FirstNet — cloud PBX and connectivity provider in South Africa
FirstNet has traded since 2006 as part of the First Technology Group, running national infrastructure across eleven distribution points and describing itself as the first South African provider on the 2Africa subsea cable. Voice runs on a Yeastar-based cloud PBX with unified communications, call recording and cost management, sitting alongside carrier-agnostic connectivity that spans fibre, wireless, 5G, LEO satellite and SD-WAN. It is an ISPA member and B-BBEE accredited.
Key facts
| Who they are | A South African connectivity and cloud provider trading since 2006 as part of the First Technology Group, selling voice, connectivity, cloud and security to business customers |
| Voice services | Yeastar-based cloud PBX with unified communications, call recording and call cost management |
| Also offers | Carrier-agnostic connectivity across fibre, wireless, LTE and 5G, LEO satellite and SD-WAN; cloud migration, private hosting, data protection and disaster recovery; hosted firewall, email protection, Microsoft 365 security and managed cybersecurity |
| Head office | Not published on the site. FirstNet’s Google profile places its main listing at 11 Richefond Circle, Umhlanga Ridge, with a further profile at Waterfall Office Park, Augrabies Road, Johannesburg |
| Coverage | National, described as eleven national distribution points with national and global coverage. The company states it was the first South African provider on the 2Africa subsea cable |
| ICASA licence | No ICASA reference is published. The company does state ISPA membership as a Code of Conduct signatory and describes itself as B-BBEE accredited |
| Pricing | Quote-based. Nothing is published for voice or connectivity |
| Partner tiers | Veeam Platinum Partner is stated, alongside relationships with VMware, Fortinet, Microsoft, Netskope and SendMarc. The Veeam tier is named at primary source; the others are listed without a tier |
| Listed In | Cloud PBX Providers |
LEO satellite in the access list is the unusual part
Fibre, wireless and 5G are standard. Low-earth-orbit satellite is not, and a provider carrying it alongside SD-WAN is aiming at organisations with sites that terrestrial networks cannot reach economically. Combined with eleven distribution points and a stated position on the 2Africa subsea cable, this reads as an infrastructure-backed provider rather than a reseller. On voice, the Yeastar platform is named, which is more than most manage, and Yeastar systems are generally portable between partners, so ask whose name the licence sits in. One practical note worth raising: ask how a phone system behaves over a satellite link, because latency affects calls in ways it does not affect browsing. Compare alternatives in the cloud PBX directory.
Who FirstNet is a fit for
- Organisations with remote sites needing LEO satellite connectivity
- Businesses wanting a Yeastar cloud PBX from an infrastructure-backed provider
- Companies buying voice, connectivity, cloud and security as one relationship
Get quotes for cloud PBX and business voice
Two ways forward, both free for buyers and with no obligation — WhichVoIP doesn’t take a cut from your contract.
Get up to 3 quotes
Describe the hardest site first, since that is where the satellite and SD-WAN capability earns its place. Say how many extensions and sites you need, what connectivity exists at each, whether call recording is required, and whose name the Yeastar licence should be in.
Get up to 3 quotes →Or request a single callbackFree for buyers. We don’t take a cut from your contract.
Weigh up the alternatives
Weigh these top-rated South African business telecoms providers side by side, ranked by WhichVoIP score.
Compare Cloud PBX providers →Commonly asked questions
How long has FirstNet been trading?
The company states it has operated since 2006 and describes itself as part of the First Technology Group.
What is LEO satellite connectivity?
It is internet delivered by low-earth-orbit satellites, which offer much lower latency than traditional satellite. It suits sites where fibre and terrestrial wireless are uneconomic. Ask specifically how the phone system behaves over that link.
What phone system does FirstNet use?
A Yeastar-based cloud PBX with unified communications, call recording and cost management. Yeastar systems are generally portable between partners, so ask whose name any licence is registered in.
Is FirstNet the same as First Technology?
FirstNet states it is part of the First Technology Group. If you are dealing with either brand, confirm which legal entity your contract is with and which one provides support.
What does it cost?
No pricing is published. Ask for the per-extension voice charge, per-minute call rates and the connectivity cost as separate figures rather than a single bundled monthly total.
What partner tiers does FirstNet hold?
Veeam Platinum Partner is stated on the company’s own site. Relationships with VMware, Fortinet, Microsoft, Netskope and SendMarc are listed without a stated tier, so WhichVoIP treats those as supported vendors.
This listing is maintained by WhichVoIP, an independent South African telecoms comparison service running since 2019. Details are verified against the provider’s public website and were last reviewed on 28 July 2026.