By Candice Jones, ITWeb online telecoms editor
Johannesburg, 12 Jan 2010

The long-anticipated Joburg Broadband Network Project will begin with the laying of 900km of fibre that will bring connectivity to “all citizens of Johannesburg”.

The company that will manage the network, BWired, was unveiled in Soweto this afternoon. Speaking at the event, City of Johannesburg's (COJ) councillor Oupa Monareng said getting the project off the ground has been five years in the making, and will be used to develop the COJ into a world-class digital city.

With the launch of BWired, Johannesburg's vision of being a smart, digital city has taken another step forward. BWIRED is to turn Johannesburg into a digital city, following the launch of the new company on Tuesday, 12 January. Some high profile government representatives were at the launch, held at the Arthur Ashe Sports Complex in Jabavu, Soweto.