Vuma Optic Reach 2021

ISSUE 02 |2020-2021

OPTIC The art of Abundance 10

T H E R O A D T O U N L O C K I N G S O U T H A F R I C A’ S P O T E N T I A L

Mind the gap A N D

R E A C H F O R T H E S T A R S

Fast forward to fibre 4

U N D E R S T A N D I N G V U M A F I B R E C O R E A N D V U M A F I B R E R E A C H

BACK TO THE FUTURE This is why fibre is a game changer

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CONTENTS

FEATURES MIND THE GAP AND REACH FOR THE STARS Life doesn’t have to wait

THE ART OF ABUNDANCE Unlocking South Africa’s true potential

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A real game-changing experience

Why fibre is a game-changer Reach for the future, today

2 Creating an imagination nation Supporting the educational growth of South Africa’s youth through fibre

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14 Reaching for the stars Accessing unlimited potential

16 Reach for more

Fast forward to fibre The benefits of fibre at home Understanding Vuma Fibre Core and Vuma Fibre Reach

9 Our journey to becoming South Africa’s fastest growing broadband provider

12 Connecting South Africans, connecting to the world A story of purpose, hope and passion

17 Connecting to your community and the world A single connection, a united community

18 Corporate social investment Vuma firmly believes in going the extra mile

A REAL GAME-CHANGING EXPERIENCE

Welcome to Vuma Optic Reach Welcome to Vuma Optic Reach, a magazine designed for the entire Vuma Fibre Reach network.

Over the past year and a half, the Reach network has become an important focus for us as we reach new and exciting communities across the country, bringing fibre access to many South Africans as we move towards bridging the digital divide.

We believe that every South African deserves to have access to the internet and the opportunities it gives. In this edition, we will explore why fibre is a game-changer and how you can connect to your community and the world.

Here, we unpack the benefits of fibre at home, our journey to becoming South Africa’s biggest fibre provider and unlocking the country’s true potential through a single connection.

The time to reach for the future and unlimited opportunities is here, and we at Vuma look forward to navigating this journey with you.

The Vuma Team

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Creating an Imagination Nation

Supporting the educational growth of South Africa’s youth through fibre Imagine a world where every South African child has access to the information that they need in order to build a bright future for themselves, their families and communities. Access to education is a basic human right, and every child deserves the opportunity to unlock unlimited potential, not only through the schools they attend but by having the necessary tools that enable them to move forward and create the life they want.

Education is the backbone of South Africa’s future leaders. That’s why Vuma, together with our Internet Service Provider partners, are committed to providing every school we pass in our growing network of neighbourhoods with 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) internet connections. We go into each school and install a fibre line at no cost, and work alongside the Internet Service Provider to ensure that the school reaps the benefits of free, world-class internet access.

This has been a passion project for us since we began the initiative in 2015 when we installed our first fibre line at Parkhurst Primary School in Johannesburg, Gauteng. Since then, we are proud to say that we have connected over 420 schools with fast internet access.

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We are committed to our ethos that stands firm in the belief that fibre can empower ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Children deserve the opportunity to experience the extraordinary, to be extraordinary and we are committed to helping as many children as possible achieve unbelievable things.

As we move forward, entering new communities and areas around South Africa, we will continue to assist with the educational needs of our country’s children. We wouldn’t be able to do this without the help of our valued Internet Service Provider partners. We work very closely with them to make the magic happen and we would like to thank each partner who is walking this journey with us: Active Fibre, Afrihost, Comtel, Cool Ideas, Easy Web, Home-Connect, Legends Connect, Mweb, Rocket Net, Skyfi, Web Connection, Websquad & WIRULink

Uncapped and Unshaped

No Connection Fee

www.coolideas.co.za (010) 593 2665 B E E N T E R TA I N E D 2020-2021

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FAST FORWARD

TO FIBRE Understanding Vuma Fibre Reach and Vuma Fibre Core Access to fibre is important for each and every South African. As we become more reliant on technology and the internet to go about our daily lives, while enjoying access to streaming platforms and online content in the comfort of our homes, Vuma is in a game-changing space, a space that will enable millions of South Africans, across many communities, to enjoy the benefits of fibre-to-the-home. We strongly believe in digital inclusivity and look forward to providing fibre access to many South Africans.

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Here, we breakdown our fibre services and what they mean.

Vuma Fibre Reach

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Vuma Fibre Reach is a pre-paid fibre service designed to give communities in relatively dense neighbourhoods access to affordable and reliable fibre in the safety of their homes, without the fuss of long-term contracts and the financial stress that can come with the high costs of mobile data.

Vuma Fibre Reach is driven by the strong and solid infrastructure of the Core network that has been built over the past few years, enabling communities to reach for more, and to reach for the future. Every home in these communities will be given the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of a standard 20/10Mbps uncapped connection via a pre-paid service from their selected Internet Service Provider.

Families in these communities are now able to connect with each other, access online educational platforms and enjoy streaming services, without having to worry about paying the price for mobile data at home.

