South Africa Router and Switch Market Research Report, 2030

South Africa’s router and switch market has experienced considerable evolution over the past two decades, driven by a combination of technological advancement, infrastructure development, and the country’s strategic position as a digital hub in sub-Saharan Africa. The history of the market is intertwined with the liberalization of telecommunications in the 1990s and early 2000s, which ushered in increased competition, private sector investment, and an overall modernization of ICT infrastructure. Demand for routers and switches in South Africa has seen a sharp increase in recent years, fueled primarily by the rise in internet penetration, rapid digital transformation across industries, and the growing need for robust data traffic management due to the expansion of cloud computing, IoT (Internet of Things), and 5G rollout. Urban centers such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban have emerged as key demand hotspots owing to their concentration of businesses, tech startups, financial institutions, and data centers. With South Africa acting as a connectivity gateway between Africa and global markets, especially via subsea cable landings like WACS, EASSy, and 2Africa, the need for advanced routing and switching technology has become paramount in managing traffic and ensuring low-latency connections. The government and private sector both play significant roles in driving the market. South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) and other digital economy policies emphasize broadband access and the digitalization of public services, requiring robust network infrastructures. Moreover, the South African education and healthcare sectors are increasingly relying on stable and secure network solutions to enable e-learning and telemedicine respectively, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption. On the corporate side, sectors such as banking, mining, and retail are adopting SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) technologies, where modern switches and routers are vital for flexibility, scalability, and secure connectivity. According to the research report "South Africa Router and Switch Market Research Report, 2030," published by Actual Market Research, the South Africa router and switch market is anticipated to grow at more than 8.82% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. South Africa has one of the most advanced ICT infrastructures on the continent, and as such, it has become a regional hub for data transmission and management, placing a premium on high-performance networking equipment. Several South African companies such as BCX (Business Connexion), Datacentrix, and Dimension Data play pivotal roles as system integrators and service providers, acting as key intermediaries between international manufacturers and end-users. These firms offer tailored network design, installation, and maintenance services while addressing local regulatory requirements and customer preferences. Moreover, local demand is not only confined to large enterprises but increasingly includes SMEs, educational institutions, and public sector bodies that are pursuing digital transformation. A rising trend is the adoption of cloud-managed network equipment by small and medium businesses due to its ease of use and lower total cost of ownership. This shift opens the door for emerging vendors offering more affordable yet reliable alternatives to traditional enterprise hardware. The ongoing rollout of 5G networks by operators such as Vodacom and Rain is also contributing to increased demand for low-latency, high-speed routing solutions capable of supporting massive device connectivity. Furthermore, government initiatives promoting broadband access and digital inclusivity such as SA Connect are expected to provide a long-term boost to the networking hardware market. The South African router and switch sector will continue to grow steadily over the next five years, fueled by cloud adoption, smart city projects, and enterprise digital transformation strategies.

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Routers in the South African market are vital in linking multiple networks and directing data packets between them, particularly as the country expands its internet backbone and embraces technologies like 5G and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH). Over the past few years, the demand for high-performance routers has surged, especially in urban hubs such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, where enterprise connectivity, cloud access, and remote work models have intensified. The growth in mobile data usage, driven by smartphone penetration and affordable data packages, has pushed telecom operators like MTN, Vodacom, and Telkom to invest in more advanced, carrier-grade routing equipment to manage increased traffic volumes with minimal latency. Developments such as the expansion of local Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) in Johannesburg and Cape Town have further spurred the deployment of edge and core routers to support faster, localized traffic delivery. The switch market, particularly for managed and smart switches, is being driven by the country’s growing number of data centers, enterprise campuses, and educational institutions investing in digital infrastructure. The emergence of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is reshaping the switch landscape, with local system integrators and service providers deploying advanced switches that offer better network visibility, security, and control. Switch demand is also seeing momentum from large-scale infrastructure projects such as the government's SA Connect broadband plan and various Smart City developments, which require resilient LAN networks for public Wi-Fi, CCTV systems, and municipal services. South African businesses are increasingly adopting gigabit and multi-gigabit switches to meet the bandwidth requirements of modern applications like video conferencing, real-time data processing, and cloud-based productivity tools. The surge in remote work and online education has heightened the demand for reliable and affordable networking solutions in the SOHO segment. Consumers and small businesses are seeking high-speed routers and simple switches to ensure seamless internet access for video conferencing, e-commerce, and home entertainment. This trend is contributing to the growth of the router and switch market in South Africa. As South African enterprises undergo digital transformation, there is an increasing need for advanced networking equipment to support cloud computing, secure internal networks, and digital collaboration tools. The adoption of Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) solutions is on the rise, driving demand for scalable and secure routers and managed switches. Industries such as financial services, healthcare, and retail are major contributors to this segment. South Africa's role as a regional data hub is expanding, with significant investments in data center infrastructure. The country's strategic position as a landing point for undersea cables like 2Africa enhances its connectivity, increasing the need for high-throughput switches and low-latency routers to manage the growing volume of data traffic. Global cloud providers are also targeting South Africa to meet the demand for cloud services. Telecom operators such as Vodacom, MTN, and Telkom are significant consumers of networking equipment, relying on advanced routers to manage their networks and support the rollout of 5G technology. The increasing demand for higher bandwidth and faster internet services is prompting telecom companies to invest in modern networking solutions to enhance connectivity across the country. The adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in sectors like utilities, transportation, and industrial applications is driving the need for reliable and secure networking infrastructure. Traditionally, South African businesses, especially large enterprises, have favored on-premise routers and switches due to their control over data security and network management. On-premise solutions remain in high demand, particularly in sectors like finance, government, and manufacturing, where sensitive data and compliance requirements necessitate local management of networks. These businesses prefer to maintain full control over their infrastructure, including installation, configuration, and maintenance, leading to a steady demand for enterprise-grade routers and switches. The demand for cloud-managed routers and switches has raised sharply in South Africa, particularly among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and residential users. These solutions provide ease of use, centralized control, and lower total cost of ownership, making them attractive for organizations that lack in-house IT expertise. Cloud-managed routers and switches are also appealing due to their scalability, as they allow for quick adjustments in network configuration, performance monitoring, and security updates from a remote location. Edge computing is gaining traction in South Africa, especially as industries such as manufacturing, transportation, and utilities embrace IoT and real-time data processing. Edge computing involves placing computing resources closer to the end-user or device, reducing latency and improving network efficiency. The rollout of 5G technologies in the country is further driving the need for edge computing solutions, as it facilitates ultra-low latency and supports a vast number of connected devices. Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is revolutionizing the South African router and switch market, as businesses seek more flexibility, scalability, and efficiency in managing their networks. SDN decouples the network control plane from the hardware, allowing for centralized management of routers and switches. This deployment mode is particularly popular in large enterprises, data centers, and telecom operators looking to optimize network performance and automate traffic management.

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Nikita Jabrela

Business Development Manager

Considered in this report • Historic Year: 2019 • Base year: 2024 • Estimated year: 2025 • Forecast year: 2030 Aspects covered in this report • Router and Switch Market with its value and forecast along with its segments • Various drivers and challenges • On-going trends and developments • Top profiled companies • Strategic recommendation By Type • Router • Switch

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By End Use Industry • SOHO(Small Office and Home Office/Residential • Enterprise/Commercial • Data Centers • Telecom/ISP • Industrial /Utility/Transport By Deployment Mode • On-Premise • Cloud Managed • Edge Computing • Software-defined The approach of the report: This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources. Intended audience This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to this industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.