Johann Rupert’s fibre companies pass 2.9 million homes in South Africa

Remgro, the investment group controlled by billionaire Johann Rupert, has expanded its South African broadband footprint, with fibre operators Vumatel and Herotel now passing more than 2.9 million homes. The expansion strengthens the group’s position in the country’s fast-growing fibre market while extending connectivity beyond major metropolitan areas.

Fibre footprint expands 

Vumatel, Remgro’s residential fibre business, passed 2.3 million homes during the year ended June 30, 2026, with customer uptake rising to 44.1%. Revenue increased 14% to R4.4 billion ($270.6 million), underscoring the contribution of broadband infrastructure to Remgro’s diversified investment portfolio. 

Herotel added more than 620,000 homes to the combined footprint, bringing its subscriber base to about 350,000 customers across more than 550 towns. Its earnings before tax rose 21% to R691 million ($42.5 million), giving Remgro a broader reach in smaller towns and underserved communities.

Maziv becomes fibre hub 

The networks are housed within Maziv, the infrastructure company that brings together Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa, or DFA. Vodacom completed its strategic investment in Maziv during the year, acquiring a 30% stake through R11 billion ($676.5 million) in assets and cash. 

DFA provides the backhaul infrastructure supporting the residential fibre networks, generating R3 billion ($184.5 million) in revenue for the year. Maziv reported revenue of R7.7 billion ($473.6 million) and earnings before tax of R5.3 billion ($325.9 million), highlighting the scale of Remgro’s infrastructure holdings. 

The consolidation of Herotel under Maziv also brings together Vumatel’s larger metropolitan network and Herotel’s reach across rural areas and smaller communities. Vumatel received regulatory approval in March to increase its stake in Herotel to nearly 100%, completing a deal designed to broaden the combined fibre footprint.

Satellite broadband adds reach 

Herotel is preparing to extend that reach beyond physical fibre through Amazon Leo, Amazon’s low-earth orbit satellite broadband service. The company was appointed as Amazon Leo’s first authorized South African distributor in July and plans to sell the service under its new Evry brand from 2027. 

The partnership gives Herotel a way to serve farms, game reserves, rural homes and other locations where traditional fibre infrastructure can be difficult to deploy. Remgro said the agreement expands the addressable broadband market beyond its existing fibre and fixed-wireless coverage. 

The satellite service will add another layer to Remgro’s infrastructure strategy as the group combines fibre, fixed wireless and satellite connectivity. Herotel has said Evry could offer residential download speeds of up to 400 Mbps, while business packages could reach 1 Gbps, although final pricing has yet to be announced.

Remgro posts higher earnings

Founded in the 1940s by Rupert’s father, Anton Rupert, Remgro has investments spanning healthcare, consumer goods, insurance, industrials, infrastructure, media and sports. Johann Rupert, who chairs the group, holds more than 40% of its voting rights and has an estimated net worth of $18.7 billion.

Remgro’s broader financial performance also strengthened in the year. Headline earnings rose 42.3% to R11.14 billion ($682 million), while headline earnings per share increased 42.2% to R20.03 ($1.23). Adjusted free cash flow at the center rose 28.6% to R4.95 billion ($304.6 million). 

The company’s fiber operations are managed through Community Investment Ventures Holdings and its subsidiary Maziv, which houses Vumatel, DFA and its investment in Herotel. Its expanding fibre operations give the investment group another major exposure to South Africa’s digital infrastructure economy.