Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa August 2018

The Future of Fibre and Real Estate Two peas in a pod BY MONIQUE DU TOIT I magining the future of property and indeed society as a whole is difficult without factoring in the impact of tech- nology. The internet, with its wave of influence over the past two decades, has brought with it a decidedly more inter- esting world. With more and more areas in South Africa be- ing connected to fibre connections, the game is set to become more interesting than ever. This month, we take a look at the ways in which fibre is changing the property landscape. While it’s worth acknowledging that we’re far from a uto- pian future where cities are connected and all homes are smart (in fact, many experts believe this is a pipe dream altogether), we are in an era where technology is controlling ever larger aspects of our lives. Real estate is no different. Fibre basics How does fibre work, exactly? Simply put, fibre optic cables consist of tiny reflective tubes. Information is transferred through these tubes by light flashes, bouncing off the inner walls of the tubes as they travel. These light flashes are inter- preted as data at the receiving end. There are different options when it comes to fibre installa- 14 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine tions. Depending on your usage and capacity needs, you can opt for speeds ranging from 2mb/s to 100mb/s. The key to fibre is its stability when compared to traditional internet con- nections. Effects on real estate Amenities once believed to be extras or luxuries are becom- ing more important than ever. From off-the-grid electricity and water solutions, to state of the art security installations, homeowners know what they want. Ranking high on that list is internet connectivity - increasingly, fibre. While a fibre installation involves some initial spend, these expenses dwarf when compared to the potential returns once you decide to sell the property. In some cases, experts claim a fast internet connection could add the same value as a bathroom extension. While this isn’t necessarily as accurate in South Africa, it’s an interesting glimpse into the future of connectivity and its im- portance in real estate. Thinking on a larger scale, a fully fledged fibre network has the potential to completely change the way we consider prop-

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