Openserve, Huawei pilot fibre-ready housing in KwaZulu-Natal
The Fibre Pre-Provisioning Proof of Concept was launched on 23 October at the Phase 1A Empangeni Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP) housing project in uMhlathuze Municipality.
The initiative involves installing the physical infrastructure needed for fibre connectivity while homes are being built, rather than retrofitting it after construction. The pilot does not provide internet services itself, but prepares the houses for future connectivity.
The project brings together Openserve's telecommunications infrastructure expertise and Huawei's technical support, alongside the provincial government, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements and uMhlathuze Municipality.
Installing fibre infrastructure during construction
The project uses a method known as “Pipe and Box”, which provides the infrastructure needed for future fibre installation during the construction of homes and other essential infrastructure.
The approach is intended to reduce the cost and disruption associated with installing telecommunications infrastructure after residents have moved in. It also aims to make connectivity a standard consideration in housing development, alongside roads, water and electricity.
Openserve is contributing network planning and deployment expertise, while Huawei is providing technical advice, programme support and knowledge transfer.
Pearl Schrimpton, executive for enterprise and public sector at Openserve, said the company would measure the project's outcomes and share its findings with government partners to inform future decisions about the model.
Huawei South Africa deputy CEO Charles Cheng said fibre pre-provisioning should be considered for wider adoption through municipal building codes and national housing policy.
A model for future developments
The Empangeni pilot will provide an opportunity to assess how fibre infrastructure can be planned, costed and installed as part of new housing developments. The findings are expected to inform discussions about extending the approach to other communities across South Africa.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli said the project establishes the physical infrastructure needed to make future connectivity possible, although broadband services will still need to be deployed.
The provincial government provides strategic oversight, while the Department of Human Settlements contributes settlement-planning expertise. uMhlathuze Municipality is responsible for local coordination, including infrastructure requirements, approvals and stakeholder engagement.
The partners say the initiative could help reduce the cost of future network rollouts and improve communities' readiness to access online services, including education, healthcare and digital business opportunities.
Any broader rollout will depend on the lessons from the proof of concept and decisions about adopting the model in future housing developments.
