connectivity

Proactive MDR: Safeguarding Your Business

Posted on 20 October 202521 October 2025 by Audrey Vadival

Enjoy Round-the-Clock Protection with Vox and Sophos Managed Detection and Response

In South Africa, we are unfortunately used to home invasions, and certainly there is evidence that the presence of a security company can go a long way towards keeping homes, businesses and neighbourhoods safer.

What about the online version of a break-in – how do you protect your business?

Hackers are constantly putting out feelers for companies that don’t have adequate safety and security measures to protect themselves. Some organisations try to take care of their cybersecurity themselves, which can be a bit like a homeowner relying solely on an electric fence: it might offer some protection, but is definitely not infallible all the time.

Cybercriminals – like their real-world counterparts – choose targets with a simple goal of maximising their reward while minimising their risks. As a case in point: 88% of ransomware attacks on organisations occur outside normal business hours.

So why not call in the experts and get a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service for your business? Think of it as being like a cyber version of a security service for your company – always on guard for you, and ready to act around the clock.

Expert-Led 24/7 Managed Detection and Response Service

Vox has partnered with global cybersecurity experts, Sophos, to offer advanced protection solutions, including managed Detection and Response services.

Powered by its global threat intelligence team, Sophos provides cloud-native, AI-enhanced security to protect organisations of all sizes from modern cyber threats like ransomware, phishing and malware.

Sophos MDR is a comprehensive security-as-a-service solution that provides continuous, expert-led protection against today’s advanced cyberthreats. It’s designed for organisations of all sizes and is an ideal choice for businesses lacking in-house security resources, or those needing to enhance their existing capabilities.

Sophos MDR service gives your business a dedicated, professional team that proactively hunts for and neutralises threats, around the clock. In addition, Sophos MDR seamlessly integrates with over 350 of your existing third-party security tools. This unique approach allows you to realise significant cost savings while maximising the return on your existing technology investments.

By combining human expertise with advanced AI, Sophos MDR from Vox detects and responds to sophisticated attacks that technology alone might miss. Ultimately, Sophos MDR provides comprehensive, round-the-clock protection without the immense complexity or expense of building your own in-house security operations centre.

24 /7 Cybersecurity Monitoring

Sophos MDR from Vox includes the following benefits: round-the-clock threat monitoring, where continuous protection against attacks, even outside business hours, reduces risk; expert-led threat hunting, in which people are involved in proactively uncovering and eliminating evasive threats that tools can miss; and full-scale incident response and root cause analysis, including recommendations to prevent recurrence.

In addition, Sophos MDR from Vox also provides flexible response modes, with which you decide how the MDR team operates, at the level that suits your organisation; and compatibility with third-party tools that integrate with your existing security stack; eliminating the need to ‘rip and replace’.

As a final sweetener and proof of confidence in its solution, Sophos provides a breach protection warranty, offering your business financial protection against the costs associated with a breach.

The message is clear: no one is safe from being a target, and there are times when the best-case scenario to protect your valuable business assets and data is to call in the experts.

Your business deserves the best possible protection.

Enjoy optimised performance and keep your organisation running safely without the threat of cyberattacks with Vox and Sophos – contact us for more information.

FAQs

What is Managed Detection and Response (MDR)?
MDR is a security service that combines continuous monitoring, expert threat hunting and incident response to detect and neutralise advanced cyber threats on behalf of your business.

How does Sophos MDR differ from standard anti-malware?
Sophos MDR pairs AI-enhanced detection with a dedicated human team that actively hunts for evasive threats and provides full incident response, going beyond signature-based tools.

Can Sophos MDR work with our existing security tools?
Yes, Sophos MDR integrates with hundreds of third‑party security tools so you can retain your current stack and improve overall protection without replacing systems.

Is MDR suitable for small businesses?
Yes, MDR is particularly valuable for SMEs that lack in-house security resources but need enterprise-grade monitoring and response.

What is a breach protection warranty?
It’s a financial assurance provided by Sophos for qualifying breaches, designed to help cover certain breach-related costs — giving additional assurance to customers.

Protect Your Older Parents Online with Norton from Vox

Posted on 15 October 202521 October 2025 by Vivienne Fouche

No, Mom – DON’T click on that link!

I know an elderly lady who is dignified and respectable, with grown-up children and grandchildren. She is, as they say, a ‘pillar of her community’. She also, rather startlingly, has some, shall we say, unfortunate images on her phone at the moment, involving various anatomical closeups of naked people.

But this is not an article about a seemingly-sweet old lady who is at the helm of a mafia-style criminal empire – no, that’s not it at all, because she actually has NO IDEA that these images are currently on her phone (and her family members haven’t yet had the courage to tell her).

Vox has teamed up with global cybersecurity expert company Norton™ to offer comprehensive protection for your devices and online privacy, for the whole family, all in one solution. Traditionally, people have worried about their own online safety as well as their children’s, but there is no reason why your older parents can’t benefit also.

In this article, we look at how so many older people today have absolutely no idea of the perils that lurk online. We discuss how to protect people of an older generation who didn’t grow up with technology at their fingertips.

And we look at how acquiring the right software can take away the stress of having to keep saying: “NO, Mom – DON’T click on that link!”

Why Older People Are Especially Vulnerable Online

Criminals have always seen older people as being a soft target, and today’s digital world simply presents long-existing criminal tendencies in a brand-new wrapping. When the goal is to scam older people out of their hard-earned savings, the Internet, online banking and social media all just make it easier for cyber criminals, because many older people are just not that comfortable with today’s technology.

This is largely because, in contrast to younger generations, older citizens had to learn to use information technology when they were already adults. It’s something that was initially entirely new to them.

And so the relationship that today’s senior citizens have with technology can be an uneasy or uncomfortable one, as shown in this clip from the popular and acclaimed Netflix sitcom, ‘Grace and Frankie’.

In the video clip, we see clearly just how some of the older generation think about technology – Frankie is deeply afraid of it at first. (Grace, as a retired former CEO, does at least know how to boot up a new laptop.)

Take a look for a bit of show, not tell!

The video clip raises another point: if so many of today’s older generation are uncomfortable simply with acquiring new technology, you can imagine that they’re even more vulnerable once they’re finally online.

Senior citizens can be particularly vulnerable to cybercriminals who use social engineering – deception intended to manipulate people into sharing confidential or personal information – to lure their victims into handing over valuable personal details.

Why The Older Generation Is Vulnerable Online

Online criminals prey on qualities shared by many older users, including a fear of technology that they don’t fully understand, loneliness as their children grow up and leave home, an ingrained respect for authority and institutions, and an increasing need to feel financially secure as they get older.

If this is all sounding just a bit too familiar and close to the bone, the good news is that there are ways in which you can help protect your older parent or relative against would-be online scammers.

