DFA is nearing the completion of the first phase of its ambitious national fibre network upgrade and future-proofing project. From July 2025, the company began installing new services and migrating existing customers onto this upgraded infrastructure.
The multi-year project, which began in 2023 and has already cost more than R800 million, comes at a pivotal time for South Africa’s technology landscape. The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), rapid convergence of technologies, and changing customer demands are accelerating the need for faster, more robust, and scalable fibre networks.
“While we’ve experienced challenges from increased service interruptions and some infrastructure fatigue, this ongoing investment represents a fundamental redesign of our network architecture,” says Dewald Booysen, Chief Operations Officer at MAZIV, DFA’s parent company. “It will enable vastly improved connectivity in an increasingly complex digital world.”
Addressing past challenges through innovation
Between 2022 and 2023, DFA experienced multiple network incidents, particularly in Gauteng, which has the highest density of its infrastructure. This made it the logical starting point for the upgrade strategy.
The first major phase included a R400 million Dry Underground Distribution Cabinet (DUDC) deployment in August 2023. This move supports higher fibre volumes for access services (both dark and managed), faster service delivery, and greater network resilience. It also laid the groundwork for DFA’s broader modernisation programme.
“To achieve better incident management, we consolidated partners and contractors, improving accountability and consistency in customer experience,” Booysen explains. “Combined with automation at our Network Operations Centre, we can now respond to incidents more efficiently.”
New architecture to meet growing demand
This upgrade is not just about adding capacity; it’s about transforming DFA’s core architecture. The new design introduces network separation between the access network and core fibre network, enhancing stability while enabling faster deployment of both dark and managed services.
“This has given us the ability to adapt and better manage both low-touch and high-touch environments,” says Booysen. “The new network architecture is easier to manage and allows us to deploy services more efficiently.”
A new Fibre Management System (FMS) has also been introduced, improving asset tracking, record-keeping, maintenance efficiency, and service delivery.
A phased rollout plan
DFA’s network upgrade will be completed in three phases:
- Phase 1: Focus on Gauteng, with service migration beginning 1 July 2025, continuing for 12–24 months.
- Phase 2: Expansion into the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal over the following year.
- Phase 3: Rollout to the rest of the country over the next two to three years.
“This isn’t just an upgrade in capacity,” Booysen concludes. “It’s about transforming how the network operates so we can deliver faster, more robust services to keep pace with South Africa’s digital future.”
