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.
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).
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.
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.
At Vox, we value, support and actively engage people with the levels of expertise that we require to keep us moving forward as a company. In this edition of ‘Meet our Experts’, we find out more about Roger Maia, who works in the Wireless Department as a Senior Wi-Fi Architect and Engineer. His responsibilities revolve around designing and implementing Wi-Fi Networks, as well as optimising their performance.
When you meet Roger Maia and talk to him for a while, motivational sayings start popping into your head.
Phrases like: ‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going’ and ‘The best way out is always through’ can be perfectly applied to the Senior Wi-Fi Architect and Engineer for Vox.
At Vox, and within his chosen IT field, Roger is known for his hard work, excellent understanding of his subject matter and a life-long learning ethic, but did you know that he’s also a talented multi-instrument musician who is always ready to give back to the community?
In this edition of ‘People of Vox’, we shine the spotlight on Roger and what makes him tick.
The Power of Persistence
Roger’s pathway into the IT arena was a little bumpy in the beginning (this is where those motivational sayings start making themselves heard).
“I finished studying and couldn’t find work in the IT industry at first,” he explains, “and so I started working for my father, who has a carpentry business. I was doing things like putting up doors, skirting boards, cornices and so on. I like to describe my dad as being ‘a doctor of wood’ – he has been working with wood all his life and knows intuitively how to craft it.
The ‘doctor of wood’
“I then went to Mozambique for two years, where I was again working with my hands, this time fixing power tools, including drill machines, jigsaws and circular saws. After two years, I came back to SA and relatively soon was able to find a job in IT – I was happy to finally start working in my field of study.”
Some four years later, Roger applied for a job at Vox. Having aced the interview process, he began working for SA’s best local ISP around 16 years ago, on the 1st of May 2009 – a day which, he says, is etched in his brain. “Imagine jumping from a pond into a lake or an ocean!” he says. “Well, I was looking for new challenges, and when I came to Vox, I found them – it was a massive learning curve!”
In essence, Roger was promoted during his first week to a higher-level position than the one he’d been hired for. “I started in Hosting and three days after joining, my employer moved me into IT, as I was good with staff members and computers.
Early days at Vox
“In due course, I moved into the Wi-Fi arena, which I love, and became a senior engineer. Today, I really enjoy working with new technology, with a strong focus on research and development. Because technology is growing so fast, it means that you never stop studying in the quest to stay on top.”
Fast Forwarding to Today…
Today, in his capacity as Senior Wi-Fi Architect and Engineer, Roger works closely with his colleagues to ensure that all Wi-Fi networks adhere to specific ISO standards. He also liaises with other key people in the business, including product managers, sales specialists, technical engineers and solutions architects.
Roger says his work passion is ignited when he’s able to work with cutting-edge technologies. “You never stop studying because the technology is growing so fast,” he clarifies. “There’s always growth for Wi-Fi and it certainly is taking off, while Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) exists now also, meaning a wireless communication technology that uses light to transmit data instead of radio waves.
“And of course we all know that AI has been introduced and is being used to resolve issues. I’m interested in being able to see new technologies early in their lifecycle and introduce them within the business.”
As far as working at Vox is concerned, one of Roger’s highlights to date has been working on a stadium’s Wi-Fi design and installation in Bloemfontein with the help of the Ruckus team, while from day to day, he enjoys giving Vox clients customised solutions that work for their needs, and seeing how Vox employees grow and mature with the knowledge and skills they’re provided with. He also hopes to be able to build and mentor a bigger team one day: “At the moment it’s just Francois Combrinck and me,” he says.
Altruistic and musical
Away from work, Roger has a strong sense of family and is comfortable with the support that he experiences from both his Portuguese background and his church community.
Roger’s mom and dad
“My dad and my late mom both taught my siblings and me to be self-reliant and to rate ongoing study very highly. And so, from an early age, we learned the value of not having to rely on other people, and it’s a habit that remains ingrained today. For example, I’m much more inclined to look up YouTube when something needs fixing in my home – and then do it myself – than I am to call someone out.”
