How YouTube and Vumatel Plan to Close South Africa’s Digital Gap

Mahesh Bhalareo, Director YouTube Product Partnerships EMEA (left) and Zunaid Mahomed, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at MAZIV (right)

YouTube and Vumatel, a MAZIV company, have announced a joint pilot programme designed to address digital inequality in South African township households by combining affordable fibre connectivity with connected TV access.

The initiative launches in areas such as Alexandra Township in Johannesburg, where two thousand fibre connected homes will receive free Google TV streaming dongles. The devices transform standard televisions into smart, connected entertainment systems. The partnership supports MAZIV’s wider commitment to building an inclusive and connected South Africa by expanding digital access to underserved communities.

The primary objective of the pilot is to extend high speed, reliable fibre connectivity to communities that have historically been excluded from the digital economy. By pairing Vuma’s affordable fibre network with YouTube’s content ecosystem and Google TV technology, the project aims to empower households to learn, connect and entertain from home. The collaboration is part of MAZIV’s broader vision to deliver fibre to every home and business in the country, promoting social progress and economic opportunity through equitable access to broadband.

YouTube has become the number one platform for television watch time in regions such as the United States, surpassing traditional streaming services and media companies. This shift highlights the growing importance of big screen viewing.

Mahesh Bhalareo, Director of YouTube Product Partnerships for EMEA, emphasised the significance of the technology used in the pilot. He said, “Enabling an easy to use and accessible connected TV experience is key to driving digital literacy and content adoption. By bundling Google TV dongles with Vuma’s reliable and fast fibre, we are creating a seamless pathway for customers to enjoy our full range of content, from education to entertainment, in a way that is affordable and sustainable for their households.”

Vumatel plays a central role in the MAZIV Group’s long term goal to connect South Africans from all backgrounds to world class digital infrastructure. The partnership with YouTube reinforces MAZIV’s commitment to bridging the digital divide through scalable and innovative solutions that extend beyond mere connectivity to meaningful digital participation.

Zunaid Mahomed, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at MAZIV, said, “Our fibre to the home model disrupted the market by breaking the financial barriers to connectivity for households across South Africa. The collaboration with YouTube and Google TV is a powerful extension of that mission, transforming access into empowerment. It enables people not only to get connected but to experience the full value of being connected, whether that is learning, earning or engaging through technology.”

Tony Archibong, Managing Director of Global Product Partnerships at YouTube, also highlighted the platform’s mission. He said, “This pilot is an important step in upholding our goal to give everyone a voice and show them the world by ensuring that high quality and relevant content, from educational resources to entertainment, is accessible to all, regardless of socio economic status or geographic location.”