South Africa’s Internet Access Revolution: The Shocking Truth About Connectivity in 2025
Telkom/Openserve is phasing out copper as fixed broadband shifts to fiber, with end-2024 ADSL subscribers under 36,000, down from a peak of over 1 million in 2015. FTTH subscriptions rose from 1.49 million in 2023 to 2.47 million in 2024, driven by aggressive rollouts from Telkom/Openserve, Vumatel, and other operators. Over 69% of internet users in SA go online via mobile devices, while about 13% of households have fixed-line home internet as of 2024. SA Connect Phase 2 (2023–2026) targets connecting over 5.5 million rural households by 2026 and includes 32,000 Wi‑Fi hotspots, 18,000 schools, 5,700 clinics and 8,200 tribal