- Link Connect Services (Pty) Ltd owns an autonomous system and operates its own IP network and fibre/air-fibre infrastructure around Shelly Beach.
- The South African ISP market is seeing growth in local networks that use fibre and wireless to reach fringe and rural zones where larger providers may not invest as heavily.
Link Connect Services (Pty) Ltd: regional ISP with its own network
Link Connect Services (Pty) Ltd is located at Shop 5, Surfbay Centre, 972 Marine Drive, Shelly Beach, Kwa-Zulu Natal. The company holds its own autonomous system and IPv4 allocations under the registration of AFRINIC as a local internet registrar (LIR). It serves the South Coast, focusing on both homes and business users. The company emphasises local support — stating “No robots. No call centres. Just local support you can count on.”
Link Connect builds and maintains its own fibre-optic network in key areas like St. Michaels Manor and uses air-fibre node installations to serve zones where wired fibre is unavailable. Its broadband plans for home users include uncapped, unshaped, unthrottled services — for example 10/5 Mbps at R320/month, 20/10 Mbps at R415/month, up to 100/100 Mbps at R1,015/month. For business and farms, bespoke fibre packages, VoIP phones and network installations are offered.
The company stresses fast installation, free-use routers and real-time WhatsApp updates for customers. The terms and conditions show that Link Connect provides services on an “as-is” basis with best-efforts availability, and that equipment remains the company’s property unless fully paid for by the customer.
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South Africa’s ISP sector: local reach, broader challenge
South Africa’s internet service provider landscape features national players as well as smaller regional firms. The national market sees high demand for fibre and wireless connectivity while many remote, rural and township areas still suffer from limited access or slower connections.
Smaller ISPs like Link Connect are stepping in by building local fibre networks and point-to-point wireless links. These models help reach areas with low density or challenging geography. These providers may hold their own IP allocations and participate in internet exchanges.
Operating such networks involves cost pressures: fibre trenching, aerial fibre work, wireless node installations, backhaul links and regulatory overhead. In addition, ensuring service reliability, managing customer support locally and offering uncapped plans with fair performance represent operational risks. Meanwhile, customers expect simple pricing, unlimited usage and fast speeds — as demonstrated by Link Connect’s offering of uncapped plans.
The presence of regional ISPs enhances competition, gives consumers choice and helps bring connectivity to underserved zones. Link Connect’s model, rooted in locality and its own network infrastructure, illustrates how service providers can target niche regions rather than the entire country.