This same do-it-yourself philosophy extends to his musical interests: Roger plays eight instruments, including the alto, tenor and soprano saxophone, trumpet, clarinet and violin. Astonishingly, after his dad initially taught him how to read sheet music and to play the soprano sax, all the other instruments in Roger’s repertoire are self-taught!
He puts this musical talent to good use within the community by encouraging teenagers to come to church, where he teaches interested youngsters how to play a musical instrument, rather than being on the streets. So here it seems appropriate to pop another quote into the story, this time from British singer and musician Sting: ‘If you play music with passion and love and honesty, then it will nourish your soul, heal your wounds and make your life worth living. Music is its own reward.’
Finally, Roger offers the following advice with regards to overcoming specific challenges to move forward in one’s career: “Work hard and study extensively. Keep up to date by continuously studying. And as my dad used to say: If you sweep the streets, make sure you sweep them like no one else!”
A better Wi-Fi environment brings increased productivity to your employees and your organisation
Business Wi-Fi provides your employees with their gateway to the Internet, including operations in the Cloud. This requires stability and reliability – and as your business grows, your Wi-Fi needs may change. What worked for your organisation yesterday may not be sufficient in the future as your company’s Wi-Fi requirements increase.
Perhaps your organisation’s infrastructure was installed a few years ago, but as cost-effectively as possible – it may have been that the Wi-Fi requirement then wasn’t as much of a focus point as it has since become. Now, your organisation is growing and the need for improved Wi-Fi services is apparent.
Let’s have a look at why your business Wi-Fi may be due for an upgrade – and the steps you can take to implement this.
A Better Wi-Fi Environment Brings Increased Productivity
Wi-Fi has been around for the past 25 to 30 years and has evolved significantly during that time. With vastly more applications and computer programs available today, a much higher throughput is required to maximise the experience of the users in your organisations.
The days of having a single room with Wi-Fi access in it within the entire premises, or a dedicated area across the particular floor in the building, are long gone. People today expect Wi-Fi access in every environment that they move into. Your corporate solution therefore needs to work properly and enable productivity – you don’t want your employees being forced to spend five to 10 minutes trying to connect. Conversely, a better Wi-Fi environment brings increased productivity.
With a clear requirement for functionally excellent Wi-Fi access throughout the organisation, it may be time to invest in better, enterprise-level equipment, and an organisation that can assist you in managing and planning the Wi-Fi design as efficiently as possible.
Advantages of Upgrading Your Business Wi-Fi Network
Vox provides managed Wi-Fi services for businesses. This enables remote software and firmware updates, and reduced technician call-outs, through remote troubleshooting and fault remediation.
One of our services is offering audits on existing Wi-Fi, because with legacy old equipment, security becomes a risk. We also know that not every business is looking for brand-new Wi-Fi in a new building from scratch. Very often, we find that we’re taking over the legacy Wi-Fi previously used by the company, and we may be able to upgrade the existing assets or infrastructure.
The advantages of upgrading your business Wi-Fi network include the following:
Increased speed and bandwidth;
Improved connection reliability;
Improved security and privacy; and
Easier setup and management.
Security alone is a particularly serious issue, as network threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated. At Vox, we are keenly aware of the need to carry out regular software updates on our network equipment, such as access points and switches, as is necessary with all technology.
An access point can become a security risk if no one is managing it: for example, the manufacturer could find security vulnerabilities with certain equipment, and if it doesn’t get a security patch or update, the access point becomes vulnerable.
Overcoming Wi-Fi Challenges Presented by Infrastructure
The construction materials used in buildings, such as concrete, glass, brick and metal, can interfere with Wi-Fi signals and obstruct them in different ways, especially in larger or older buildings with thick walls. To counteract this challenge, Vox uses specialised software to create virtual models of your office space.
This software considers the different structural properties of the various building materials, allowing you to predict how Wi-Fi signals will travel and where obstacles might cause issues.
This virtual planning considers such factors as signal strength as well as how to determine the best access point and placement for access points and switches, to optimise network performance and capacity in areas where it’s needed most.