With Vuma Fibre Reach, homes in these communities can enjoy: • • • • •

A 20 Megabit upload/10 Megabit download uncapped connection Free fibre installation at home and a Wi-Fi enabled device Affordable internet access Pre-paid fibre package services 24/7 support

Vuma Fibre Core

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Similar to the utilities we need to go about day-to-day life, such as electricity and water, fibre in the home has become core to how we engage with the world. As we build smart cities, suburbs and homes, a strong fibre network in established urban neighbourhoods supports peoples’ day-to-day needs, helping them create a connected lifestyle, whether that be through the integration of smart devices in homes, the ability to stream shows without delays, or move forward into the future with work or business from home.

Vuma Fibre Core is the fibre service many are familiar with and is firmly entrenched in major suburbs around South Africa, giving residents in these neighbourhoods the choice to do, see, and experience more. With true line speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second, Vuma Fibre Core gives families the choice to meet the needs of their lifestyle based on what is important to them.

With Vuma Fibre Core, homes in these areas can enjoy: • • • •

Line speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second The choice of upload and download speeds, based on lifestyle needs Monthly contracts are available with our abundant network of Internet Service Provider partners 24/7 support

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Mind the gap and reach for the stars

Life doesn’t have to wait.

The road to accessible transformation and bridging the digital divide Access to information and knowledge at the press of button has become one of the most powerful global commodities. Data, in a technology-driven world, fuels almost every touchpoint of day-to-day life and empowers people to not only stay informed but enables them to build a brighter future, offering greater opportunities.

As we become more accustomed to working from home, as life moves forward to become more data-centric and as access to this data becomes a fundamental human need, all communities across our diverse nation deserve the opportunity to empower

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themselves through connectivity. With the high prices of mobile data and limited coverage, where every megabyte counts and the cost a great burden, access to high-speed, uncapped broadband will become a powerful tool in transforming South Africa’s digital economy.

That is why the roll-out of affordable fibre broadband to underserviced urban communities such as Grassy Park, Retreat, Mitchells Plain and Vosloorus is such a game-changer.

When affordable, uncapped broadband becomes available in neighbourhoods where it wasn’t available before, people’s lives change.

As high-speed, uncapped internet becomes abundant to many people and available on-demand, people can take their future into their own hands, whether it by educating themselves through tutorial videos on YouTube, or the latest news that keeps

them informed. Children can research school projects from the safety of their homes without the fear of racking up huge data bills, including watching hours’ worth of educational video content.

Imagine this, a young girl who is 10 years old dreams of one day becoming an Engineer but she doesn’t have the means to access the educational material she needs in order to make this dream a reality. Fibre is rolled out in her community and suddenly, she is given the opportunity to stream educational content from the kitchen table. She doesn’t need to get to the library or rely entirely on a textbook to aid her. She is now empowered to make all her dreams come true.

It is for this reason that we are rolling out Vuma fibre services to South African communities at reduced price points. In Mitchells Plain, we have developed a pre-paid fibre-to-the-home service that offers a 20 Mbps download speed at an affordable price.

The reason these prices will differ from community to community, particularly in relation to our core fibre offering, is based on the economies of scale in South Africa’s densely populated urban neighbourhoods. We are busy implementing a new approach in rolling out our physical fibre cables, sharing bandwidth between subscribers.

Building on this, Vuma CEO, Dietlof Mare believes that it is now time to innovate and develop South African solutions for South African challenges.

“Generally, in urban areas, the lower the income, the higher the population density. This we believe provides the key to unlocking the pricing conundrum. More customers can be reached more efficiently and affordably in some lower-income areas due to the higher density. This landscape presents the perfect opportunity for fixed-line providers to develop alternative, efficient, innovative and affordable solutions to serve this market, while still providing the abundance of internet that is made possible by fibre,” says Mare.

The high-speed connectivity needs in the lower-income households are no different to those in the more affluent suburbs of South Africa Each country has its own unique needs and therefore, international models may not be suited to our localised environment. Mare uses the example of taxi cabs in more developed economies to highlight this. “Take London in the UK for example, black cabs are seen on every street corner because, generally everyone can afford them. We cannot, nor should we, always transpose models from international markets. In South Africa, we have a multitude of taxi options, from Uber Black to Toyota Quantums. Both will get you from A to B, but the Quantum is far more affordable,” he explained.

“The same need is fulfilled, but there are some differences.

The products are slightly different, the experience is slightly different and a different amount of capital is required to serve the customer in each case. Therefore, these services come at a different price to the consumer.”

little more every month, but whose Internet needs have also expanded over the years. In Grassy Park, Retreat, Mitchells Plain and Vosloorus, Vuma is rolling out a network that is more like the Toyota Quantum of fibre infrastructure — more people share the same vehicle and split the cost of the transport, but in the end, everyone gets to where they need to be.

“The high-speed connectivity needs in the lower-income households are no different to those in the more affluent suburbs of South Africa. The only way, in our opinion, to meet the needs of everyone is to deploy customised, cost-efficient technologies that are future-proof and satisfy the demands of households across South Africa with innovative products and price points,” concluded Mare.

At Vuma, we have applied the same principle to our different fibre packages and pricing solutions. In communities like Parkhurst, Vuma’s network is like Uber Black — a premium experience for households that can not only afford to pay a

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Our journey to becoming South Africa’s fastest growing broadband provider Driven by our desire to connect a country.

2020 Since we began our journey in 2014 as a pioneer of fibre-tothe-home, we have been driven to provide fast and reliable fibre access to millions of homes and communities across the country by forging new paths and creating exciting opportunities for our fellow citizens.

