MetroFibre
 | |
| MetroFibre | |
| Type | Private |
| Industry | Fiber internet infrastructure |
| Founded | 2010[1] |
| Founder | Steve Booysen; Malcolm Kirby; Johan van der Lith; Eugene Slabbert[2] |
| Headquarters | Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa[3] |
Area served | South Africa |
| Key people | Jan-Jan Bezuidenhout (CEO)[4] |
| Services | Wholesale fiber-optic connectivity |
| Owner | AIIM SAHIF STOA[5] |
Number of employees | 650 (2026)[6] |
| Website | metrofibre |
MetroFibre, officially Metro Fibre Networx, is a South African fiber network operator (FNO), headquartered in Centurion, Gauteng.[7]
Founded in 2010, the company is South Africa's fourth-largest FNO by network size.[8]
History
[edit]MetroFibre was founded in 2010, initially focusing on providing fiber connectivity to South African business clients. It later expanded into the fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) market, with its first residential services launched in 2015.[1][9]
In March 2016, African Rainbow Capital (ARC) acquired an 18.14% shareholding in MetroFibre, providing additional capital for the latter's network expansion.[7]
In March 2019, French investment company STOA acquired a 23.08% stake in MetroFibre, becoming a significant minority shareholder.[10]
In November 2020, African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) acquired a minority stake in MetroFibre through Digital Infrastructure Investment Holdings, as part of a R1.5 billion equity funding round intended to support a capital expansion program of more than R3 billion over three years. The transaction also brought the South African Housing and Infrastructure Fund (SAHIF) into the company's shareholder base.[11][12]
In 2021, AIIM, SAHIF, and STOA agreed to acquire a further 25.8% interest in MetroFibre from Sanlam Private Equity, ARC, and a minority shareholder. The transaction was completed in May 2022, bringing AIIM's total investment in MetroFibre to 37% and making it the company's largest single shareholder.[13]
By 2024, MetroFibre's network passed a total of 500,000 homes. By the same year, the company had expanded its business network into Cape Town, having launched a 100-kilometer business fiber network in the city in 2023.[1][14]
In 2024, Levoca acquired a 19.5% shareholding in MetroFibre, financed in part through a R725 million loan from the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). In January 2025, following defaults under the financing agreement, the PIC exercised its security rights over the shares and took control of the stake on behalf of the Government Employees Pension Fund.[15][16]
In September 2026, MetroFibre and fellow fiber network operator Octotel, both backed by AIIM-led investment structures, confirmed that they were assessing merger opportunities.[17]
Operations
[edit]As of 2025, MetroFibre operates a network passing 515,000 homes. Of those, 175,000 are connected, resulting in an uptake ratio of 33.98%.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "About MetroFibre". MetroFibre. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "Metrofibre Networx spots opportunity". ITWeb. 8 March 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "Contact Us". MetroFibre. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "Bringing the power of internet connectivity to every South African and every business". MetroFibre. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "Digital Infrastructure Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd v Metro Fibre Networx (Pty) Ltd (LM038Jul21) [2021] ZACT 55". Competition Tribunal of South Africa. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "Head Office Centurion". MetroFibre. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Fiber Fever: Meet the ISPs Driving FTTH Deployment in South Africa". TeleGeography. 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- 1 2 Daniel Puchert (30 April 2025). "Biggest fibre networks in South Africa". MyBroadband. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ↑ Hanno Labuschagne (21 August 2024). "Metrofibre's big shift". MyBroadband. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "STOA acquires a strategic equity interest in MetroFibre in South Africa". STOA Infra & Energy. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "MetroFibre Networx completes new capital increase with support of AIIM and STOA". MetroFibre. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ Staff Writer (14 June 2021). "Investment firm, consortium buy 25.8% MetroFibre stake". ITWeb. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "AIIM completes follow-on acquisition of MetroFibre". Africa Private Equity News. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "MetroFibre". STOA Infra & Energy. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "PIC granted Interim Interdict" (PDF). Public Investment Corporation. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "GEPF Annual Report 2024/25" (PDF). Government Employees Pension Fund. 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
- ↑ "R62.34-billion South African company building a fibre giant to take on Vumatel and Openserve". MyBroadband. 18 September 2026. Retrieved 24 September 2026.