A Stellenbosch-based fiber internet provider is in the process of expanding their unique business model to townships across South Africa, with its next major move to townships in Durban later this year.
This is according to Alan Knott-Craig, the founder of Fibertime.
Fibertime first went live in Kayamandi in November 2022, connecting over 800 township residences to affordable, unlimited internet access that year, according to the Fibertime website. It has since expanded to various other cities.
“We started in Kayamandi, [and] our second city was Port Elizabeth. Our third city was Joburg, so we went into [Alexandra],” said Knott-Craig. “Cape Town came after Joburg. Then we did Bloemfontein, and we’re now doing Durban. We do the major metro townships outside major metros in the country.”
Fibertime first launched its project in Kayamandi in 2022, according to their website. Upon entering the town, a billboard announces that it is the home of Fibertime. PHOTO: Lienke Norval
Fibertime in Kayamandi
Tinyiko Khoza, a Kayamandi resident and Fibertime communities service partner, said that over 10 500 Kayamandi residences are connected to Fibertime as of 2025.
“[Fibertime] installed the routers in each home for free,” claimed Kay Mhlakaza, the operations manager of Amazink, a restaurant and theatre hub in Kayamandi. “Even if you are not using Fibertime, they ask you, ‘Would you want a router, just in case in the future you want to be part of Fibertime?’ Almost everybody in Kayamandi has a Fibertime router.”
Knott-Craig said that Fibertime’s expansions to other townships will follow a similar structure to that of Kayamandi, offering free routers and installation to any residence that is interested in the product.
Fibertime costs R5 for a day of internet access and R110 for 22 days, said Knott-Craig.
“It is the cheapest internet as far as I know,” said Mhlakaza.
Fibertime fiber distribution boxes were installed throughout Kayamandi, which are easily recognisable due to their signature blue-and-yellow stripes. PHOTO: Lienke Norval
“It has benefitted us a lot as we mostly use computers for our work,” said Asiphe Ntshotsho, an assistant teacher at the local VisionAfrika foundation phase school. “We communicate with parents via cell phones. We also do our registers [online].”
How the Fibertime product can be improved
Although Knott-Craig said that the company’s initial offering has been very popular, some Kayamandi customers would like the product to be more suited to the town’s family and school structures.
“For myself, yes, it is affordable, but for the family, it’s not affordable,” said Ntshotsho, who is also a mother of five. “For instance, I can buy a voucher for R100, but that voucher is only for me. It’s only for one device. The trouble comes in when you have larger families with many children who each need to work.”
Fibertime’s widespread presence in Kayamandi is noticeable due to its signature blue-and-yellow stripes, which are displayed on the storefronts of many local businesses. PHOTO: Lienke Norval