Universal connectivity for digital inclusion is the mission of Sentech, whose Acting CEO, Tebogo Leshope, discusses the state-owned South African company’s digital infrastructure services.
PIVOTAL DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE
The telecommunications (telecoms) industry in South Africa (SA) stands at a crucial intersection of promise and pressure, shaped by rapid innovation and persistent systemic challenges.
Sentech, a premier wholesale and business-to-business (B2B) digital infrastructure and platform services provider, views this as a moment of resilience and opportunity to reshape the nation’s digital future.
“Infrastructure investment is accelerating, from the deployment of 5G and expansion of fibre networks to the roll-out of private networks within industries like mining and manufacturing,” outlines Acting CEO, Tebogo Leshope.
“We are also realising growing connectivity initiatives in rural communities. These developments are enabling smarter, more responsive digital ecosystems.”
However, this progress is tempered by structural limitations such as spectrum constraints, uneven rural access, and ongoing power supply disruptions. The regulatory environment also remains complex, whilst digital affordability is a persistent challenge for many.
Despite these headwinds, the industry’s mood is one of optimism and forward motion, fuelled by innovation.
Key transformative trends include fibre and fixed wireless convergence, platform convergence, artificial intelligence (AI), network intelligence, and sustainable infrastructure.
“To us, these trends reflect a sector that is adapting, innovating, and evolving, despite external constraints,” observes Leshope, who has deep experience in the ICT sector stretching back to the 1990s.
In that time, he has seen the industry evolve with the introduction of mobile telephony, digital transformation, and cloud-based services.
HIGH-QUALITY BROADCASTING
Today, Sentech provides a variety of broadcasting, broadband, managed infrastructure, satellite, and professional services.
Regarding the former, it is SA’s leading broadcasting signal distributor, enabling reliable TV and radio access on multiple platforms via FreeVision.
The company also offers over-the-top (OTT) streaming and content infrastructure services, such as multiplexing, encoding, and encryption, to ensure high-quality broadcasting.
“Both TV and radio broadcasters rely on Sentech for signal distribution and content infrastructure,” Leshope confirms.
In broadcasting, Sentech successfully led the Broadcasting Digital Migration (BDM) Project, overseeing the installation of set-top boxes (STBs) for all registered households in the Free State, Northern Cape, and Western Cape provinces – bridging access to digital TV, education, and information.
The company was appointed in 2021 to provide overall project management services in the deployment and distribution of STBs to registered beneficiaries.
This includes the appointment of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that provide installation services for direct-to-home (DTH) and digital terrestrial television (DTT) STBs.
“To date, over 1.1 million installations have been completed, with approximately 380,000 more to be concluded by end of 2025,” reveals Leshope.
Sentech is also piloting 5G broadcasting technologies to enhance content delivery in remote areas, alongside engaging in spectrum management, testbed collaborations, and smart city and enterprise connectivity pilots.
“5G is a game-changer, and Sentech is shaping the landscape,” he insights.
BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY
As part of its broadband offering, meanwhile, Sentech plans to expand into 5G and the cloud to enhance connectivity and digital services.
Cloud is the backbone of digital transformation, and the company is building a strong foundation to support this through strategic infrastructure such as its national data centre capabilities.
“These data centres are pivotal enablers of cloud-based services, providing secure, scalable, and sovereign digital environments for public and private sector clients,” Leshope affirms.
Sentech is building carrier-grade data transport for enterprises and the public sector, enabling edge cloud capabilities to bring processing closer to users, and supporting digital sovereignty through compliant, locally-hosted services across critical sectors.
“With our data centre infrastructure underpinning these capabilities, cloud is more than infrastructure – it’s a strategic enabler for inclusive economic growth and national digital autonomy.”
The company’s other broadband services include very small aperture terminals (VSATs), providing connectivity to remote and underserved areas, and fixed wireless and fibre optics, offering high-speed internet to households, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and communities.
Sentech is a key delivery partner in SA’s national broadband initiative, SA Connect, in which it enables public service delivery and community access by deploying Wi-Fi infrastructure to district municipalities and government sites.
“We are one of the state entities entrusted with driving digital transformation by expanding connectivity services across SA, with a special focus on rural and underserved communities,” Leshope tells us.
“Through SA Connect, we aim to provide affordable internet access, starting at just ZAR5 per day for unlimited usage. As part of this initiative, Sentech will deploy over 16,000 Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide.”
