What Afrihost does

Afrihost is a privately held South African internet service provider founded in 2000 and headquartered in Johannesburg, serving more than 250,000 residential and small business customers across South Africa. The company operates as a connectivity and digital services aggregator, reselling internet access over more than 30 fibre network operators (FNOs) including Openserve, Vumatel, MetroFibre, Frogfoot, and Octotel, rather than owning last-mile infrastructure. Its product portfolio spans Pure Fibre (FTTH, 25 Mbps to 1 Gbps, uncapped and unshaped), Pure Wireless (fixed LTE), AirMobile (mobile/SIM data with eSIM), Pure VoIP, DSL, and a full web hosting suite (shared, cloud, reseller, dedicated, rack, and WHMCS billing).

Afrihost runs a subscription-based, month-to-month pricing model with no fixed-term contracts across virtually all SKUs. Pricing is granular and accessible: fibre packages from R497-R1,497 per month, AirMobile from R29, Pure Wireless from R49, Pure VoIP from R50-R500, and shared hosting from R84. The ClientZone self-service portal and companion mobile apps (iOS, Android, Huawei) handle account management, payments, and top-ups, supported by WhatsApp as the primary customer service channel. The company is the eight-time MyBroadband Broadband ISP of the Year winner with a 4.7 Google rating across more than 76,000 reviews.

The business model is a PLG/D2C ISP overlaid with selective enterprise and SMB channels. Recent strategic activity includes a majority stake in Cool Ideas (2021) and the 2026 acquisition of Echo Service Provider, which diversifies the company into enterprise SD-WAN, MPLS VPNs, and multi-cloud connectivity. Sub-brands include AirMobile, Pure Fibre, Pure VoIP, and Afrihost Max (premium support). The company has 51-100 employees and no disclosed institutional investors or parent company.

Name

Afrihost

Legal name

Afrihost

Website

https://afrihost.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Afrihost is a privately held South African ISP founded in 2000, serving more than 250,000 residential and SMB customers with fibre, LTE, 5G, mobile, VoIP, and web hosting services sourced through 30+ fibre network operator partnerships on month-to-month contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Internet Service Provider

NAICS

Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182), Telecommunications Resellers and Agents for Wireless Telecommunication Services (51712)

SIC

Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813), Radiotelephone Communications (4812), Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045)

akta.pro primary industry

Fiber ISPs (FTTH/FTTP Retail Providers) (HDAIADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wireless ISPs (WISPs) & Fixed Wireless Access Providers (HDAIADAD), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Broadband Providers (HDAIABAE)

Keywords

• Fibre internet services
• Fixed wireless broadband
• Voip telephony services
• Web hosting services
• Mobile data services

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Internet Service Subscriptions: Monthly recurring subscription fees for Fibre, LTE, 5G, Mobile, and DSL internet services. All packages are month-to-month with no fixed-term contracts.
2. Web Hosting Services: Revenue from shared hosting, cloud hosting, dedicated hosting, reseller hosting, and rack hosting services offered on monthly subscription basis.
3. Hardware and Device Sales: Sales of Fibre WiFi routers, Mesh WiFi extenders, Mobile WiFi devices, VoIP phones, and other accessories as one-time purchases.
4. Pure VoIP Service: VoIP packages (R50, R100, R300, R500 per month) plus per-second billing for calls. Unused monthly CallTime rolls over for 3 months.
5. Enterprise Connectivity Services: Corporate connectivity solutions including SD-WAN, MPLS VPNs, and multi-cloud connectivity acquired through Echo Service Provider.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Afrihost is a South African Internet Service Provider offering Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH), fixed wireless LTE/5G, mobile data, VoIP, DSL and web hosting services to residential and small business customers on month-to-month contracts. The company aggregates connectivity from more than 30 fibre network operators and resells it under the Pure Fibre, Pure Wireless and AirMobile brands, while also selling a full hosting stack and hardware devices.

Product overview

Afrihost is a South African ISP offering a broad portfolio of connectivity, mobile, voice, and web hosting products. Its core connectivity stack comprises Pure Fibre (FTTH broadband via multiple last-mile network operator partnerships), Pure Wireless (fixed wireless LTE), and AirMobile (SIM/eSIM mobile data). Voice services are delivered through Pure VoIP, an internet-based phone service with tiered packages and free on-network calling. The hosting division spans shared hosting, scalable cloud hosting, reseller hosting, dedicated servers, and physical rack hosting — all complemented by a WHMCS client management and billing module. The product line is tied together via the ClientZone self-service platform and companion mobile apps for iOS, Android, and Huawei. Afrihost also offers premium support tiers (Afrihost Max), internet marketing services through CopperTable, and a range of hardware including WiFi routers, mesh systems, mobile hotspots, and VoIP desk phones.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AirMobile: Mobile service brand offering data-only and monthly airtime packages with mobile WiFi devices
• Pure Internet Joy
• Pure Fibre
• Pure VoIP
• Afrihost Max

