Rain

Rain (Pty) Ltd operates as a disruptive force in the South African telecommunications market, positioning itself as a data-centric mobile communications company. The company's genesis can be traced back to the acquisition of Wireless Business Solutions (WBS) in 2016 by MultiSource, a venture backed by prominent financiers Paul Harris and Michael Jordaan. This strategic acquisition, including WBS's valuable spectrum assets, laid the groundwork for Rain's evolution. The company officially rebranded from WBS to Rain and launched in 2017, initially offering commercial LTE-A packages through internet service providers before shifting to a direct-to-consumer model in 2018.

The key figures behind Rain's success include Paul Harris, a co-founder of Rand Merchant Bank, and Michael Jordaan, the former CEO of FNB, who brought significant financial acumen and a vision for a technology-driven venture. Willem Roos, former CEO of Outsurance, was appointed CEO in December 2017 and led the company through its critical initial growth phase, including the launch of its innovative data products, until March 2021. Brandon Leigh is also credited as a founder and served as CEO before his brother, Conrad Leigh, took over in July 2025. The company's business model hinges on providing affordable data services, a strategy made viable through a combination of building its own network and strategic roaming agreements with competitors like Vodacom, which helped fund its initial 4G network rollout. Revenue is generated through the sale of mobile and fixed-wireless data plans directly to consumers, as well as from these wholesale roaming agreements.

Rain has established itself by focusing on the latest network technologies. It made a significant market impact by launching Africa's first commercial 5G network in September 2019, initially as a fixed-wireless broadband service. This service, marketed as a "fibre-to-the-sky" solution, provides high-speed internet access to homes without the complexities of physical fibre installation. The company has since expanded its offerings to become a full-service mobile operator. In May 2023, it launched a fully-fledged 4G mobile network that supports voice calls, data, and SMS, moving beyond its initial data-only strategy. A key product is "rainOne," a bundled package that combines unlimited home 5G with mobile SIMs for voice and data, which has been a significant driver of customer acquisition. The company continues to invest in next-generation technology, with plans to incorporate 5.5G and AI to enhance its services.

Keywords: mobile data, 5G network, 4G LTE, fixed-wireless access, FWA, telecommunications, South Africa, data-only network, uncapped data, mobile operator, Paul Harris, Michael Jordaan, Willem Roos, Brandon Leigh, African Rainbow Capital, mobile voice, fibre alternative, internet service provider, rainOne, telecom disruptor, wireless broadband, spectrum acquisition, network rollout, data-centric, mobile network operator