Wait, I Put My Router WHERE? 4 Ways to Improve your Home Wi-Fi Signal
You’d be shocked at how many “Wi-Fi” problems aren’t actually problems with the Wi-Fi (or the ISP, and we’re not just trying to save face). Many times, the key problem is in fact a Router problem – a Router placement problem, to be exact.
Unlike Calculus, humans tend to keep and apply many of the skills they pick up in early childhood development. Some humans, however, take this a step further, and integrate elements of “hide and seek” within their Router setup thought process. We’ve seen them behind TV’s, inside cupboards, on top of microwaves and next to the fridge. More often than not, people play “Where’s Wally” with their shiny new device, only to act shocked when it works like it’s on a National Shutdown.
Fact is, Router placement directly impacts signal strength, speed, and connection quality. So, before blaming your friendly neighbourhood ISP, let’s make sure we’ve covered the basics.
The Problem:
Think of Wi-Fi as a radio signal, meaning it travels through the air but gets weaker on impact. Walls, furniture, distance, and other interruptions act like virtual speedbumps. Even the best package and speed can still experience buffering, lag, and dead zones due to poor choice of placement.
If you’ve noticed signal = great in one room and “home affairs” in the next, it’s probably a placement issue.
First, the Quick Fixes: Here’s our guide to proper placement:
Place it in a central location:
Try and stay as close to the centre of the home as possible. Usually, sticking it in one corner means the signal has to work twice as hard to reach distant corners.
Keep it elevated:
Statistics show that performance is increased when devices are placed higher up. Whether on a shelf, desk, or mounted, avoid the floor. Remember that signal spreads outward, not downward, so the higher the better.
Keep it open:
This isn’t your best China, so there’s no need to stash it in the glass cabinet with a single mystery key. Routers need space to broadcast effectively. Our motto? Function > form; meaning if it looks neater but doesn’t work, it’s not worth it.
Size matters:
Everything from mirrors to concrete, thick walls to your favourite couch can negatively impact your signal. The greater the obstacles, the weaker the connection. Not all walls were created equal either. Whereas drywall is one story, solid brick is another ball game. The more barriers your signal has to pass through, the tougher time you’re in for when it’s time to connect. Hence why the device which worked perfectly in your apartment is suddenly JD Vance once you upscale. Bet the agent didn’t mention that one (they never do).
This doesn’t seem like rocket science, but we swear by it. Sometimes, small fixes make big impacts.
Now, here’s what to avoid:
(because, truthfully, some locations should be a war crime):
Avoid the following like the plague:
Inside anything: cupboards, chest of drawers, toy boxes (it happens), even the TV cabinet
On top of, behind, or next to key appliances like TV’s or radios.
On the floor. At all. Just don’t do it.
In the garage, or the distant corner of Mordor.
Near bases (think phones, wireless chargers, PS5’s)
If your router is hidden behind décor like it’s part of the furniture, that may be exactly why your Wi-Fi is struggling
Also note that certain devices can drastically impact Wi-Fi quality. These include microwaves, baby monitors, and even some Bluetooth devices (of course, the Air Fryer is exempt – because when is it not?). Whilst it doesn’t mean that your kitchen is a Wi-Fi no-go zone, it DOES mean that you should apply a bit of Social Distancing between your Router and the next big lump.
What happens when placement isn’t the only problem?
Sometimes, it’s not a matter of where the Router is, but rather where the Router is expected to encompass. Many users experience poor coverage in:
Multi-storey homes
Complicated layouts
Rooms far away from the living area
Lots of walls. It’s a thing.
If that’s the case, one tiny router can’t be expected to cover the entirety of Buckingham Palace; and your Royal needs might necessitate investing in Mesh or an Extender.
If you’ve noticed:
Strong Wi-Fi in some rooms, but weak in others
Internet only buffers in certain bedrooms
Video calls cut once you hit a dead zone
Speed is fine when you “switch it on and off” but dies when you sit down again
You may need to relocate (the device that is) or invest in a solution that broadens your covered.
Many users assume that poor Wi-Fi = poor Internet. However, the issue is often simultaneously simpler, yet more complex. So, before letting an inanimate object rage-bait you, ask yourself where your device is placed and whether you should consider moving it.
Because, sometimes, better Wi-Fi doesn’t involve a bigger package – all it takes is proper placement.
Cybersecurity: It’s Not a Tech Problem — It’s a People Problem
We’ve all heard the term Cyber Security, but the reality is not all of us have tuned in and paid attention. Indeed, there are two types of people; those who listen when the topic comes up, and those who don’t believe it applies to them.
A key reason for this alienation is simple; say the word Cyber Security, and the conversation quickly turns technical. We go from “real threat” to Firewalls, Endpoint, Encryption with no middle ground.
Yes, the above are important, but oftentimes they cut out many people who need to understand the fundamentals. It also distracts from an uncomfortable truth: most breaches are the result of human error, NOT intricate hacking schemes.
Maybe it’s a clink. Possibly it’s a password. Probably someone acted without thinking. Each time, a person. And each time, the real weak point isn’t the system, but rather basic human behaviour.
Human Error = Your Biggest Entry Point:
Complex exploits and systems breached? Too much work. Most attacks need something far simpler; basic human trust.
Whether a phishing email or fake login, made up invoices or a call from “FNB”, impersonation attempts are all geared around tricking unsuspecting users into voluntarily providing access. Rather than break the system, they’ll convince you to open the door and say come inside.
They’re getting better at it too. Many scam emails are almost indistinguishable from their legit counterparts. Websites have genuine domains, and the messages come directly from the people you know (who’ve also been hacked).
All it takes is a momentary lapse of concentration and they’re in.
2. The Poor Password Problem:
We’ve created mailers, run webinars, sent out SMS’s and put out social media posts, yet poor password behaviour remains a key Cyber Security weakness (which you, yes you, may be compounding). This includes:
Recycling passwords across systems
Using easy-to-guess, personally grounded passwords
Sharing of info with friends or colleagues
Documenting passwords in easy to access places
All it takes for the Dominoes to fall is ONE breach here. Attackers then usually gain access to multiple systems purely because the details have been repeated everywhere.
3. Security vs Convenience:
The nature of today’s fast-paced work environment is that everyone is under pressure. We have a constant need to be faster, work efficiently, meet our deadlines and deliver quicky. Sadly, this often leads to shortcuts and a high-pressure situation when safety is NOT the number one priority.