Vox Managed Wi-Fi Solutions
Our business Wi-Fi offerings are designed to optimise your Wi-Fi coverage, extend range and expand networking possibilities, enhancing the user experience and providing seamless, reliable connectivity for all devices, as follows:
Solve network issues and limit service centre interaction, reducing technical call outs. Network analytics provides information such as alarms, incidents and client experience information, including time to connect to the access points.
Radio Frequency (RF) design and planning: Our RF heatmap design software enables correct planning, scoping and implementation to improve overall Wi-Fi experience for both users and organisations.
Enterprise Equipment: Vox partners with enterprise grade equipment vendors, such as Ruckus Networks, to provide robust equipment from access points to managed switches and management cloud platforms, offering enhanced Wi-Fi connections and capacity for concurrent user devices.
Bespoke Managed Wi-Fi Solutions with Vox
The benefits of managed Wi-Fi solutions ensure, for example, that your organisation carries out regular, planned security updates in the same way as for our phones and computers. Vox offers any organisation a bespoke Wi-Fi solution according to their particular requirements.
We also understand the requirements of speed versus capacity. For example, your organisation might have a boardroom that is required to facilitate a meeting with 100 people in it once a week, and otherwise is seldom used. At Vox, we understand how to cater to the capacity that may be only required from time to time.
A managed Wi-Fi solution also offers convenience, as our Service Centre is able to remotely troubleshoot and improve network performance using cloud-based administrative tools. This ensures that more connected devices can enjoy uninterrupted Wi-Fi in your business.
It all speaks to ongoing connectivity, which in turn speaks to improved productivity.
Is your business Wi-Fi due for an upgrade? Feel free to reach out to us on 087 805 5050 or via email on corporatesales@voxtelecom.co.za and begin a discussion.
At Vox, we value, support and actively engage people with the levels of expertise that we require to keep us moving forward as a company. In this edition of ‘Meet our Experts’, we find out more about Regional Sales Manager Adriaan Buitendag, who manages to combine Monsters and mincing machines into his daily motivation to his team members.
After a solid five years at Vox, Regional Sales Manager Adriaan Buitendag is taking on a new and exciting challenge with a move from Polokwane in Limpopo to Gauteng, embracing increased responsibilities and the excitement of a big, bustling city. It’s not necessarily going to be a ‘monstrously’ difficult challenge – anyone who knows Adriaan will know why that’s funny! – but it’s definitely a significant step forward.
Says Adriaan: “I’ve lived most of my life in Polokwane, but I have stayed in Joburg previously, for about a year when I was younger. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to explore many new places, at the same time as tackling new responsibilities and a wider range of tasks within my day-to-day working environment.”
There are ways in which the change of pace will be challenging in these still-early days, but this is a man who thrives on challenges.
[You could, in fact, call him the Chuck Norris of sales…]
We delve into the story of another everyday Vox hero, who in his career so far has (both officially and unofficially) embraced ‘Rookie of the Year’ more than once, and risen quickly and efficiently into a leadership role.
How Life at Vox Began
Adriaan – who also has an enthusiastic and successful entrepreneurship history – had been running his own business when he applied to Vox, being appointed in March 2020. Of course, this was just a few months before South Africa went into the Covid lockdown.
“Like everyone else,” he muses, “I remember that first ‘My fellow South Africans…’ speech, which suddenly turned our whole worlds upside down. But starting at Vox during the first month of lockdown turned out fine for me. At that time in Polokwane, there was just one residential area that was about to go live with Fibre, with about 500 homes. When we went into lockdown, I asked my reporting manager, who at the time was JP du Plessis, what he expected from me, and he said: ‘Well, just sell as much as you can.’
“I took my phone and started phoning through my contacts – pitching Fibre to the Home to them – and I think within the first month of sales, I did 100 quotes, with 39 accepted orders and 28 approved, to a total of R23,000 worth of sales, which placed me into third position in the country.”
[Again, see the notes about ‘the Chuck Norris of Sales’ and ‘Rookie of the Year’]
Vox CEO Jacques du Toit was overheard saying that, in 25 years in the telecommunications industry, he ‘had never seen anything like it’.
“And you know,” continues Adriaan, “hearing those supportive words just affirmed that what I was doing was the correct way of doing things. And I’ve never stopped doing it that way since.”
