Uncapped fibre for R99 per month

Maziv-owned Vumatel has officially launched Vuma Key, which has laid claim to being the country’s most affordable uncapped fibre service at R99 per month.

The prepaid product is designed for households earning less than R5,000 monthly and won’t penalise customers for missed recharges.

“Based on similar competing offerings at the time of launch, Vuma Key is 34% cheaper than their closest competitor,” says Vumatel.

“While some competitors advertise a R99 price point, these are based on a 7-day recharge, where Vuma Key offers uninterrupted service for 30 days.”

Divided over a 30-day month, Vumatel highlighted that Vuma Key becomes R3.30 per day.

The asymmetrical 10Mbps package features a 5Mbps upload speed and supports up to four simultaneously connected devices.

The fibre network operator (FNO) piloted the service in Alexandra and Kayamandi.

Vuma Key is now available in Alexandra Wards 75, 76, 107, 108, and 116, as well as in all wards of Kayamandi.

“Vuma Key has been designed specifically for communities that have traditionally been beyond the reach of high-speed, high-volume uncapped internet,” said Dietlof Mare, CEO of Maziv, Vuma’s parent company.

Vumatel chief commercial officer Ewald van der Westhuizen said the service is a straightforward monthly prepaid payment, giving customers unlimited access without needing daily admin.

It also requires just one monthly recharge.

“Vuma Key is different to other affordable fibre products in the market. Ours allows multiple devices to be connected by a single product, where the closest competing offer only enables a single device,” Van der Westhuizen added.

He explained that the Vuma Key significantly expands the FNO’s market, comparing it to the potential reach of its prepaid Vuma Reach product.

“Vuma Reach’s market is 4.8 million households, whereas Vuma Key’s target market includes 10 million homes and informal dwellings,” said Van der Westhuizen.

Installation for Vuma Key fibre is free, and customers can choose to set up a recurring debit order or recharge monthly with EasyPay reference numbers from stores like Boxer, Pick n Pay, PEP, and Ackermans.

However, customers must recharge within 90 days of their last recharge to avoid termination. If they fail to do so, they will need to re-activate their service, which is free of charge.

The company said the Vuma Key deployment route also enables its Fibre to Schools programme in these areas, which provides free 1Gbps lines to qualify primary and secondary schools.