IT’S OFFICIAL WE’RE PART OF THE TOP 10.
If you’re a Net Nine Nine client in good-standing, congratulations, your closed-access Fibre Network Operator (FNO) has been rated among the top 10 in South Africa.
However, if you’re still skeptical, or it seems too good to be true, see the graphic below that will show you how your favourite network operator has leap-fogged the rest to occupy seventh position.
And, as we all know, seven signifies perfection, completion, and divine harmony.
In a research and frequent ratings by top technology publication, MyBroadBand, the table below provides a summary of the top 10 largest FNOs by homes passed and connected in South Africa in December 2025.
NET99 MUSCLES ITS WAY INTO THE TOP-10 SLOT!
In their report, the tech magazine reports that Net Nine Nine quietly slipped into the top FNO’s following the expansion of its network across eight provinces, with the latest being Limpopo where fibre cables have being rolled out in Thohoyandou and Musina.
Net Nine Nine, part of the Cynk Group, expanded its FTTH coverage to 300,000 homes.
While the companies have been around for several years, they ramped up their rollouts in 2025 while many of the country’s largest FNOs slowed their expansions.
Net Nine Nine expanded its network to include areas in eight of South Africa’s nine provinces during the year.
It targets lower-income and emerging middle-class markets, offering three uncapped FTTH packages on a month-to-month basis.
It also offers free installation.
Meanwhile, the recent visit by South Africa’s Telecommunications and Digital Technology Minister, Solly Malatsi, could be treated as an acknowledgement of company’s advancement in the fibre space.
Net Nine Nine CEO Albert Oosthuysen, during an event at the company’s offices in Sandton, Johannesburg, on 27 January 2026, said: “The moment you have access to uncapped data, you can really spread your wings in terms of entrepreneurship and build a better South Africa.”
The gathering, also attended by our Infinity Parter’s CEO Andrew Pitsi, was to engage on the importance of public-private sector cooperation in bridging the digital divide.
Malatsi highlighted South Africa’s massive disparity in accessibility to uncapped data, with large portions of the population being underserved.
Oosthuysen then unpacked Net Nine Nine’s plans for 2026, explaining the importance of uncapped data and how it plans to address this issue.
TALKS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT-PRIVATE SECTION IS ESSENTIAL!
Net Nine Nine has set itself the goal of connecting 1.5 million homes by 2028.
It believes that collaboration with the South African government is essential to achieve this and bring internet connectivity to the whole country – a sentiment shared by Malatsi.
“This is why conversations like this are valuable, as they point to precisely where the pressure and blockage points are,” said Malatsi, explaining that he would like to meet with as many companies in the data space as possible.
“Ultimately, for us as government to lead this sector, we need to understand the experiences of every player in the sector.”
Through cooperation between the government and the private sector, the minister and Net Nine Nine aim to ensure that no communities remain underserved in South Africa.
This belief has only been reinforced by Malatsi’s visit to Net Nine Nine’s offices, with Oosthuysen confident in a positive future for South Africa’s underserved communities.
“There’s a lot you can do if everyone is willing to collaborate, and my main takeaway from today is a very positive outlook for the future,” said Oosthuysen.
UPLIFTING COMMUNITIES AND ENTREPRENEURS!
Net Nine Nine uplifts the communities it operates in with local upskilling.
Should the necessary skills be lacking in the area, Net Nine Nine will bring in the nearest contractor, who will work with locals to build the infrastructure.
This ensures that the local contractors will have the skills needed to expand and maintain the built infrastructure.
Thanks to this approach, Net Nine Nine has provided work to 15 primary contractors and over 50 subcontractors, creating more than 1,000 jobs.
Furthermore, recognising the critical role that internet access plays in education, Net Nine Nine has invested more than R1,300,000 in educational and charitable initiatives during 2025.
To date, the group has installed free fibre connections at over 235 schools, helping to expand access to digital learning resources.
In addition, Net Nine Nine has supported local small businesses by equipping 168 enterprises with free Wi-Fi hotspots.
This initiative enables small businesses to leverage digital payment platforms and enhance their service offerings.
Net Nine Nine remains committed to creating better opportunities for South Africans – whether through enriched education, the promotion of small business success, or impactful community upliftment programmes.