Have you, for example, ever:
Sent important work info via your personal Email as Outlook wasn’t working?
Stored important company data on your mobile device?
Clicked “skip” on your two-factor authentication because you were in a rush?
This transcends conventional protection and becomes a discussion of security habits which are sustainable and easy to follow.
4. Training Beats Tools:
Many companies go big on Cyber Security software but small on the human element. Regular training and support is as important as a fancy firewall – because there’s no point Norton fighting fires when you have an active match that can’t recognise a dodgy link.
Well-trained workforces can stop attacks before Tech needs to step in – and that’s a key difference in a time sensitive environment.
In the end, the best Cyber Security practices are cultural, not purely technological.
Encourage a workspace where reporting mistakes is acceptable and policies are easy to digest. Leadership needs to prioritise this as much as the team, because organisations who take this shared responsibility seriously are far more resilient.
The bottom line is that Cyber crimes will always involve tech, but tech alone isn’t enough. There’s always a human behind the system. Someone making decisions, under pressure, clicking links and sending files. And, in most cases, it’s their ability to make those decisions (and the info behind them) which ensures a business stays secure or guarantees it’s the next headline.
At Vox, we believe our employees are the beating heart of our company, with merit and value built into all our available positions. In this edition of People of Vox, we meet Nicolene Gates, who works in the Procurement Department as a Team Leader. Nicolene’s journey within Vox is a practical, inspiring example of steady progression, care for her colleagues and the everyday importance of operational excellence.
Procurement is the company area which makes sure that departments can work effectively: from enabling the provision of desktops and Wi‑Fi routers to licences, capital equipment and conference‑room screens. At Vox, that responsibility sits with a small, focused team that’s co-led by Nicolene Gates, who joined the business in 2014.
“People in Procurement are the buyers of the company,” Nicolene explains. “If you need anything at Vox, Procurement needs to raise the purchase order. We buy everything needed for operations, including stock, capital items and licences. We make it official!”
Procurement at Vox operates as the central purchasing hub: internal staff raise requests, sometimes supported by quotes from Procurement, and the team manages the approvals and supplier interaction. For larger purchases, engineers or project teams will submit CapEx requests with quotes and line‑manager sign‑off; Procurement then processes the order.
Nicolene’s path into Procurement was practical and familiar to many South Africans: she took temporary work, showed up reliably and was in the right place when a permanent role became available.
We find out more about what Nicolene loves doing, both at Vox and at home, and why she’s described by as her line manager as being: ‘This quiet superstar sitting in the shadows simply getting things done!’
Nicolene with her partner Johnathan
A Compact Team with Wide Responsibility
Nicolene’s early jobs after school included waitressing and telesales. She says these roles taught her practical discipline: getting used to long hours, how to meet customers, and dealing with issues efficiently.
“Waitressing was great!” she says. “I enjoyed meeting a lot of different people. It taught me to be present and attentive, and I still find that incredibly useful today in my procurement career.”
In 2013, Nicolene was able to work for Vox for a short while as a temp, and to her delight, a permanent post opened up in 2014, when she was then able to join the team on a full-time basis.
“I started out doing all the requisitions and purchase order loading,” she recalls, “and ultimately become one of two co-team leaders. Now I check what the team loads, I review contracts, margins, quotes, suppliers, GL accounts; everything on an order, really, before I approve it.”
Together with her co-team leader, Kaylen Pillay, Nicolene leads a small team with six people reporting to her. Despite its small size, the team covers a surprising extent of activity.
“We don’t just order laptops,” says Nicolene. “We order PBX licences, VC systems, Wi‑Fi routers, consumables for Stores, stationery, and sometimes the larger CapEx requests when engineers need tools or installations. We work very closely with Vox’s Stores department, and if there’s faulty stock, we coordinate returns, warranties and replacements.”
Nicolene at a Lions Rugby game with Vox colleagues Lizette van Rooyen, Ginene de Graaf, Charne Williams, Candice Shaw and Abu Omar
The Magic of Exceeding Expectations
Nicolene’s working day is disciplined. She starts by checking emails, noting: “I hate leaving something unread!” and then reviews reports and assigns tickets. Her team loads orders and she reviews and approves them. She creates item codes where needed, cancels incorrect orders, follows up on faulty stock, and sources quotes.
“Sometimes licences have expired and it’s urgent,” she says. “The ticket comes in and we must renew it that day. It takes a few hours to load an order and get approvals, so I try to move things quickly. I just hate it when someone has to wait because of a long process.”
That urgency is where Nicolene’s satisfaction comes from. She enjoys the ‘magic’ of solving problems fast: turning a ticket into a fully authorised purchase order and getting the supplier to act. “I love it when people expect us to get something done and we are able to deliver quickly,” she says. “It feels great to help and to exceed expectations!”
In turn, Nicolene also finds working at Vox a largely pleasurable experience, and she believes that Vox’s employees are the company’s greatest asset, with respectful, helpful colleagues, and leaders who care about both customers and staff members.
“People are respectful at every level,” she says. “Vox cares about its customers and the employees who serve them. The cross‑department effort that gets a product to a customer is huge, and ultimately, it’s the people who make it work.”
From the Golf Course to Call of Duty
At home in Pretoria, Nicolene lives with her partner and three daughters. Her eldest daughter completed matric recently; the others are in Grade 7 and Grade 3, and her family life has a large bearing on Nicolene’s down-time interests. She enjoys planning birthday outings and events for the family and hopes that one day they will all be able to go on a holiday to Mauritius.
Nicolene’s daughters (left to right): Mijah, Lené and Juané
“My colleagues might be surprised to know that I also love cleaning!” she smiles. “I really enjoy rearranging rooms, as well as watching cleaning videos on TikTok! I also enjoy spending leisure time with my partner, and I join him when he plays golf, and sometimes during video games on the family’s PlayStation.
“As far as golf is concerned, I enjoy driving the golf cart and time out on the beautiful, tranquil golf course, even if myself am not playing. As for the video games, I’m joining in games of Call of Duty, which I find quite challenging but overall a fun family activity!”
