!
On the 27th of September, our offices were vibrating with excitement. Evolution Day was finally here, and staff members were eager to find out what it was all about.
Starting the day off with a quick presentation, Marketing Manager for Evotel, Nadia Smith, explained the reason: “Evolution Day is a chance for us to reflect on the past and plan. It’s where we take everything we learned over the course of the last year and start implementing it .”
Smith explained to staff what changes had already been implemented internally as well as customer-facing, and the exciting opportunities that lay ahead for the company and its employees.
Staff members were introduced to the new branding put in place by Smith and her team, as well as some education on what makes a successful brand and how staff members could help the company achieve sales goals by changing the way they sell fibre.
WE BRING THE EVOLUTION! THE TEAM
Smith then likened the journey traveled at Evotel since its inception to a caterpillar feeding on everything it could get a hold of to grow, but that other caterpillars (fibre companies) encroached on the territory and food became scarce for all.
With this, the caterpillar went into hibernation to reserve energy and build a new strategy for a second chance at life.
Now Evotel is ready to emerge as a butterfly and can feed off the choicest of flowers. After the presentation, staff were invited to sign the Evolution Day Pledge and, as Smith put it, “to receive your wings” (which in this case were not chicken wings, to everyone’s disappointment).
The pledge reads as follows:
‘We, the dedicated team at Evotel, pledge our unwavering commitment to excellence in connectivity and customer satisfaction.
We promise to uphold the highest standards of service, ensuring that every fibre of our network operates with integrity, speed, and reliability.
Our allegiance lies with our customers, whose trust we seek to earn every day through responsive support, transparent communication, and continuous innovation. We are more than a fibre internet company; we are a community of service-driven professionals dedicated to enriching lives and empowering businesses.
Together, we connect, we support, we deliver.’
In our quest to continue offering the excellence our clients deserve, Evotel staff have each signed a solemn oath to prioritize our clients as we endeavor to connect as many homes and institutions as possible with pride and reliable internet connectivity –welcome to Evolution Day.
With the participation of all heads of departments and executives, it was a day well spent, filled with renewed vigor and determination.
Everyone reflected on the past and looked ahead to our rapid growth, committing to resilience and to prioritizing our clients.
From the lessons learned, exorbitant data prices remain South Africa’s biggest obstacle in achieving nationwide internet connectivity at affordable rates while still enjoying a quality internet experience.
As a result, a resolution was made by the staff to provide customer service worth remembering.
After all, without our clients, our networks mean nothing and making sure our clients remain the most important part of the network is how Evotel continues to shine through.
We recognize that the telecommunications industry is nothing short of a competitive environment, and with the market facing more and more saturation than ever with many internet solutions vying for consumers’ attention, standing out from the crowd is an absolute must-have.
Therefore, the excited Evotel staff were treated to a day reminding our teams of the value of Evotel’s service and took a closer look at how to upgrade service to Service Excellence.
Evotel’s teams committed to being the concierge of fibre for all clients on the network, but what does that mean?
From sign-up straight through to the aftersales service, Evotel makes sure to provide guidance to all clients so they can find the right service provider for them.
Clients Come First
Evotel’s new look emphasizes that premium service we offer, so whenever our clients tell people they’re with Evotel, they can do so with a bit of self-indulgent pride.
Smith said: “We’re transitioning to
What’s the tea on Latency...
UNDERSTANDING LATENCY BETTER!
As a South African fibre network operator, we ensure that our users experience the best possible internet performance. However, to achieve this, it’s crucial to understand how various factors influence your internet experience. One key element that plays a vital role in determining the quality of your connection is latency.
What is Latency?
Latency, often referred to as “ping,” is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to a server and back. Essentially, it’s the delay between when you perform an action—like clicking a link or pressing a button—and when you see a response from the server. Latency is measured in milliseconds (ms), and lower numbers indicate better performance.
A Common Misconception
It’s important to distinguish between latency and bandwidth. Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transferred over a network at a given time, usually measured in Mbps (megabits per second). While bandwidth affects how much data can be moved, latency is all about how quickly that data moves back and forth. A connection with high bandwidth but high latency will still feel slow and unresponsive.
How it Affects Your Online Experience
1. Buffering While Streaming
If you’re streaming your favourite series or movies on platforms like Netflix or YouTube, you might encounter buffering due to high latency. Buffering occurs when the video temporarily stops to load more data before continuing to play. With low latency, the data moves quickly between the server and your device, allowing for smooth and continuous playback. However, if latency is high, it can take longer for the video data to arrive, resulting in frustrating pauses.
2. Impact on Online Gaming
For gamers, latency is a critical factor that directly influences gameplay. In online gaming, real-time interaction is essential. When you press a button to perform an action—like shooting, jumping, or steering—your device sends that command to the game server, and the server responds by updating your character’s position or action.
