Herotel Passes Quarter of a Million Fixed Broadband Connections

Herotel has reached a significant milestone, connecting over 250,000 homes and businesses across South Africa to fixed broadband! This is not just a number, it represents real people, families, and communities that now have the power of uncapped internet connectivity at their fingertips.

To put it in perspective, if we multiply the 250,000 homes by the average South African household size of 4,8 people, we’re connecting over 1,2 million people to the internet! A Boeing 737 carries 215 people, so that’s the equivalent of 5,581 Boeing jets. A large bus carries 100 passengers, so that’s 12,000 buses full of people.

Herotel is now firmly established as a leading broadband provider in South Africa with some impressive numbers:

• Third largest fibre network operator with over 585,000 homes and businesses passed.
• Sixth largest FTTH ISP with over 190,000 fibre customers.
• Largest fixed-wireless network with over 2,500 masts and towers, and over 60,000 wireless customers.

Our impact is not just about numbers; it is about empowering over a million South Africans to access the opportunities the internet provides. We are proud to be playing such a significant role in bridging the digital divide, and particularly in underserved areas and townships (Kasi) across the country.

Where Is This Growth Coming From?

The majority of our growth has come from previously underserved areas and townships, where we have rapidly expanded our footprint. In these “Kasi” areas, we have built fibre to over 340,000 stands in the last 18 months and, achieved a 21% take-up rate. We have connected some of the most remote and underserved communities in South Africa, enabling customers to access the digital world in ways they never could have before.

And, in traditional towns & cities, we have built fibre to over 245,000 stands and achieved an impressive take-up rate in excess of 50%. This figure is well above the national market average, showing that we are a leader in providing affordable, uncapped fibre in these markets as well.

A Game-Changer; one of the key drivers behind this success is our market-leading prepaid fibre offering, which has made fast, reliable internet more accessible than ever before. Starting from just R99, prepaid customers can manage their data usage without being tied to long-term contracts. Some of our users in Kasi townships are consuming over 1,000 GB of data per month, at an incredibly low cost of just 50 cents per GB, compared to the R50 per GB typically charged by mobile networks, that is 100 times cheaper! This shows how all South Africans neeed uncapped connectivity.

Currently, Herotel is onboarding approximately 10,000 new customers each month across all markets, reflecting the strong demand for affordable, high-quality uncapped internet.

Graph: Total Customer Growth

Empowering Communities Through Connectivity

Beyond our commercial offerings, we are also committed to giving back. Through our Digital Village initiative, a non-profit organisation, we have connected many hotspots along the South Coast and we’re in the process of expanding to other regions. We’ve provided free or heavily subsidised internet access to over 3,900 unique users over the last three months alone. In addition, we provide free internet to 230 NGOs, clinics, and other community hubs, with 130 of these sites specifically helping schools.

Our commitment to community involvement extends beyond internet services. For example, the Vlakte-Heritage Cup, sponsored by Herotel in collaboration with RH Events and the Cloetesville Sports Council, infused a renewed spirit of hope into the community of Cloetesville this October. We believe that while our core business is connectivity, our true mission is to empower local communities through meaningful engagement.

The Backbone of Our Success

This rapid growth is backed by our robust infrastructure and the dedicated expertise of the Herotel team. We have drawn together operational talent from over 30 smaller ISPs, bringing together local expertise and industry veterans who understand the nuances of running high-performance networks. Over the past 5 years, we have built fibre to over 585,000 homes and expanded our wireless network to ensure even the most rural areas can stay connected.

With offices in more than 80 towns across South Africa, we are truly rooted in the communities we serve, providing support where it’s needed most. Our commitment to building and supporting a strong infrastructure is what keeps our network resilient and reliable.

 We are proud of the impact that we have made and how far we’ve come, but we’re not stopping here.

Our vision is clear, Everyone Connected. Our journey to connect all corners of South Africa continues, and as we look forward to the next milestone, we stay committed to delivering the best possible service, at the most affordable prices, for all South Africans!