Fibertime's Fibre Expansion: Connecting 200,000 New Homes in Three SA Provinces

In a significant development for digital inclusion in South Africa, fibre network operator, Fibertime (formerly Isizwe), has achieved a considerable expansion by connecting 7,500 homes to its network in the township of Kyamandi. This progress is a leap toward Fibertime's ardent goal of offering high-speed and affordable internet connectivity to underserved communities.

The Fibertime CEO, Steve Briggs, confirmed to MyBroadband that the company has seen substantial revenue, exceeding R7.50 per connected home per day, for users with connections older than six months. This figure underscores the demand and commercial viability of providing such services in townships.

With this successful model, Fibertime is embarking on an ambitious agenda for 2024, aiming to connect an additional 200,000 homes, focusing on the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and North West province townships. This expansion plan has the potential to significantly shift the landscape of internet access in these regions, providing a multitude of households with uncapped 100Mbps internet for as little as R5 a day—an unprecedented rate for high-speed internet in the country.

Moreover, the implementation of Fibertime's own cryptocurrency, VulaCoin, has furthered the company's market disruption. Now adopted by over 40 Internet service providers in South Africa, VulaCoin is enabling micro-payments in the township digital economy, simplifying transactions for pay-as-you-go internet services.

The success story of Fibertime began with its network construction in August 2022, and by November, the first phase was operational, connecting 3,000 homes in Kyamandi to uncapped fibre service. Recognizing the changing needs and preferences of their customer base, the Fibertime team introduced innovative solutions, such as a Wi-Fi-enabled "fibre tower," expanding its reach to even more residents.

Fibertime's partnership strategy with prominent companies like Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Nokia, and MultiChoice's Showmax has further reinforced its capacity to offer optimized services and additional benefits to its subscribers, including streaming vouchers payable with VulaCoin.

The rapid adoption and high data usage rates reported by Fibertime indicate a thriving market for reliable and affordable fibre connections in South African townships. With such growth and a clear roadmap ahead, Fibertime stands as a prominent figure in narrowing the digital divide and forging an inclusive digital future for South Africa.