Keep It Simple — Three Rules to Teach Your Parent

Firstly, share the following information with your older parent to try to help them recognise when a criminal is trying to steal their bank account information, passwords or credit card numbers, or otherwise trying to separate them from their money.

Trust no one: never click links or open attachments from unexpected senders.
Ask first: establish a rule — “Call or text me before you act.”
Don’t share security details: never send PINs, passwords or banking details by message or phone.

These short, repeatable rules are easier to remember than long lectures. Think of them as being the digital equivalent of “Don’t open the door to strangers.”

In summary: ‘Don’t click on every link that looks like fun or promises you a great bargain.’ It’s the Internet version of ‘If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.’

How Norton from Vox helps — Straightforward, Family-Wide Protection

You can try to teach all the rules in the world, but intuitive software makes prevention easier. Stop the malware from getting in by blocking those seductive ‘Click here’ messages before they even reach your parent’s phone, tablet or laptop with their exotic and interesting click-bait messaging.

Norton’s software safeguards your entire family’s PCs, Macs®, tablets and smartphones from viruses, ransomware, phishing and other cyber threats while you bank, shop and browse online.

Norton 360 family protection provides multiple layers of defence against viruses, malware, ransomware and phishing, which are the common tools criminals use to target seniors. Key benefits for elderly parents:

Blocks malicious links and phishing attempts before they land.
Protects PCs, Macs, Android and iOS devices with one app.
Simplifies security for non‑tech users — automatic updates and background protection.
Centralised family protection so you can check that your parent’s devices are safe.

Buying Norton via Vox gives you a local, reliable channel to purchase and manage the licence, which is one less thing to worry about.

Practical steps for immediate protection

Install Norton on every device your parent uses and enable automatic updates.
Turn on email and web protection to block suspicious links.
Set up one shared contact (you) who your parent must call before sharing money or details.
Back up important files so ransomware can’t hold photos or documents hostage.

Norton from Vox offers robust, all-in-one protection against viruses, malware, ransomware and online threats – for the whole family, including your elderly parents. It’s Internet safety for the elderly – like the virtual equivalent of a home security guard, refusing to allow the criminal over the threshold while your mom or dad are blissfully unaware and watching their favourite show or match on TV.

And if your elderly family members aren’t downloading dodgy links, you don’t have to spend precious time cleaning up their phones at a later stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start a sensitive conversation with my ageing parent?

Choose a calm moment, be honest but respectful, ask open questions and listen to their priorities

How can I suggest home-safety changes without upsetting them?

Frame changes as ways to keep them independent, offer choices and involve them in decision-making.

Secure Your Connectivity with our Fibre Plus Firewall Bundle October Special

Posted on 14 October 202521 October 2025 by Audrey Vadival

Secure connectivity is about speed and protection.

South African networks face multiple threats on a daily basis. Recent reporting shows that Interpol detected roughly 230 million cyber threats in South Africa, which is a clear signal that homes and businesses must harden their borders.

Secure connectivity prevents unauthorised access, data loss and downtime, helping you to keep operations and productivity running smoothly within your business.

Sophos Firewalls with Vox

Vox has partnered with Sophos to offer next-generation firewalls to help you better protect your network, quickly and efficiently.

With Sophos firewalls from Vox, you can enjoy no hidden costs – just great security, and you will find that it’s easy to use, even if you’re not technical.

The advanced threat protection blocks viruses, ransomware and hackers, leaving you with peace of mind. You can also block websites and non-work apps so that your employees’ efficiency is boosted, allowing you to boost security and productivity at the same time.

The solution is designed to promote a fast and secure network that continues running at high speed, which serves as another productivity value-add.

Why A Fibre Plus Firewall Bundle Is Crucial

Vox’s Fibre Plus Firewall bundle gives you both speed AND protection.

Our October 2025 special offer combines resilient Vox Fibre with next‑gen Sophos Firewall protection, allowing you to protect your devices, data and productivity with a single, easy solution.

Firewalls: Your First Line of Defence

A Firewall monitors and filters incoming and outgoing traffic based on set rules, creating a perimeter between your trusted network and the internet. Modern, next‑generation Firewalls also:

Detect and block intrusions and malware (IDS/IPS).
Support VPNs for secure remote access.
Log activity for rapid incident response.
Block malicious websites and non‑work apps to protect users and increase productivity.

Why Pairing Fibre with a Firewall is a Great Idea

Fibre delivers fast, symmetrical bandwidth essential for cloud apps, video conferencing and backups. Pairing that connectivity with a dedicated Firewall ensures high performance isn’t offset by exposure to threats. The Fibre plus Firewall bundle gives you:

Speed and security in one purchase.
Simpler billing and deployment with Vox.
Managed support to keep both connectivity and protection performing.

Sophos Firewalls with Vox: What You Get

The key benefits include the following:

Advanced threat protection against viruses, ransomware and hackers.
VPN support for secure remote workers and branch offices.
Centralised logging and reporting for faster incident handling.
Options to block websites and non‑work apps to boost staff productivity.
Backed by Vox 24/7 support and clear pricing with no hidden costs.

October special: Fibre plus Firewall bundle

This October, Vox is running a limited‑time Fibre plus Firewall bundle special. It’s an ideal time to:

Move to faster Fibre connectivity;
Add enterprise‑grade Sophos Firewall protection; and
Consolidate services and simplify billing.

Enquire early to reserve bundle availability and special pricing.

How To Get Started

Assess your needs in terms of the required bandwidth, number of users and remote access requirements. Then:

Choose a Vox Fibre package and Sophos Firewall level.
Book installation and configuration with Vox support.
Activate monitoring and policies with assistance from Vox 24/7 support.

Protect Your Network with Vox and Sophos

By protecting your sensitive data, devices and systems from threats like malware, hackers, denial of service attacks and malicious software, firewalls are a fundamental component of any network security strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Fibre plus Firewall bundle?

A Fibre plus Firewall bundle combines Vox Fibre internet connectivity with a managed next‑generation Sophos Firewall, to deliver both high performance and network security in a single package.

Why should I buy a Firewall if I already have Fibre?

Fibre gives you speed; a Firewall protects that connection. Without a Firewall, your fast connection can make attacks more damaging. A combined solution ensures both performance and protection.

What protection do Sophos Firewalls provide?

Sophos Firewalls include intrusion detection and prevention, anti‑malware and ransomware protection, VPN support, web and app control, and central logging for incident response.

Who is the Fibre plus Firewall bundle suitable for?

The bundle is ideal for small businesses and larger organisations that need reliable Fibre speeds with enterprise‑grade security and managed support.

When is the Vox October special available?

Vox will run the Fibre plus Firewall bundle special in October 2025 – contact us to confirm availability, exact pricing and terms.

Can Vox manage the Firewall for me?

Yes. Vox offers managed services and 24/7 support to help configure, monitor and maintain your Firewall and connectivity.

Will a Firewall slow down my Fibre connection?