Products and services

• Pure Fibre Uncapped, unshaped and unthrottled Fibre-to-the-Home broadband service with speeds from 25Mbps to 1Gbps, delivered via partnerships with multiple last-mile fibre network operators across South Africa, starting from R317 per month.
• Pure Wireless Fixed wireless broadband (LTE/5G) for homes or workplaces where fibre is not yet deployed, starting from R49 per month.
• AirMobile Contract-free mobile data and airtime service offering month-to-month packages with eSIM, SIM swap and number porting support, starting from R29 per month.
• Pure VoIP Cloud-hosted voice-over-IP telephony service that works over an existing internet connection, with number porting and free calls between Pure VoIP numbers, offered in tiered monthly packages (R50–R500) plus per-second billing.
• Shared Hosting Entry-level Linux or Windows web hosting plans for new websites and small projects, starting from R84 per month.
• Cloud Hosting Scalable virtual hosting environment providing on-demand compute resources at a fraction of the cost of dedicated hosting, starting from R460 per month.
• Reseller Hosting White-label hosting service enabling partners to start their own web hosting business, starting from R510 per month.
• Dedicated Hosting Full-control dedicated server hosting with exclusive physical server resources, starting from R1,350 per month.
• Rack Hosting Physical rack space in Afrihost's data centre for customers' own custom hardware, starting from R1,450 per month.
• Enterprise Connectivity Services (SD-WAN, MPLS VPNs, Multi-cloud) Enterprise connectivity solutions delivered via the Echo Service Provider acquisition, including SD-WAN, MPLS VPNs and multi-cloud connectivity for larger corporate clients.
• Fibre WiFi Router (TP-Link EX511) WiFi 6 fibre router offered for use with Pure Fibre, supporting speeds up to 3000Mbps with WPA3 security and Beamforming technology, from R999 once-off.
• Mesh WiFi Whole-home WiFi coverage solution extending wireless internet throughout the house, from R3,999 once-off.
• Mobile WiFi Device Portable mobile WiFi hotspot devices including USB modems and Mobile WiFi units for use on the go, from R999 once-off.
• Wireless WiFi Router Fixed wireless WiFi router for use with the Pure Wireless service, from R2,499 once-off.
• VoIP Phones (Yealink SIP-T33G / SIP-T54W) IP desk phones compatible with the Pure VoIP service, including the Yealink SIP-T33G (4-line) and Yealink SIP-T54W (10-line) with HD voice and headset support, from R1,499 once-off.
• Internet Marketing Consultation Online marketing consultation and SEM services delivered in partnership with CopperTable, covering Google AdWords, SEO, remarketing, social media, emailers and analytics, plus in-person seminars in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.7 Google rating from 76,294 reviews
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Echo Service ProvidercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2026Afrihost acquired Echo Service Provider (Competition Commission approved in May 2026). Echo, founded in 2010, operates as a vendor-neutral aggregator of network and cloud computing services, sourcing connectivity components from multiple providers to build customised solutions for enterprise customers. The acquisition enables Afrihost to diversify into enterprise connectivity services including SD-WAN, MPLS VPNs, and multi-cloud connectivity.
• Cool IdeascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2021Afrihost agreed to acquire a majority stake in Cool Ideas, a South African ISP, pending regulatory approval. The move aims to leverage economies of scale and enhance network capabilities.
• CopperTableminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for internet marketing services. CopperTable provides Google AdWords search advertising, SEO, image and video ads, remarketing, social media, emailers and analytics. Also hosts internet marketing seminars in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
• OpenservecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouth Africa's largest telecoms provider with proven broadband services to over 3 million clients, having laid over 147,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable to 81,000 homes. Afrihost resells fibre services over Openserve's network.
• VumatelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the fastest growing broadband providers in South Africa with growing footprint across the country. Winner of 2016 MyBroadband Best Fixed Broadband Provider of the Year.
• MetrofibrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouth Africa's first globally compliant Carrier Ethernet 2.0 open access fibre network, established in 2010. Voted Best Fixed Broadband Provider in Q1 2017 MyBroadband survey.
• Frogfoot FibrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 15 years of experience in telecoms industry, widely known for technical excellence. Backed by RMB and Investec with significant investment in robust broadband network.
• OctotelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCape Town's largest Open Access Fibre Network, founded by industry veterans. Provides seamless fibre connectivity to over 100,000 homes and businesses.
• Vuma ReachcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOpen access fibre optic network connecting homes to fast, affordable internet. Currently covers Retreat, Vosloorus, Soweto, Tshwane, Grassy Park and Blue Downs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rain: South African mobile data and 5G fixed-wireless operator competing head-on with Afrihost's Pure Wireless and AirMobile products. Pure-play data ISP, narrower than Afrihost but similar customer profile.
• Telkom SA: South Africa's incumbent fixed-line operator and largest ISP/telco, offering fibre, DSL, mobile, and enterprise connectivity across the same consumer and enterprise segments as Afrihost. Directly competes on fibre packages and last-mile access.
• Vox Telecom: South African ISP and telco providing fibre, wireless, hosted PBX, and enterprise connectivity. Overlaps with Afrihost on consumer fibre and VoIP, and competes more aggressively on enterprise services.
• Web Africa: Established South African ISP offering fibre, LTE, mobile, and hosting across consumer and SMB segments. Closely comparable product mix and pricing tiering to Afrihost.
• MWEB: Long-standing South African ISP offering fibre, LTE, and ADSL. Competes with Afrihost across essentially the same residential and SMB segments with comparable price positioning.
• Axxess: South African ISP focused on uncapped fibre and wireless packages for home and SMB customers. Direct product and price competitor to Afrihost's Pure Fibre and Pure Wireless lines.

Broad incumbents

• Vumatel: One of South Africa's largest open-access fibre network operators and ISP (Vuma Reach). Doubles as both Afrihost's upstream FNO partner and a direct retail competitor on fibre packages.
• Cell C: South African mobile operator with fixed and data offerings that compete with Afrihost's AirMobile and Pure Wireless products, increasingly bundling fibre as well.
• Vodacom: Major South African mobile operator expanding aggressively into FTTH fibre and fixed connectivity. Competes with Afrihost on consumer fibre bundles and enterprise services, while leveraging its mobile base as a cross-sell channel.
• MTN: Pan-African mobile operator with growing fixed and enterprise connectivity offerings in South Africa. Overlaps with Afrihost on consumer fibre/LTE and on enterprise corporate customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Afrihost
• Facebookfacebook.com/Afrihost
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afrihost

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Afrihost