Here, we could define ‘that way’ as driving sales with energy, warmth, honesty and attention to detail, all wrapped together in a tasty dollop of fun and excitement – it wouldn’t be too long before Adriaan’s special blend of out-of-the-box thinking, with both his internal incentivising and external sales campaigns, would come to the fore.
Driving the Daily Moments
Adriaan clarifies that Limpopo and Mpumalanga, his previous ‘stomping grounds’, together contain some 7.2 percent of the country’s Fibre network for Vox salespeople in these two provinces to sell on. “In contrast, Gauteng has about 44 percent of the country’s network,” he clarifies, “so I believe that the addition of Gauteng into my portfolio is definitely a great opportunity for me to show what I can do!”
Perhaps as a reaction to starting at Vox during Covid, Adriaan is a fan of working at the office rather than from home. He explains: “As soon as I get into the car and start driving to work in the morning, my mind starts switching on in terms of what tasks I must complete for the day, what we should do as a team, and the discussions I need to have – essentially, what tasks and challenges do I need to drive that day? By the time I get to the office I’m in work mode.”
As for the transition between Polokwane and Gauteng, Adriaan clarifies: “A current focus for me is to increase efficiencies, and I’m satisfied that we’re making good progress. In other ways, though, there are many similarities in my role within the two different places, including communicating with my team to see how they’re tracking towards their numbers and sharing the strategies that we’re implementing, as well as liaising with senior management, to ensure that my team is empowered with the correct tools and so forth, to continue driving the business forward.
“Essentially, when I compare my working life in Polokwane to Gauteng, it remains community-focused – there are still communities everywhere, but in Joburg and Pretoria, it’s just a larger variety. At heart, it remains all about people, both with colleagues as well as our clients.”
Bringing the Monsters with the ‘Gees’!
When Adriaan headed up the Polokwane branch, it was – and still is – famous for having Monsters everywhere – the energy drinks, that is – because, says Adriaan, ‘Our blood is green!’
Well, watch out Joburg, because the Monsters have come with him: “They’re standing in boxes and boxes here on the floor!” he says enthusiastically. “I did stick them up against the wall initially, but I’ve now got a new plan: I would like to find someone who can cut, mould and shape these tins into a symbolic sculpture that depicts what we stand for here at Vox – something that represents life or growth, perhaps, to attract and inspire our salespeople.”
[It seems like Adriaan might also be the Chuck Norris of recycling…?]
He is also famous for his trophies, which he made himself: “I created two impala heads for my ‘Top Salesperson’ and ‘Best Customer Retention’ awards. And I have another trophy here designed like a mince meat grinder, which symbolically talks to the sales process….”
[Wait, what?]
“…as follows: your top funnel, where the meat goes in, represents your sales prospects; the lever that you turn to kickstart the process is your closing of the sale; and in the front end, where the mince comes out in its final form, you have your commission! All the processes work in turn with each other to represent the complete sales process.”
It’s a great conceptual idea, and it isn’t all that Adriaan has up his sleeve in terms of his creativity and ingenuity – he’s looking forward to unfolding more initiatives over the next few months in Gauteng. For now, the photos tell more of the story.
“I enjoyed creating a competitive yet positive and family-orientated mindset within my branch in Polokwane, which was also replicated in the Mpumalanga branch, and yes, I hope to install the same, in the coming months, in Gauteng as well,” says Adriaan.
A True Survivor
Despite all the fun elements that Adriaan brings into his work, it hasn’t been a sunny journey all the way through – he’s had to overcome some real challenges in his life, including two retrenchments in one year (“That was one of my lowest ever points,” he notes) as well as being involved in a very serious car accident, which at the time affected both his health as well as his job security. How, then, does he remain so unswervingly optimistic, and continue persevering with such unwavering determination?
“I think,” he says, “that much of my inspiration comes from my late father, who was a police officer for 26 years, as well as my late grandfather, who was a pastor for 28 years. I have tremendous respect for them and for the life lessons that they taught me, including dedication, perseverance and being disciplined.”
Adding to their excellent example, Adriaan also learned some great life lessons during his school years through his karate training, when he became a three-times national colours recipient.
