Ask FirstNet about Connectivity
Nationwide Last-Mile Connectivity
Reliable, high-speed broadband delivered to branches, remote sites, and HQ across South Africa.
The Challenge
Eliminate connectivity chaos
Enterprises today require consistent, high-performance connectivity across diverse locations, from bustling city campuses to remote field operations. Unfortunately, consumer-grade internet services simply cannot deliver the SLAs (Service Level Agreements), real-time monitoring, or dedicated support that modern business demands.
The struggle to manage disparate carriers and contracts creates unnecessary complexity, accountability gaps, and blind spots across your network. By consolidating your services with a single, enterprise-grade provider, you immediately simplify operations, strengthen accountability, and guarantee the reliable network performance your mission-critical applications rely on.
Quick answers
Do we cover remote areas?
Yes. We leverage multiple access technologies and partners to reach challenging locations.
What SLAs are available?
We offer enterprise SLAs for availability, response times, and restoration targets.
Can bandwidth be changed later?
Yes. Services are designed to scale as requirements change.
We can't wait months for fibre. What are our options?
If the site is fixed, we check licensed microwave first, then fixed wireless. If you need to be live in days, we deploy LTE/5G immediately and build the fibre primary in parallel. Temporary wireless runs on a minimum six-month term without an SLA.
Choose your option
Business internet: choose your option
Fibre, wireless and dedicated internet access to every site, managed end to end.
Fibre connectivity
Business fibre on the major open-access networks, with uptime-backed service levels.
ExploreWireless connectivity
Fixed wireless and LTE/5G where fibre is not available yet, or as a backup link.
ExploreDedicated internet access
Uncontended, symmetrical internet for head offices and critical sites.
ExploreOur Expertise
Ensure enterprise performance
We deliver business broadband across South Africa with enterprise SLAs, proactive monitoring, and scalable bandwidth options. Provisioning, support, and billing are unified to reduce overhead.
Where last‑mile options are limited, we design blended connectivity solutions to meet performance and availability targets.
- Coverage & Consistency: national footprint with standardised SLAs.
- Performance: bandwidth options aligned to application needs.
- Visibility: monitored links with alerts and monthly service reviews.
- Reliability: diverse access options and failover paths where needed.
Explore the details
How we deliverAt FirstNet, our connectivity is engineered for enterprise uptime and managed via a single pane of glass…
How We Deliver
Enterprise Uptime
At FirstNet, our connectivity is engineered for enterprise uptime and managed via a single pane of glass.
Site Surveys & Design
Assess options and recommend best-fit access types.
Provisioning & Onboarding
Coordinating delivery across multiple sites.
Monitoring & Support
Proactive NOC and escalation procedures.
Optimisation
Bandwidth upgrades and policy tweaks as needs evolve.
Case studies: Mining and retailConnected remote sites with blended access, meeting uptime targets. · Standardised connectivity and SLAs…
Mining
Connected remote sites with blended access, meeting uptime targets.
Retail
Standardised connectivity and SLAs across a national branch network.
From order to handoverEvery link follows the same structured delivery path, so you know what happens next and who owns it. · 1…
Onboarding
From order to handover
Every link follows the same structured delivery path, so you know what happens next and who owns it.
Order intake
We confirm the signed service schedule, scope and your key contacts.
Feasibility validation
We confirm feasibility and carrier quotes. Microwave and fixed wireless sites get a site survey.
Provisioning
We place carrier orders and coordinate landlord, wayleave and municipal approvals.
Install and test
Carrier install plus managed router set-up, with sync, throughput and failover testing where applicable.
Service handover
You receive a Service Handover Form within two business days of install, with two business days to test.
Monitoring begins
The link moves to our NOC for proactive monitoring and incident response.
Honest timelinesLead times depend on the last mile and on approvals. We give you a realistic timeline up front and never…
Lead times
Honest timelines
Lead times depend on the last mile and on approvals. We give you a realistic timeline up front and never over-promise.