Properly configured next‑gen Firewalls are designed to protect without significant performance impact. Vox matches Firewall capacity to your Fibre speed to preserve throughput.

How do I enquire about the October bundle?

Click here on the Vox website to request details and a tailored quote.

Enabling People Through Technology

Posted on 27 August 2025 by Vivienne Fouche

People of Vox: Spotlight on Natalie van der Merwe

“Technology is best when it brings people together.” ~ Matt Mullenweg

As the Vox Head of Products: Telephony, Natalie van der Merwe is another long-serving Vox employee who embodies so much about what makes the company great. She’s smart as a whip, innovative in her thinking, excited about technology and how it can empower people’s lives, and an all-round ‘Just Plain Nice Person’ who is loyal to the core. As such, she embodies many of Vox’s values and is a great fit within our ‘work family’.

Natalie also played a significant role in facilitating remote and hybrid working arrangements for so many Vox customers when Covid struck the world in 2020 – more on this later!

Having joined in July 2008, she’s now clocked up 17 years at Vox and is surprised to find that the next big milestone – 20 years – isn’t that far off. Let’s dive into Natalie’s pathway at Vox.

The Journey to Date

“The great growling engine of change – technology.” ~ Alvin Toffler

“I feel like I’m part of the furniture at Vox now,” says Natalie with a smile when we talk about her recent 17-year work anniversary. “Actually, no – not part of the furniture, because the furniture’s come and gone more than I have!”

She explains that “Telephony is just another word for PBX, really. So it’s always been PBXs since I started with Vox, with my role and the parameters changing over time.”

Natalie started at Orion Telecom, in 2008, which was then bought by Vox. Before that, she’d been in the PBX industry since 2000. “When I joined, I discovered that, while Orion was trying to get into the PBX industry, they were still very newly in this space, so I was able to put my experience to good use in helping to build up this new side of the business.”

Since then, says Natalie, Vox has probably offered its customers over 10 different types of PBX solutions while she’s been on board. Her passion and talent meant that she moved swiftly from starting out as a PBX Product Manager to becoming a Senior Product Manager, and then promoted to Head of Products: Telephony.

From Hardware to the Cloud

“Our business is about technology, yes. But it’s also about operations and customer relationships.” ~ Michael Dell

“When I first started in this industry, even before my Vox days, telephony was very much a hardware business,” says Natalie. “A PBX was something that you sold – it got installed at the customer’s office and everybody could see, touch and feel it. And then we had an evolution!

“I remember that I was about two or three years in at Vox – around 2010 / 2011 – when we launched our first cloud PBX, which was challenging for me at the time – and no doubt for most of my industry peers – because I’d never been involved with cloud PBXs previously But, as technology marches continually forward, we made the shift.”

Natalie clarifies that from Vox first starting to sell cloud PBX systems, up until early 2020, there was still a significant amount of hardware being sold. “However,” she notes, “at the same time, there was also a serous chip shortage globally, which was a really big issue, because many of the components of the products that I sold needed these chips to function.

“Simultaneously, the word was starting to spread about the advantages of cloud telephony options, with its features that included video calls, remote working and mobility. And then, of course, Covid arrived, with the result that everything just speeded up – significantly!”

Before the first whispers of a frightening new global pandemic started doing the rounds in early 2020, Natalie and her team had already been looking into cloud PBX options, which was to prove highly fortuitous.

The Covid Pandemic Kicks Cloud PBX into Play…

“What new technology does is create new opportunities to do a job that customers want done.” ~ Tim O’Reilly

“I’d started looking at a couple of cloud PBX competitors, and we’d done some testing. I’d even started out some research and development (R&D) projects before Covid loomed. And so, when it did arrive, we were able to move very quickly, launching around July / August 2020.

“When you think that we went into lockdown at the end of March that year, it was just four months later that we were able to launch and offer our customers fully tested and researched cloud PBX solutions to help South Africans continue working remotely, as efficiently as possible.”

Four months is an astonishingly short timeframe in which to launch a new product!

Natalie continues: “We sold our first PBX solutions as semi-cloud. After that, in just under a year, we went completely cloud-based, and we haven’t looked back! It provides all the functionality to facilitate ease of remote working, and everything a business needs for unified communications, with its core components of voice calling, messaging and video conferencing.

“Those phrases were such buzzwords just 10 years ago, but they really started coming into play in South Africa for us during Covid. At Vox, we were very proud to be able to help South African businesses and individuals carry on thriving during Covid and beyond. Having the right technology and tools really can make life better.”

On the Home Front

“Innovation is the outcome of a habit, not a random act.” ~ Sukant Ratnakar

Moving away from Natalie’s work persona, we find that she has an interesting heritage, with her father being South African ‘to the core’, and her mother born in Italy. Natalie herself was born in the small Karoo town of Beaufort West, where she lived with her parents for the first year of her life.

“My mom came over with her parents on a ship from Italy – as you did in those days – when she was about four or five. I’ve gone over to see where she originally came from, and where my grandparents lived, which was very special. “I’m also married – to my high school sweetheart – and we have a beautiful 15-year-old daughter who keeps us very busy, as all teenagers do.”

Besides doing some very worthy charity work in her spare time, Natalie relaxes and unwinds with a group of friends who all like to craft. “We get together every couple of months to do something creative. So far it’s involved a lot of painting, for example we’ve painted welcome mats, canvases, bags… We’ve also tried out lipstick making, a macrame class, making chocolate truffles and doing ‘zentangling’… It’s nice to just de-stress and have a good laugh with your friends.

“I still do ‘zentangling’ in my spare time, which is so much fun! It’s actually just scribbling, but you get patterns and you create… Instead of scrolling on my phone at night, I grab a book and the zentangling is a great way to clear my mind a little bit.”

Natalie works from home three days a week and is at Vox’s Johannesburg head office for the other two, an arrangement that suits her. “It’s great to have the option of really getting through my work while I’m at home,” she clarifies, “but those couple of days in the office also serve to re-connect with my colleagues, and experience the company’s energy and friendly vibe. I’m very fortunate to work with team members who are very hands-on and helpful, and always happy to learn new things.

“I think that Vox’s employees are one of the company’s greatest strengths – our culture is one of hard work, but also being prepared, always, to reach out a helping hand whenever anyone has a need.”

And of course, it’s partly thanks to Natalie and her team that Vox employees – and customers – have the option of being able to work from home in the first place, using Vox’s cloud-based telephony and unified communications solutions!

A Constantly Evolving Journey

“It’s not that we use technology, we live technology.” – Godfrey Reggio

As well as Vox’s friendliness and family vibe, Natalie appreciates the company’s culture of innovation, its agility and senior management’s open-door policies.

“In a way it never actually feels like I’ve worked for the same company all this time, because there have been mergers and acquisitions, new CRM systems, and of course an ever-evolving succession of new product offerings. Within our industry, technology changes so quickly that sometimes it’s challenging to keep up.

