A seven-day gravel race across the Great Karoo is a fine place to get away from it all. Race timing, medical teams and a quick message home still need a connection, though. In a release dated 16 October 2026, Herotel announced it is stepping up as headline sponsor of Nedbank Gravel Burn.

Keeping the Burn Camps connected

Herotel was the event’s internet service provider sponsor in 2025. For 2026, the company says it will take a more direct role: deploying infrastructure and building and managing the network across the remote overnight Burn Camps.

A person wearing a Herotel shirt holds network cabling beside an event communications vehicle.
Preparing connections behind the scenes at Gravel Burn. Supplied file photograph. · Photo: Bruce Viaene / Gravel Burn
Communications equipment and generators at a Gravel Burn camp.
Connectivity infrastructure at a Gravel Burn camp. Supplied file photograph. · Photo: Daryan Rowe / Gravel Burn

Its stated priorities are safety, medical coordination and timing, alongside access for riders and staff. The camps also need to serve officials, support crews and media, each arriving with a different reason to get online.

Beyond the finish line

The seven-day, 750km route takes riders from Graaff-Reinet across the Great Karoo to Shamwari. Each overnight camp becomes a temporary village, so connectivity has to follow the race through terrain with limited existing infrastructure.

Herotel says some improvements made for the event may continue to benefit farms, landowners, local businesses and neighbouring communities after race week. For riders, the immediate aim is simpler: keep essential race services working and make staying in touch a little easier. The legs can handle being offline for a while; the timing system cannot.