Khotso Pula Nala.
In 2016, rain started with one big idea: make internet more accessible to more South Africans.
Inspired by the Sotho proverb Khotso Pula Nala — peace, rain, prosperity — our name reflects what we’ve believed from day one: like rain, connectivity should fall equally on all roofs.
We launched South Africa’s first network designed for data at a time when the industry was still built around voice and long-term contracts. We focused on data instead, giving South Africans the freedom to connect on unlimited month-to-month plans.
Today, rain is a billion-dollar technology company connecting millions of South Africans through one of the world’s most advanced 5G networks.
Built for data from day one.
Most mobile networks were originally built for voice and later upgraded for data.
rain was built for data from day one.
Our national 4G & 5G mobile network is built 5G-first, powering unlimited mobile, unlimited home WiFi and the AI era.
The way people live and work keeps changing, and a network has to keep up with it.
Faster. Lower latency. Ready for whatever you run on it.
Today, rain operates one of South Africa’s most advanced 5G networks and was the first operator in Africa to launch commercial Standalone 5G.
Our journey
rain is founded
We started with a small team, a coffee machine and a whiteboard.
Our Founding Executive Team
Brandon Leigh, Phumlani Moholi, Conrad Leigh, Gustav Schoeman, Regardt van de Vyver, Tyla Melvill.
South Africa's first network designed for data
We launched South Africa's first network designed for data, offering a simpler way to connect.
Africa's first commercial 5G network
We launched Africa's first and one of the world's first commercial 5G networks, alongside one of the continent's largest Massive MIMO deployments.
5G Standalone goes live
Our network is powered by a native 5G Standalone (SA) core, enabling compatible devices to connect directly to 5G without relying on legacy 4G infrastructure.
Launch of national 4G mobile network
rain launches its national 4G mobile network with the launch of rainOne.
Building the ecosystem
We continued to invest in our national 4G & 5G network and our connected ecosystem, creating smarter ways to connect at home and on the move.
The loop, a new way to connect
We launched the loop. A new way to connect. It's your wifi. It's your music. It's a loop.
LoopPhone launches
We launched LoopPhone exclusively on rain, pairing South Africa's first unlimited mobile plan with premium hardware designed for the AI era.
Designed together.
We don’t build it all on our own.
We work with South African artists & designers on projects like the limited-edition 101skins™, putting local art on the devices people use every day.
And we build our devices with LoopDL, our product and design partner, who are behind the101, loop and LoopPhone.
Together, we’re building better ways to connect.
A network designed for what’s next.
AI-ready by design
AI demands more from a network. Our national 4G & 5G mobile network was built 5G-first for lower latency, greater efficiency and the next generation of AI-powered experiences.
National 4G & 5G mobile network
Built 5G-first to power unlimited mobile, unlimited home WiFi and the AI era.
Africa's first Standalone 5G
Built on a dedicated 5G core for lower latency, greater efficiency and what's next.
Massive MIMO at scale
Beamforming directs network capacity where it's needed most, delivering better performance as demand grows.
Among the first to deploy 5.5G
We're investing in tomorrow's network, not waiting for it.
#1 net sentiment, 3 years running.
Technology matters. Customer experience matters more.
rain has been recognised by customers across independent review platforms and ranked as a leading network provider in the PwC & DataEQ Telecommunications Sentiment Index.
this is
Built for data. Built for 5G. Built for AI.
Connecting millions of South Africans.
and we’re only getting started.