“I believe that in life, some of its punches will hit you and others will miss,” he says, “but are you going to stand still and just allow the punches to land on you? No! You have to remain strong in bobbing and weaving, to successfully duck as many of them as you can – and then, of course, when the punches do land, you just have to get back up on your feet.”
Inspiration from the Top
Pointing out that the telecommunications industry is dependent on adapting to new challenges and ideas, Adriaan appreciates the energy that is always apparent within Vox. “My inspiration comes from the top down,” he says, “through our CEO, Jacques du Toit and national sales manager, Johan Pitzer, and their drive and passion always energises me.
“I see how, within our company, there’s a shared awareness of challenges that need to be overcome and results that need to be achieved, and the encouragement to do this is always positive, forward-thinking and motivational, which I love. I also highly appreciate having the freedom to be an out-of-the-box thinker.”
As for moving forward, Adriaan says it’s critical to share knowledge and expertise. “From my experience, we always need to adapt and innovate,” he says, “and I’ve found that people as individuals are often afraid of teaching others, or imparting their knowledge to someone else – perhaps they’re afraid that they’ll then be challenged later. My idea, though, is that it’s better to share our knowledge, and in this way continue to encourage and challeng each other as we keep moving forward.
“People need to bring others into the fold of a culture that we’re trying to achieve, and in this way, this is already bringing us all a step closer to shared success. After all, a candle that lights another candle doesn’t lose any of its flame,” concludes Adriaan.
In the age of reels, DMs, and “guys, it’s giving…”
…Wireless Connectivity is basically the socialite of the tech world—glamorous, fast-talking, always on the move, and somehow everywhere.
Unlike Satellite (our dependable but dusty Oupa), Wireless is that hyper teen who can’t sit still, wears AirPods at the dinner table, and somehow has three bars of signal even in a concrete bunker. It’s chaotic, it’s brilliant, it’s a bit emotionally unstable—but it gets the job done.
Let’s rewind a bit though. Wireless wasn’t always this confident. There was a time when it was the shy kid in the corner, struggling to send a song via Bluetooth for 17 hours while your phones practically had to kiss. Remember that? The Nokias doing infrared transfers like some awkward phone-to-phone CPR? Simpler times (although we’re showing our age here. Sorry not sorry).
Wireless is the friend who went to gym once, got a six-pack, and suddenly discovered their worth. Now it’s strutting down digital runways, offering high-speed, low-latency connections and acting like it didn’t spend its formative years buffering LimeWire downloads.
So, in honour of Wireless’ glow-up, here’s a Throwback List of things that were still cool when your Wi-Fi password was “admin123”:
YouTube intros with exploding text
Spinning BlackBerry loading wheels
Being “WAP enabled” (and not in the Cardi B sense)
The sweet, sweet pain of EDGE connection
MXIT statuses like: “$$$Mo$$$ is… bored 😐”
Twitter eggs
When Instagram was just sepia-tone lunch photos
Wireless has come a long way. From stealing your neighbour’s unsecured signal (shout out to “NETGEAR”) to Mesh Wi-Fi systems that cover your house like clingwrap over a plate of leftovers—seamless, unnecessary, but somehow very comforting.
And look, we get it. Wireless isn’t perfect. Sometimes it flakes out during that very important Teams call, or decides to ghost you the second you sit down to stream something. It’s got commitment issues. It gets moody in rain. And like any dramatic lead in a telenovela, it loves dropping out right when the plot thickens.
But despite all its high-maintenance behaviour, it’s hard not to love it. Wireless connectivity has turned our homes into offices, our parks into cinemas, and our toilets into social hubs (don’t lie—we all do it).
The truth? Wireless isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s a lifeline. From that weird new coffee shop trying to seem quirky with “No Wi-Fi, Talk to Each Other” signs (okay, Karen), to schools in remote areas running full classes on a dongle and a prayer—Wireless keeps things going.
It’s the overachiever. The do-it-all. The one carrying half the tech world on its slightly overworked, overheating shoulders.
So, while it might not have the old-school loyalty of Satellite, or the brute strength of Fibre, Wireless is the one you call when you need to get things done fast, flashy, and without strings. Literally.
