Fibre to the Business

Crunching the Business Numbers: Big Five, Big Four and Now Big Three

Posted on 24 February 202624 February 2026 by Vivienne Fouche

Why connectivity isn’t just a line – it’s the backbone of your business

Connectivity today is no longer just a simple line to the internet – it’s a robust network to ensure that daily operations run smoothly.

What’s in a number? What do we think of when we hear the phrases ‘Big Five’, ‘Big Four’ and ‘Big Three’? And what does ‘Big Three’ have to do with the successful running of your business?

The first answer is easy, at least for South Africans. Just say ‘Big Five’ and visions of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo appear – some of Africa’s most iconic and dangerous wildlife species. We regard them so highly here in South Africa that they all live on our bank notes!

As for the term ‘Big Four’, we generally think about SA’s traditional four biggest banks. (Although do watch out for the competitor snapping at your heels – we all know the names.)

But what about the ‘Big Three’? What does that have to do with your business, and what does your modern business need to run effectively?

The Utilities Needed Today

From a purely utilities perspective, modern businesses have always required access to electricity and water as baseline conditions, which are necessary in the background for them to run effectively and be positioned for growth.

Today, these two important utilities must also include a third one, namely internet connectivity as well. Not only that, but a company’s connectivity must be both fast and stable – the days of ADSL lines are arguably now the dinosaur days, at least at the enterprise level.

Super-fast and stable connectivity is now a necessity, not a ‘nice to have’ – and it could arguably also have become the most important of the new ‘Big Three’ for your business.

Consider this:

No electricity for hours or days at a time? It’s always extremely inconvenient and annoying, but alternative power sources do exist, as businesses across South Africa discovered during the dark days of Eskom (pun intended). Certainly, sometimes the high cost of alternative power sources (generators, for example) definitely ate into the profits, but staying connected was the literal price of a company’s survival, when many company owners had to settle simply for staying in business until better days returned.
No water? It’s also deeply inconvenient, but again, plans can arguably be made for non-industrial businesses at ad hoc moments, for example enabling a remote work force where possible, and buying water for those left on-site as required.
No fast and stable internet? This is more complicated. Connectivity is the backbone of modern business, functioning as a foundational asset that links people, systems and data. When it’s not stable or fast enough, growth is made more challenging.

In short, we can argue that connectivity is the backbone of your business, and it’s critical for growth.

Simply Inconceivable Without Lightning-Fast Connectivity

Connectivity today is no longer just a simple line to the internet – it’s a robust network to ensure that daily operations run smoothly.

Business-grade connectivity requires a robust network to ensure that daily operations are seamless, from enabling real-time collaboration to Voice over Internet Protocol (VOiP) technology for your company’s internal and external communications, to processing payments… and the list goes on.

As outlined previously, enterprise-level companies also require significant speed.

We look at some of the reasons why business-grade connectivity is the new player in the utilities team.

Connectivity: The Backbone of your Business

Connectivity is the foundation for operational continuity: it prevents downtime, and provides ‘always-on’ infrastructure, which allows uninterrupted access to Cloud-based tools and applications, which are essential for modern business operations.

A properly set up network enables backup and redundant paths, as well as enhanced security measures (for example encryption and firewalls) which protect against costly downtime and cyber threats (see here for Vox’s cybersecurity solutions).

In addition, modern connectivity also enables digital transformation, including maximising the power of AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) for automation, real-time data analysis and proactive maintenance. Moving operations to the Cloud requires high-speed, low-latency connections to ensure data is accessible and secure. In addition, investing in high-speed, scalable connectivity such as Fibre ensures that your infrastructure can grow as your business expands.

Modern connectivity enables productivity and collaboration by allowing for remote / hybrid work, while also ensuring that departments can remain connected for seamless collaboration on projects and data.

And finally, from the perspective of the customer, fast, secure and stable connections ensure that websites and e-commerce platforms operate smoothly, preventing lost sales due to slow load times or downtime.

Reliable connectivity also allows for immediate customer service, such as live chats and social media support, which can improve satisfaction and loyalty, while high-speed, secure connections provide real-time access to customer data, enabling targeted and personalised marketing.

In today’s digital-first world, a strong internet connection isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Robust connectivity allows your entire organisation to communicate and function effectively. Whether you’re running a small local office or managing a distributed remote team, your ability to stay connected determines how effectively you can serve clients, collaborate and see business growth.

Contact Vox for Business Fibre that will help you grow your business.