NATIONAL MANDATE
Further extending its national mandate, Sentech serves as the lead implementer of SA’s National Communication Satellite Project, aimed at enhancing universal access to communication services.
This initiative focuses on leveraging satellite technology to connect remote and underserved areas that traditional terrestrial infrastructure cannot reach.
“We are deploying satellite-based broadband and broadcast services to ensure no region is left behind in the country’s digital transformation journey,” assures Leshope.
Sentech’s extensive public service mandate, combined with its private sector agility, is what sets the company apart.
“We don’t just connect – we empower. Sentech offers a unique blend of broadcast, broadband, cloud, and emerging technology services, driven by a mission to make digital transformation accessible, secure, and impactful,” he emphasises.
Along with its robust digital infrastructure, which guarantees the highest level of service to customers, Sentech collaborates with major mobile network operators and offers colocation services through its own towers and masts.
With over 220 transmission tower sites nationwide, the company offers extensive coverage and flexible leasing options for network infrastructure.
Sentech’s colocation services, meanwhile, allow other service providers to use its infrastructure to expand their reach.
“Mobile network operators and internet service providers use Sentech’s infrastructure for colocation and network expansion,” Leshope says.
Beyond telecoms providers and broadcasting companies, Sentech’s wide range of clients includes government and both the public and private sectors.
Various government departments and public institutions utilise the company’s services for communication and connectivity needs, whilst private businesses across different industries leverage its broadband and managed infrastructure services to enhance their operations.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
On top of its extensive digital infrastructure services, Sentech is recognised and respected in the marketplace for its stewardship of natural resources, empowerment of people through its mandate, and commitment to sound, mature, and effective governance and ethics.
These are the basis of its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy; by collectively addressing material ESG matters, Sentech’s sustainability efforts serve as both a differentiator and a value creator.
The company strives to achieve its ESG goals in a way that fosters innovation – driving the development of new and creative products and services – whilst positioning it as a trusted platform and solutions provider that delivers comprehensive and impactful offerings to meet customer needs.
Sentech has therefore embarked on a journey to positively impact the environment and implemented various initiatives.
Forming part of its corporate key performance indicators (KPIs) and overall ESG strategy, these initiatives seek to reduce the company’s overall carbon footprint, which is affected by Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
“We have implemented solar solutions on various sites to reduce reliance on the grid and the cost of electricity. This impacts Scope 2 emissions,” expands Leshope.
The solar plants will be further augmented to include battery back-up storage which, in turn, will result in a hybrid mains supply for the sites.
“This will further reduce the reliance on the grid and also reduce the impact of Scope 1 emissions as the battery back-up will keep sites operational for at least two to four hours during loadshedding periods,” he details.
“Over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period, a corporate KPI for the implementation of 40 sites with green energy was to be completed. So far, 35 have been concluded.”
Sentech has consistently reduced its carbon footprint by five percent per annum on average since 2017. In FY23/24, it impressively surpassed this figure with a six percent reduction in carbon emissions from 83,648 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) to 78,346 tCO2e.
This could have been higher, but due to loadshedding, the steam turbine generators ran more hours, increasing the Scope 1 emissions that carry the greatest weight in carbon footprint calculations.
Another ESG factor at Sentech is the procurement of energy-efficient lightbulbs and consumable materials, such as the implementation of LED lightbulbs.
Its hybrid working policy has likewise lowered electricity consumption, as well as minimised business travel, improved waste management, and reduced water usage, aided by a borehole-fed sprinkler system at the head office.
“Sentech has invested in a back-up water supply at Sender Technology Park (STP) to ensure a continuous water supply to the head office buildings during periods of water disruption from Johannesburg,” Leshope informs us.
“We have also invested in diesel bowsers for various operational centres, equipped with the necessary safety measures.”
LOCAL EMPHASIS
Sentech equally ensures compliance with local regulations, whilst managing risks such as economic fluctuations and infrastructure challenges are critical for smooth operations.
Effective communication and coordination with all stakeholders are also vital as this helps in aligning goals, optimising resource allocation, and resolving logistical challenges.
“To ensure timely and cost-effective procurement and delivery of goods and services, it’s always important to work with local suppliers,” adds Leshope.
This remains the case with several key projects in the pipeline, including the expansion of Sentech’s OTT streaming offering.
It is also engaging stakeholders about developing a platform dedicated to mission-critical communications for public safety and emergency services, and working on the National Communication Satellite Project, which will lead to the launch of a number of satellites.
“Emphasis is on local development to stimulate technological innovation,” Leshope concludes.
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