Fibre
Typically several weeks to months, depending on construction, wayleaves and landlord approvals. The clock starts once approvals are in place.
Microwave
Subject to survey. Installation can follow within weeks once line of sight is confirmed.
Fixed wireless
Depends on coverage and capacity at your address.
LTE/5G
Often live within a few working days, using a RICA'd SIM in a pre-configured router.
What we need from youPower, mast space and ducting at the installation point · Landlord, body corporate or municipal consent…
Site readiness
What we need from you
- Power, mast space and ducting at the installation point
- Landlord, body corporate or municipal consent for installation
- Site access during agreed install windows
- Notice of safety requirements such as PPE, inductions or restricted hours
- RICA documentation for SIM-based services
- Ownership of your LAN and firewall configuration, unless separately scoped
We’ve got you connected. Choose us as your long-term partner.
Why Choose FirstNet
Nationwide last-mile connectivity
How do service levels work on broadband links?
Availability targets and service credits follow the underlying last-mile provider's SLA. Credits are passed through once received from the carrier. FirstNet handles fault escalation, SLA validation and the credit claim on your behalf.
How are our links monitored?
Every managed router is added to our PRTG monitoring platform, with SNMP-based up/down alerting and bandwidth monitoring. Our NOC responds to incidents and works with the carrier on repairs.
Can we use our own router?
Our standard is a FirstNet-managed router, which lets us monitor and resolve faults quickly. Your firewall can sit behind it. Customer-supplied network equipment must be ICASA type-approved and approved by our engineering team.
How long does a fault take to fix?
Restoration depends on the last mile: a fibre cut needs physical repair, while microwave may need realignment or site access. That is why we design a diverse backup for critical sites, so traffic fails over while we work the primary fault.
Who owns the router installed at our site?
The router (customer premises equipment) supplied with a FirstNet broadband link is a FirstNet-managed device and remains FirstNet property, covered by FirstNet's maintenance and replacement policies. Managing the router is how FirstNet monitors the link and resolves faults quickly. Public IP addresses allocated to the service also remain FirstNet property. If you run your own firewall, it connects behind the FirstNet router on an Ethernet handoff.
What do we need to provide at our site for a connectivity installation?
You provide power, mast space, ducting and similar facilities at the site, and obtain any third-party approvals such as landlord, body corporate or municipal consent. You also give site access during agreed install windows and flag health and safety requirements such as PPE, inductions or restricted hours. For SIM-based services you supply RICA documentation. Your LAN and firewall configuration stays with you unless it has been separately scoped with FirstNet.
What is included with a FirstNet business broadband link?
A standard FirstNet business fibre service includes the fibre circuit, a FirstNet-managed router, a static public IP address and a PRTG monitoring sensor, so the link is watched for up/down status and bandwidth from day one. Optional extras include additional static IPs, a dedicated (uncontended) variant and a second fibre link on an alternate carrier. Microwave services include the licensed radio link, an indoor router and PRTG monitoring.
What support hours apply to business broadband?
Standard broadband support runs during business hours, with after-hours callout for severity 1 issues. The exact cover depends on your service tier and is set out in your contracted service terms. Monitoring itself does not stop after hours: every managed router is on PRTG with up/down and bandwidth alerting, and the NOC handles incident response and liaises with the underlying carrier on your behalf.
FirstNet ensures a national rollout plan and standardised SLAs for all your sites.
Book a National Rollout plan and standardised SLAs plan tailored to your sites and users.
From the Knowledge Hub
In-depth answers about Nationwide Last-Mile Connectivity
- How does FirstNet monitor business internet links?
- What SLAs does FirstNet offer on business broadband and last-mile connectivity?
Your place in the stack
Connectivity is layer 1 of 5.
Enriched by Sovereign AI Reach the AI Factory over FirstNet’s own network, with a direct, low-latency path that stays on South African soil. Explore the AI Factory →