One Final Note

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.

Did you know that Vox offers state-of-the-art failover solutions, to ensure that your business connectivity is always on? Failover options keep your services running when faults or outages happen.

Vox offers passive-active as well as active-active failover options – click here to find out more. It’s just the Vox way of ensuring that our role in your business’s ‘Big Three’ utilities doesn’t ever need to go down!

New Vox Partner Programme for ISPs: Expand Without the Heavy Lifting

Posted on 15 December 202515 December 2025 by Andre Eksteen

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.

Ready to supercharge your network? Visit our Partner Programme page today.

FAQs

What is the Vox Partner Programme for ISPs?

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.

Perseverance and Tenacity: A Golden Thread at Work, in Life

Posted on 15 December 202512 December 2025 by Vivienne Fouche

People of Vox: Spotlight on Dylan Lockwood

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.

glass ball 5979241 640 | Vox | Perseverance and Tenacity: A Golden Thread at Work, in Life — ‘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!

Working to Identify and Protect SA’s Heritage Resources

Posted on 11 November 202511 November 2025 by Natalie van der Merwe

Vox partnered with the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) to deliver an integrated programme of connectivity, voice and network security, demonstrating how SAHRA connectivity and SD‑WAN for heritage sites can safeguard archives, improve communication and reduce costs. SAHRA requires a modern, secure and resilient IT environment to protect national heritage records and support remote working.

Planning SAHRA’s Connectivity and SD-WAN for SA’s Heritage Sites

The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) is an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture – formerly known until 2000 as the National Monuments Council – which is tasked with an overall legislative mandate to identify, assess, manage, protect and promote heritage resources in South Africa, and to protect them for future generations.

National heritage sites need to be protected and safeguarded from damage or alteration, and it’s important to prevent development that could endanger their existence. As a national agency with additional provincial authorities, SAHRA works with local communities to identify heritage resources and record their oral and living histories, as well as increase public involvement in the preservation of heritage resources.

“South Africa has a very rich heritage,” says Stephen Muller, SAHRA ICT Manager, “and SAHRA works across a number of business units – including Heritage Properties, Burial Grounds and Graves, the Built Environment and Heritage Protection – to identify and protect heritage resources in South Africa.

“We have a very valuable registry in the form of our internal archives, encompassing a vast amount of heritage documents including old papers, plans, maps, information about graves…. information from the past that it’s important to protect and preserve.

“Overall, our outlook for the future is to become significantly more digitalised, including with our registry and archives, and also as an organisation overall. The work done by SAHRA is valuable and it’s important that it’s assisted in the digital realm, to protect South Africa’s Heritage Sites in the physical realm.”

South Africa has eight World Heritage Sites, as follows: Robben Island (Western Cape), iSimangaliso Wetland Park (formerly known as the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park in Kwa-Zulu/Natal); the Cradle of Humankind (Gauteng), Maloti Drakensberg Park (Kwa-Zulu/Natal), Mapungubwe Heritage Site (in Limpopo province, located at the border of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana), the Cape Floral Kingdom (Western Cape), the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape (in the Northern Cape, along the Orange River border with Namibia) and the Vredefort Dome (Free State).

In addition, there are also several heritage sites declared by SAHRA, which include the Castle of Good Hope, the Bushmanskloof Rock Painting Landscape, the Daljosafat Cultural Landscape, the SS Mendi Memorial, the South African Astronomical Observatory, Liliesleaf Farm and the West Coast Fossil Park, among others.

4 1080 5 1080x720 1 | Vox | Working to Identify and Protect SA's Heritage Resources — SS Mendi Memorial

The Business Challenge

“It’s our intention to have a proper electronic document records management system in place so that we can get all our information, including our records and administrative systems, more digital,” explains Muller.

“We are moving forward in this regard; for example we have a YouTube channel and we use it to broadcast on pertinent issues, including a webinar in September – which is Heritage Month in South Africa – which is geared towards allowing the public to share in the conversation. I like to say that even though we’re a heritage organisation, it doesn’t mean that our technology or infrastructure needs to be heritage as well!”

In the quest to keep SAHRA’s digital processes and communications systems modern and not ‘vintage’, the organisation has carried out a significant number of implementations or upgrades in the past 10 years or so. These include such important technology elements as:

Business Fibre connectivity;
Voice and Telephony solutions;
Backup of data;
Foundational network security; and
The implementation of an SD-WAN solution.