2020 saw the world as we know it, forever changed. It is was during this time that we were all reminded of how important connectivity is, in connecting to the internet, to each other and to the world. As the globe switched to working from

home, having access to fast and reliable internet became a fundamental human necessity, highlighting the need to strive for digital inclusivity.

As a company, we are extremely privileged to be part of an industry revolutionising the South African landscape. With such wonderful accomplishments to back our vision and our duty to provide accessible fibre for all, we continue to look forward to a brighter future and by mid 2021, we aim to have reached more than 1 000 000 homes in South Africa.

It was during this period that Vuma won South Africa’s Fastest Growing Broadband Provider in 2020 at the prestigious International Business Magazine Awards.

Vuma CEO, Dietlof Mare, was also bestowed with an award for Telecom CEO of the Year 2020 South Africa.

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THE ART OF ABUNDANCE Unlocking South Africa’s true potential

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Over the past few years, the term “big data” has become a buzz word and a topic of conversation for many, particularly due how data can transform lives and unlock new doors to education and growth.

Big data means abundance and access to information for those who need it most. It can change the quality of people’s lives and in the information age we live in, this means hope and transformation for many millions of South Africans.

With the high price of mobile data, and limited access to technology-driven infrastructure such as a fibre optic network, many South Africans can’t truly enjoy the wealth of abundance that gives them the tools needed to access the extraordinary.

Vuma CEO, Dietlof Mare believes that this data scarcity in South Africa has far-reaching consequences. Lack of abundant Internet access translates to lost opportunities for entrepreneurs, school students, young people and elders.

Consider two children in school who are working on a project - one lives in Sandton and has access to uncapped broadband at home.

The other child lives in a lower-income area and their parents can only afford a small amount of mobile data per month.

The child in Sandton will be able to research a topic for his or her project by watching video tutorials on YouTube, as well as access other online educational content like Khan Academy. These resources help a learner better understand the subject matter, or can explain difficult concepts in a way they can understand. In contrast, the child who has to be careful about how much data they consume will not be able to use these same resources.

Let’s look at another example where the South African government is trying to make important information more abundantly accessible is MomConnect, a maternal health platform. MomConnect is one of the flagship programmes from the Department of Health, developed in partnership with the Praekelt Foundation. According to the Praekelt Foundation, MomConnect has registered over two million users since it launched in 2014, its help desk has processed 500,000 messages, and 95% of clinics in South Africa are participating.

Scientific studies around the world have shown that the deaths of infants and women in childbirth can be substantially decreased with timely antenatal and postnatal care. MomConnect uses cheaper mobile data technologies like SMS and USSD to provide women with information on antenatal and postnatal care.

Imagine the information that could be delivered to expectant mothers if this service was not limited by data scarcity. If mothers around the country have access to abundant broadband, services like MomConnect can really make a difference to our nation through augmented images, videos, and many new features. Abundant access to information is truly the key to unlocking South Africa’s potential.

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CONNECTING SOUTH AFRICANS, CONNECTING TO THE WORLD A story of purpose, hope and passion 2020 was certainly a year for the books, and while this new year has been no easy feat for any of us, perhaps it’s important to stop and think about what we are currently dealing with and how we are adapting, shifting our thinking and embracing new ways of living. As we look back at the past year, we are reminded of our purpose, to help connect South Africa with access to high-speed fibre.

If we can be sure of anything, it’s that creating a connected nation and world is now more prevalent than ever. Many of us have had to quickly acclimatize to life at home. We’ve needed to conduct our normal business and work activity in the comfort of our home, we have had to connect with friends and family who we are not able to see in person, online. We have had to study online and sometimes shop online, as well as stay informed with the latest developments via reputable news forums and social channels. As we have not been able to go out for entertainment that easily, we have spent more time streaming shows and movies, listening to podcasts and playing online games.

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It is when we look at just how important all these activities and experiences are to us, we realise how significant connectivity is in our day-to-day lives.

At Vuma, we have spent the better part of the past decade striving to help connect South Africans with fast and accessible fibre. As we continue to adapt to this modified way of living, we believe that there is positivity and possibility in leading a connected lifestyle. We can move forward as a nation, in our communities and on an individual level when we are connected to the internet.

The road that lies ahead can lead to digital transformation and inclusion if we work to move forward in the face of adversity. We believe that by bridging the digital divide with inclusive connectivity, we can help change the lives of many South Africans.

We’re excited to think that people across South Africa can have access to an abundance of information and the knowledge that empowers them to move forward.

Why fibre is a game-changer Reach for the future, today

Want to stream your favourite show but you’re worried about using too much mobile data? Want to chat to your family across the country but you’re scared that you will run out of data and lose the connection? Want to study and take your career to the next level but it’s online and you don’t have a reliable internet connection?

deployed in South Africa over the past ten years, it has not always been accessible to all. It has taken time to create and build the infrastructure and network in communities and suburbs. This has changed over the past two years, when we developed Vuma Fibre Reach, a pre-paid fibre service that offers internet connections to many more South Africans.

It can be extremely frustrating going about your day-to-day life without steady and affordable data. Regardless of where we are situated in the world, we’re living in an ever-changing and fast paced digital society, where having access to the internet is vital to progression and successfully moving us into the future.

A fibre optic cable, which is laid under the ground close to your house, allows data to travel at the speed of light. This means that you are not relying on signal strength or the volume of users on your network to determine the speed of your connection.