Being connected to the digital world means living in the 21st century
Internet access opens up the race to the future, providing access to tools, skills and opportunities. Connectivity has changed people’s lives across South Africa, allowing anyone to access information and communicate with others all over the country, and in real time.
Email, instant messaging and social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have made it possible to share news and opinions and join in conversations. In addition, closing the digital divide brings millions of people into a competitive world of opportunities – in other words, able to ‘join the race’.
Compared to DSL lines (the original Internet connectivity through Telkom’s copper phone lines), Fibre Optic cables offer incredibly high Internet speeds in large metropolitan areas and many towns around the country. Because it’s so fast, Fibre is often called the ‘gold in the ground’ – it represents the pinnacle of blazing fast Internet. But what do you do if Fibre cables haven’t yet been laid in your area? You don’t want to be left behind, like a racing driver stalling on the starting grid.
Fortunately, alternative Connectivity solutions are available for every location, requirement and budget, and Vox offers them all.
Fixed Wireless
Welcome to the wonders of Microwave technology that’s not just for reheating meals. Users of this service can enjoy almost Fibre-like speeds, while its ease of setup also makes it popular. A device is pointed at a tower which services the area in which you live, providing a high-speed internet connection whose access towers are served and connected to Fibre lines as the ‘backhaul’.
Because the stations are clustered in line of sight of each other, a Fixed Wireless connection can deliver a very fast Internet experience with low latency. It’s a good option for an area not directly served by terrestrial Fibre, or if someone stays in a higher density development where no cables, just a device and a sim card, is a more convenient option.
LTE and 5G
First it was LTE and now it’s 5G, the latest iteration of technology that runs on a network of base stations using Radio waves (in a similar manner to mobile phones). Together, these options can be found in more remote regions, as well as in towns around the country, and they’re able to provide high-speed Internet access.
It’s important to remember that with a wireless solution, location is key, and so how far away you are from the nearest broadcast tower has an impact on the Internet speed you get. On the upside, from a mobility point of view, you can take your router to a secondary location and use it there, for example for work or on holiday (as long as it has the required LTE or 5G signal) once you’ve made the arrangement with your ISP.
Satellite Connectivity for Remote Areas
Satellite Internet has become a game-changer for those living in rural or outlying areas where Fibre, Fixed Wireless and LTE/5G Internet options aren’t available. Check out our Vox Satellite options across the country. We’re here to assist those on farms and at game lodges as well as remote schools, businesses and clinics.
Compared to the other options, Satellite is the slowest Internet connection available, but it’s also the one with the broadest reach, as satellites fly thousands of kilometres above us and beam their Internet signal down to the earth. If your Internet connection was a race, Satellite is the tortoise – but it’ll still get you there in the end, and allow you to stay connected!
A quick note: ADSL, the original Internet infrastructure using copper Telkom lines, doesn’t fit into the future picture because it’s at the end of its life, and as service providers stop maintaining the copper network it will become a feature of the past, quite soon.
Check out the Coverage Map
Go to vox.co.za, where you’ll see our connectivity coverage map. Type in your full physical address to check which Connectivity options are covered in your area. You can then start exploring the current packages and promos, depending on your requirements and your budget.
A quick note: Those waiting for Fibre installations can also look at Fixed Wireless or LTE / 5G as a preliminary measure until they can switch to Fibre, and then keep the original option for failover protection for those times when the Fibre line goes down.
It’s a race to the future for you and your family – and even South Africa as a whole – because *Internet Access = Moving Forward*.
Fixed Wireless, LTE and 5G, and Satellite all have an important role to play in South Africa as well as Fibre. Whatever your needs, and wherever you are, Vox has the solution.
In a world dominated by super-fast connectivity (you know the sales pitch) – Satellite seems about as relevant as a coupon for Blockbuster at a Netflix convention (editor’s note: we are officially too old to think of more relevant pop-culture jokes. Skibidi Rizz).
