Fibre-ready homes connect South Africa’s housing and digital ambitions

Detailed summary

Fibre-ready housing developments are bridging South Africa's digital divide by integrating high-speed internet infrastructure directly into national housing…

South Africa has made significant progress in expanding access to housing and mobile connectivity. These developments have largely happened independently of one another. In many township housing developments, provision for fixed broadband has not been part of the original infrastructure plans.

The extent of this gap is reflected in how South Africans access the internet. According to Statistics South Africa's General Household Survey 2025, 85.6% of households had at least one member who could access the internet, yet only 20.6% had fixed internet access at home. The disparity is particularly pronounced across income groups.

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