Dartcom SA awarded R50-M fibre and Ethernet data centre contract

Dartcom SA, South Africa’s black-owned and controlled proudly South African telecommunications company, has recently been awarded the highly-acclaimed R50-million Fibre and Ethernet Reticulation Solution project by tech giant Dimension Data.

The company, renowned for its specialist distributor services  and innovative solutions, is the provider of value-added services in the telecommunication and other higher- end technology sectors.

The country’s premier specialist distributor of radio frequency and fibre optic communications technologies, Dartcom SA has been given the green light to commence the project with Dimension Data and end-user, Internet Solutions.

After a gruelling two-year long process, involving acute technical evaluations in this highly specialized product field, the tender was awarded to Dartcom SA late last year. The project involves the implementation of a fibre and ethernet reticulation solution at various Internet Solution Data Centres, including nine Points-of-Presence (POPs) in South Africa, one POP in the United Kingdom and one POP in Germany.

This entails the provision of cabinets and connectivity for the upgrade and/ or establishing of new Data Centres for Dimension Data and Internet Solutions nationally. Together with Huber+Suhner DC’s product portfolio, Dartcom SA’s solution is custom fit for the client’s needs.

Implementing world-class professionalism, training sessions have been conducted and Huber+Suhner have been working  closely with Dartcom SA on the first  installation as the partners roll out best practice methodologies.

Chairperson Mr Khudusela Pitje commented, “Colocation companies around the world rely on our high-density fibre management systems to connect incoming carriers to their valued customers. Our excellent cost per port and leading packing density make us the number one choice for regional and global colocation businesses. For example, our high-performance cable systems provide financial companies with the reliability they depend on to maintain their business-critical connections.”

The Dartcom SA solution is based on the Huber+Suhner Lisa side access solution whilst the IANOS 19” modular patch panel solution in the equipment racks allows clear flexibility. Used in conjunction with the harness cable assemblies, the conversion models allow upgradeability to 40G or 100G, providing large scope for expansion for clients. Floor space is limited and expensive in data centres, making the limited  space  needed  for the  products  a real and tangible benefit to the client. The design of the Dartcom SA modular solution also allows for quick and easy splicing access, as well as fast interconnectivity between  racks.

The building block method of CDR solutions also allows scalability for current requirements and future expansion if needed. The labelling methods on modules are clean and transparent for record keeping and traceability, an added bonus and providing  ease of execution  to the health and safety processes required.

Commenting on the project, Internet Solutions’  Mr Abri Kotze said, “In order to continually evolve and improve the service to our clients,  our network  needs to cater for increased bandwidth demand, scalable consumption at more cost-effective prices and faster activation times. The ethernet and fibre reticulation platform from Huber+Suhner supports this by providing  stable,  flexible and robust  cable management as required in the Data Centres to meet any current and future requirements and  to remain  relevant  in the ever-changing technology  and service landscapes. We are proud to be working with Dartcom SA on this project.”

Project scope

Dimension Data required a fibre and ethernet reticulation solution  to leverage full advantage of all departments in Internet Solutions; including the expansion of data centre footprints, remedial action in existing  data  centres,  and the deployment of the IS4.0 Network.

The purpose of the solution would be to provide a modular and scalable platform on which the Intra-Data Centre fibre and ethernet connectivity could be managed.

Internet Solutions  provides and operates secure, carrier neutral and resilient Data Centres across South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa. Connectivity provided in these centres includes both optical fibre and ethernet cabling between the WAN, Internet Solutions core equipment, customer equipment and 3rd party  service providers.

In order to remain technically relevant, Internet Solutions required a network supportive of increased bandwidth demands, scalable consumption and  faster activation times, together with a stable, flexible and robust cable management platform in the Data Centres.

Commenting on the winning of the contract, Pitje said: “Our cutting-edge technology, coupled with Dartcom SA’s strong customer-centric focus and underpinned  by a solid technically  skilled team have made the difference.

The supply of cabinets and material has already been delivered to some of the high priority Data Centres  and commissioning will be commencing soon! We are excited to make a positive impact for our client and the telecommunication industry as a whole. We are here for the long haul and will continue  to provide support to our client after  the rollout is complete. As always, we remain committed to South Africa and the African continent.”