By Staff Reporter
Openserve, South Africa’s largest telecommunications infrastructure provider and a subsidiary of the Telkom Group, today joins the global community in celebrating World Fibre Day for the first time in South Africa. The celebration coincides with a major milestone — 10 years since Openserve was established in 2015, marking a decade of connecting South Africans to a better life through world-class fibre infrastructure.
A decade of connection and progress
Ten years ago, on 13 October 2015, a bold idea came to life within the Telkom Group. It was an idea built on connection, possibility and progress. Since then, Openserve has grown into South Africa’s national connectivity backbone — enabling digital inclusion, economic growth and innovation across every province. In the last decade, Openserve has achieved:
- More than 180 000 kilometres of fibre rolled out across South Africa.
- 1.4 million homes passed and 694 630 homes connected as at March2025.
- Fibre presence in 99 percent of local municipalities.
- Global reach through three undersea cable landing stations, with 38 280 kilometres of undersea cables monitored.
- The largest Network Operating Control Centre (NOCC) in South Africa, ensuring reliability and quality of service.
“Our journey over the past 10 years has been about more than building networks,” says Makgosi Mabaso, Chief Commercial Officer at Openserve. “It has been about connecting people to opportunity, empowering small businesses, and helping South Africa grow into a truly digital nation. World Fibre Day gives us a special opportunity to celebrate both where we’ve come from and where we are going.”
We are very proud of our Telkom heritage and where we have come from. It is this heritage that has enabled us to grow. Openserve is one of the critical elements of Telkom executing on our Infraco strategy as One Telkom. “Therefore, the celebration of this milestone is not only for the Openserve team but for the entire Telkom Group community,” she adds.
Celebrating the power of connection
World Fibre Day, established by the FTTH Council Global Alliance (FCGA), is observed annually on 4 November to mark the birthday of Sir Charles Kuen Kao, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist known as the Father of Fibre Optics. His pioneering work in the 1960s laid the foundation for the global fibre networks that keep the world connected today.
For South Africa, the day highlights the role of fibre as more than a technology — it is the backbone of modern life, powering education, commerce, entertainment and connection for millions of people.
“Fibre is the invisible force that keeps South Africa connected to the world,” says Mabaso. “It powers everything from online learning and e-commerce to streaming, telehealth and remote work. On this World Fibre Day, we celebrate the people and partnerships that make that possible, and we reaffirm our commitment to bringing high-quality, affordable fibre to every South African home, business and community.”