“It means that yes, you’re on your toes, but it also means that you’re always offering, or preparing to offer, something relevant. The next thing is always coming along, which is fun and enjoyable. And so that’s a great thing about my job – there’s never a dull moment, and my work is always interesting!”

Natalie believes that the world is at the next phase of a massive change with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI).

“This will affect the work of anybody who’s selling tech and services – it’s the next evolution! And in the technology world, if you’re not on the bandwagon with what’s happening, you’ll be left behind. If Vox had never launched that first cloud PBX, where would our telephony division be today?”

“Technology like art is a soaring exercise of the human imagination.” – Daniel Bell

Can Minecraft Help to ‘Craft’ Budding Engineers, Architects and Designers?

Posted on 24 July 202524 July 2025 by Vivienne Fouche

Online gaming – it’s categorically bad for your kids, right? Or is it…?

So there you are – having yet another argument with your six-year-old about video games. The last half-an-hour has seen whining, snot-en-trane and threats about who has control over the controller – and that’s just the adults.

Your youngster, meantime, is on the brink of a meltdown rivalling the tantrums you last saw during the Terrible Two’s period. Wasn’t parenting supposed to get easier when they were out of nappies and actually sleeping through the night?

You know you have to win this battle because ‘The School Said That Screen Time Must Be Limited to Maximum One Hour Per Day’ in the last newsletter – or something deeply unrealistic like that; but anyway Junior is definitely well over that limit on average every day… And resorting to bribery is going to prove difficult because screentime normally *is* the prize at the end of the bribery equation.

If only there was a game that wasn’t so bad…

Everything In Moderation?

Most parents today have wrestled at some time or another with how to manage their children’s daily online screen time, starting with movies and shows, and graduating to online gaming. ‘How much is too much?’ is an ongoing question.

The bad news is that, in excess, online games CAN be bad for your kids. This happens when your children, both younger and older, become too fond of gaming to the detriment of – or even the exclusion of – other ways to occupy themselves in real life. (This, of course, goes for adults as well.) Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a description of ‘gaming disorder’ as an addictive behaviour.

But the good news is that, properly managed, the opposite can also be true, and playing video games can actually be beneficial in some ways for your kids. Here, you can read how a mom of nine sets out some suggested do’s and don’ts around video games and your children.

From a Vox perspective, we wanted to be more specific, so in this article we look at whether playing Minecraft could actually encourage your youngsters in such career path options as architects, engineers and interior designers – never mind graphic designers and software animation.

It seems there just might be a video game that’s actually good for your kids – in moderation, of course.

How Minecraft Works

It’s a game where the players can build things with blocks or resources – think Lego, only online, with almost unlimited possibilities – and you work your way up through basic resources to more complex ones. You can choose to work in either a creative mode – where you build virtual structures and worlds – or a survival mode, where you must harvest the materials and try to stay alive without dying. Because of the visual style of the graphics – the little block-like people in motion are really quite funny! – it never really looks very violent (even if someone gets terminated).

A description from Minecraft itself is as follows: “Minecraft is a game made up of blocks, creatures, and community. You can survive the night or build a work of art – the choice is all yours.

“…Minecraft has no set goal and can be played however you’d like! This is why it’s sometimes called a ‘sandbox game’ – there are lots of things for you to do, and lots of ways that you can play. If you like being creative, then you can use the blocks to build things from your imagination. If you’re feeling brave, you can explore the world and face daring challenges.”

The ‘mining’ part of Minecraft means removing or taking away, while the ‘crafting’ refers to creating by using materials within the online world. You can progress in the game by scavenging or ‘mining’ blocks of various materials such as stone, wood, iron, gold, emeralds and a whole lot more (if only it was as easy to get precious metals and jewels in the real world!). These are used as the basis for creations, or combined to create more advanced materials, tools and objects.

Players can design houses, cities, and even machines, and so the requisite problem-solving skills include learning how to plan, adapt and experiment. We shared a link earlier to an article giving tips on managing kids and video games in general – here’s another useful parental resource about Minecraft itself.

Besides Creativity, What Else Does Minecraft Encourage?

Wall-E in Minecraft [courtesy: https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/17-amazing-minecraft-creations-that-will-blow-your/2900-84/#13]

According to many educators and child development experts, playing Minecraft can be great for children, if used responsibly. Playing Minecraft supports a range of skills, including:

Creativity: Players design houses, cities and even machines, and you can work in a free-form design that just keeps growing, or strictly according to design parameters.
Problem-solving: Players learn to plan, adapt and experiment.
Teamwork: Being in a multiplayer game encourages collaboration and communication.

Computational thinking: By designing and building complex structures and automated systems, players develop their computational thinking skills, learning to break down problems into smaller steps and devising logical solutions.

Having been released in November 2011 (the earliest version was released for PC players in May 2009 and was called Cave Game), Minecraft was bought by Microsoft in November 2014 (for a staggering amount of money!).

Microsoft then wasted no time in releasing Minecraft Education in November 2016, a special version of Minecraft created specifically for use in schools, with extra tools and features that allow teachers to harness the fun and creativity of Minecraft to teach everything from reading to chemistry to coding.

Can Minecraft Encourage Career Choices?

Besides the creation and use of Minecraft Education in schools, there are other ways in which Minecraft can help children with learning in a more focused way.

In mid-2024, an event in the United Kingdom showcased the use of Minecraft to explore careers in aerospace, during the annual Farnborough International Airshow of that year. The event, Pioneers of Tomorrow, is a dedicated STEM-focused (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) event designed to inspire and engage the next generation of aerospace leaders.

During Pioneers of Tomorrow in July 2024, over 300 children played the Skills Miner aerospace game. As they proceeded through each game level, students explored core STEM principles and gained insight into engineering careers by experiencing the different roles from designers to coders, and maintenance engineers to aerodynamicists and stress engineers.

Analysis revealed that playing the game improved participants’ understanding of engineering concepts and left a lasting positive impression, encouraging many to consider a future career in the field:

91 percent of participants said they had gained new insights into engineering; and
87% expressed increased interest in pursuing a career in engineering.

Anecdotal evidence is also available for people who say they’ve chosen their career because of a love of playing Minecraft as a child. One such person is Arihant Bhattacharjee, a student in Year 11 at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi – China. He told his story of how he was inspired to become an architect during a Ted Talk entitled ‘From Blocks to Bricks’ – you can listen to his story here. On the design side of life, Lucas Pion believes that playing Minecraft inspired him to become a designer.

While some people don’t agree that Minecraft is necessarily going to lead to a career in architecture and similar design- or building-related careers, others have strongly positive views. James Delaney, who studied architecture at Cambridge University in the UK, says: “Whilst the architects of today grew up playing with LEGO, I have no doubt the next generation will have played Minecraft. People have to stop thinking of it as a game. It’s a CAD tool, and as such it is the most widely used one in the world. We’re looking forward to bridging the gaps between design and reality.”

