The inaugural Nedbank Gravel Burn, a seven day, 800 km gravel bike race from Knysna to Shamwari, will be powered by a collaboration of international heavyweights: global technology leader NTT DATA, cybersecurity giant Fortinet, and Herotel, South Africa’s ISP of choice for rural connectivity with presence in almost every town across the country.
Providing connectivity in the middle of the Karoo is no small feat. There is no existing mobile coverage in many of the Burn Camp locations, and planning the installation of dedicated solutions has taken more than six months. The collaboration between NTT DATA, Fortinet and Herotel ensures that, despite the remoteness, reliable communication will be available for the safety of more than 1000 riders and crew gathered at the event.
NTT DATA also brings a heritage in cycling. Through its Dimension Data roots, it proudly sponsored the only African team to compete in the Tour de France, and today continues that tradition by supporting South African cycling and mountain biking events, including the Cape Epic and Wines2Whales.
Connectivity at the Nedbank Gravel Burn will be used for critical functions including emergency communication, race timing and results, medical coordination, and media distribution. For riders, this means their safety is assured and their stories can reach a global audience. At the same time, there will only be WiFi available in the Finish Boma for riders. This is a deliberate choice that creates a tech detox, encouraging conversation around campfires and a more authentic Karoo Burn Camp experience.
Amantha Naidoo, Managing Director of NTT DATA in South Africa, said:
“The Nedbank Gravel Burn is about pushing boundaries, and this partnership shows what is possible when technology leaders collaborate. Working with Fortinet and Herotel allows us to deliver the connectivity and security that are essential for an event of this scale, and to do so in some of the most remote locations in the country.”
Van Zyl Botha, CEO of Herotel, added:
“I was already registered to ride the Nedbank Gravel Burn when NTT DATA approached us, and I had seen first-hand the professionalism of the event. It was an honour to come on board and show what we can do as a business. Herotel is proud to open our network to the Nedbank Gravel Burn, and beyond the race the upgrades we are making will serve landowners and communities in the region, leaving a lasting digital legacy.We are equally proud to be collaborating with industry giants like NTT Data and Fortinet to make this possible.”
Perry Hutton, Vice President, Africa, Fortinet said:
“Security is non-negotiable in an event of this scale. From race timing systems to global media coverage, every connection needs to be protected. Together with NTT DATA and Herotel, we are building a digital foundation that is safe, reliable and future ready.”
Kevin Vermaak, Founder of the Nedbank Gravel Burn, concluded:
“This is another great example of collaboration. The spirit of the race is about partners working together. Just as riders collaborate in the field, NTT DATA, Fortinet and Herotel are doing the same in business. Their work ensures the safety of everyone involved while enabling the world to follow the race in real time.”
About the Nedbank Gravel Burn
The Nedbank Gravel Burn is a seven day, 800 kilometre gravel stage race through South Africa’s diverse landscapes. From lush coastal forests to the vast Great Karoo, riders enjoy remote camps under starry skies and conclude their journey at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, encountering Africa’s iconic Big Five wildlife. The race inspires and challenges riders in equal measure.
About NTT DATA
NTT DATA is a $30+ billion global innovator of digital business and technology services. We serve 75% of the Fortune Global 100 and are committed to helping clients innovate, optimize and transform for long-term success. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 50 countries and a robust partner ecosystem of established and startup companies. Our services include business and technology consulting, data and artificial intelligence, industry solutions, as well as the development, implementation and management of applications, infrastructure and connectivity. We are also one of the leading providers of digital and AI infrastructure in the world. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3.6 billion each year in R&D to help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future.
Visit us at nttdata.com
About Fortinet
Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) is a global leader in broad, integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions. Trusted by enterprises, service providers and government organisations around the world, Fortinet secures more than half a million customers. Its Security Fabric platform delivers uncompromising protection across the entire digital attack surface, enabling organisations to protect critical data, reduce risk and innovate with confidence. Fortinet ranks among the top network security vendors worldwide and is recognised for combining high performance with operational simplicity.
About Herotel
Herotel is South Africa’s third largest fibre network operator, the country’s largest fixed wireless provider, and has the widest rural footprint. With more than 120 local offices in towns across South Africa, Herotel is deeply rooted in the communities it serves. Over 300,000 township stands are already connected to fibre, with growth accelerating towards 1 million stands. As the ISP of choice in rural and secondary markets, Herotel delivers fast, reliable, and affordable broadband to communities nationwide.
Herotel Business provides enterprise-grade connectivity, voice, security, and cloud solutions, ensuring that South African businesses of all sizes have access to the infrastructure they need to thrive in today’s digital economy.
