As competition in the nation’s broadband market heats up, MTN South Africa has stated that it will not construct a stand-alone fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network, opting instead to pursue strategic alliances or acquisitions.
Ralph Mupita, the CEO of MTN Group, said during a media roundtable on September 5, 2025, that it would not be profitable to invest in a new fiber network, particularly in light of Vodacom’s rapid growth.
“On fiber-to-the-home, it’s going to be partnering or it’s going to be an acquisition at the right price and the right time,” Mupita explained, emphasizing that the South African telecom market is heading toward consolidation.
MTN’s Position on Telkom Acquisition
Following fresh rumors of a possible Telkom acquisition, Mupita made these remarks. He clarified that there are currently no active negotiations with the partially state-owned operator, but he did not rule out the possibility in the future.
In 2022, MTN made an earlier attempt to purchase Telkom, but talks broke down due to exclusivity guarantees. MTN once more refuted rumors of fresh merger talks in 2023.
With more than 170,000 km of fiber infrastructure and more than 1.4 million households—of which 694,630 are currently connected—Telkom is still a major force in South Africa’s fiber market.
Vodacom’s Fiber Strategy
Vodacom has adopted a more aggressive fiber expansion strategy than MTN. It announced in 2022 that it would pay R14 billion ($799 million) to purchase a 30% share in Maziv, the holding company of Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa.
Despite the Competition Tribunal’s initial blocking of the deal in October 2024, final approval was granted in August 2025, providing Vodacom with a stronger foothold in South Africa’s rapidly expanding fiber market.
South Africa’s Fiber Market Outlook
The South African broadband market has witnessed significant growth in recent years. Data from ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa) shows:
Fiber internet subscriptions rose from 1.02 million in 2019 to 2.46 million in 2024.
Despite this growth, fiber penetration remains relatively low, creating strong opportunities for future expansion.
Demand is being fueled by remote work trends, streaming services, cloud computing, and digital transformation across businesses and households.
With increasing competition between MTN, Vodacom, Telkom, and other ISPs, the next few years could determine who dominates South Africa’s broadband future.
Key Takeaways:
MTN South Africa will not build its own fiber network but will consider partnerships or acquisitions.
Telkom acquisition remains a long-term possibility, but no active talks are happening now.
Vodacom has secured approval for a major fiber stake in Maziv, strengthening its broadband dominance.
South Africa’s fiber market is expanding rapidly, but penetration is still low, offering room for growth.
What do you think? Should MTN acquire Telkom to compete with Vodacom, or would partnerships be a smarter move?
