Residents on the West Coast are up in arms over tariff changes implemented by Zoom Fibre.
One resident said the increase in fees are unacceptable, as he had left his previous internet provider to join Zoom Fibre because of its affordable prices.
Another resident shared that she simply cannot afford the new packages and is disappointed in the changes made.
According to Mohamed Asmal, managing director of Zoom Fibre the Fibre Network Operator (FNO), understands economic conditions in South Africa generally, and in SBM specifically are placing pressure on citizens, but that the recently announced changes on Zoom Fibre’s network are necessary to secure the long-term sustainability of the network in the region.
He said that as a business Zoom Fibre is fully committed to the residents of SBM and as such, they understand the concern surrounding their recent announcement.
“Access to our network is facilitated through internet service providers (ISPs), and so we issued communication to ISPs in the region. So, effective from June this year we will be removing the 15 MBPS, 20 MBPS and 30 MBPS services from the network, meaning the new entry-level product will be 50 MBPS at a lower cost than the product that is currently available, ahead of the mandatory 90 days.
“We did not land on this lightly, and the decision is the culmination of many months of weighing up various options.”
Asmal explained the changes to the network were to ensure the state-of-the-art infrastructure and world-class service levels were sustained in the long-term as part of the FNO’s commitment to the Baobab Smart City project.
“We are deeply committed to the region and its residents as well as the vision of a truly smart city. Fibre is more than just connecting people to the internet; it enables access to information, education and work opportunities, and it opens up possibilities.”
Asmal explained that while the current changes may have been a source of alarm for residents, innovations in the pipeline will be announced in due course. “Of course, we are embedded in the community and we understand the local realities. As such, in addition to the current announced change, we are actively working on innovative offerings.
“These include a hybrid offering, with the flexibility of prepaid fibre sitting on a postpaid environment, which puts the power of choice into the hands of the people. We will communicate with the public as soon as our new offerings and value-added services are available.”
Asmal said Zoom Fibre took its role in the community seriously and looks forward to a long-term presence in SBM where the full power and potential of fibre is unleashed.
