Rain (telecommunications)

Last updated

Rain (Pty) Ltd
Company type Private
ISIN MU0553S00000 [1] [2]
Industry Telecommunications
Founded2016;9 years ago (2016)
FoundersBrandon Leigh [3]
Headquarters
Cape Town
Area served
 South Africa
Key people
Products
Website www.rain.co.za

Rain or Rain (Pty) Ltd is a South African mobile communications company, providing voice, messaging, data, and converged services. [4]

Contents

History

Rain (Pty) Ltd launched in February 2018, and began providing data only services using 3,000 of their own cell towers and by leasing infrastructure from Vodacom and MTN. [4] [5] Clients who were interested on using the services create an online profile and the SIM card would be delivered by CCD Couriers.

In June 2020, rain announced the addition of 1,500 5G standalone towers to be launched in 2021. [6] [7] [8]

Technology

Rain provides 4G and LTE services through a partnership that enables the company to use infrastructure owned by Vodacom and MTN. [9] [10] They launched the first Standalone 5G (3600) network in the country, powered by Huawei infrastructure. [11] [12]

Rain's Standalone 5G is currently available in major metropolitan areas around the country.

Controversies

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

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. [13] [14]

Spectrum arrangements

In October 2021, Telkom has approached Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to report spectrum arrangements between competitors Vodacom and Rain. [15] 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. [16] [17]

Ownership

Rain Shareholders [18] [19]
CompanyShareholdingNotable DirectorsValue
Quarme Private Equity Investments41.36%Paul Harris

Nicola Harris

R6.22 billion
UBI General Partner19.93%Patrice Motsepe

Johan van Zyl Johan van der Merwe

R3.00 billion
Pluvial11.75%Willem Roos

Roger Grobler Ravi Naidoo

R1.77 billion
Montegray Capital11.53%Michael JordaanR1.73 billion
Ata Fund 16.42%Nicola Harris

Kgotlello Sere

R0.96 billion
Arakot3.41%Catherina HeunisR0.51 billion
Institute X Idea Incubators2.30%Phumlani Moholi

Brandon Leigh

R0.35 billion
Employee Trust1.70%—R0.26 billion
Management1.32%—R0.20 billion
Pralene0.28%Grant GelinkR0.04 billion

See also

References

  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. 1 2 "Rain appoints founder Brandon Leigh as new CEO". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  4. 1 2 Shapshak, Toby. "Data-Only Operator Rain Launches Africa's First 5G Network". Forbes. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Stewart, Charlie (11 October 2019). "Rain's 5G network: The starting gun for marketers". The Media Online. 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. ↑ "Telkom seeks to reverse Vodacom-Rain deal". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  10. ↑ "Rain targets 2 000 5G towers as valuation hits R17.1-billion - TechCentral". techcentral.co.za. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  11. ↑ "rain and Huawei Jointly Launches Africa's First Standalone 5G Network". huawei. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  12. ↑ "Rain launches standalone 5G network in South Africa". RCR Wireless News. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Rain banned from claiming 'unlimited data 24/7' on 5G due to inconsistent connections". BusinessInsider. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  14. ↑ Staff Writer. "These are the best and worst mobile networks in South Africa" . Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  15. ↑ McKane, Jamie. "Rain's big 5G expansion plans for 2020" . Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  16. ↑ "Telkom flags Rain, Vodacom, spectrum deal | eNCA". www.enca.com. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  17. ↑ "Rain mobile". ewn.co.za. Reuters. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  18. ↑ Muller, Rudolph. "South African billionaires making it rain" . Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  19. ↑ "WATCH: How ARC's stake in Rain paid off". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
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