Smaller fibre network operators (FNOs) are performing well against established operators, the latest Perception Survey conducted by official Internet industry representative body ISPA has revealed.

The survey, which gauges the perception of Internet service providers’ (ISPs’) of FNO performance across a range of metrics, found that six smaller FNOs had achieved average scores that placed them above most of South Africa’s eight major networks.

These include Lightspeed (Cybersmart), which scored 7.1, Open Fibre and Lightstruck, each scoring 7.0, Evotel and Seacom FibreCo, each scoring 6.9, and WECOM, with a score of 6.6.

These are networks to watch as potential challengers to the top eight as they continue to grow, the industry body says.

“If we look at the smaller FNOs’ scores, all of them would slot in between the top two survey positions – if they had received numerically more ratings by ISPs,” ISPA points out, noting that large operators Octotel, Openserve, MetroFibre, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Frogfoot, Link Africa, Dark Fibre Africa and Vumatel are the eight Fibre FNOs that have recorded the most responses in ISPA’s latest Perception Survey.

The survey found that large operator Octotel, retaining its position at the top of the chart, scored a 7.5, while the next large operator, Openserve, maintained its second place position with a score of 6.5, and MetroFibre kept its third place ranking with a score of 6.4, despite both operators experiencing a slight drop in their overall scores.

Liquid remained steady in fourth place with a score of 6.1, while Frogfoot, Dark Fibre Africa and Vumatel all received their highest ratings in three years, scoring a respective 6.1, 5.8 and 5.6.

“While Frogfoot, Dark Fibre Africa and Vumatel all received their best survey results in three years, they have room for further improvement that would make dealing with them even better.”

Link Africa, albeit in sixth position, received its lowest score since the survey started in 2023, at 5.8, below the overall average score of 6.2.

ISPA noted that the two networks with the most ISPs rating them, namely Openserve and MetroFibre, are also two networks that score well on open-access policies.

“The implication is that open access policies encourage ISPs to use the network, as expected.”

When it comes to what ISPs think the strengths and weaknesses of South African FNOs are overall, the top four metrics remain the same as they were last year: reliability, staff friendliness, technical proficiency and adherence to open access.

“Potential investors and ISPs looking to broaden their service offering, geographic reach or exposure to a more innovative corporate culture should take note of these up-and-coming fibre superstars,” says ISPA spokesperson Ant Brooks, adding that their ascendancy is “something to watch” and bodes well for future service levels.