Township Fibre Expansion Gets Green Light as Competition Tribunal Approves Fibertime Deal

The Competition Tribunal has unconditionally approved a major fibre infrastructure deal aimed at expanding affordable internet access in South African townships. The agreement involves township fibre company Fibertime, investment vehicle Refiber, and Onepath Investments.

This approval follows a recommendation from the Competition Commission in mid-March, signaling confidence in the project’s potential to bridge the digital divide in underserved areas.

A Boost for Fibre in South Africa’s Townships

According to the Tribunal, the acquiring parties—Refiber and Onepath Investments—have been created as funding alternatives for fibre development in low-income communities. Refiber acts as a capital-raising entity, while Onepath serves as the special purpose vehicle for acquiring assets from Fibertime.

Notably, the deal revolves around the deployment of “dark fibre”—unused fibre infrastructure that has yet to be activated. The Competition Commission has revealed that Fibertime plans to roll out new fibre networks across over 280 townships, excluding two where Refiber and Onepath already hold assets.

Fibertime will build and operate the network, while Refiber and Onepath will control it.

Affordable Fibre for South Africa’s Underserved Communities

Fibertime has gained attention for its R5 per day uncapped fibre product, launched in 2023 in Kayamandi, near Stellenbosch. The company was founded in 2022 by former iBurst and Mxit CEO Alan Knott-Craig Jr. with the goal of providing low-cost, high-speed internet to township residents.

With this new deal, Fibertime is expected to scale its operations significantly, bringing high-speed internet access to thousands—if not millions—of South Africans in previously underserved areas.

Key Figures Behind the Deal

Refiber’s directors, Andrew Brooking and Simon Fifield, play a central role in securing capital for the project:

• Andrew Brooking is a corporate finance executive and founding director of Java Capital, a boutique corporate finance firm specializing in mergers, acquisitions, and equity markets.

• Simon Fifield is the founder and CEO of Capensis Real Estate and serves as a director at Redefine Properties.

• They are joined by Jason van Wyk, also a corporate finance executive at Java Capital, as a director at Onepath Investments.

Recent Investments Fueling Fibertime’s Growth

This approval follows a significant financial boost for Fibertime. In March 2025, Finnfund announced a €2 million (R39.6 million) follow-on investment in the Fibertime Group to support its expansion goals. The company aims to connect up to 1.8 million homes to the internet through its fibre network.

Fibertime consists of:

• Fibertime – The fibre network operator building the infrastructure.

• VulaCoin – A blockchain-based platform for selling prepaid airtime and internet access.

As of May 2024, Fibertime had already connected 9,100 homes, with 7,800 in Kayamandi and 1,300 in townships in Gqeberha.

What’s Next for Fibertime and Township Connectivity?

The Competition Tribunal’s approval marks a significant milestone in South Africa’s efforts to expand affordable internet access to townships. With financial backing, regulatory approval, and an ambitious rollout plan, Fibertime is well-positioned to transform digital access for millions.

However, the company has yet to provide an updated figure on its connections or details about how the new funding will accelerate deployments. MyBroadband reached out to Fibertime for comment but has not received a response.

Nonetheless, this deal signals a major step forward in making affordable, high-speed internet a reality for South Africa’s township communities.

{Source MyBroadBand}

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