And then there was the release earlier this year of ‘A Minecraft Movie’, starring Jason Momoa, Jennifer Coolidge and Jack Black. According to a Google Trends analysis, there was a nearly 200% (194.1%) surge in interest around building, design and architecture careers among younger generations, with searches for ‘builders’ alone almost tripling following the premiere of the movie. (We’re not so sure about how many people searched for ‘pink fringed leather jacket’ after the movie’s release but that’s a different conversation.)

While the jury is out for some, for others the message is very clear: Minecraft can inspire people to pursue careers in architecture, design, and engineering. The game’s creative environment definitely encourages players to experiment with building, spatial reasoning and problem-solving, and these are all fundamental aspects of these professions. It can also act as a stepping stone to more advanced design tools and concepts.

And so back to your kids and the ongoing debate in your home about online gaming time.

Perhaps good advice would be to follow a similar attitude to car pioneer Henry Ford, in the early days of car production lines, when he said: “You can have it in any colour as long as it’s black.”

Ok then.

“Kids, you can play any video game you like, as long as it’s Minecraft.”

Because it’s actually good for you… Have fun!

[Editor’s note: Of course, good gaming requires a fast Internet connection, and Vox is always available to help with your connectivity!]

Who You Gonna Call?

Posted on 22 July 202522 July 2025 by Vivienne Fouche

People of Vox: Spotlight on Greg Gyngell

If there’s something strange

In your neighbourhood

Who you gonna call?

Greg Gyngell!

If there’s something weird

And it don’t look good

Who you gonna call?

Greg Gyngell!

Right, well with apologies to the Ghost Busters franchise (do you have an ear-worm now?), it’s time for another peek into the life and times of another of our green-blooded Voxies. In this episode, we shine the spotlight on a man who is normally the MC within the training environment, and so he’s actually used to turning the spotlight on everyone else…but he agreed to be interviewed without too much of a fuss.

And a good thing too, because he’s got some really interesting stories to tell!

“I’m Greg and I look after the Training Department,” says Vox’s well-known and well-loved Soft Skills Trainer. “I’ve been at Vox for about 13 years now and together with my team, I do anything and everything that is related to training, including some video production work.

“I’m always available to do anything else that might be asked of me, and wherever I can assist, I’m happy to step in. No day is ever the same, and that’s exactly how I like it!”

Greg leads a team of four Trainers across the country and reports directly to Head of Human Resources, Pam McLeod. Let’s take a look at how he champions the cause of training throughout the company – another great example of how life and a career at Vox never has to be linear.

Starting Out in Film and Entertainment

“When I left school I had only two real passions,” explains Greg. “I wanted to be a pilot – I was one of those kids who built little aeroplanes and hung them off the ceiling – and in my teenage years I got very involved in movies.

“Flight school was unfortunately just too expensive, so when I realised that flying wasn’t a career option, I went into the local film industry. I was involved in making some incredible movies in South Africa and was able to meet some amazing people.

Greg learned his craft from the ground up and thoroughly enjoyed being in the movie world, but it wasn’t to be forever.

He clarifies: “The industry in South Africa went through a phase in which international big budget films were being shot here, but the production houses were bringing over their own crews. I went freelance for a while but realised quite quickly that it was unfortunately time to leave the movie industry in the quest simply to earn a living.

“I also dabbled in radio, and DJ-ing at clubs, both of which were obviously great fun. Eventually I landed up at a large cellular company and became entrenched in the mobile phone arena. After some time with this enterprise, my intuitive knowledge and understanding of gadgets and technology, together with my ability to explain things and talk to people, collided in a fortuitous manner and I ended up in my first training position with them, where I stayed for quite some time – over a decade, in fact.”

The end result was a man who understood the value of entertainment, technology and training, as well as being flexible in his outlook on life – not to mention the importance of having fun! The stage was set for Greg to come to Vox.

‘You’d better call…’

We can thank a retrenchment exercise that took place at his previous employer for Greg’s eventual arrival at Vox. He explains: “In the wake of being unfortunately retrenched, one of my former work colleagues phoned me and told me that that @lantic – one of the businesses that was later to be merged into the group of companies under the Vox umbrella – was planning to set up a training department, and they were interested in talking to me. And so I had an interview and was offered a six-month contract.”

At that stage, Greg and his wife Claire were actually planning to emigrate to New Zealand, but in the light of this new development, they decided to stay for a while longer.

Greg continues: “At the end of the six months, I was then offered a permanent position, because my previous background in the film industry, and how I could use it within the training division to create videos when required, was seen to be advantageous. My technical outlook, combined with my training soft skills plus the film experience, all merged neatly into a new position within Vox. And so the rest, as they say, is history!

“I like to tell people that my love for Vox as a company meant that, even though we’d been accepted into New Zealand, we stayed in South Africa and have never looked back since. Everything came together at the right time and I’ve now been at Vox for about 13 years. My passion is training, but at Vox, as I mentioned, I’m able to look after a number of other things as well.”

A Strong Team of Trainers

As far as the Vox Training is concerned, Greg coordinates with his four Trainers every day. “We all work remotely,” he explains. ”Alex McDonald is the Systems Trainer and looks after all systems-related training, including for our partners, while Victor Kemp is in charge of our Technical Training, including our Mikrotik router training; our e-learning system and ‘Friday Bytes Live’. Our other two team members are Ryan Varga, our Sales Trainer, who also takes care of our leadership and mentoring system; and Craig Jewell, who looks after Soft Skills, presenting courses that include themes around customer service, time management and adaptability.”

“One of the Training Department’s innovative initiatives is the ‘Friday Bytes Live’, when Voxies come together every Friday morning to hear and learn about different areas of the company using a fun, interactive quiz approach. Victor runs with this every week, and we have prizes up for grabs to incentivise everyone further.”

Greg clarifies that the Training department is in charge of the general training needs of around two and a half thousand people, as well as the monthly Induction training for all new Vox employees.

“I’m the main person at the helm of the induction training,” he says, “and here I run training over a few days at the beginning of every month, when every department in the company sends a representative to introduce the different aspects of Vox to all our new employees. Induction training takes place in person at our Johannesburg head office, and we also facilitate online participation.

“One of the primary elements of Induction is simply chatting! I’m like the MC, if you like, and I try to make new people feel comfortable while I also liaise with the presenters. I’ve always been a big fan of comedy, and so we inject humour into these training days as much as possible. Another large element of Induction training – besides putting the programme together in advance and running with the required logistics – is to keep the sessions on track from a time perspective.”

It’s certainly a mixed bag, bringing a significant variety to Greg’s working days and weeks, which he appreciates. Over and above that, he says: “Another thing that I really enjoy about my job is that, while training is my first love, I am also able to get involved in so many other different things.

