MAZIV Invests in South African Fibre Network Upgrades

MAZIV, the parent company of Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) and Vumatel, is set to make a substantial investment to enhance its network infrastructure. Vumatel has recently accomplished significant milestones by covering over 2 million homes and expanding its fibre network to more than 50,000 kilometers. Over the past three and a half years, Vumatel has passed 1 million homes in underserved, lower-income areas. Alongside DFA’s 15,000 kilometers of fibre, MAZIV’s network covers a vast expanse across South Africa.

Dewald Booysen, COO at Vumatel, highlighted the accelerated expansion into underserved regions, aligning with MAZIV’s vision of providing high-quality broadband to empower all South Africans. Vumatel’s community-oriented approach has enabled them to collaborate with local communities, overcoming traditional challenges in areas like Soweto, Khayalitsha, and Umlazi. The company’s dedication is demonstrated by its commitment to connect every school it passes with a free 1GB connection, benefiting over 700 schools.

Booysen also announced Vumatel’s groundbreaking partnership with Huawei to trial 50GB GPON services on their network, preparing for future demands. DFA is concurrently working on a R400-million fibre network expansion initiative to bolster its connectivity hardware provision. This expansion is aimed at offering high-speed connectivity to more businesses, contributing to South Africa’s digital transformation and economic growth. The multi-phase project, underway since February, is set to enhance network services delivery and performance, accommodating the rising demand for connectivity services. The upgrade is scheduled to be completed over 18 months.