We speak a lot about bridging the digital divide in South Africa and how important is us to us as a country but it’s just as important to speak about how it affects you and me, today. Modern society has become so reliant on the digital world that it even how we communicate with others on a daily basis, is intricately linked to online access.

Vuma Fibre Reach offers a standard 20 Mbps upload, 10 Mbps download connection at an affordable price, it works out to be much more affordable than constantly having to buy cellular data when you run out. What’s also great is that this connection is uncapped, meaning that your internet won’t be cut off after using a certain number of megabits and gigabits.

We now communicate with each other on messaging apps, we bank online, we study online, we work online, and we stream entertainment online. See, we do so much online that we really need a good internet connection to enable us to do the things that are really important to us.

Apart from the affordability of having a fibre connection at home, the most important, game-changing aspects of fibre are accessibility and reliability. This uncapped connection with good speed, allows you to do so much more from home. Now, you can stream as much content online as you want to, you can connect with friends and family for hours on end without having to worry about running out of data. You can do that online course you’ve always wanted to do without worrying about spending too much money on being online. You can help your children study online and attend online classes and you can run your own business from the comfort and safety of your own home.

Cellular data, while important to us, especially when we are on the go, can often be very expensive and limiting in terms of data usage. Even a capped LTE internet connection at home where your data is limited and your speed slow, can hinder your daily life. In South Africa, we have long relied on these methods to give us the advantage of access, with the disadvantage of limited access and high costs.

Household expenses are naturally on the rise and as we become more and more reliant on the internet, an affordable and accessible internet connection is perhaps the single most important ingredient in creating an efficient and empowered future for ourselves and our families.

Fibre is the game-changer we have all needed to keep ahead and in touch with the world. However, as fibre has been introduced and

You see, fibre gives you access to an exciting and attainable future, allowing you to reach up and grab it, today.

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Reaching for the stars Accessing unlimited potential Vuma has two fibre deployment methods, aerial and trenched fibre.

The same fibre is used in both deployment methods, the only difference between aerial and trenched fibre is the method of deployment. During the aerial deployment method, fibre cables are strung overhead on electricity poles, whilst the trenched fibre is laid and buried underground.

Residents receiving aerial fibre will have the exact same Internet experience as residents receiving trenched fibre.

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Are you ready to reach for the future, to reach for the stars? Are you ready to join us on an exciting journey to connectivity? Accessibility, through fibre, is on our doorstep and we’re eager to unlock the door to more, to a world where everyone in South Africa has access to fast and reliable fibre.

We have spent a lot of time talking about how important internet access is to us in a modern and technologically advanced society, and the benefits of having fibre in our home. Now is the time to utilise these benefits and create an exciting future for ourselves, our community and our family.

Below, we highlight a few ways in which you can start building a brighter future, showcasing tools and tricks to get you moving.

Build your business – Change the game If you have a great business idea or have already begun your own business and want to take it to the next step, building your online presence is extremely important in helping you access unlimited opportunities.

One of the first steps you need to look at incorporating into your business, is a website. WordPress is a great place to start in building your own website as it is a user-generated platform that makes building your own website more accessible. There are many online tutorials that can help you get going in creating your unique website to showcase your offering and there is the ability to incorporate e-commerce software and plug-ins if you are looking to sell products online.

Shopify and Facebook Shop are also great alternatives if you are starting out and don’t have the time or budget to create your own website. Facebook Shop is linked to your Facebook and Instagram page profiles (remember to create company pages, and don’t run your business from your personal profile), making it easier for potential customers to purchase the products they like and have seen on your social media channels.

Build a brighter future – study online Studying online has become increasingly popular across the world. Not just because we have had to spend more time at home but because it is easier and more efficient.

Schools are even jumping on the trend, offering online study sessions and tutorials to kids. Online classes, whether for school or higher education, require Zoom or Microsoft Teams and a steady internet connection.

Most universities and colleges offer short and long online courses, allowing you to study from the comfort of your home. Depending on your budget, there are loads of online courses to choose from. From Udemy which has over 100 000 different online courses, some of them free, to the likes of Get Smarter, which is run through the University of Cape Town, you have access to a great amount of knowledge at your fingertips.

YouTube is a great platform for online educational content in the form of video editorials. Whether you’re wanting to study math or build on your hobby, this platform’s library is extensive. Always try and do a little research before to ensure that the source is reliable and well-reviewed.

Build influence – start your own Tik Tok channel Influence has become a big commodity over the past 10 years, with many individuals taking to social media channels to share their stories and work with great brands.

Influencer marketing and the notion of influence is growing and evolving as new platforms are introduced to the market.

Video content is king at the moment as Tik Tok takes the world by storm. Lockdown had a big role in creating the hype around the platform as people took to creating videos at home. If you have a great story to share with online audiences, an eye for video content and a camera on your phone handy, you can have a great deal of fun creating engaging videos that may go viral one day. The opportunities are endless.

Whether you’re new to the journey or a longstanding friend, it’s time to reach out, reach for the stars and enjoy a game-changing experience with us.

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REACH FOR MORE The benefits of fibre at home

Your future begins at home, as fibre gives you and your family the foundation to access unlimited benefits and opportunities. As we become more reliant on technology and the internet to go about our daily lives, while enjoying access to streaming platforms and online content in the comfort of our homes, fast and reliable fibre can help us change the way we do life and business.