“For example, I’ve been able to assist with elements of our recruitment system as well as working on study skills. And funny enough, I love doing the mandatory stuff – the admin challenges that most other people dislike. For example, I really enjoy organising and setting up the meetings required to kickstart a training session.”

‘If there’s something weird…’

Greg Background 2 resized | Vox | Who You Gonna Call? — Greg’s home office reflects his creative approach to life and training

To balance out his day-to-day organisational requirements, Greg’s creative side once again comes to the fore with his off-duty interests. A speed freak, he doesn’t own a car but instead rides a motor bike, and is also a huge Formula 1 fan, as seen in his office space, where the roof is painted with black and white checkered squares to look like an F1 flag – something that any Voxie who’s ever been on a Teams call with him will recognise instantly!

Staying in Greg’s home office, there are shelves filled with Lego versions of Formula 1 cars and drivers, as well as Funko Pop and Skylander collectable figurines, reflecting his taste in music, movies (think James Bond and The Matrix!) and video games. Other interests and hobbies include sports shooting, cooking and coffee – Greg intends to roast significant quantities of his own coffee beans in the future. As a self-confessed coffee snob, he limits himself to just two coffee cups per day, which is just enough to help him keep up with his busy pet Border Collies (just one more daily cup of coffee wouldn’t be fair on the dog…).

Add in his wife of 20 years, Claire, and his two teenage children, and it’s a busy and enjoyable life, he says gratefully.

“For me, there is always something different to do at work. I’ve been exposed to working on new projects because of my line manager, Pam, as well as our CEO, Jacques du Toit – something that I appreciate enormously, and which speaks to the organisation’s culture of being innovative and flexible.

“This, I think, is what sets Vox apart from the other ISPs, together with the passion and heart for the business that our senior executives always display. There is a significant number of people within the company ‘who live and breathe green’, and I am passionately one of them,” he concludes.

And anyone who has a training need of any kind within Vox knows exactly who to call – Greg Gyngell!

AI and Enterprise Wi-Fi: New Frontiers of Possibility

Posted on 18 July 202518 July 2025 by Craig Blignaut

Artificial intelligence (AI) makes it possible for machines to learn from experience, adjust to new inputs and perform human-like tasks.

Using technologies such as deep learning and natural language processing, computers can be trained to accomplish specific tasks by processing large amounts of data and recognising patterns in the data. The Wi-Fi arena is no different in that AI can also make the processing of tasks speedier and more efficient – we are now in the era of AI-driven networking.

AI Wi-Fi refers to wireless networks that make use of artificial intelligence to optimise connectivity, performance, connected user experience and security. This technology uses machine learning (ML) algorithms to analyse network hardware, traffic, user behaviour and environmental factors in real-time. The AI initiates closed loop automation to adjust the network settings, such as resource allocation, to improve performance.

This article discusses how AI can be used in Enterprise Wi-Fi networks, and how AI is benefitting Vox and our Wi-Fi customers.

AI-Driven Business Intelligence for Enterprise Networks

Artificial intelligence in Wi-Fi networks today can assist significantly with the configuration of the network, as well as with support thereafter, including being able to spot issues before they become a serious problem.

Vox has partnered with Wi-Fi networking equipment specialist, Ruckus Networks, for approximately the last decade, and within our partnership we proudly offer its AI Managed Wi-Fi offering for enterprise networks, which presents AI-driven business intelligence for enterprise networks.

As a cloud-based service for network intelligence and service assurance, Ruckus AI Managed Wi-Fi with Analytics is powered by machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). This in turn helps customers get the most from their network, for example by identifying network assurance incidents, classifying them by severity, tracing root causes and making specific AI recommendations for remediation. It automatically monitors network health relative to configurable thresholds.

Benefits of AI-Driven Enterprise Wi-Fi

AI can dynamically adjust Wi-Fi parameters like channel selection and contention window size to optimise network performance, ensuring smooth and efficient data transmission. In addition, it simplifies life for IT departments and technicians, as AI dramatically reduces the time to resolution for service incidents.

It can also eliminate some Help Desk tickets by addressing issues before they affect users, allowing the organisation to be proactive in this regard and solve problems before they arise. Additionally, by addressing the root cause for one incident, organisations can avoid other incidents that might arise from that cause.

Most importantly, it alleviates the need for an organisation’s IT department to manage the Wi-Fi network – Vox will manage this. Organisations can view real-time dashboards and, if required log tickets via the Vox enterprise support desk, because Vox has comprehensive visibility into network operations, which accelerates troubleshooting.

By proactively addressing issues and optimising network performance, AI can contribute to a better overall user experience, with faster speeds, reduced buffering, and fewer connection problems. In addition, AI can simplify network management, by automating many of the tasks associated with managing a complex Wi-Fi network, thereby reducing the burden on IT staff.

Faster Feature Updates Due to Cloud-Based Licences

A question that might spring to mind is the following: ‘How does South Africa compare to the developed world with regards to our access to AI within the Wi-Fi arena?’ and the answer may surprise you on the upside.

In essence, because today we have the option of moving to a cloud-based licence, all users globally are able to benefit from feature updates to cloud platforms, as they could all be on the same version due to simultaneous software updates. In this regard, South African companies will not necessarily be running behind users in other parts of the world, thanks to the cloud.

Vox is very pleased to be able to bring our customers the latest Wi-Fi networking feature updates as soon as they are made available to us from our upstream providers and placed onto the relevant platforms. Because Vox is accessing features as they are rolled out by the supplier, this means in turn that our customers benefit as and when new features and updates become available.

Knowing that we are able to offer our clients first-world AI-enabled Wi-Fi technology, in partnership with Ruckus Networks, is something of which we are truly proud.

Active-Active Failover Solutions from Vox

Posted on 15 July 202527 November 2025 by Andre Eksteen

When your business can’t afford to have its network go down, you need more than a backup: you need intelligent, always‑on connectivity.

Enter Vox Active‑Active Failover: a high‑availability solution that uses two live links at the same time for better performance, more usable bandwidth and seamless resilience when one link fails.

Why failover matters for your business
Imagine driving to work and discovering a massive traffic jam on your usual route. A quick off‑ramp saves the day and you arrive on time. That’s exactly what a failover does for your network. Whether you rely on cloud services, VoIP, payments or remote access, even a short outage can cost time, revenue and reputation. Failover options keep your services running when faults or outages happen.

Failovers make sure that systems stay operational even when unexpected failures occur. They guarantee that users experience negligible disruption, just like the alternative traffic route. Failover is a critical part of IT resilience, helping companies to navigate these challenges with minimal impact to the business.

Vox is proud to announce our newest business Failover bundle options, which go beyond the traditional parameters in an exciting and innovative way. This article unpacks our new ‘Active-Active Failover solution’, which is unique in the South African ISP landscape and designed to assist with significantly reducing and controlling network disruptions.

