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Rain (telecommunications)

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rain (Pty) Ltd
TypePrivate
ISINMU0553S00000 [1][2]
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded2016; 10 years ago (2016)
FoundersBrandon Leigh[3], Phumlani Moholi, Conrad Leigh, Gustav Schoeman, Regardt van de Vyver, Tyla Melvill
Headquarters
Cape Town
Area served
South Africa
Key people
  • Conrad Leigh (CEO, since July 2025)[4]
; Brandon Leigh (Founder, board/strategic role)
Products
  • Internet services: 5G and 4G
  • Unlimited 5G home WiFi
  • rainOne: unlimited
  • Unlimited loop: all-in-one gadget for WiFi, music, and more
  • Unlimited mobile with LoopPhone
Websitewww.rain.co.za

Rain is a South African technology company and licensed Mobile Network Operator (MNO), operating a national 4G & 5G mobile network together with one of South Africa's largest 5G home networks. Founded in 2016, rain was South Africa's first data-only network and was the first operator in Africa to offer commercial standalone 5G.[5]

History

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rain (Pty) Ltd was founded in 2016 and by 2017, South Africa’s first network that was designed for data was launched.

5G Launch

In February 2019, rain launched what it and Forbes described as Africa's first commercial 5G network.

Standalone 5G

In June 2020, rain announced plans to add Standalone 5G towers, and in July 2020 launched its Standalone 5G (5G SA) network — built on a dedicated 5G core rather than a 4G-anchored network — in partnership with Huawei, described as the first such commercial deployment in Africa.[6][7][8]

Advertising Ruling

In August 2020, the advertising appeal committee of the Advertising Regulatory Bureau banned rain from claiming unlimited 5G 24/7 after receiving multiple complaints from the public.[9]

Telcom ICASA dispute

In October 2021, Telkom asked ICASA to investigate spectrum-sharing arrangements between Vodacom and rain, arguing the deal entrenched Vodacom's market position; the matter proceeded through regulatory review.  [10]

Spectrum Auction

Following South Africa's 2022 high-demand spectrum auction, rain acquired additional 700 MHz and 2600 MHz spectrum, adding to its existing 1800 MHz and 3600 MHz holdings to expand indoor coverage and capacity.

National 4G / rainOne

In May 2023, rain launched a national 4G mobile network and the rainOne plan, combining unlimited 5G home wifi with mobile voice, sms and data — becoming the fourth full mobile network operator in South Africa.  

Leadership change

In July 2025, Conrad Leigh, previously rain's COO and CTO, succeeded Brandon Leigh as CEO; Brandon Leigh moved into a strategic board role  

loop Launch

In July 2025, rain launched loop, a portable 5G router with an integrated touchscreen, stereo speakers and Android-based software, paired with location-based “Loopzones” data pricing.[11]

LoopPhone

In 2026, rain launched unlimited mobile only on LoopPhone. Customers can choose unlimited data across their City, Province or Countrywide, while every plan includes unlimited local calls and SMS nationwide, on a month-to-month plan.  [12]

Technology

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rain provides 4G and LTE services through a partnership that enables the company to use infrastructure owned by Vodacom.[10][13] They launched the first Standalone 5G (3600) network in the country, powered by Huawei infrastructure.[14][15]

rain's Standalone 5G is widely available across South Africa.

rain is a licensed South African Mobile Network Operator (MNO), operating a national 4G & 5G mobile network together with one of South Africa’s largest 5G home networks.

The rain network is built on thousands of sites using nationally licensed spectrum across the 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3600 MHz bands. This combination provides broad geographic coverage, improved indoor performance and the capacity required for high-performance mobile and home broadband services.

Reception

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rain topped PwC and DataEQ's South African Telecommunications Sentiment Index (social-media-based sentiment analysis across MTN, Vodacom, Telkom, rain and Cell C) in 2024, 2025 and 2026, recording the highest net sentiment score among the five operators evaluated.

Controversies

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Ban claiming “Unlimited Data 24/7 on 5G”

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In August 2020, the advertising appeal committee of the advertising regulatory bureau banned rain from claiming unlimited 5G 24/7 after receiving multiple complaints from the public.[9][16]

Spectrum arrangements

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In October 2021, Telkom has approached Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to report spectrum arrangements between competitors Vodacom and rain.[17] Telkom argues Vodacom's ability to control rain's spectrum entrenches its position as a dominant player in a highly concentrated market. An investigation is still underway.[18][19]

Ownership

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rain Shareholders[20][21]
Company Shareholding Notable Directors Value
Quarme Private Equity Investments 41.36% Paul Harris

Nicola Harris

 R6.22 billion
UBI General Partner 19.93% Patrice Motsepe

Johan van Zyl Johan van der Merwe

 R3.00 billion
Pluvial 11.75% Willem Roos

Roger Grobler Ravi Naidoo

 R1.77 billion
Montegray Capital 11.53% Michael Jordaan R1.73 billion
Ata Fund 1 6.42% Nicola Harris

Kgotlello Sere

 R0.96 billion
Arakot 3.41% Catherina Heunis R0.51 billion
Institute X Idea Incubators 2.30% Phumlani Moholi

Brandon Leigh

 R0.35 billion
Employee Trust 1.70% — R0.26 billion
Management 1.32% — R0.20 billion
Pralene 0.28% Grant Gelink R0.04 billion

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "AIL African Rainbow Capital Investments Ltd. SENS and News". www.sharedata.co.za. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  2. ↑ "RAIN (PTY) LTD". DBN South Africa. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  3. ↑ "Rain appoints founder Brandon Leigh as new CEO". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  4. ↑ Cite error: The named reference businesstech.co.za/news/telecommunications/832679/rain-ceo-replaced-by-his-brother/ was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ↑ Shapshak, Toby. "Data-Only Operator rain Launches Africa's First 5G Network". Forbes. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "Mobile data network operator rain plans 5G expansion". ewn.co.za. Reuters. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  7. ↑ Ajao, Oluniyi D. (24 January 2020). "Rain 5G, Coverage, Network, rain 4G LTE, Review, Data in 2020". TECH dot AFRICA. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "rain rolls out ultra-fast 5G internet in parts of Jozi and Tshwane". 702. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  9. 1 2 "rain banned from claiming 'unlimited data 24/7' on 5G due to inconsistent connections". BusinessInsider. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Telkom seeks to reverse Vodacom-rain deal". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  11. ↑ Meikle, Trent (7 July 2025). "Rain's new router, the Loop, is almost too wacky to take seriously". Stuff South Africa. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  12. ↑ Partner. "rain launches unlimited mobile plans with LoopPhone, designed for unlimited". Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "rain targets 2 000 5G towers as valuation hits R17.1-billion - TechCentral". techcentral.co.za. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  14. ↑ "rain and Huawei Jointly Launches Africa's First Standalone 5G Network". huawei. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  15. ↑ "rain launches standalone 5G network in South Africa". RCR Wireless News. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  16. ↑ Staff Writer. "These are the best and worst mobile networks in South Africa". Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  17. ↑ McKane, Jamie. "rain's big 5G expansion plans for 2020". Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  18. ↑ "Telkom flags rain, Vodacom, spectrum deal | eNCA". www.enca.com. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  19. ↑ "rain mobile". ewn.co.za. Reuters. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  20. ↑ Muller, Rudolph. "South African billionaires making it rain". Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  21. ↑ "WATCH: How ARC's stake in rain paid off". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
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