Vodacom launches Vuma Reach prepaid fibre from R249 per month

Vodacom will launch prepaid fibre packages on Vuma Reach as part of an effort to bridge the digital divide and address youth unemployment in South Africa.

The fibre packages start from R249 per month with no long-term contracts or installation fees, and the speeds available include 10/10Mbps, 20/10Mbps, 40/10Mbps, and 100/50Mbps.

The cost of 20Mbps, 40Mbps, and 100Mbps download speeds is R369, R499, and R799, respectively.

While offering affordable Internet access is the initiative’s primary focus, the programme also trains youth from selected townships across the country to be employed as agents with their communities.

They will participate in a 12-month entrepreneurial skills programme to equip them with business management and operational skills, empowering them to pursue sustainable careers and entrepreneurial ventures.

“This partnership allows us to create job opportunities for young people while delivering affordable connectivity to underserved communities,” says Vodacom South Africa’s fixed services executive, Johnny Dos Santos.

“Through this programme, we aim to foster a more inclusive society where youth and their communities can actively participate in the digital economy.”

Mahlogonolo Mokhetoa, a 23-year old participant in the programme from Soshanguve said the programme had given them a path for professional growth, along with technical skills, and leadership experience.

“This initiative creates opportunities not just for employment, but also for education, innovation, and community upliftment,” Mokhetoa said.

Vumatel’s Vuma Reach products are prepaid and target lower-income households and regions in South Africa, specifically those earning between R5,000 and R30,000 per month.

The fibre network operator has big plans to connect as many people as possible to its network as fast as possible in 2025, with its Vuma Key and Vuma Reach products being a priority.

However, the Competition Tribunal’s recent rejection of a transaction where Vodacom would have acquired a 30% to 40% stake in Vumatel’s parent company has dampened these plans.

While Vumatel’s rollouts continue, it previously warned that without the cash injection its proposed deal with Vodacom represented, its fibre deployments will be much slower than it hoped.

Vumatel said it also wants to continue its rollouts to connect schools to its network, with the goal of connecting more than 200 South African schools in the coming year.

“Our immediate priority is rolling out fibre infrastructure to more underserved communities and delivering Vuma Reach and Vuma key to other communities across the country where we’ve already rolled out infrastructure,” Vumatel recently told MyBroadband.

“We are also committed to continuing our efforts to connect schools. Currently, we have connected over 800 schools, and our target is to reach and — possibly — exceed 1,000 in the coming year.”