Active-Passive Failover Operations: Keeping Your Internet Alive

There are many reasons why Internet networks fail, including congestion, physical damage to the Fibre, area outages, planned or emergency maintenance, router issues, DDoS attacks, malware on devices, outdated software on customer equipment, and more.

Setting up a Failover option helps organisations to remain ready for any challenge. The alternative option – no Failover plan (unthinkable!) – leads to downtime, causing financial and reputational damage. ‘Active-Passive Failovers’, which have been the standard offering to date, provide a secondary connection to your organisation’s Internet – preferably on diverse infrastructure – where the secondary link is used only once the primary link goes down.

How it works: In a typical Active-Passive Failover configuration, one is configured as primary (Active) and the other as backup (Passive), as shown in the diagram below. If the primary network connection fails or is unresponsive, the backup automatically takes over. Network parameters are shared so that other devices on the network can continue operating as if nothing has changed. When the primary wide area network (WAN) link is restored and once again stable, the connections ‘failback’ to it.

In this example, the primary network link is via a Fibre network operator (FNO). The secondary link can be provided by either another FNO, or alternatively via a Wireless network operator (WNO). The secondary link is used only when the primary link is down.

Active-Passive Failover operations — Active-Passive Failover Solutions

When the primary link is active, 100 percent of the traffic goes through it and zero percent via the secondary link.
The situation is the exact opposite when the primary link is down, when 100 percent of the traffic goes through the secondary link.
When the primary link is restored and the connections failback to it, zero percent of the traffic once again goes through the secondary link.

Vox has been providing Active-Passive Failover systems for many years and has built up significant expertise to assist our customers. Recently, however, we started thinking: ‘What if we can provide more value to a failover customer at similar price points as on Active-Passive?’

And guess what? We can!

Introducing the Active-Active Option: A Failover Plan on Steroids

Vox is proud to present our new ‘Active-Active Failover’ bundle options. (And no, this is not a term that applies to busy toddlers having a meltdown.)

The problem with the Active-Passive Failover option outlined above is that a customer can only use one link at a time – the secondary link hardly gets used. Here at Vox, we thought that this seemed like a waste of potential ‘always-on’ connectivity.

The Vox Active-Active Failover option solves this problem by allowing customers to use both network links at the same time via load balancing, giving them more available bandwidth when both links are up. Then, when one link goes down, the secondary link will still work as a Failover to keep pushing traffic.

Technology note: ‘Load balancing’ in this context is the process of distributing network traffic across multiple links.

How it works: In the example in the image, both the networks are used in tandem. Again, the primary link is provided by an FNO, while the secondary link can be provided by either another FNO, or alternatively via a WNO.

When both links are available, the traffic is load-balanced based on the capacities configured per link.
When one of the Active links are down, all the traffic fails over to the remaining link.
When the broken link is restored, the load balancing will reestablish.

Vox’s Active-Active Failover solution is unique in the South African market, as it delivers customers more value while saving costs, and without compromising on the essence of network redundancy. An Active-Active Failover bundle is ideal for any organisation where having no down-time is vital.

Active-Active Benefits:

The benefits of using your links to their fullest potential all the time are groundbreaking. Think about implementing these positives for your business:

Business continuity due to increased uptime: The probability for downtime reduces drastically with two links on distinct networks.
More value for money: With both links able to carry traffic, the Failover can almost always be used.
Improved cost efficiencies: There is no need for additional devices and licences; it is all delivered on the included router.
Bandwidth efficiencies with burstability: More bandwidth is at the customer’s disposal when both links are up.
Peace of mind with seamless Failover: If one link fails, the other continues to carry the traffic in an uninterrupted manner.
Vox does everything for our customers: We provide the links, the Active Failover setup on the included router, and the support that comes with it.

Our current offerings start from R1,798 (ex VAT) per month. Currently, the Active-Active solution is offered through either Fibre plus Fibre, or Fibre plus Wireless, but the offering could also be offered via other technologies. It depends on what’s available at the customer’s site, and what they can afford.

Vox is enormously proud to be the first local ISP to officially offer the Active-Active Failover solution! We look forward to bringing you even more options in the future.

For more information, please contact us through this convenient enquiry page and we’ll call you back promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Vox Active‑Active Failover?

Vox Active‑Active Failover is a managed connectivity bundle that uses two live internet links concurrently. Traffic is load‑balanced across both links and automatically fails over to the remaining link if one fails, ensuring continuous connectivity.

How does Active‑Active differ from Active‑Passive?

Active‑Passive keeps a standby link for use only when the primary fails. Active‑Active uses both links simultaneously for increased usable bandwidth and continuous redundancy.

Which link types can be used in an Active‑Active bundle?

Vox currently offers Active‑Active as Fibre + Fibre or Fibre + Wireless. Availability depends on the technologies present at your location.

Will I need extra hardware for Active‑Active?

No additional customer hardware is usually required. Vox supplies and configures the router included in the bundle to manage load balancing and failover.

How much does Vox Active‑Active cost?

Packages start from R1,798 (ex VAT) per month. The final cost depends on the selected speeds and any optional add‑ons such as static IP ranges or QoS VLANs.

What happens if both links fail?

Having diverse links reduces the chance of simultaneous failure. If both links do fail, Vox provides support to restore service and can offer temporary connectivity options where available.

Is Active‑Active suitable for small businesses?

Yes. Any business that values uptime, small or large, can benefit from the redundancy and performance gains of Active‑Active.

How quickly does failover happen?

Failover switching is automatic and happens within seconds depending on the configuration, keeping interruptions to a minimum.

Vox Fibre Frenzy!

Posted on 7 July 202521 October 2025 by Suhail Dinat

The Fibre deal that actually makes sense

William Shakespeare once said, “what’s in a Frenzy?”

(Spoiler – he didn’t. But, then again, we hardly know what he’s saying most of the time anyway.)

Question, though – what IS in a frenzy?

Is it the frenzied breakdown when you told your boss you completed a presentation (you didn’t) and they ask for a copy (which you don’t have) and you’re trying to ChatGPT your way to success? Or is it that random Teams request from the CEO with no context (and the three days of nail biting preceding it)? Or is it being late, not connecting to a meeting, rushing for a deadline or just streaming your favourite season finale when, BOOM, Murphy invokes his Law and you meet the dreaded cry of dead Wi-Fi?

Actually; it’s none of the above. At least not today. So let’s step back from the fearmongering for a second.

You see, at Vox, Fibre Frenzy isn’t Fibre Inducing Frenzy situations – but rather getting caught up in a promo so crazy, it can’t be anything BUT a Frenzy.

What You Get with Vox Fibre Frenzy

Let’s break it down:

With the Vox Fibre Frenzy, you enjoy:

High-Speed, Uncapped Fibre (because who has time for loading screens?
Prices dropped to as little as R400pm* (previously? It was R490)
Free installation? You got it (another saving. May as well be a superhero).
Month-to-month options available.
Smart support – so you’re never left wanting when your router gives you the stink eye.