Aspirations: Knowing the Business Inside Out
Nicolene is quick to praise her current team and her line manager, Lizette: “I have the best team and the best boss! I wouldn’t be here without them,” she says. “One of my favourite workplace memories is an unexpected baby shower that was organised by my colleagues in the Procurement and Creditors Departments, when I had my youngest daughter in 2017.
“We were still at the office before COVID, and it was such a lovely surprise – just underscoring how the team supports each other through our professional and personal milestones.”
Nicolene’s baby shower in 2017
Looking ahead within Vox, Nicolene aspires to one day achieving the breadth of knowledge that her own manager demonstrates: “Lizette knows everything about every product and what to ask when something new comes along, and I would like to get to this point also – to know the company well enough to answer questions, anticipate what’s needed and help teams make the right decisions.”
This innate curiosity and desire to learn fit naturally within the Procurement Division’s role as a hub for information, because suppliers, contracts, product specs and financial approvals all require a sharp understanding.
Although the Procurements division goes through busy periods, Nicolene’s approach to avoid being overwhelmed is practical. She explains: “Do the work you can today in a steady manner, follow up tomorrow and keep a close eye on tickets while dealing with urgent items swiftly. My advice to anyone is to be organised, pay attention to detail and don’t hesitate to take action where you can help.”
Procurement rarely appears in the spotlight, but Nicolene’s story shows why it should: Procurement provides the processes that keep Vox operational and responsive.
Nicolene’s enthusiasm for getting things done fast, her attention to detail and her pride in the team speaks to a department that values precision and people in equal measure. “I love assisting people,” she says. “I will always help if I can, and I love the fact that when we deliver quickly, people notice.”
Nicolene embodies the quieter side of customer service: making sure Vox has what it needs so that everyone else can do their jobs well.
Business Continuity usually plans on disasters, but doesn’t take into account Fibre failures.
By now, we’ve established that Fibre is the backbone of a successful business operation. It’s gone beyond being a utility. Today, everything from customer service to sales, inventory, payment and comms depends on reliable high-speed Connectivity. When your Internet drops, it’s no longer just slower emails and postponed Teams calls – organisations are seeing a marked, immediate impact on their bottom line.
Today, we break down why poor connectivity has transcended the boundaries of being an IT Issue to become a major strategic risk.
Time = Money Every minute without Connectivity costs money. Whether lost retail sales or Cloud disconnection in offices, even a short outage can mean: • Delayed logistics • Customers looking elsewhere • Reputational damage
Stuttering Internet is no longer just a minor delay – it’s bleeding money, and revenue exiting the building.
Productivity? Out the Window Inability to connect to the Internet doesn’t just slow things down – it stops it entirely. Consider, for example, a team dependent on Cloud Apps or CRM. When the Fibre drops, users can’t access their base platforms, files refuse to sync, and all collaboration comes to a screeching halt. You can’t recover lost time. Worse, employees lose valuable working hours trying to troubleshoot or operate manual workarounds.
You can’t refund bad Customer Experiences Any customer expects reasonable reliability, quality, and speed. Whether support chats, check-outs, or filling in a digital form, a single bump in the road can lead to frustration or even a lost sale. Exceptional user experience is a differentiator in saturated markets; you can’t afford to risk your reputation or the resultant damage caused.
Fact is, reviews matter, and they’re often public without option to delete.
Brands today can’t gamble with their reputation, and Connectivity issues are often the first to get very publicly called out. In the age of Social Media Complaints and negative online feedback, customers don’t take kindly to unresponsive organisations, and they’ll let you hear about it.
A disconnected brand is a vulnerable one In times of weakness, companies get desperate, often resorting to otherwise risky workarounds in an attempt to “make a plan”. These include using unsecured mobile hotspots, bypassing conventional firewalls, and overlooking VPN connections. These quick fixes can open up doors for exploitation. Data breaches, ransomware or even the most basic hack cost significantly more than just forking out for proper Fibre.
Business Continuity usually plans on disasters but doesn’t take into account Fibre failures.
The harsh reality is that Poor Connectivity is not just an IT problem, it’s a serious business risk; a business risk which literally impacts efficiency, trust, security, and ultimately revenue. And, in a world where optimised performance is crucial to remain competitive, investing in Fibre that works means investing in far more.
Downtime compounds faster than you think Connectivity interruptions rarely happen in isolation. A dropped connection during a critical moment can create a ripple effect across an organisation. Orders pause, customer queries stack up, internal approvals stall, and scheduled processes fail to run. What begins as a few minutes of downtime can translate into hours of operational disruption as teams work to recover lost progress and stabilise systems.
Modern businesses rely on constant data flow between platforms, partners, and customers. When that flow is interrupted, everything slows down or stops entirely. The longer recovery takes, the more pressure builds internally and externally. Reliable Fibre therefore isn’t just about speed; it’s about operational stability and keeping the business engine running without interruption.
Failure to Connect = Failure to Evolve. Just ask any of the brands that learned their lesson the hard way.
We’re firm believers that peace of mind is underrated. Especially household peace.
We also believe that few things destroy household peace faster than “broken” Wi-Fi. Yeah, forget politics, burned braai meat, and turns on the Xbox; buffering is this seasons Dr Doom.
On your average day: one kid is on YouTube, the other playing Fortnite, Mom is on a video call and Dad trying to responsibly watch Man United in 4K. Suddenly, everything freezes. Fingers are pointed, voices raised, sanity does a runner – welcome to the Wi-Fi wars.
Let’s fix it.
Understanding the Battlefield.
Most home Wi-Fi isn’t “slow” – it’s just more overwhelmed than a McDonald’s Ice Cream Machine. Today’s modern home is equivalent to a 2009 tech startup, with each containing multiple smartphones, Smart TV’s, laptops, tablets, consoles, cameras, a PC in a corner and that mysterious device nobody can explain.
Each one is simultaneously fighting for bandwidth, and if your line can’t multitask (it happens to the best of us), the whole house is destined to suffer.
So, herewith Rule One:
You can’t use entry-level speeds for heavy duty Wi-Fi use.
Be honest about your usage. If you’re simultaneously streaming Netflix, updating your PS5, Teams calling and downloading from the Cloud, you need serious bandwidth.
Even lightning-fast Fibre is only as quick as the Router (and its positioning). If you’ve placed yours inside the spare microwave in the garage cupboard, congratulations – you’ve played yourself.
