Low-cost uncapped fibre is reshaping South Africa’s broadband market, promising to narrow the digital divide.

TechCentral

South Africa is experiencing a broadband revolution as companies like Fibertime and Wire-Wire Networks deploy uncapped fiber internet at R5/day in previously underserved townships and lower-income communities. This pay-as-you-go model, using aerial fiber and simplified deployment, contrasts with traditional capital-intensive approaches that focused on affluent suburbs. The shift enables households that once rationed mobile data to access always-on connectivity for streaming, education, and commerce. While margins are compressed and success depends on scale and operational efficiency, this entrepreneur-driven expansion is bridging the digital divide more effectively than decades of government policy, though sustainability and rural expansion remain uncertain.

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