Whether you’re new to Vuma Fibre Reach or have been on the revolutionary pre-paid network for over a year, having access to reliable and affordable internet is truly a game-changer for many millions of South Africans.

Apart from access, Vuma Fibre Reach offers a host of at-home benefits to people and families, allowing you to enjoy unlimited opportunities and entertainment from the comfort of your home.

These benefits are really important to each and every one of us as we live in a technologically advanced world where, the simple click of a button can enable powerful forward movement.

music, watch the latest Tik Tok video or upload your own dance video without having to worry about signal strength and data usage.

Connect This last year has taught us how important staying connected with our loved ones are. With a reliable fibre connection, you can easily stay connected with friends and family on your favourite social media channels, through a video call and online.

Save One of the most important benefits of having Vuma Fibre Reach at home is that you are able to spend less on costly cellular data every month while you enjoy access to an uncapped, pre-paid internet connection at home. This gives you the opportunity to save more for the things your family really needs.

Work With Vuma Fibre Reach, you can successfully work from home.

If you’re a budding entrepreneur looking to start your own online business or if you already have your own business, with an uncapped internet connection, you can take charge of your future and reach for more. Bank, market and plan for success with a single connection.

Learn Digital inclusivity is so important, now more than ever.

Inclusivity leads to connected communities, to more equal learning opportunities, to accessible online entertainment and to affordable data.

We’ve broken down the key benefits of having Vuma Fibre Reach in your home and how it’s all within your reach:

Entertainment With a standard 20 Mbps/10 Mbps fibre line, you and your family can easily stream or download the latest movies and series over your uncapped connection, allowing you all to enjoy new experiences together at home. Listen to your favourite

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Perhaps one of the most important benefits of Vuma Fibre Reach, is access to unlimited educational online content. From YouTube tutorials to online educational platforms and classes, your internet connection can give you and your family the power to create, complete homework assignments and conduct product research from the safety of your home.

While the benefits of fibre are abundant and game-changing, it’s important to highlight the simple but extremely beneficial advantages that each one of us deserves. Let’s go on this journey together, let’s gain access to infinite possibilities and reach for them by doing more from home.

Connecting to your community and the world A single connection, a united community

Over the past year, we have had to change and adapt to a new world. Many of us have spent a lot more time at home, apart from loved ones and friends. While it has not been easy for any of us, not just in South Africa but across the world, many of us are looking at how we can embrace new ways of living.

One of the most beautiful things about South Africa and being a South African is our ability to be part of the communities we serve. Whether it’s the community where we live or the South African community at large, we are proud to be part of something that is bigger than us alone. We celebrate our culture and heritage in our communities, we look after each other and encourage others to form part of the collective that beautifully binds us together.

At Vuma, when we look back at what has happened over the past year and a half, we are driven by our determination to help connect communities, large and small, around the country.

If we can be sure of anything, it’s that creating a connected nation helps inspire and unite us all. Many of us have had to quickly get used to life at home.

We’ve needed to go about our normal lives from

the comfort of our homes. We have had to connect with friends and family who we are not able to see in person, online. We have had to study online, as well as stay up to date with the latest news online. As we have not been able to easily go out for entertainment, we have spent more time streaming shows and movies, listening to music and playing online games.

It is when we look at just how important all these activities and experiences are to us, we realise how important having access to connectivity is in our day-to-day lives. We believe that there is positivity and possibility in connecting communities and connecting people to the world, and the world to you. We can move forward as a nation, in our communities and on an individual level when we are connected to the internet.

The road that lies ahead can lead to digital transformation and inclusion if we work to move forward in the face of adversity. We believe that by bridging the digital divide with inclusive connectivity, we can help change the lives of many South Africans.

We’re excited to think that people across South Africa can have access to unlimited information and the knowledge that empowers them to move forward.

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Corporate social investment Vuma firmly believes in going the extra mile to uplift individuals and communities. It is for this reason that we invest in creating a world of opportunity by connecting schools to digital opportunities (made possible with high-speed fibre), making people’s dreams come true, and sponsoring life-changing initiatives.

The COVID-19 environment encouraged us to amplify our efforts over the past 12 months. We've partnered with some amazing non-profit organisations (NPOs) over this period to ensure vulnerable communities can access the resources and support they need.

One year later, we have our network of exceptional partners to thank for enabling us to improve countless lives and give even more ordinary South Africans access to a world of extraordinary opportunities.

Spreading awareness about autism in 2021 In 2020, we were proud to join the Els for Autism Foundation in its drive to help raise funds and raise awareness for children with autism through the 2020 Els for Autism Golf Series.

The foundation was started by professional South African golfer Ernie Els and his wife Liezl in 2009, following the initial shock of discovering their son has autism. The parents now dedicate themselves to making a difference for as many autistic children and their families as possible.

The foundation now helps create awareness around autism and provides therapy and support for autistic children. It has placed a much-needed spotlight on autism and the need for training around the disorder.

The foundation funds research into autism, its causes, and the development and delivery of treatment therapies, educational programmes, training programmes, and sports programmes, as well as residential and independent living programmes. These include global outreach programmes aimed at driving autism awareness, sharing best practice around treatment, and promoting the value, acceptance, and inclusion of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

We’re thrilled to continue this relationship in 2021, enabling the foundation to educate even more parents, teachers, and South Africans about autism – highlighting the fact that early diagnosis could help improve the quality of life for children on the spectrum.