Some of these implementations have been carried out at SAHRA’s head office in the Western Cape, and others have been at regional offices. SAHRA operates across four sites around the country. Muller clarifies that there have been some challenges previously with getting all the sites connected with fast connectivity, including the use of a slow ADSL line at one of the regional offices.

“Our concerns were around data security and service continuity, as well as site integrations that were required to interlink all our colleagues and allow them to interact and integrate with our existing systems and offices. Vox was able to address these requirements through well detailed bids,” he explains.

The Business Solution

As a government entity, SAHRA is required to follow strict bidding / tender procedures each time a new project or upgrade over a particular Rand value is required. Muller explains: “Being a government entity, we have to follow a formal public procurement process and that’s always done by a means of competitive bidding. SAHRA’s relationship with Vox began when we had to shift our existing voice solution, and then we also added in the Internet connectivity as well. Later on, we found the need to include managed firewall services and most recently we have had a requirement for an SD-WAN solution.

“On each of these occasions, Vox has submitted separate tender documentation in response to the advertised tenders. In summary, Vox has helped SAHRA to improve on our operational efficiency, including the enhancement of our remote working capabilities. Additionally, Vox has helped us to strengthen our cybersecurity posture, while also reducing infrastructure costs over time.”

Vox was the successful winner of a number of tender processes for SAHRA in recent years, as follows:

2018/2019: Hosted Digital Communication System

Fibre connectivity
Verto Hosted PBX and Yealink handsets
Uncapped Voice
Communications Manager (TMS)
Network Cabling
Chrome Air (Voice over LTE)
Number porting

2020: Poly Studio VC Solution

2021: Veeam Backup & Replication Enterprise Plus

2022: Connectivity and Voice and Network security

Primary and failover connectivity at five sites
- Consists of fibre, wireless and LTE
Moved from Verto Supreme to 3CX Cloud for PBX, Unified Communication and mobility services
Uncapped Voice
Fortigate Firewall at five sites

2024: Connectivity and Voice and Network security / SD-WAN

Provision of two stand-alone internet links at four sites
- Consists of fibre, wireless and LTE
Moved from Verto Supreme to 3CX Cloud for PBX, Unified Communication and mobility services
Uncapped Voice
Fortigate Firewall at five sites with SD-WAN for WAN resiliency

René Minnie, Key Account Manager at Vox, clarifies that the most recent 2024 upgrades are of particular interest and significance for SAHRA, involving upgrades to the entity’s connectivity, voice and network security. She says: “When we look at the migration from Verto Supreme to 3CX Cloud, we see that Vox is providing SAHRA with a solution that is future-proof and rich in functionality, and which allows more control. With regards to the implementation of an SD-WAN solution, it is important to note that Vox has provisioned for the ability to use both links at each site.

“As for the benefits of SD-WAN, it’s a modern networking solution that simplifies the management and operation of a wide area network (WAN) by decoupling the network hardware from its control mechanism, with key benefits including improved network performance, cost efficiency, enhanced security, simplified management, and scalability and flexibility.”

More details on the benefits of SD-WAN are as follows:

Improved Performance: SD-WAN intelligently routes traffic across the most efficient paths, reducing latency and improving application performance, especially for cloud-based services.
Cost Efficiency: SD-WAN allows businesses to use lower-cost internet connections (like broadband) alongside or instead of expensive MPLS links, significantly reducing WAN costs.
Enhanced Security: Built-in encryption, firewall capabilities and centralised security policies help protect data across all network endpoints.
Simplified Management: Centralised control makes it easier to configure, monitor and manage the network, reducing the need for manual intervention and on-site IT support.
Scalability and Flexibility: SD-WAN supports rapid deployment across multiple locations and adapts easily to changing business needs, making it ideal for growing organisations.

A Strategic Partner Towards the SAHRA IT Unit

Muller says he has been very happy with both the service and the products received from Vox overall, and enjoys an extremely positive relationship with Vox. He clarifies: “The service levels have always been consistently high, and in fact have always exceeded what we at SAHRA have requested. We also very much appreciate the scalability of the available offerings.

“You could say that Vox has essentially become a strategic partner towards the SAHRA IT unit, and as a company, its employees and divisions are very good at communicating the available offerings, both for a present requirement as well as for future possibilities and planning – I find Vox to be well-structured and transparent.”

Muller also praises the quality of Vox’s tender documents, which, he says, are unfailingly of a high quality and provide all the information – and sometimes more – than actually required.

