Closing the urban–township connectivity gap sustainably
6 min read
South Africa’s connectivity landscape tells a tale of two realities. In affluent suburbs, gigabit fibre connections are becoming commonplace, enabling seamless remote work, streaming, and digital entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, in townships and informal settlements – home to millions of South Africans – residents struggle with expensive, unreliable mobile data as their primary internet access. This digital divide isn’t just about convenience; it’s a barrier to economic participation that perpetuates inequality.
The challenge for fibre network operators isn’t just technical or financial; it’s about reimagining how fibre connectivity services can be structured to serve communities that traditional models have left behind. The solution lies not in charity-based approaches, but in sustainable business models that recognise the unique characteristics and challenges of township communities.
Understanding the township reality
Townships present unique challenges that don’t exist in traditional suburban fibre rollouts. Property ownership structures are complex, with many residents renting rooms in shared properties or living in informal arrangements.
Income patterns are often irregular, with many residents employed in sectors that offer inconsistent monthly earnings. Traditional credit scoring systems frequently exclude these communities, creating additional barriers to service access.
Yet these same communities represent enormous untapped potential. Township residents are often early adopters of mobile technology and demonstrate significant demand for connectivity services. Small businesses, home-based enterprises, and educational needs create genuine demand and need for reliable internet access. The challenge is creating service models that align with the economic realities of these communities.
The contract structure and property ownership problem
Traditional fibre installation and ISP models assume property ownership, stable monthly income, and willingness to commit to 12-24-month contracts. These assumptions immediately exclude large portions of township populations.
A tenant in a backyard room cannot authorise structural modifications for fibre installation. A street vendor with seasonal income fluctuations cannot commit to fixed monthly payments for two years.
The fibre industry’s reliance on long-term contracts made sense when installation costs were high and customer acquisition eye-wateringly expensive. But this model creates insurmountable barriers for communities where property tenure is uncertain and income is variable. MetroFibre has been at the forefront of acknowledging that flexibility isn’t a luxury in these markets – it’s a prerequisite for participation – and finding solutions for such participation.
The fibre pay-as-you-go revolution
Mobile networks proved that pay-as-you-go models work effectively in South African townships. The success of prepaid mobile services demonstrates that residents can and will pay for connectivity when the payment structure aligns with their financial realities. Extending this principle to fibre connectivity represents a fundamental shift in how MetroFibre is approaching market expansion.
Monthly, no-contract, pay-as-you-go fibre packages eliminate several barriers simultaneously. MetroFibre offers flexible options from month-to-month fibre-to-the-home packages available at various speed tiers, through to its MetroConnect solution, a pay-as-you-go uncapped package with 20Mbps, 40Mbps or 60Mbps symmetrical speeds that eliminates lengthy contracts and commitment concerns. Residents with irregular income can adjust their connectivity spending based on monthly circumstances.
This approach also reduces risk for network operators. Instead of relying on lengthy collection processes, operators receive payment upfront. Customer relationships become more dynamic, with service levels adjusting to actual usage patterns rather than contracted minimums that may be unsustainable.
MetroFibre’s rollouts of community-based fibre experience stores in Steeledale, Thembisa and Riverside View (Gauteng), and New Brighton and Zwide (Gqeberha, Eastern Cape), reflect the incredible demand in these communities for quality, reliable and affordable fibre connectivity; MetroFibre’s infrastructure in these five areas now passes over 75 000 homes with more than 20% of these homes connected.
We also recognise that internet access is often a shared resource. A single connection might serve an extended family, support a small business, or enable educational activities for multiple children. Our service packages acknowledge and accommodate this sharing pattern rather than trying to prevent it.
Closing the urban-township connectivity gap isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s an opportunity to demonstrate that inclusive business models can be both socially impactful and economically sustainable. The solutions require operators to reimagine everything from contract structures to installation processes, but the rewards extend far beyond immediate revenue.
Underserved communities with reliable, affordable connectivity become more economically active, more educationally engaged, and more socially connected.
The digital divide isn’t inevitable – but it requires business models and service approaches that serve incredibly diverse community needs. If South Africa is to make any progress in our vast inequality, then we need to open the doors to the connectivity that is foundational to the educational, employment, and entrepreneurial opportunities that were previously out of reach.
It needs every one of us, as a collective fibre connectivity industry, to build a more inclusive digital economy that benefits everyone, by closing the urban–township connectivity gap.
Lebang Mosimanegape
Business Owner: Emerging Markets
