Alan Knott-Craig’s Mission with Pay-As-You-Go Fibre. Alan is primarily a bold entrepreneur, author, and the founder of fibertime™. He is specifically on a mission to bridge the digital divide through pay-as-you-go fibre internet. His journey particularly began in Pretoria, South Africa, where he pursued his studies at Nelson Mandela University. More so, before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte.
A Vision for Digital Inclusion Across South Africa
In 2003, Alan’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to found Cellfind. This majorly was a pioneer in mobile location technology, marking the start of his impressive career. Later, he took on the role of CEO at iBurst, a major South African wireless broadband network, where he led significant expansion. Alan continued to push digital boundaries by founding World of Avatar, where he acquired Mxit, Africa’s largest social network at the time. This step was a testament to his dedication to consistently connecting people and communities through digital platforms.
Nevertheless, In 2013, Alan founded Project Isizwe, a non-profit bringing free public WiFi to underserved South African townships. By 2014, he had launched HeroTel, which rapidly became South Africa’s largest rural broadband provider. After selling HeroTel in 2022, Alan was ready to launch fibertime™, a pay-as-you-go fibre internet solution designed specifically for townships.
Throughout his journey, Alan has co-founded or funded over 21 companies, and authored ten books—including “13 Rules of an Entrepreneur”. Therefore, he earned recognition as a Top 100 Choiseul Africa leader. However, his goals extend far beyond business; Alan is deeply committed to a digitally inclusive future for Africa. Moreover, recognising the positive impact internet access can have on education, entrepreneurship, and community development.
Alan Knott-Craig’s Mission with Pay-As-You-Go Fibre
However, In November 2022, Alan and his team launched a fibre network in Kayamandi township near Stellenbosch. This proof-of-concept project included free installation, no debit orders, and R5 vouchers for 24 hours of 100mbps uncapped internet. Alan particularly believes townships are ideal for fibre infrastructure, as higher density reduces costs and boosts accessibility.
Primarily, as Kayamandi’s Connected Network grows, Alan’s vision is to connect every home and shack to reliable, high-speed internet. His open approach not only supports local residents but also invites others to replicate this profitable, high-density township fibre model. Nonetheless, Alan believes that collaboration and innovation are essential to bridging the digital divide.
Alan Knott-Craig’s mission is clear: to specifically deliver fast, affordable fibre internet to EVERY South African. Recognizing this ambitious goal cannot be achieved alone, he invites others to join him in building an inclusive digital future. Together, they can use technology to transform lives, foster growth, and create opportunities for all. Alan Knott-Craig’s Mission with Pay-As-You-Go Fibre.