We’ve pledged our support towards an on-going collaboration with the foundation, maximising the potential of our partnership in the effort to change lives.

Initiatives like these are more than a sponsorship to us. They align with our goal to help where we can, create lasting value in the lives we touch. We want to empower South African youth through access to connectivity, which drives improved access to education and better opportunities overall.

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Corporate social investment

Creating opportunities for improved healthcare Earlier in 2020, we announced our commitment to a long-term partnership with the Reach for a Dream foundation, to put smiles on the faces of hospitalised children – connecting them to an exciting and immersive virtual escape from their clinical environment.

Before COVID-19, Reach for a Dream – which makes the dreams of threeto 18-year-old children fighting life-threatening illnesses come true – relied heavily on in-person experiences. This, however, was no longer safe during the pandemic, especially because many of the children in the programme already have compromised immune systems.

Despite these odds, the foundation didn’t let prohibitions on visiting Dreamers in hospitals, or those bedridden at home, stop it from fulfilling dreams! Instead, it embraced the endless possibilities of virtual reality (VR) technology, using it to transport little Dreamers across the world on exciting adventures and enjoy an escape from their harsh reality.

The foundation created dedicated Dream Rooms in hospitals’ paediatric sections across the country that allow children to escape from their clinical environments and enjoy a virtual getaway.

Using VR headsets and a library of immersive VR video experiences, Reach for a Dream creates virtual dream days where children explore immersive experiences, like Disney World rides, swimming with dolphins, and playing with cute Labrador puppies that cuddle up with the children.

“The new virtual reality platform has changed a child’s experience of their hospital admission. They now experience new adventures from the safety of their beds, which gives them something exciting to look forward to. Their excitement is tangible,” says Dr. Shaegan Irusen, Paediatric Nephrologist at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital.

The new virtual reality platform has changed a child’s experience of their hospital admission.

They now experience new adventures from the safety of their beds, which gives them something exciting to look forward to.

Our goal is to help the foundation fulfil even more dreams for the children. To do this, we will be continuing our sponsorship of this meaningful initiative, finding ways to overcome new and historic hurdles, to create special opportunities for Dreamers. Our goal is to ensure as many Dreamers as possible will have their wishes fulfilled as the initiative expands throughout 2021, and into the foreseeable future.

Dr. Shaegan Irusen B E E N T E R TA I N E D 2020-2021

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Joining the fight against cancer On World Cancer Day, 4 February, we had the privilege of working with PinkDrive NPC as a key sponsor, helping to provide over 200 Chatsworth community members with free screening for gender-related cancers, HIV/Aids, TB, diabetes, and COVID-19 in mobile health units set up at the RK Khan Hospital.

The collaborative effort provided free medical screening and education to community members using mobile health units resembling doctors’ rooms on wheels. Community members could access a state-of-the-art gynaecology area for pap smears and examinations, a reception area for administration, and a radiology area.

We were able to tackle two of the most prevalent female cancers on the day – breast cancer and cervical cancer – by offering cervical screening, mammograms, and clinical breast examinations, while men could undergo Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer.

The partnership with PinkDrive addressed the impact that COVID-19 had on South Africans’ ability to be screened for communicable and non-communicable disease. We are thrilled to have played our part in allowing more South Africans to access mammograms, gender-related cancer screening, education, and additional services to improve their lives.

“An estimated 105 000 South Africans are diagnosed with cancer each year. This is an exceptionally high number of people who, without access to screening facilities, would otherwise only get diagnosed once their cancer reached its advanced stages, and treatment is more difficult,” says Noelene Kotschan, CEO and Founder of PinkDrive.

“The funding from Vuma has allowed us to use our mobile health units to continue prolonging lives through the prevention of illness and disease, and by promoting healthy lifestyles.”

We will continue sponsoring PinkDrive and its efforts to provide screening services and education to communities throughout the country, empowering the organisation to reach more South Africans in rural, township, and semi-urban areas.

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The partnership with PinkDrive addressed the impact that COVID-19 had on South Africans’ ability to be screened for communicable and non-communicable disease.

105 000 South Africans are diagnosed with cancer each year

Corporate social investment

Paying homage to the vibrant history of the Cape Flats The low-lying Cape Flats community, just north of Cape Town, is overflowing with a rich culture and captivating stories that make up its vibrant history. We've had the privilege of bringing this history to life through the sponsorship of the YWise Up Museum. The museum aims to transform the Cape Flats community, starting at a grassroots level.

The YWise Up Museum, led by the Young Men’s Christian Association (the YMCA), is disrupting the cycle of trauma and violence usually associated with the Cape Flats by shifting the narrative and highlighting the rich and vibrant history of the District Six community and its people.

The museum takes visitors on a journey through the history of the Cape Flats, depicting life in District Six, the devastation caused by the forced removals and displacement of communities during Apartheid.

It features three rooms, each with its own unique and gripping story. The rooms are a depiction of choice, identity, testimony, pain, heroism, and hope.

The museum’s priority is supporting the young people of the Cape Flats by offering a prevention and awareness programme to vulnerable and at-risk youth in the community who need support.