How it Works (Three Easy Steps)

Pick your FNO (Fibre Network Operator) — check which networks cover your area.
Choose your line speed — from everyday browsing to heavy streaming and gaming.
Sign up, wait for installation, and get connected.

The catch? There is none – just solid internet and a good deal.

What hiccoughs can I expect?

Other than the risk of struggling to keep up with your line speed (it can be THAT fast if you want it to), the promo is FNO/Line Speed Dependent (in non-tech terms: depends on which Fibre Network Operator is available in your area). Oh, and of course, Ts & Cs Apply (don’t they always?).

Naturally, it’s a limited time offer – so make fast (unlike your old ADSL line). That being said, if your area is covered and you’ve even given a spare thought to upgrading your line, now’s your time to shine.

Who Is This For?

If you work from home, binge-watch without shame, run a small business, game competitively, or simply refuse to watch a single spinning wheel, then this is for you. Vox Fibre Frenzy fits households and businesses wanting fast, flexible Fibre internet that South Africa trusts.

The long and short…

We live in a world where even buffering can feel like a personal attack. Whether working, playing, gaming, binge-watching, side hustling or juggling a house full of Internet demon-kids, you never DON’T need fast and stable Internet.

And with the price of everything (except, strangely, the Rand) going up lately, these huge savings aren’t just nice – they’re necessary.

And did we mention free installation? We meant it.

So, why sign with Vox?

Every ISP promises you Fibre. One step further – they all promise the same keywords (super-fast, reliable, uncapped, blah blah blah). Vox, however, actually delivers it (plus adds world class support and a multitude of option add-ons – think failovers, voice, and more). Plus, our team won’t ghost you once your Router is plugged in.

One could even say that the Frenzy isn’t just about the price – but rather about finally having Internet that’s *worth it*.

Call us Greta Thunberg, because we’re right royal philanthropists.

Our Fibre Frenzy Promo is one of those sweet, unscripted moments where everything just feels right. It’s cheaper. It’s faster. It has all the support you could need. And it’s just so worth it. Remember, though, this deal isn’t here forever. It’s a promo. And, as promos do, it will end. Probably right as you decide to sign up – so maybe try not losing out instead?

Check availability and sign up at vox.co.za — or call our Fibre Specialists on 087 805 5050 for personalised help.

Peace.

Quick FAQ
Is the R400pm price available everywhere?
No, the offer hinges on FNO-dependent availability, meaning that pricing and package options depend on FNO coverage in your area. Use our availability check.

Can I add failover or voice later?
Yes, failover and voice add‑ons are available so you can scale your service as needed.

Are there contracts?
We offer month‑to‑month options. Specific terms vary by package, so please read the Ts & Cs.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

Posted on 27 June 202527 June 2025 by Vivienne Fouche

So snuggle up at home with your Vox Connectivity, and let the weather do its thing without you…

Winter in South Africa has officially arrived around the country (and if you don’t believe me, just ask our Vox Weather meteorologists). Or to put it another way: “Eish guys, it’s freezing!”

It’s raining, it’s pouring, it’s snowing, it’s windy and it’s just plain ‘NO MORE SUNNY SOUTH AFRICA!’ right now, almost everywhere.

So what’s a person to do in the quest to stay warm and dry and happy?

Here at Vox, we have some ideas.

Don’t Worry…

Grab your warm clothes and layer up against the weather. Beanies / scarves / gloves / rain jackets / warm socks, anyone? And as for leg warmers, let’s just call them retro cool; I mean, they can’t be a fashion faux pas any more when Shein and Temu are both bringing them back…
Grab a blanket! Grab two! Or a ‘shoulder blanket’, aka a shawl.
Close the doors, windows, curtains and blinds when the sun’s gone down. Conversely, open those curtains to catch some winter rays on sunny days when you wake up, to let any outside heat stream into your home and slowly warm it up. It’s a simple practice that doesn’t cost anything but it can make a difference.
Put on the heater or light the fire – but safely, please! – and never leave an open flame or fireplace unattended. If you have small children, be aware of any hazards to their safety.
Speaking of retro items, remember hot water bottles? The trick, apparently, is to avoid completely filling your bottle – instead, leave a little room for the hot air to expand so it doesn’t get a pressure build-up and burst. And cover your bottle with a towel if it didn’t come with a cover, to help keep the heat in and also not burn your skin.
And then there’s the non-water bottle – wheat bags that go into the microwave – which are also great for sprains or sore muscles as well as staying warmer. If you don’t have a wheat bag, you could make something similar by filling an old sock with rice, tying the opening closed, and heating up in the microwave for a short while. (Safety note: you probably shouldn’t do this in an air fryer 😊.)
Finally, warm your insides with a nice hot beverage. What’s your preference: coffee, hot chocolate, tea, Rooibos or herbal tea? And of course, wrapping your cold fingers around the hot mug helps as well.

… Be Happy

Right, now that we’ve sorted out some tips for keeping warm, let’s look at the positive side of the dropping thermometer, because cold weather is just made for home entertainment! And when all your connectivity options are covered by Vox, home entertainment is a breeze for the whole family.

Why not settle into a cold weather weekend of online-enhanced fun – here are some of your options to consider:

Streaming entertainment: Netflix, Showmax, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+ are all available locally – just grab the popcorn and chocolate (and blanket) and get comfy.
For local content, we’ve got SABC+ especially for news hounds, eVOD with soapies galore, and Afriforum TV for Afrikaans series, podcasts, radio, reality shows and kids content.
For sports options, there’s DSTV Stream and F1TV Pro, as well as Tennis TV Premium for live grand slam tournaments (hey there, Wimbledon season!).
And don’t forget about your fix of YouTube, for the young and the young at heart.

Then there’s online gaming, of course, beloved by millions today around the world. Whether it’s World of Warcraft, Fortnite, Apex Legends, PUBG, Minecraft and so much more, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a veteran or a curious newcomer, under 10 or a life-long teenager. You just need a keen imagination, fast fingers and faster connectivity. At Vox, we can’t do anything about your manual dexterity, but we can surely take care of your Internet speed!

Away from gaming, you might also want to stay in touch with friends and family with a long-overdue chat via WhatsApp or Vobi, and for those more introspective moments, the readers among us will reach out for a good book. Of course, you can always do it the old-fashioned paper-based way, but online books are also widely available – and often for far less cost.

And finally, let’s not forget about a fix of celebrity gossip – which high-profile million-dollar wedding is taking place for the international glitterati set? Who’s wearing what and who’s cosying up to who? (Looking at you here, Orlando Bloom!)

So really – who wants to leave home when “Baby, it’s cold outside!”

With Vox, the great news is that you don’t have to.

Enjoy!

PS: Just for an added bonus, here’s a link to a revamped version of the classic song, performed by John Legend and Kelly Clarkson (click on the image).

Available in your area