Remember the days when we’d have entire computer stations in the house, complete with external speakers and cd racks? They sat there like modern day shrines to Connectivity – and their modern descendants have similarly royal aspirations. Wi-Fi needs optimal working conditions to perform better; so think open space, central positioning, and elevation. If your signal dies only in specific rooms of the house, you don’t need to invent cuss words, you may just need a better router setup (or to invest in mesh).
Many users are surprised when their Wi-Fi doesn’t magically bend around walls. Go figure.
Fact is, everything from concrete to an innocuous appliance can be a signal killer. If you’re living in a mansion, or even a double story place, you should always consider:
You see, fast internet isn’t about bragging rights and feeling better than the neighbour. It’s about eliminating buffering wheels, frozen faces on work calls, and PC’s going on vacation when you’ve just had enough and need to clock out.
Sometimes you’re not buying Internet. You’re choosing peace. And, like we said, peace is underrated.
After that? It’s just a series of small stuff, with a lot of mindfulness. Routers, placement, extenders, prioritising traffic and ensuring that the next door neighbour isn’t secretly downloading series are all key fundamentals to making your own Home Wi-Fi run smoother. In short form? All it takes is a bit of research, investing in the correct equipment, and taking the time to understand what makes a conducive environment for better browsing and you’re good to go.
Let’s wrap it up…
The War of the Wi-Fi doesn’t start because of unreasonable families. It starts because your Internet was designed to fail from the offset.
Upgrade your speed.
Optimise your setup.
Say goodbye to buffering.
And let everyone work, play, stream, or anything in between in harmony.
At Vox, we believe our employees are the beating heart of our company, with merit and value built into all our available positions. In this edition of People of Vox, we find out more about Brian Rossouw, who is Vox’s Regional Sales Manager for Mpumalanga and Limpopo. When you meet Brian, you notice straight away how warm and funny he is, with an incredibly positive attitude.
As Vox’s Regional Sales Manager for Mpumalanga and Limpopo, Brian’s daily work sits where sales leadership meets customer experience. In addition to chasing targets and working on quotations, his daily purpose includes solving problems and creating consistent momentum, for both customers and his team members.
Before joining Vox three years ago, Brian worked in retail and telecommunications. He’s experienced a number of curveballs and challenges during his lifetime, but instead of using former hardships as an excuse to throw in the towel or feel sorry for himself, he has let those experiences shape his approach to work and leadership.
Let’s meet Brian and find out more about his amazing work ethic.
Juggling His First Job with His Final School Exams
Brian actually began his adult working life while he was still writing his matric final examinations. “When I was growing up,” he says, “my family was extremely poor, and my mom sometimes struggled to make ends meet. But, you know, God has always been good to us and I believe that He always had a plan for us. I knew that just as soon as I was able, I was going to start working to try and help her and my siblings.”
An opportunity arose when Brian was offered a short-term contract job as a picker-packer for a company that supplied frozen fish to restaurants. He explains: “It was a bit problematic because of the clash with my final school exam period, but I took the job to help my family. It was challenging – I was working the night shift in freezers that were about 10 degrees Celsius below freezing point! – but I managed.
“During the day, I would study and write my exams, and then I would work the night shift until about four or five o’clock in the morning. I’d get back home, study a bit or sleep if I could, depending on my exam schedule…. It was tough, but I made it through!”
After matric, Brian was able to find more permanent work and later landed up selling tech accessories in stores.
Young Brian already knows the importance of having fun at work!
“These early jobs were tough but formative,” he says. “They taught me resilience, humility and the value of small, steady steps. Taking consistent small actions is a personal philosophy for me, which I like to describe with the acronym ACSA: ‘Attitude and Consistent Small Actions’. I believe this mantra will help with achieving success in any realm in this world but I find it especially helpful within the sales arena.”
Brian believes everyone has the potential within them to change the world for the better. He elaborates: “And if you don’t have the power to change the world, at least change your world for the better!”
Human Connection: The Competitive Advantage
Brian describes himself as someone who creates ‘magic’ for customers when things go wrong. He treats each problem like an opportunity to deliver exceptional customer experience and to show his team how to close the loop properly.
For Brian, attitude includes emotional resilience and the ability to keep going when prospects are difficult or rejection happens. “I believe that attitude is a choice: you own how you feel and react, and resilient people outlast obstacles,” he says. “Consistent small actions are the daily disciplines that compound into success: making calls, following leads, refining quotes and improving process detail. “
Brian wants those he leads to cultivate emotional resilience, and he also believes in leadership as a teaching opportunity.
“I want to model the behaviour that I expect from my team members: doing the work, being present for others, and demonstrating how to handle objections and close deals. I’m proud to be in the role I once looked up to, and I enjoy helping others to climb the same ladder.”
Brian’s day starts early: he’s in the office at 07:00, reviewing sales interactions, quote volumes and order accuracy for every team member. From 08:00 Brian meets the team, unpacks individual performance and looks for the precise actions that will turn a weak day into a better one tomorrow. He spends the rest of the day in meetings, solving customer queries, planning strategic projects for multi-dwelling units and liaising with stakeholders. His role combines hands-on sales with coaching and troubleshooting.
For Brian, the best part of his job is the people he works with. He says: “People matter above all: customers, colleagues and the communities around them. I find people fascinating – how everybody is different and has a different story to tell. And in the work environment, human connection is a competitive advantage. While it’s true that AI and automation is bringing uncertainty, my advice remains the same: build adaptable skills, stay curious and focus on the human capabilities that technology cannot replace.
“My favourite success story is about a team member who could not write one quote in four months; after coaching, encouragement and steady accountability, this person became a top performer nationally. That is the essence of consistent small actions – you don’t need overnight successes; instead, you need persistence.”
Why Vox? The Human Difference
Brian believes that the combination of customer care and front-line coaching is what sets Vox apart, together with its people.
“Vox employs a direct sales force, with employees out in the field who represent Vox, not outsourced contractors,” he says. “This human connection matters. Customers speak to someone who knows the product, owns the process and cares about the outcome. For me, this is a defining advantage: it makes Vox personal, accountable and responsive.”
He also values how Vox embraces newcomers, explaining that when he joined the company, product managers and colleagues reached out to help him learn. He says: “This culture of openness and ownership impressed me, because not every company welcomes new starters with that level of support. My colleagues are incredibly generous and will always go the extra mile.”
