Celebrating a decade of connectivity: Openserve's impact on World Fibre Day

By Staff Writer

Makgosi Mabaso, Chief Commercial Officer at Openserve.

Openserve, South Africa's largest telecoms infrastructure provider and a Telkom Group company, joined the global community in commemorating World Fibre Day for the first time today, ten years after it was established.

The FTTH Council Global Alliance launched World Fibre Day on November 4, which marks the birthday of Sir Charles Kuen Kao, the Nobel Prize-winning Openserve, South Africa's largest telecoms infrastructure provider and a Telkom Group company, joined the global community in commemorating World Fibre Day for the first time today, ten years after it was established.

The FTTH Council Global Alliance launched World Fibre Day on November 4, which marks the birthday of Sir Charles Kuen Kao, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist recognised as the Father of Fibre Optics.

His pioneering work in the 1960s established the groundwork for the global fibre networks that connect the world today.

For South Africa, the day emphasises the importance of fibre as more than just a technology; it is the foundation of modern life, enabling education, business, entertainment, and connectivity for millions of people, said Openserve.

The company noted that the celebration coincided with a significant milestone: 10 years since Openserve was established in 2015, commemorating a decade of connecting South Africans to a better life through 'world-class' fibre infrastructure.

It said: “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 said, it 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 of March 2025; fibre presence in 99 percent of local municipalities; global reach through three undersea cable landing stations, with 38 280 kilometres of undersea cables monitored; and the largest Network Operating Control Centre (NOCC) in South Africa, ensuring reliability and quality of service.

Makgosi Mabaso, Chief Commercial Officer at Openserve, commented: “Our journey over the past 10 years has been about more than building networks. 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 continued: “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.”

Detailing why fibre matters, Openserve said it provides access and inclusion, adding: “Fibre helps bridge the digital divide by giving more South Africans access to education, public services and online opportunities; economic growth as fibre drives South Africa’s growing digital economy by empowering small businesses, entrepreneurs and remote workers.”

The company said the telecoms sector now contributes more than R270 billion a year to the national economy.

On network reliability, Openserve stated that fibre provides high-speed, dependable connectivity supported by expert technicians and proactive monitoring; fibre enables emerging technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and 5G; and fibre is a green, energy-efficient technology that supports long-term digital and economic growth.

Regarding the development of South Africa's digital backbone, Openserve stated that its leadership in the fibre industry has made it the country's digital backbone.

It added’: “The company connects cities, towns and rural communities, and links the country to its neighbours and the rest of the world through strong terrestrial routes and international submarine cables. By investing in open-access infrastructure, Openserve supports collaboration, competition and innovation across the ICT sector, ensuring that every South African has the opportunity to benefit from reliable, high-quality connectivity.

A connected future for everyone”

Mabaso elaborated more: “Connection is at the heart of progress. Every new fibre line we activate opens a door — for a learner to study online, a family to stay in touch, or a small business to reach new customers. Fibre is not just about technology; it is about people and possibility. That is what Openserve stands for.”

physicist recognised as the Father of Fibre Optics.

His pioneering work in the 1960s established the groundwork for the global fibre networks that connect the world today.

For South Africa, the day emphasises the importance of fibre as more than just a technology; it is the foundation of modern life, enabling education, business, entertainment, and connectivity for millions of people, said Openserve.

The company noted that the celebration coincided with a significant milestone: 10 years since Openserve was established in 2015, commemorating a decade of connecting South Africans to a better life through 'world-class' fibre infrastructure.

It said: “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 said, it 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 of March 2025; fibre presence in 99 percent of local municipalities; global reach through three undersea cable landing stations, with 38 280 kilometres of undersea cables monitored; and the largest Network Operating Control Centre (NOCC) in South Africa, ensuring reliability and quality of service

Said Makgosi Mabaso, Chief Commercial Officer at Openserve: “Our journey over the past 10 years has been about more than building networks. 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 continued: “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.”

Detailing why fibre matters, Openserve said it provides access and inclusion, adding: “Fibre helps bridge the digital divide by giving more South Africans access to education, public services and online opportunities; economic growth as fibre drives South Africa’s growing digital economy by empowering small businesses, entrepreneurs and remote workers.”

The company said the telecoms sector now contributes more than R270 billion a year to the national economy.

On network reliability, Openserve stated that fibre provides high-speed, dependable connectivity supported by expert technicians and proactive monitoring; fibre enables emerging technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and 5G; and fibre is a green, energy-efficient technology that supports long-term digital and economic growth.

Regarding the development of South Africa's digital backbone, Openserve stated that its leadership in the fibre industry has made it the country's digital backbone.

It added’: “The company connects cities, towns and rural communities, and links the country to its neighbours and the rest of the world through strong terrestrial routes and international submarine cables. By investing in open-access infrastructure, Openserve supports collaboration, competition and innovation across the ICT sector, ensuring that every South African has the opportunity to benefit from reliable, high-quality connectivity.

A connected future for everyone”

Mabaso elaborated more: “Connection is at the heart of progress. Every new fibre line we activate opens a door — for a learner to study online, a family to stay in touch, or a small business to reach new customers. Fibre is not just about technology; it is about people and possibility. That is what Openserve stands for.”