Vumatel secures approval for Herotel fiber network acquisition

Vumatel, South Africa’s largest fiber network operator, has received approval from Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for its acquisition of Herotel, bringing the final regulatory clearance for a deal that will combine two of the country’s largest fibre operators. 

The approval follows an earlier sign-off by the Competition Tribunal, which had already allowed Vumatel to increase its stake in Herotel from just over 49% to full ownership. ICASA’s decision now clears the way for the transfer of licences and implementation of the transaction under Maziv, Vumatel’s parent company. 

Maziv said it welcomed the regulator’s decision, describing it as a key step in aligning the country’s fibre networks and expanding access to broadband services. 

“The ICASA approval marks a definitive step forward in strengthening South Africa’s fibre ecosystem and accelerating the collective mission of building connected lives, communities, and societies,” the company said. 

It added that combining Vumatel’s urban footprint with Herotel’s presence in smaller towns and rural areas would help extend coverage into underserved regions.

Maziv combines metro and rural networks

Maziv said the deal brings together two different but complementary networks, with Vumatel focused largely on major metropolitan areas and Herotel serving secondary towns and less densely populated communities. 

“By combining Vuma’s national scale and metropolitan expertise with Herotel’s specialised rural and underserved communities-driven footprint, Maziv Group is uniquely positioned to bridge the digital divide,” the company said. 

Maziv chief executive Dietlof Mare said Vumatel had long supported Herotel’s growth and viewed the acquisition as a continuation of that relationship. 

“Vuma has long been a firm believer in Herotel’s vision, which is why we initially acquired a minority stake several years ago,” Mare said. “The acquisition of the remaining shares is a strong vote of confidence in Herotel’s long-term value.” 

He added that the combined group would be able to speed up fibre rollouts and improve service delivery in areas that have historically had limited access to reliable internet. 

“Our focus has always been on secondary towns and markets where digital access was inconsistent,” said Herotel chief executive Van Zyl Botha. “Joining forces with Vuma gives us the infrastructure backbone to scale even faster.” 

Botha said the transaction would also create cross-network benefits for customers, offering broader coverage and more service options across regions.

Herotel leads South African FTTH

Herotel recently reported that it has become South Africa’s largest fibre-to-the-home internet service provider by connecting homes, according to Africa Analysis’ FTTH quarterly tracking report. 

The data places Herotel at 284,850 connected FTTH homes, covering both prepaid and month-to-month services. The figure excludes its fixed wireless base of 52,094 customers. 

Botha said the growth reflects a shift in demand beyond major urban centres. 

“This milestone shows that demand for quality fibre is not limited to the country’s established fibre markets,” he said. “South Africans want reliable, affordable connectivity, and that demand is visible in the communities where we build every day.”

Vumatel extends open-access reach

Maziv said early signs from the integration already show rising data consumption across Herotel’s network, particularly among households in smaller towns. 

The group also highlighted its ongoing commitment to education connectivity. Vumatel has connected more than 1,000 schools to high-speed fibre under its free broadband programme for public schools, aimed at improving access to digital learning tools. 

The company said ICASA’s approval includes conditions designed to protect competition and ensure public interest outcomes are maintained as the integration proceeds. 

“These conditions ensure the acquisition strengthens the national ecosystem while promoting fair competition and inclusive connectivity for all South Africans,” Maziv said. 

Founded in 2014, Vumatel has grown into one of South Africa’s leading open-access fibre network operators, building last-mile infrastructure across major cities including Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. The network allows customers to choose from multiple internet service providers rather than being locked into a single platform.