One of Brian’s most memorable Vox experiences was a team event in Nelspruit where colleagues from across Mpumalanga gathered for training, laughter and community. After a day of face-to-face coaching and team building, the group sang together late into the evening. He explains: “It was a spontaneous moment of unity that moved me deeply, and reinforced my conviction that beyond metrics and targets, shared human experiences build a stronger company culture.”
Ending on a Positive Note…
Outside the office, his family life gives Brian his solid foundations. He lives with his wife Fanisia, and two young daughters, Klara and Donné, who are around three and one years old currently, and spends most evenings with his family after work.
He explains: “Most days, I work until just after four o’clock, and then I go and pick up the two most beautiful children in this world – and lucky enough they are also my children, otherwise that could be a bit awkward!” he laughs.
“I can’t imagine a life without my children – when it comes to kids, you just can’t fake those feelings. They are little now, but when my daughters are bigger, it’s my ambition to travel with my wife later in life, and we would like to alternate time between developing and developed countries on a three-month global trip,” he says.
Brian is also community-minded. He once chaired a Round Table chapter and helped raised significant funds – over R10 million – for local charities in Mpumalanga, which is a reminder that his leadership extends beyond the sales floor.
He adds: “My ultimate aspiration at Vox is simple but also ambitious: I’d like to be known as the person who brings positivity to every room, and as a leader who inspires others day after day. And I definitely don’t believe in ‘pity parties’ – throw yourself a pity party if you must, but make sure it’s on a tourist visa and doesn’t take up permanent residency!”
And with that blend of honesty and humour, Brian sums up his attitude to life: acknowledging life’s difficult moments while always keeping his eyes on solutions.
Switching back into work mode, after weeks of not looking at computer screens or checking messages regularly, is usually tough for most people. So be kind to yourself – with Vox as your partner – as you continue making the transition into 2026.
SA’s energy has shifted from sun-and-fun mode into normal gear again – otherwise known as ‘The Great Back-to-Work Depression’! As holidaymakers everywhere started going home, and the road and air traffic got moving in earnest, there was a sense of new beginnings but also some simultaneous low morale.
And with the December bonuses long spent, ‘Janu-worry’ (and now even ‘Febru-worry!‘) became a reality for most of us; a bit like the Springbok Bomb Squad sent in to take charge of the game: basically unstoppable, oh dear… The good news is that there are still practical ways that we can all use to regain focus and build positive momentum in these early weeks of 2026.
And so, whether you’re turning on your digital screens or closing them again at the end of the day, Vox is here to help you make the most of this still-new year.
Staying Mentally Balanced as You Re-Embrace Work
Here are some ways to embrace normality and make life easier for yourself once more.
Hint: None of it is really rocket science, but common sense is all about being like the Nike ads and just doing it!
Prepare in advance: Whether you’re working remotely or going into the office physically, it’s always useful to organise your calendar, plan meals or your work outfit, and make sure you get enough sleep.
Organise your workspace: Especially when you’re returning to your tasks and responsibilities, a clean, structured environment – both physical and digital – can calm your mind and boost your productivity.
Block out time: Try to stop your days from being swallowed up by too many meetings by ensuring that you have some time set aside to do or plan important tasks.
Decide what truly matters: Not every email will require immediate action, so you could create a priority list to take control of your workload. Ask yourself: right now is it truly urgent, or less important? This useful method, which uses the Urgent vs Important matrix methodology, might help you decide how to prioritise getting stuff done.
Ensuring Your Connectivity
So much for your mental strategies – let’s take a look at the practical side of today’s technology, which means being connected wherever you are.
Your urban home connectivity is always sorted with Vox, whether you choose Fibre to the Home, LTE/5G offerings, or Fixed Wireless solutions. And at any given moment, we’re sure to be running a great special to sweeten the deal further. Oh, and have you heard about Vox Rewards for our Fibre to the Home customers? It’s pretty unique in the South African ISP landscape, so check it out here!
With Vox, whichever technology works for your area, your connectivity is covered: for the beginning of your working day when you need to work remotely, and at the end of it, when you and your family embrace some down-time for streaming entertainment, gaming, online shopping and so on.
So why not ease yourself into 2026 gently with Vox as your partner, for your back-to-work hours as well as your down time?
May your early 2026 moments be as smooth as the natural Greek yoghurt that’s currently still a big part of your eating plan – and good luck with that too!
‘The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.’ – Melody Beattie, self-help author
FAQs
How can I ease back to work after the holidays? Prepare the evening before, organise your workspace, block focused time, and prioritise tasks using an Urgent vs Important method.
Which Vox product is best for working from home? Fibre to the Home is ideal for consistent upload/download speeds; LTE/5G offers mobility and Fixed Wireless helps where fibre isn’t available.
Will Vox’s Fibre to the Home handle video conferencing and cloud apps? Yes, Vox Fibre offers symmetrical speeds and low contention suitable for video calls, cloud storage and collaboration tools.
Are there backup options if my home fibre goes down? Vox offers alternative connectivity options like LTE/5G and Fixed Wireless to keep you connected when needed.
What is Vox Rewards and who qualifies? Vox Rewards is a loyalty programme for qualifying Vox Fibre to the Home customers offering exclusive perks.
How can I contact Vox for help choosing a plan? Visit vox.co.za or Contact Vox Support for personalised advice and plan comparisons.
By Andre Eksteen, Senior Product Manager – FTTB at Vox
While niche internet service providers (ISPs) play a crucial role in bringing connectivity to underserved areas, they are often held back by the huge capital investment requirements. In response, Vox, one of South Africa’s leading internet and communications companies, has launched a partner programme that allows ISPs to benefit from our extensive network infrastructure, peering agreements, technical expertise, and more – while they can focus on delivering exceptional service to their customers.
These ISPs deliver reliable broadband and voice services in areas that larger providers often overlook. However, they lack the economies of scale, sizable infrastructure investments, and long-standing vendor relationships with vendors – challenges that create high barriers to entry for newcomers and mid-tier players alike.
ISPs have to source high quality network equipment as well as Business Support Systems (BSS) and Operations Support Systems (OSS) at competitive prices, and build a skilled technical team to manage complex networks.
They also have to deal with high interconnect costs, and negotiate peering and caching agreements with technology majors such as Apple, Google, Microsoft and Netflix; some of these ecosystem partners demand minimum capacity thresholds, making it economically unviable for ISPs not serving large customer bases.
