South Africa is the telecommunications leader on the African continent with 4,03 million installed exchange lines, representing around 100 lines for every 1 000 inhabitants.
South Africa has a large transmission area, necessitated by the country's geographical spread of 1,2 million km2 utilising 125 million km of transmission circuits. Digital microwave and optical fibre serve as main transmission media for the inter-primary network interconnecting all the major centres.
Over the next five years, the current 4,03 million exchange lines will grow to around 7 million. About 2 million of these additional lines will be aimed at increasing telephone penetration in under-serviced urban and rural areas. The remaining 1 million lines will cater for growth in developed areas. |