Mediamec Nearly three decades after launching one of South Africa’s most recognised internet service providers from a modest one-bedroom flat, Axxess founder Franco Barbalich is proving that leadership has no borders.
Now based in Croatia, Barbalich remains actively involved in the day-to-day strategic direction of the company he started in 1997, continuing to shape one of the country’s major broadband brands despite living thousands of kilometres away.
His journey into the technology space began humbly, with an early career as an apprentice instrument technician earning less than R500 a month. From those beginnings, he built a business that initially focused on web hosting and design before rapidly evolving alongside South Africa’s growing internet sector.
As digital demand surged, the company expanded into dial-up internet services, public internet cafés, hardware solutions and later a full suite of business and residential connectivity products. Over the years, the brand established itself as a household name in South Africa’s ISP market through aggressive innovation and customer-focused pricing.
One of the company’s defining moments came when it rolled out hundreds of Wi-Fi hotspots across the country, a move that significantly strengthened its national footprint and reputation for accessible connectivity.
Even after relocating to Europe, Barbalich says distance has offered an unexpected advantage by exposing him to international telecom trends, new consumer behaviour patterns and fresh marketing ideas that continue to influence the business back home.
At the same time, he acknowledges that running a customer-driven technology company from abroad demands trust in strong systems and an experienced local management team. Frequent virtual communication and regular visits to South Africa have become central to maintaining operational alignment and preserving the company’s culture.
The arrangement has become a modern example of how executive leadership is evolving in an increasingly connected world, where geography no longer limits the ability to guide major businesses effectively.
For South Africa’s broadband industry, it also highlights how legacy tech entrepreneurs are adapting global lifestyles while continuing to drive innovation in the domestic market.
