With Maziv and Vodacom securing the approval of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), plans are underway to scale investment into South Africa’s fibre landscape.

In November, Icasa approved Vodacom’s acquisition of a 30% interest in Maziv, with the regulator’s decision following a comprehensive, multi-year review process involving the Competition Commission, Competition Tribunal and the Competition Appeal Court.

Icasa’s verdict gives final approval of the transaction, paving the way for the delivery of tangible public interest benefits, said Maziv group chief regulatory and compliance officer Moses Mashisane.

“The decision represents the culmination of a long, thorough process and confirms that Maziv operates fully within the legal and regulatory framework of South Africa.”

Maziv is now moving its focus to execution, scaling fibre deployment and investment, with a planned R12-billion capital investment in fibre network expansion over the next five years – the largest single fibre investment by a company of Maziv’s size and age.

This rollout will prioritise underserved and township areas, bringing fibre access to more than 350 000 low-income homes.

Further, Maziv will expand its fibre-to-schools programme, run through its subsidiary Vumatel, to include clinics and libraries along fibre routes, ensuring that essential public facilities are connected to reliable, high-speed Internet.

To promote inclusive economic participation, Maziv has committed R400-million over five years to its Enterprise and Supplier Development Fund, with a focus on supporting black-owned and black women-owned businesses in the fibre value chain.

This builds on Maziv’s broad-based black economic empowerment activities and creates sustainable opportunities for small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) through procurement, maintenance and last-mile deployment.

“Each kilometre of fibre drives local procurement, skills development, SMME participation and community benefits, and Icasa’s approval allows us to turn this unprecedented commitment into measurable impact across the country,” Mashisane explained.

Maziv has also implemented strong, enforceable safeguards and transparent governance structures that protect and advance open access and fair competition, including legally binding non-discrimination clauses in wholesale access and independent oversight.

As part of monitoring, an independent monitoring trustee, to be approved by the Competition Commission, will be appointed. The monitoring trustee will oversee compliance with all merger conditions and serve as an additional layer of accountability.

“This milestone allows us to translate our commitments into measurable outcomes, delivering fibre access, driving local enterprise participation and creating tangible economic and community impact across South Africa.”