“Usually, we look to see that the potential service providers are able to meet or even exceed our minimum requirements,” he explains. “Then we look at proven reliability and uptime, scalability, security and compliance. Cost-effectiveness plays a vital role as well, and we also look at strong support and after-sales service.

“Vox scores consistently highly across all these categories, including with excellent service and competitive pricing across all its products. The type of bid received from Vox overall is always excellent. No matter big or small, there’s always enough information. If it’s a specific brand or model mentioned, there will be a specification sheet that paints a clear picture.”

Minnie adds that the interactions with Muller and the rest of his team at SAHRA have always been most pleasant: “As a company, people across a number of divisions at Vox appreciate SAHRA’s business relationship, which is based on mutual politeness and respect. Our two companies work extremely well together, and we look forward to continuing to be of assistance to SAHRA for many years into the future,” she says.

“I believe that in Vox, SAHRA has found an excellent partner and over the years, we have met regularly and enjoyed smooth operations overall. And so if I could sum it up, Vox’s offerings are a clear commitment to a partnership with long-term value overall, because of the scalability and expansions that are offered by Vox,” concludes Muller.

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FAQs

What is SD‑WAN and why is it important for heritage institutions?
SD‑WAN is a modern WAN architecture that intelligently routes traffic across multiple links. It improves performance, resilience and security, which is critical for institutions needing reliable access to cloud archives and remote collaboration.

Which Vox products were implemented at SAHRA?
Vox implemented Business Fibre, voice platforms (Verto Hosted PBX historically and migration to 3CX Cloud), Yealink handsets, Fortigate firewalls, Veeam backup and Poly Studio VC, plus wireless/LTE failover.

How does SD‑WAN improve security?
SD‑WAN supports centralised security policies, encryption of WAN links and integration with managed firewalls, reducing exposure for distributed sites and sensitive data.

Can SD‑WAN reduce costs for government agencies?
Yes. By enabling the use of lower‑cost broadband and LTE alongside fibre, SD‑WAN can lower WAN expenses while maintaining performance and resilience.

How did Vox ensure compliance with SAHRA’s procurement rules?
All implementations were awarded through formal competitive tenders, with Vox submitting detailed, compliant bid documents for each procurement phase.

Will SD‑WAN help with disaster recovery and backups?
SD‑WAN improves connectivity resilience which supports replication and backup workflows. Combined with solutions like Veeam, it strengthens overall data protection and recovery capabilities.

Is 3CX Cloud suitable for public sector organisations?
3CX Cloud provides unified communications, mobility and scalability, making it suitable for public sector needs when paired with secure network infrastructure and managed services.

How can heritage organisations begin modernising their IT?
Start with a connectivity assessment, define continuity and security requirements, and procure resilient links, firewall protection and a future‑proof voice platform. Consider a phased tendered approach similar to SAHRA’s.

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Vox re-enters the security arena with global leader Sophos

Posted on 29 October 202530 October 2025 by Audrey Vadival

By Audrey Vadival, Head of Division: Security and Value-added Services

Vox is pleased to announce the launch of its new cybersecurity division in partnership with global cybersecurity leader, Sophos.

The Vox-Sophos cybersecurity partnership expands Vox’s long-standing position as a trusted ISP into a full-service digital guardian, offering South African companies an integrated portfolio of connectivity, communication and protection solutions.

Key highlights:

Comprehensive protection: Firewalls, endpoint security, MDR, XDR and Phish Threat solutions all integrated within Vox’s managed security offering.
AI-powered defence: Proactive threat hunting, deep learning analysis, and automated response capabilities.
Integrated simplicity: Unified Sophos Central dashboard consolidates all alerts and data across third-party tools with the XDR and MDR offerings.
Security awareness training: Automated phishing simulations and targeted education to turn employees into first-line defenders.
Accessible pricing: Vox pricing and fibre/firewall bundles for South African customers

The move is a response to a growing need in the market. Cyberattacks are growing more sophisticated and frequent in South Africa, with the country remaining one of Africa’s most targeted for cybercrime.

According to the BDO Global Risk Landscape Report 2025 and Allianz Risk Barometer, companies have faced an average of 2,114 cyberattacks per company per week in 2025 – a year-on-year increase of 14%. The Sophos State of Ransomware in South Africa 2025 report put a price tag on the threat – the median ransomware demand rose from R2.8 million in 2024 to R18 million in 2025 while the median payment nearly tripled to R8.3 million.

