South Africa’s anti-trust authorities have unconditionally approved the acquisition of internet service provider Cipherwave Home Connect by its peer Afrihost.

The Competition Commission (CompCom) said the proposed transaction does not raise substantial public interest concerns.

The Afrihost and Cipherwave Home Connect tie-up comes at a time when there is fierce competition in the fibre market, with most companies setting their sights on the township and smaller markets popularly referred to in the sector as the secondary markets.

Afrihost provides various internet-related services, including retail supply of internet access services to residential (fibre-to-the-home) and fibre-to-the-business, voice-over-internet protocol services, and data hosting services.

Cipherwave Home Connect provides both fibre-to-the-home and fibre-to-the-business well as prepaid fibre internet.

The CompCom said: “The proposed transaction is unlikely to result in a substantial prevention or lessening of competition in relevant markets. The Commission further found that the proposed transaction does not raise substantial public interest concerns.”