In fact, we’ve compiled a Throwback list of things which were still trending when Satellite was last relevant (which, incidentally, includes the concept of Throwbacks):
Mxit and BBM Pins
Jay Jays
Scratch and enter airtime vouchers
The first debut of Anaconda on ETV
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Man United being good
Elon Musk being proudly South African
Fact is (and we can’t pretend otherwise), Satellite is old. And not cool old, or even old enough to pass as cute – we’re talking ‘oupa saying “back in my day” while waving fist’ old.
If Satellite were a person, its ID number would be 1 – and it would still have the green ID book. There’s no two ways about it – it’s been here for a long time and a good time. It’s outlasted copper cables and 3G. Stayed the course when everyone was discovering what Wi-Fi means. It was there, solid and dependable when people blamed 5G for Covid. And, the way its going, chances are it’ll be there long after its current group of peers have moved on – like that kid in matric that was already there when you started, but nobody ever saw him graduate or recalls him being in any other year.
So, what’s the point of all of this? Are we going somewhere, or did we just wake up with a directive to write a blog about Satellite and decide to bash it for 1,000 words or less (gotta love malicious compliance).
Admittedly, this author wasn’t too enthused about the concept – how do we sell Betty White in a world full of Kim K’s? (again – the most recent pop-culturally diva we could think of).
If you’re talking connotations, Satellite evokes feelings of excitement rivalled only by the new VAT price – that is, until you dig beneath the surface (ironic, since it’s basically a fossil anyway).
Let’s state the obvious: Satellite isn’t for the person who just moved into the extremely unique and definitely different looking new Balwin property. It’s not for the tender-preneur, the guy next to the country club, your neighbourhood Karen or anyone in the city. However, neither is a tractor – but there’s a time, and a place, and a reason for everything. And we can guarantee you a tractor is a site more useful on its own turf than a dropped suspension GTI.
That’s not to say there’s not a place for the tech. Aside from people in outlying areas where Fibre lines are as rare as a working cell signal, the recent prancing of Elon has seen a big resurgence in Satellite being a buzzword globally – and no, not just because he’s flinging them into orbit like Oprah giving out cars—“you get a satellite, you get a satellite!”
The truth is, Satellite has quietly reinvented itself. It’s no longer just the chunky metal dish bolted to your oupa’s roof, picking up reruns of Knight Rider. It’s become leaner, smarter, and in some instances, surprisingly cool (in a very niche, sci-fi-adjacent kind of way).
Modern satellite tech is the silent hero of rural connectivity, remote operations, emergency services, and that weird stretch of road where even your playlists refuse to load. It’s what keeps oil rigs online, helps farmers track crop health from space, and connects ships in the middle of nowhere so they can still order pizza (ok, maybe not quite—but close).
In fact, with the rise of LEO (low-earth orbit) constellations and private companies entering the game, Satellite’s gone from dusty relic to… well, still old—but old with a gym membership and a side hustle.
Is it glamorous? No.
Is it trending on TikTok? Definitely not.
But is it essential? More than ever.
So before you write it off completely, remember: just because something isn’t flashy doesn’t mean it’s not powerful. Satellite’s like that one uncle who shows up to the braai with tools, biltong, and obscure knowledge about boreholes—you don’t get it, but you’re glad he’s there when things go wrong.
Satellite’s not trying to win Prom King any more. It’s not chasing trends or hashtags. It’s just out here, doing its thing, keeping the forgotten corners of the world connected—and that, in this fast-paced digital mess, might just be the coolest thing of all.
From the moment that plane commuters reach their destination, travellers around the world can immediately hear the surround-sound beeping noises as passengers, now safely arrived, turn on their phones to once again become fully connected. We find a similar story when travellers arrive at their guesthouse or hotel: according to a travel industry survey, one-third of guests ask for the Wi-Fi password as they register at the front desk, and two-thirds are online within seven minutes of checking in.
It just proves once again that in today’s connected world, being able to access information and communication services is increasingly important. Just because someone is away from home doesn’t mean they don’t need to stay connected, even when on holiday (unless they’re making the deliberate choice to go off-line).
As for business travellers, a seamless Internet experience is necessary to communicate with clients and colleagues, access work documents and take part in meetings. Providing quick and efficient Wi-Fi services allows both leisure and business guests to enjoy their stay without undue stress.