These ISPs face significant hurdles in winning deals. Coverage gaps, limited network availability, and restricted access to premium networks put them at a disadvantage. On top of that, customers now expect a complete solution: multiple access technologies like fibre, wireless, and satellite, integrated with voice and PBX functionality, and delivered with speed.
Meeting these demands is not just challenging, it’s often impossible for niche players, which is why competing, let alone thriving, in this market remains such a struggle.
Expand without the heavy lifting
In an effort to address these challenges, Vox’s new Partner Programme will allow ISPs to leverage the company’s extensive experience in building and managing network infrastructure, delivering broadband and voice services to hundreds of thousands of customers countrywide; and technical and commercial partnerships with a wide array of access providers.
The Partner Programme provides the following benefits to small and mid-sized ISPs:
Seamless integration with flexible topologies: In order to ensure minimum disruption, Vox adapts to the ISPs setup, allowing them to choose from a range of options through which to connect their network, including point-to-point, ring or mesh configurations.
Premium infrastructure and expertise: ISPs gain cost-effective access to carrier-grade routers, switches, and skilled technicians – all without having to overpay for scale that they don’t need, and leaving the service provider with the task of customer acquisition and service excellence.
Ecosystem partnerships: ISPs can leverage Vox’s commercial agreements to get unmatched coverage across 10 fibre-to-the-business (FTTB) networks, 18 fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks, and 6 wireless-to-the-business (WTTB) networks. They can also bypass daunting minimum requirements and secure peering and caching with global leaders such as Google and Netflix at volumes that make sense for a connectivity provider of their size.
Tailored services: Modular and scalable offerings, from wholesale bandwidth to advanced voice solutions and beyond, mean that Vox gives ISPs the flexibility to grow at their own pace, while providing customers with low-latency, high-uptime performance.
Our new partner programme is tailored specifically for emerging and mid-sized ISPs that are ready to expand without the heavy lifting. The high fixed costs, building and maintaining complex networks, upstream relationships, and more are taken care of, leaving ISPs to focus on their unique selling proposition. This is not just about scale, but about enabling smart, sustainable growth that ISPs can tap into.
Become a Vox Partner and unlock new opportunities. ISPs need an ECS Licence, billing and network management systems, Teraco presence, CPE installation capability, and first-line support. For national and international core network capacity, use your own infrastructure or leverage Vox’s world-class backbone to deliver exceptional service.
It’s a partner offering that allows small and mid-sized ISPs to use Vox’s network, peering agreements, equipment and operational expertise to scale services without needing large capital investments.
Who is eligible to join the programme?
Emerging and mid-sized ISPs in South Africa with basic operational capabilities (ECS licence, billing and network management systems, CPE installation and first-line support) are the intended participants.
Can I use my own core network or must I use Vox’s backbone?
You can use your own national/international core capacity or opt to leverage Vox’s world-class backbone; the programme supports both models.
How does Vox help with peering and caching with platforms like Google and Netflix?
Vox’s commercial agreements and peering relationships allow partner ISPs to access caching and peering at volumes that make sense for smaller providers, removing minimum-capacity barriers.
What services can partners resell or access?
Modular options include wholesale bandwidth, advanced voice/PBX solutions, routing and switching, and multi-access topologies (FTTB, FTTH, WTTB).
Will I need to change my existing topology to join?
No, Vox adapts to your setup and supports point-to-point, ring or mesh connections to minimise disruption.
Are there pricing or contract minimums?
Commercial terms vary by partner needs and service selection. Speak to Vox for a tailored quote and contract options aligned to your growth strategy.
At Vox, we believe our employees are the beating heart of our company, with merit and value built into all our available positions. In this edition of People of Vox, we meet Dylan Lockwood, who works in the Sales Department as a Key Account Manager. He combines business discipline, insight and steady habits with the physical and mental discipline of ultra‑endurance sport, which helps him to tackle life with incredible energy and enthusiasm.
It’s not every day you meet someone prepared to take on a race that’s 100 miles long – and no, that wasn’t a typing error; the sentence is correctly saying ‘miles’ and not ‘kilometres’ (which is obviously what we in South Africa are more used to seeing). Let’s meet Dylan Lockwood, a Key Account Manager at Vox.
Dylan is one of an elite group of athletes who takes on the traditional ultramarathon challenge – and then runs significantly further! We find out more about what inspires and motivates Dylan, both at work and when he’s out running in nature.
“Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
A Trusted Adviser to his Clients
Having spent his early years in Johannesburg, Dylan today is based in Sea Point, Cape Town, with almost three years at Vox under his belt. His colleagues admire him for balancing his work responsibilities with a deep commitment to endurance sports (more on this later).
While Vox is widely known for providing Connectivity and Voice solutions, Dylan’s role is to identify additional opportunities for his 70 or so enterprise clients, across the full Vox offering. In this way, he’s able to enhance their business experience overall, potentially introducing additional offerings such as firewalls, Wi‑Fi, audiovisual (AV), hardware and Microsoft licensing into the overall product suite.
He explains: “My job is to be the customer’s first point of contact, and their trusted adviser. I don’t need to be a specialist in every product offered by Vox, but I do need to understand the breadth of offerings well enough to guide clients and facilitate their access to the right product managers. My job combines technical understanding with relationship management.”
Two lessons stand out for Dylan: “Firstly,” he says, “don’t take things personally – in client service, it’s critical to separate out negative emotion from the work. Secondly, it’s important to build strong daily habits. For me, consistency is the backbone of success. I like to start the day reliably, prioritise the activities that move the dial and trust the process when complex deals take months to land.”
He’s very happy working for Vox today, but if Dylan had had access to a fortune teller when he was still studying, he would probably have been surprised to see the company’s distinctive bright green branding pulsing out from the traditional crystal ball.
‘I see working at Vox in your future…’
Life Before Vox: Not Quite a Linear Process
Dylan’s journey after school didn’t entirely follow his originally intended path. Having first studied for a BCom in Industrial Psychology, Dylan later completed an Honours degree in Business Management while working full time: “This experience taught me how to juggle heavy workloads and study commitments!” he says.
His early career was in corporate sales with the Bidvest Group, where he discovered his deep love for the sales arena. Bidvest then sponsored further studies at Wits Business School, and he used this learning experience to further enhance his commercial skills.