3. Browsing the Web
When it comes to browsing the web, latency affects how quickly websites load. High latency can make pages take longer to respond when you click on links or fill out forms, even if your bandwidth is high. For instance, you might be able to download files quickly, but opening new pages or interacting with websites could feel sluggish if there’s significant latency.
Factors That Contribute to Latency
Several factors can influence latency, including:
• Physical Distance:
The farther data has to travel, the higher the latency. This is why accessing international websites or game servers often results in higher latency than accessing local services.
• Network Congestion:
High internet traffic, especially during peak times, can increase latency as data queues up in the network.
• Routing and Infrastructure:
The path data takes from your device to the server can also impact latency. Poor routing, older infrastructure, and slow servers contribute to longer round-trip times.
• Wi-Fi vs. Wired Connections:
Wi-Fi generally introduces more latency than a direct wired connection due to interference, signal strength issues, and slower transmission speeds.
How to Reduce Latency
• Choose a Fibre Connection:
Fibre-optic networks offer the lowest latency compared to other technologies like ADSL or mobile networks.
• Use a Wired Connection:
Whenever possible, connect your device directly to your router using an Ethernet cable to reduce the additional latency introduced by Wi-Fi.
• Select Local Servers:
For gaming or browsing, select South African servers when possible to minimise the distance data needs to travel.
Conclusion
Latency is a crucial factor that influences the quality of your internet experience, particularly when streaming, gaming, or browsing.
Understanding how it works and how to manage it can help you optimise your connection for better performance.
By choosing a reliable fibre network operator and taking steps to reduce latency, you can enjoy a faster, smoother online experience tailored to your needs.
HAZEL DUBE BEATS THE BEST!
Employee of the month for September
Hazel Dube, our ever-smiling Employee of the Month, reflects on her role at Evotel with enthusiasm.
She thrives on the daily challenges, problem-solving, and the interactions with colleagues across various departments.
Hazel values the collaborative environment at Evotel, where she often engages in brainstorming sessions and team meetings that foster creativity and innovation.
She enjoys mentoring new employees, sharing her knowledge and experiences to help them acclimate and succeed in their roles.
For Hazel, tackling challenges head-on is essential.
She believes that problems persist unless addressed directly, a mindset that has helped her navigate many tough situations.
Her approachable nature makes her a go-to person for advice and support, and she finds great satisfaction in helping her colleagues overcome obstacles.
One of Hazel’s proudest achievements was hitting a significan t target, a milestone that reaffirmed her dedication to going above and beyond.
She acknowledges that it’s not always possible to give 100% every single day, but on the days when you can, it’s crucial to exceed expectations.
Hazel advises newcomers to embrace challenges and maintain a willingness to learn.
Hazel advises newcomers to embrace challenges and maintain a willingness to learn. Each day in her role brings something new, so keeping a fresh
TECH CORNER
EDUCATION BETWEEN FNO & ISP KEY!
FNO vs ISP: Who does what?
The terms FNO (Fixed Network Operator) and ISP (Internet Service Provider) refer to different entities in the telecommunications industry, often with overlapping roles. Here’s a breakdown of each and their differences: Fixed Network Operator (FNO)
1. Definition:
5. Role:
ISPs are responsible for routing internet traffic, offering various packages to consumers (e.g., broadband, fibre, or wireless internet), and often providing customer support for internet-related issues.
2. Role:
An FNO is a company that owns and operates the physical infrastructure, such as copper lines, fibre optics, or DSL connections, used to provide telecommunications services. They may own the cables, switches, routers, and other hardware required for connectivity.
FNOs handle the installation, maintenance, and management of the physical network. They can lease out their infrastructure to ISPs or provide direct services to end customers.
3. Examples:
Evotel, Vumatel, Openserve.
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
4. Definition:
An ISP is a company that provides internet access to end users. ISPs often rely on infrastructure owned by an FNO, but they can also own parts of the network infrastructure themselves.
6. Examples:
Webafrica, Afrihost, Mweb, Vox.
Difference Between FNO and ISP
• Infrastructure vs. Service:
FNOs focus on managing and maintaining the physical network infrastructure, while ISPs focus on providing internet services and customer support.
• Ownership:
FNOs may lease their infrastructure to multiple ISPs. An ISP may or may not own infrastructure and can depend on an FNO for access.
Where to Log Your Ticket When the
Line Is Down
• Determine the Issue:
If your internet is down, it’s usually best to first contact your ISP. They will run diagnostics to determine if the issue is on their end (e.g., modem configuration) or if it’s due to a problem with the physical line (which is the FNO’s responsibility).
• Contacting Your ISP:
Log your ticket with the ISP. They can escalate the issue to the FNO if needed.
• Contacting the FNO Directly:
Some FNOs allow direct ticket logging if you have a direct contract with them. However, in most consumer scenarios, the ISP acts as the intermediary and handles communication with the FNO.
In short, always start by logging your ticket with your ISP, as they are your direct point of contact for troubleshooting internet issues.
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