Vox’s partnership with Sophos brings enterprise-grade cybersecurity within reach for local companies of all sizes. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) through to corporates can benefit from a portfolio of solutions designed to combine proactive threat hunting with round-the-clock monitoring and simplified management.

We’re connecting and protecting companies. Our partnership with Sophos gives us the ability to create world-class security solutions which leverage next-generation protection capabilities like AI within a local, managed services model that makes high-end protection both accessible and affordable.

Vox’s new cybersecurity arm forms part of our broader strategy to evolve from a pure connectivity and communications provider into a holistic managed service and security partner. The focus is simple – secure the connection, secure the data, protect customers – and it builds on the foundation of trust Vox has already built with our growing customer base.

Our customers already trust us with their communications and connectivity, and it makes sense to extend that trust into cybersecurity. Sophos has a robust and relevant solution portfolio that ensures we can deliver a synchronised security stack that protects every part of the digital journey, from the connection to the user.

The value proposition within the partnership rests in Vox’s ability to combine advanced technology with real-world simplicity. One dashboard, one licence and one provider, with multiple solutions integrated smoothly through Sophos Central. Companies can monitor and respond to threats rapidly with a single, unified view.

Vox will be offering a suite of five Sophos products which are designed to work together to prevent, detect and respond to modern threats.

The Sophos XGS Series firewall, launched earlier this year, offers AI-powered threat prevention and zero-day defence, while Sophos Intercept X combines deep learning AI and anti-ransomware for rapid threat detection and defence.

Sophos MDR delivers 24/7 expert-led security as a service with proactive threat hunting and rapid incident response. Sophos XDR provides visibility across all critical attack surfaces, including third party tools, while Sophos Phish Threat helps you stay ahead and prevent expensive mistakes by proactively educating your workforce

According to Pieter Nel, Sales Director SADC at Sophos South Africa: “The threat landscape in South Africa continues to intensify, and organisations are looking for a partner that can simplify cybersecurity while still delivering enterprise-grade protection.

“Our partnership with Vox brings the full strength of Sophos’ MDR, XDR and AI-driven technologies directly into a locally managed service model, making advanced cyber defence accessible to businesses of all sizes. Together, we are ensuring South African organisations can detect and stop ransomware and other cyberattacks before they cause disruption or financial damage.”

Vox, a Gold Partner for Sophos, offers highly competitive pricing and flexible security bundles which combine fibre and firewall protection in one accessible package. Starting from October 2025 with the ‘Securing Your Connectivity’ promotion, Vox is making enterprise-level security affordable to South African companies while providing local support and expertise.

Businesses are dealing with complicated threats and sophisticated attacks and are at constant risk, so our mission is making their lives easier. You don’t need a large team or multiple IT vendors, just one partner with the right security tools, and that’s us.

To learn how the Vox Sophos cybersecurity partnership can protect your business, contact Vox for a tailored security assessment and a quote for managed security services and fibre/firewall bundles.

Recommended next steps for businesses

Assess current exposure: Identify critical assets and where detection blind spots exist.
Consider a managed approach: If you lack in-house security resource, managed XDR/MDR can significantly reduce risk.
Combine connectivity and security: Explore Vox’s firewall and fibre bundles for simplified billing and integrated support.
Train staff: Add security awareness training to reduce phishing and social engineering risk.

FAQs

What is the Vox Sophos cybersecurity partnership?
The Vox Sophos cybersecurity partnership is a local managed security service combining Vox connectivity with Sophos enterprise-grade tools (XGS firewall, Intercept X, MDR, XDR and Phish Threat) to protect South African businesses.

What cybersecurity solutions are included in Vox’s offering?
Vox offers Sophos XGS firewalls, Intercept X endpoint protection, Sophos MDR (24/7 monitoring & response), Sophos XDR (cross-surface visibility) and Phish Threat security awareness training, all managed via the Sophos Central dashboard.

Who should consider Vox managed security services?
SMEs through to large corporates that want simplified, enterprise-grade protection—organisations without large in‑house security teams, or those seeking 24/7 threat hunting, AI-driven detection and consolidated management.

How do I get started or request a quote?
Contact Vox’s security team for a tailored security assessment and pricing. Vox offers competitive fibre and firewall bundles (including the “Securing Your Connectivity” promotion from October 2025) with local support and implementation.