We’re proud to have been part of the development of the YWise Up Museum initiative. Through our collective efforts, we have helped empower people in the community through access to resources that will help them see and find opportunities, which is a massive priority for Vuma and the reason why this project is so close to our hearts.

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200 children fed in the community

50 handbags donated

+50 lunches

Extending a helping hand to all corners of SA Much like our efforts to connect all corners of the country to high-speed fibre internet, we set out to help as many underserved communities in South Africa as possible in 2020 and 2021.

Staying within the region, our Mitchells fibre team visited Hannah’s Place of Safety in Westridge, Mitchells Plain. The organisation provides a safe space for newborn babies, from three-to-six months, that have been abandoned, abused, or neglected. The place of safety has been in existence for four years, and more than 70 children have gone through its doors.

Our efforts in Johannesburg saw us partner with Soweto-based organisation, Ikageng, which focuses on realising social change through health, nutrition, education, and social services using a community development approach.

It is moving to see what the workers go through every day to ensure that the babies are cared for, especially considering the facility relies on donations. It’s for this reason that our Mitchells fibre team was happy to assist by donating essential items to assist Hannah's Place of Safety during the festive season.

We've helped the organisation provide a meal for children that come out of abusive homes – working with Ikageng School in Orlando West to feed over 200 children in the community.

We also donated 50 handbags to the Bags of Hope organisation in Johannesburg North to give hope and dignity to women in need.

The organisation turns donated handbags into comfort bags that contain items like tissues, lipstick, sanitary towels, deodorant, wet wipes, notepads, and pens.

We then shifted our focus to the community of Ekurhuleni on Mandela Day – providing a lunch hand out to over 50 car guards stationed around various malls in Vosloorus. We also sponsored the Mr and Mrs Vosloo beauty competition, which aimed to empower youth in the community, as well as provided PPE to the Home Sweet Home and Dzulani Children's homes in the community. The donations helped protect around 100 children and staff during the height of the pandemic.

The national lockdown was challenging for animals, as much as it was for humans. Realising the need to support animal shelters in the Western Cape during strict lockdown regulations, we partnered with Fallen Angels Pet Rescue – an NPO focused on the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of domestic animals.

We contributed 200 bags of dog food to the Fallen Angel’s Animal Shelter to fill the void that limited human contact had on the organisation.

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handed out to car guards

KwaZulu-Natal is known for its spectacular beaches, warm waters, and long stretches of sand. To preserve this beauty, we partnered with the Durban Scouts this year, a group of children who are part of the Natal Yacht Club involved in the community, offering their assistance wherever they can.

The partnership saw Vuma volunteers help the scouts clean out all the plastic from the Durban Harbour after washing in with the tides. We also donated branded hand sanitisers and masks to all members who participated in the clean-up.

Staying in the region, we jumped on board the annual PinkDrive and More Balls Than Most golf day on World Cancer Day to support both organisations in creating awareness and raising funds for the cause.

We used this platform to educate both men and women participating in the golf day. We also donated two prizes for the Longest Drive Competition and The Closest to the Hole Competition.

We’ll continue reaching out to underserved communities, fur-friends in need and partnering with organisations aimed at preserving our beautiful country – extending our national footprint, one region at a time.

Corporate social investment

Creating employment opportunities for SA’s youth It's our responsibility to protect our children and their future by ensuring they're employable and have opportunities to empower themselves to reach for the extraordinary.

Sadly, for some of the country’s youth, their daily reality involves leaving school each day and entering unsafe, violent neighbourhoods and homes without adult supervision – exposing them to risky environments, drug and alcohol abuse and even gangs.

To help youth overcome these circumstances, we have partnered with Safe Hub in Jabulani Soweto. This is a safe facility where children can access after-school programmes, and through our collaboration with Safe Hub we are enabling 13 learners in Alex to access a programme with Playmakers.

The programme enrols 13 young people each year, between the ages of 19 and 25, in a 12-month learnership at a Safe Hub in their community. These youth then work with the young children at the Safe Hub facility, implementing various programmes to empower them while gaining valuable work experience to make them employable.

PlayMakers participate in a range of learning opportunities over the 12 months, including obtaining a further education and training certificate in sports administration at NQF level four (learnership).

Additionally, PlayMakers participate in selected modules of the further education and training certificate in Child and Youth Care Work and complete their learnership with sports administration certificates, referee certifications, and other professional development achievements.

Young PlayMakers play an integral role in fostering a healthy learning environment for children at the Safe Hub facilities – in turn empowering the next generation of PlayMakers.

13 young people enrolled each year

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Connecting learners to digital opportunities in the classroom Amid the disruption, the national lockdown has also presented an opportunity for learners, their parents, and educators to adjust to the idea of online learning, through access to online resources which can bolster the curriculum taught in schools.

Capitalising on this opportunity, we partnered with iSchool Africa in 2020 to hand over nine digital libraries across South Africa. The hand over was made possible by a Guinness World Record-setting event where Saray Khumalo, the first black African woman to conquer Mount Everest, along with a team of cyclists, partners, and supporters, raised money over an eight-hour stationary cycling fundraiser. We raised more than R704 000 for digital literacy, with the group cycling 5 040km in eight hours to help change the education narrative and allow our youth to be the best they can be.

