Internet service provider (ISP) BitCo Telecoms together with many other South African Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Fibre network operators are working together to upgrade Internet speeds during the national lockdown in South Africa.

BitCo Telecoms manages an independent national carrier-grade fibre network which spans across the country. The company announced that it is giving free speed upgrades on its large dark fibre business network, effective from April 1 to 31 May 2020.

Customers with speeds between 10 Mbps and 50 Mbps can be upgraded to 100 Mbps and customers with speeds between 100 Mbps and 750 Mbps can be upgraded to 1 Gbps.

BitCo said it had also approached its wholesale and reseller partners to join this initiative. Many of its ISP partners that have the capacity to do so have participated.

“We have the network capacity available to deal with the heightened demand for connectivity and are in the unique position to be able to offer all of our customers on our dark fibre network these free upgrades during this time,” says BitCo chief sales officer Michael Colin.

In addition, BitCo Home is working with several home fibre network operators to upgrade their home fibre subscribers for free to support those who will be working from home. To further support working from home initiatives, BitCo has also launched a long-term evolution, also known as LTE, solution, as well as a soft phone application with voice over internet protocol services.

BitCo says it would like to assure all its customers that the organisation will continue to remain fully operational during the national lockdown period and its subsequent deescalating phases.

As a licensed telecommunications and network provider, BitCo is exempt under strict conditions to ensure critical network services remain online and operational. During this period, BitCo continues to support its clients and will endeavour to maintain its service levels.