He realised quite early in his career that he wasn’t entirely happy living in Joburg, especially as his love of endurance sports began to grow. He explains: “I’ve been quite active and sporty since I was at school, and when I started working in my first full-time corporate job, I found myself looking for a challenge outside work. I began exploring endurance sports when a friend persuaded me to enter a half Ironman race (70.3 miles) in 2017.
“Initially I was nervous about not having had enough time to prepare, but I was able to complete the event, which involved an ocean swim, bike ride and half‑marathon run, and from then on, I was hooked on the idea of participating in a sport that really pushes you to define your limits! I got into trail running and mountain biking and while I was based in Joburg, I rode the 947 Ride Joburg cycle race a couple of times. This helped to grow my interest in moving to Cape Town, where so much of the lifestyle is focused on nature and the outdoors.”
A move to remote work then allowed him to move to the Western Cape: Dylan took a role as branch strategist for a consumer review platform, which allowed him to relocate. After a year of remote working, he wanted to return to a more corporate role, which is when he was able to join Vox.
What Sets Vox Apart?
Dylan highlights two things that he believes differentiate Vox in the ISP market: the ability to deliver full turnkey solutions and the calibre of people. He explains: “Vox can supply connectivity, telephony, licensing, cabling and hardware, in other words, everything that a new business might need, and this breadth of service – our ability to offer more than just Fibre – is a competitive advantage.
“The other thing that I think differentiates us from our competitors is the people. I’ve had the opportunity to work in such an amazing team, including my line manager, Vanessa, and our fantastic sales administrator, Fagmidah. I’m immensely grateful for all the help and support from all my colleagues, who have often gone out of their way to support me.”
Challenges Along the Way
Dylan is candid about learning to deal with a particular health challenge – he lives with a chronic hearing condition in the form of tinnitus, which causes a constant high‑pitched ringing in his ears.
“The condition struck when I was about 21, and it initially created a big challenge in both my sleeping patterns, and being able to focus in meetings. The doctors I saw told me that it was something I unfortunately had to learn to live with. Mindfulness meditation became an essential tool and over time I’ve learned to manage the condition, so that it now affects me significantly less.”
Fortunately, Dylan’s love of running and outdoor sports also plays a role in helping him to manage the condition, and here again he’s grateful to be based in the Western Cape.
From Triathlon Rookie to 100‑Mile Finisher
Today, the easy access to the Cape’s beautiful scenery has allowed Dylan to embrace the unique enjoyment of ultra-distance trail running.
He explains: “I was expecting to continue my triathlon journey when I moved to Cape Town, and especially my mountain biking interest. But when I moved here, being so close to the mountains, I realised that the Cape outdoors is probably more ‘runner friendly’ than ‘mountain bike friendly’, and this was when trail running in the mountains opened up a wonderful new experience for me, offering me a sense of truest freedom.”
Shortly before joining Vox, Dylan completed the UTCT 100-kilometre ultra-trail race. He’s since taken it to the next level, and after six months of intense training, he recently tackled the UTCT 100-mile (165 kilometre) trail race, which started at 17:00 on a Friday afternoon, and finished on Sunday morning of the same weekend.
The course loops around the Cape Peninsula in a figure‑of‑eight, starting and ending at Gardens Rugby Club, taking runners over Lion’s Head, Signal Hill and Table Mountain, through Llandudno, Kommetjie and Simon’s Town. Dylan recalls running through the night on Table Mountain with a head torch as being a surreal highlight, a part of the race he described as “brutal” but unforgettable.
This gruelling 36‑hour feat showcased the same perseverance that he brings to his work. He explains: “I find that what I’ve learned during the preparation for these races, as well as what I learn on the race day, overflows into my personal and professional life. As a whole, it just makes my life better and easier – it gives my mind the tools that it needs to work hard and persevere.”
It all comes together to weave a tale that embraces Dylan’s professional achievements together with his passion and determination to push boundaries. Looking ahead, his personal goals include completing a number of additional trail races, such as the world-renowned Otter Trail in the Garden Route; snowboarding in Japan; and ultimately becoming a dad. He also aims to be Vox Key Account Manager of the Year one day, which is a career target that keeps him motivated.
In running, as in life, there are people who go the distance, and then there are those who go beyond. Dylan goes way, way beyond – both in life and in running. He truly embodies the Vox spirit – bold, committed and unstoppable!
At Vox, we value, support and actively engage people with the levels of expertise that we require to keep us moving forward as a company. In this edition of ‘Meet our Experts’, we find out more about Theo van Zyl, who heads up the Wireless Department. Theo reflects on a lifelong relationship with communications technology, his journey into product leadership and his ambitions for extending connectivity across South Africa.
“The thing was called ‘fire’, and it was brought back to the cave by Og the inventor, who said he found it eating a tree. You had to keep it in a little cage of stones, he said.” ~ From ‘How It All Began…’ by Terry Pratchett
Question: What do Theo van Zyl, Head of Wireless at Vox, and Og the Inventor, also known as ‘the first caveman to cultivate fire’ and brought to us by author Terry Pratchett, both have in common?
Answer: They are both obsessed with the latest technology of the day, and how it can be used to help people and improve their lives.
People have been fascinated by the technology of the day for as long as we’ve been human, and for Theo, a life-long and highly practical love of technology began when he was still a child. Today, as Vox’s Head of Wireless, he is focused on building nimble teams and customer-first products, as well as bringing affordable connectivity to South Africa’s citizens, no matter where they are in the country.
We speak to Theo and find out more about how technology is front and centre in his life, both at work and at home, on a daily basis.
Telecomms in His Veins
Theo was still in primary school when his passion for electronics and communication began, and he describes fixing radios and building circuits as a child.
“My interest started with the ‘How and Why’ book range, especially electronics,” he explains. “As a child, I built electronic projects that did actually work, and I was always dismantling electronic equipment to understand the underlying processes. As a teenager, I made pocket money by repairing and building electronic circuit boards.”
That early curiosity matured into technical depth across analogue telephony, telex, data modems and later fibre, LTE and satellite. He also studied e‑commerce at Unisa and was involved in early online billing and payment gateway projects. His breadth of experience shows through in his product approach: he is comfortable with legacy systems and keen on combining them with modern ideas.