“We owe our success to the partners, school leaders, communities, teachers, and learners who joined us on our journey to transform South Africa's education system," says Michelle Lissoos, Executive Director of iSchoolAfrica.

"We realise that we can bridge the education gap for learners by providing them with devices, data, and quality educational resources that uplift them to achieve greatness in the future.”

Every iSchoolAfrica school receives a digital library consisting of a secure mobile iPad lab containing 20 traded-in iPads, which can be moved from classroom to classroom without any complex infrastructure required.

These labs allow learners to use the globally chosen education tools for schools, containing curriculum-aligned content and applications like the global award-winning OneBillion numeracy software. iSchoolAfrica also offers the #EveryoneCanCode curriculum – a full coding continuum for Grade 1-12 learners, from block-based coding to app development.

The devices also have powerful built-in assistive features to help children with disabilities such as autism, visual impairment, deafness, cerebral palsy, and dyslexia. iSchoolAfrica’s initiative extends beyond technology and empowers teachers with South African Council for Educators (SACE) endorsed training and mentorship. An iSchoolAfrica facilitator specialising in education technology integration is also appointed to each school and works closely with teachers, ensuring ongoing professional development and skills transfer.

The programme has also trained more than 200 youth in journalism through the iSchoolAfrica press team programme and 200 youth as educational facilitators in their communities.

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We owe our success to the partners, school leaders, communities, teachers, and learners who joined us on our journey to transform South Africa’s education system.

+200 youth trained in journalism

200 youth trained as education facilitators

Corporate social investment

Empowering young girls through technology 20 girls in underserved communities sponsored

Much like Vuma, the Girl Code NPO strongly believes in the diversity and inclusivity of underserved communities in the ICT space and does everything possible to let the world know that anyone can learn how to code and become a programmer.

A notable divide persists between men and women with regards to internet access and the opportunities it can be used for. According to the United Nations, the proportion of women using the internet is lower than that of men in two thirds of the world’s countries. Technology can empower women to get involved in development and leadership roles across industries, which creates more successful and diverse companies in the future. This realisation guided us to sponsor the impactful Girl Code initiative, the Girl Coder Club.

The Girl Coder Club is an after school online girls’ club/ sponsorship programme for 20 primary and high school girls in underserved communities interested in pursuing STEM-related careers. The opportunity was presented to four principals (from four Vuma schools in Soweto) to enable learners to go through this scholarship. Not only does Girl Code monitor each learner’s progress as they embark on their coding journey, but they also support the learners with devices and connectivity where needed.

We realise that initiatives like these, which focus on providing skills and resources to young women, have become a necessity, especially within the schooling system. The demand for coding skills is increasing and, together with Girl Code, we aim to provide a long-term solution to the growing technology talent shortage in the country, especially among women.

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Creating an uninterrupted learning experience We realise that accessing digital learning opportunities requires a reliable internet connection in the home and classroom to ensure an uninterrupted learning experience.

To make this possible, we have connected every registered primary and high school we pass when deploying the network to free 1Gbps fibre broadband internet through our Fibre to Schools project. Since its launch in 2015, we, together with our Internet Service Provider partners, have connected over 420 schools, empowering more than 320 000 young people and teachers with access to the boundless opportunities of the internet.

The shift towards online learning is a positive step towards integrating digital technology into schools’ curriculums and preparing learners for future jobs.

Vuma’s Fibre to Schools programme is gradually making its way into more schools around the country as institutions expand curriculums to include e-learning initiatives and bring classrooms into the digital era.

“When Vuma arrived to connect our school, we were very excited, as was the whole of the Brackenfell community,” says Wendy Horn at Protea Heights Academy. “Having access to the internet has changed the way we do things at our school. Every classroom has Wi-Fi, every child can use the internet, and we’re able to use that to integrate what we do in the classroom with the real world.”

420 schools connected

+320 000 young people and teachers empowered

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Internet access enables young minds to think about the future.

By digitising our education sector, we can ensure both learners and educators have better access to information and that young people enter the world of work equipped with skills that are increasingly in high demand across a range of sectors in South Africa.

Our Fibre to Schools programme continues to support the vision of connecting classrooms to the digital era and pledges to continue providing schools on our existing deployment route with a free 1Gbps fibre connection to enable more learners to continue receiving an education during and post the national lockdown.

By working together with volunteers and NPOs, Vuma has realised its vision to enable South Africans to access more opportunities and essential services, achieve their dreams, and connect to a world of opportunities.

Corporate social investment

Prioritising the safe return of learners and teachers to schools The country’s education system has not been immune to the impact of COVID-19. Schools were disrupted during the nationwide lockdown, preventing countless learners from attending classes due to safety concerns.

To protect learners when schools reopened in 2020, we donated reusable face masks to over ten schools around the country, allowing schools like Sparrow Schools in Melville and Sophiatown to protect over 1 000 learners because of the initiative.

“The masks donated to us by Vuma were put to good use at our school, and our kids are proud to wear them,” says Mr Chris Coetzee, Principal at Roodepark School in Johannesburg.

“It’s good to have a company that’s so involved in helping the school and our community as a whole.”

+1 000 learners protected

Our decision to donate face masks to these schools is motivated by our mantra of ‘if we can, we must’ – the golden thread that aligns with our goal of making fast, reliable fibre services accessible to as many people in South Africa as possible.

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Enabling ordinary people to do extraordinary things

@vumatel

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