Let’s look at how the Wi-Fi experience in a guesthouse or hotel can shape either a five-star guest experience or earn your establishment an unwanted one-star Google review.
Wi-Fi For Guests: A Fundamental Hospitality Amenity
People who travel want to update others on their safe whereabouts, and being unable to receive communication, or send outbound messages, can cause anxiety. By providing reliable, fast Wi-Fi services from the moment of registration, hotel guests can start to relax and enjoy their stay sooner.
Access to excellent Wi-Fi increasingly ranks as a necessity for today’s traveller when choosing a hotel – right up there with comfort, cleanliness, and excellent food and beverage offerings. With mobile devices, laptops and remote work now prevalent, complimentary access to Wi-Fi has become a key requirement for both business travellers and holiday makers.
A speed of 10 to 20Mbps per guest is recommended as being a decent Wi-Fi offering that should comfortably allow your guests to stream in full HD – you wouldn’t receive complaints if your customers had access to these speeds.
Excellent Wi-Fi adds to the guest experience, while the opposite also holds true: unhappiness with the Wi-Fi can make people more easily inclined to find fault in other, unrelated areas. From a purely commonsense perspective, this seems counter-intuitive, and a negation of the cost and effort that’s been spent on the marketing initiatives to entice the traveller to your establishment in the first place.
Factors to Consider for your Guests’ Wi-Fi
While most hotels and guesthouses today offer complimentary Wi-Fi service to guests, it might not be equivalent to what people are used to having in their own homes, which can cause frustration.
Considerations when choosing a guest Wi-Fi solution include the following:
Cost: The pricing structure will be based on the coverage area, usage and the number of users.
Technical support: Reliable customer support is critical.
Compliance requirements: The network must meet relevant data privacy and security regulations.
Elevating the Wi-Fi Experience
Vox provides managed Wi-Fi services for businesses. This enables remote software and firmware updates, as well as remote troubleshooting and fault remediation using cloud-based administrative tools. This all works to enhance ongoing connectivity.
Vox offers audits on existing Wi-Fi, because we know that not every business is looking for a new-build Wi-Fi, and we may be able to upgrade existing assets or infrastructure. To provide a superior internet experience for guests, hotels and guesthouses should ensure that they:
Invest in high-speed Internet infrastructure (the foundation of your Wi-Fi experience) to support faster bandwidth and improve overall performance.
Implement a reliable Wi-Fi network that covers all areas of the premises, including common areas and guest rooms.
Optimise the Wi-Fi signal strength with strategic placement of Wi-Fi access points or meshdevices, to ensure a strong and consistent connection throughout the premises.
Implement robust security measures such as strong encryption and password protocols.
With Vox, our aim is to enhance your guests’ Wi-Fi experience. We can provide a neatly pre-packaged Wi-Fi mesh unit solution to ensure that all areas of the guesthouse are serviced. These mesh units are also easily managed by a user-friendly app, which further enhances the functionality. If more advanced cabling solutions are required, perhaps for a larger premises, our technicians and engineers can set up the solution.
Happy Guests, Positive Business Outcomes
Noting that ‘The Customer is King’ is especially critical in the travel industry – guests want to feel valued as they step over the threshold, and excellent Wi-Fi is a key aspect of attracting quality guests and then retaining them for future return visits.
Investing in fast and dependable Wi-Fi access gives you a competitive edge in terms of increased guest satisfaction and corresponding loyalty. It’s also important to gather feedback from your guests to stay on top of any Internet connectivity issues that might have occurred, to keep your standards consistently high.
Another consideration is for South African hoteliers to aim their marketing at the local target market. The rise of domestic travel since the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic presents an alternative option in addition to targeting overseas guests. Arguably, domestic tourists might also be more easily able to plan a repeat visit if they’re content with their overall experience.
With everything that South Africa has to offer tourists, both local and international, wouldn’t it be a pity for guests to be unhappy with your Wi-Fi offering, when it’s a relatively simple amenity to offer – to excellent standards – thanks to experts like Vox?
Talk to us at Vox if you have any questions or concerns about setting up a great guesthouse Wi-Fi experience. We’d love to hear from you – contact us via help@voxtelecom.co.za or call 087 805 0530.