A Multi-Disciplinary and Empowering Team Leader
With more than three decades’ experience, including some 15 years heading up another ISP, Theo is a veteran of the telecommunications industry.
He explains: “From running around fixing analogue data copper line services, I have also spent time as a lecturer in data communications, mathematics and electronics. I then moved into practical roles in electronic data interchange, IP network design and product management across multiple disciplines – which is what I love the most, and where I’ve now been for around 25 years.”
He says: “Today, my job focus includes defining product strategies and managing the life cycles of products, leading the Wireless product team members, and ensuring that company strategic and financial goals are met. A key piece of the puzzle in delivering an end-to-end product portfolio includes cross-functional collaboration with areas across the business, including systems, marketing, PR, sales, channels, finance, networks and service delivery.”
Theo aims to keep his team at a manageable size so he can stay engaged with each area without losing control. He leads a compact team, organised around specialist areas, as follows: “Craig oversees Wi‑Fi for both consumer and enterprise; Chris and Kaylee look after LTE, 5G and APN products; Kathleen manages satellite services; Nikita handles microwave wireless; and Kolofelo manages manual feasibilities and operational tickets.”
L to R: Craig, Theo, Hendrik (Q-Kon account manager for Vox Satellite) and Kathleen
L to R: Chris and Theo
Daily work for Theo is very collaborative. He coaches and empowers his team, preferring to avoid micromanagement, and values bringing the broader team together to get multiple perspectives on a problem: “Micromanagement kills creativity,” he says. “I prefer to give people the freedom to try, possibly fail, and learn. I actively support piloting and experimentation, provided it doesn’t breach regulatory or company policy!”
Vox and Theo: The Perfect Fit
With Theo’s leadership characterised by empowerment, rapid decision‑making and a tolerance for well‑informed risk, he was understandably drawn to Vox’s culture and strategy, which embraces being nimble and cultivating a low‑red‑tape environment that gets things done quickly.
“Here at Vox, if the boss says do it, then you do it because you know you have the go-ahead!” he notes, contrasting Vox with organisations that can take 18 months to bring a product to market.
“This ability to act rapidly, combined with a collaborative culture where colleagues readily help each other, is what I value most. At Vox, things happen fast. I believe we are better positioned than many competitors because we can move quickly, learn speedily from experiments that don’t work, and then try another approach if need be.”
Theo positions product management as an end‑to‑end responsibility: “As our esteemed CEO, Jacques du Toit, is known to clarify, ‘You need to be the CEO of your own product’, meaning end to end, across every cost, every vendor, every customer interaction.
“This means being hands-on across finances, marketing, vendor relationships, costing, sales enablement and customer experience. Customer experience is also a priority: if internal processes let customers down, product teams must own the problem, resolve a customer’s issues, and implement improvements into future workflows.”
Affordable LEO Connectivity for Wider Access
“Technology is teaching us to be human again… the ability to witness and experience the lives of others anywhere around the world, often in real-time, awakens in us our innate empathy for each other.” ~Simon Mainwaring, businessman and author
Theo has a vision of being part of the rollout of affordable connectivity to rural and underserved communities through Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite services. He describes this as being a major personal and professional ambition: getting low‑cost, operational LEO services into South Africa so that rural citizens can access connectivity comparable to urban Fibre or LTE users.
“I believe Vox is uniquely positioned to pursue this and capable of delivering services, with the success of GEO services bearing testimony to this. I am confident that Vox can achieve our goal of bringing connectivity to all rural citizens over time,” he says.
“I am passionate about the amazing possibilities that LEO satellite services could bring to the people of South Africa, bringing excellent connectivity to anyone across the country, no matter how remote they might be. My ambition is to launch an affordable LEO service so that rural South Africans can access connectivity the same way people in towns do.”
Hobbies and Hacking (You Can’t Make This Stuff Up…)
Away from work, Theo is an enthusiastic electronics hobbyist and home automation enthusiast. In the past, he’s also embraced amateur radio activity: he holds a ZR licence and recalls sending data between computers over radio long before dial‑up became widespread.
He has spent the last decade building smart home systems that incorporate voice‑enabled control for gates, lights, pool pumps, alarms and energy monitoring using remote cloud management, and is proficient at integrating different ecosystems such as Alexa and Google. For Theo, it’s not just a hobby but shows his passion for telecommunications in the workplace now brought into the home environment: “Home automation is not a gimmick for me – it’s about integrating ecosystems to make life easier and more efficient.”
He’s walking the talk, in other words. He’s also been known to carry out at least one ethical hack in his time….
Theo once accessed a public Wi‑Fi system that was not secure when he was eating out at a restaurant in Brooklyn, Pretoria. Realising that their Wi-Fi was vulnerable, and being a regular at the restaurant, he quickly hacked into their system while browsing through the menu: “I printed a warning on the restaurant’s printer and alerted the waiter at my table about the need to separate their guest and internal networks…”
(Editor’s note: So, not your average customer when waiting tables then!)
“Excuse me, but I think you just said that you hacked the restaurant’s Wi-Fi system, did I hear you correctly?”
The astonished waiter alerted the manager on duty and needless to say, the next time Theo went to eat there, the Wi-Fi network was significantly upgraded and stronger – although knowing Theo, he could probably have got in again if he’d really wanted to…
The incident underscores his practical focus on security and the real risks of poorly configured public Wi‑Fi.
It also underscores the fact that Theo really does know what he’s talking about – he combines deep technical knowledge with a pragmatic, people‑centred and fundamentally caring approach to launching and scaling services in a rapidly evolving connectivity landscape.
“I am grateful that my experience in the industry, starting with analogue telephones, telex machines, data modems and growing into today’s technology gave me exposure to areas that I never thought I would ever be involved in,” he says. “At Vox I can leverage on that experience and influence and create products that are customer centric and deliver real value, to help change and improve people’s lives.”
And just like the short story mentioned at the beginning: Isn’t technology and progress amazing?! Here at Vox, we are grateful for people like Theo who help us to keep moving forward. Never change, Theo!
“…several up-and-coming young apemen had got the idea and they invented Civilisation – eventually. The village grew. Some of the open plain was turned into fields. Pretty soon hunters like Hal were beginning to look a bit foolish. That’s how it all began.” ~ From ‘How It All Began…’ by Terry Pratchett