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

Turbocharge Your Business Operations with a Fibre Internet Line

Posted on 26 June 202527 November 2025 by Vivienne Fouche

How Fibre Internet can give your business – and your employees – a massive boost

Does the Internet at your company’s premises tend to lag or go down more often than not – so your employees are often forced to spend time doing nothing, or else are flocking to the coffee facilities (and then taking ages to get back to work)?

Perhaps your document saving and archiving is an on-premises administrative hassle, or else your on-prem PBX system is the weakest link when the power goes out.

If any of these scenarios sound familiar, then it could be that your organisation’s productivity would benefit massively from a Fibre Internet boost. Business operations today need fast, reliable Internet for everything from their business communication to customer service, and Vox Fibre to the Business is guaranteed to offer you the fastest speeds and most reliable service possible for your Internet connectivity.

The Extensive Benefits of Fibre-Based Internet

Vox offers scalable options with tailored value-adds to suit your business needs. Our Fibre to the Business (FTTB) offerings include Business Fibre, for broadband solutions at excellent prices; Premium Business Fibre, where you get more ‘bang for your buck’ with added value and an improved service; and Dedicated Fibre if your business requires uncontended connectivity and top priority service level agreements (SLAs).

The benefits of a Fibre Optic Internet service for your business include the following:

Faster uploads and downloads: Fibre connections use Fibre Optic cables to transmit data at incredibly fast speeds, by using light pulses, meaning faster uploads and downloads for file sharing and other data-intensive tasks.
Reduction in downtime: Breaks in your company’s Internet service have a negative impact on all operations, including the critical elements of internal and external communication. Setting up a Failover option will help your organisation to remain ready for any challenges, by providing a secondary connection to your company’s Internet via diverse routes and/ or technologies.
Improved productivity: With limited downtime and faster Internet speeds, your employees can download faster, collaborate better, and increase their overall productivity. Reduced lag and latency also improve online video conferencing. Your employees can save on time out of the office by having more online meetings with quality video or VoIP calls, instead of having to meet face-to-face or over a PBX conference phone.
Cloud services and data backup: Fibre Optic Internet connectivity means better access to cloud-based services for storage and backup, as well as other collaboration tools. You can quickly and efficiently access any stored data for seamless business operations.
Increased security: Fibre Optic cables are extremely secure, giving you peace of mind that your sensitive data is better protected.
Cost savings: By eliminating speed issues, increasing the reliability of your Internet, and improving business productivity, you’ll save costs over time. In addition, cloud-based storage options, as well as the implementation of VoIP telecommunications, will save even more in the longer term.
Scalability: With FTTB, you can easily increase your Internet capabilities as the business expands.

Employer of the Year?

As 2025 enters the second half of the year, why not investigate getting a Fibre Connection for your organisation? This way, you can make sure your business is always online with a reliable connection, and with incredibly high data transmission speeds, your employees can easily upload and download files and stay connected with each other, and your customers, at all times.

In addition, VoIP calls can cut your phone costs significantly, both locally and internationally. It all works together to help make the way you do business even better – and efficiently-run organisations tend to have more productive employees. In turn, employees who are enabled with higher business functionality also tend to be happier and more positive at work – nobody likes having to do their job with less effective products and solutions.

And with a bit more ready cash at your disposal, you could even earn some more ‘Employer of the Year’ brownie points with an improved brand of coffee in the kitchen facilities, when it’s finally time for those well-deserved breaks.

Convinced yet? We’d love to hear from you if you’re ready to make the move to Business Fibre.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Business Fibre Internet?
Business Fibre Internet is a commercial-grade Fibre connection with SLAs, priority support and optional uncontended bandwidth (Dedicated Fibre). It’s built for uptime, security and scalability.

What is Dedicated Fibre and why would my business need it?
Dedicated Fibre offers uncontended, 1:1 bandwidth with stronger SLAs, and is ideal for data centres, high-transaction businesses, or organisations running latency-sensitive applications and large-scale cloud services.

How does Failover Internet work with Fibre?
Failover provides a secondary connection over a different route or technology to automatically keep your network online during primary-link outages. It’s recommended for businesses that cannot tolerate downtime.

Can Fibre reduce our phone costs?
Yes. Using VoIP over Fibre can significantly cut local and international call costs, and improves call quality compared with older PSTN or contended mobile links.

Will Fibre help our cloud backup and collaboration?
Absolutely. Fibre’s high throughput and low latency enable faster backups, seamless access to cloud-based tools and better real-time collaboration for distributed teams.

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