The Need For (Internet) Speed

We all know the line from Top Gun: “I feel the need… the need for speed.” It still rings true — only these days we’re not talking fighter jets, we’re talking Internet speed. For modern South African businesses and homes, Internet speed (or bandwidth) isn’t a vanity metric: it determines productivity, customer experience and whether your organisation keeps up with daily digital demands.

What is Internet Speed (and how is it measured)?

Internet speed, often called bandwidth, is how much data can travel to and from your network per second. It’s measured in megabits per second (Mbps). A package that’s described as 50/10 Mbps gives you 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload. Remember: the available bandwidth is shared across all devices on a connection, so more simultaneous users or data-heavy tasks reduces the experience for each person.

Why Internet speed matters

• Collaboration & meetings: Teams, Zoom and Microsoft Teams rely on stable upload and download capacity. Poor speeds cause dropped calls, frozen screens and lost productivity.
• Cloud apps & backups: If you run cloud backups, file syncs or SaaS tools, upload speed is just as important as download speed.
• VoIP and customer service: Voice over IP quality falls when latency rises or contention increases — leading to poor customer experiences.
• File-heavy work: Creative agencies, architects and media houses uploading large files need symmetrical or high upload speeds.
• Remote & hybrid work: Multiple remote workers hitting the same branch connection need predictable bandwidth to avoid slowdowns.

How much speed do you actually need?

There’s no single answer — it depends on:

• The number of concurrent users and devices.
• The kinds of applications (video conferencing, VoIP, large file transfers, POS systems) you use.
• Business criticality (is downtime acceptable?).

Quick Guides:

• Small office (5–10 users doing email and web): 20–50 Mbps.
• Medium office (collaboration tools, HD video calls): 50–200 Mbps.
• Creative or data-heavy teams: 200–1 000 Mbps with higher upload rates or dedicated links.
• Retail outlets / POS-only branches: 10–20 Mbps can suffice if only POS, VoIP and basic apps are used.

Speed is more than headline numbers

Just focusing on Mbps can be misleading. There are three related factors that matter equally:

• Latency: how fast packets travel (important for VoIP and interactive apps).
• Contention: how shared the pipe is (dedicated fibre has low contention).
• Reliability and support: 24/7 help and failover options make a package genuinely usable.

When faster isn’t always better (but often is smarter)

Buying the fastest possible line can be wasteful for small teams. Conversely, skimping on speed can cost you in lost productivity and customer trust. The sweet spot is a tailored solution: right-speed, predictable performance and the ability to scale when needed.

Options for South African businesses

• Fibre (FTTB/FTTH): Future-proof, symmetrical options and high throughput for businesses with real bandwidth needs. Vox Business Fibre offers scalable packages from smaller multi-site links up to uncontended dedicated lines. See our Business Fibre pages for more details.
• Fixed LTE / 5G: Rapid to deploy and ideal as temporary or failover connectivity. Good when Fibre isn’t yet available.
• Dedicated or Premium Fibre: For mission‑critical sites where contention and uptime matter most, dedicated Fibre removes sharing concerns and delivers consistent performance.

Practical steps to choose the right plan

1. Audit usage: Count devices, concurrent users and heavy apps.
2. Prioritise: Identify mission‑critical apps that must never fail (VoIP, POS, remote desktops).
3. Choose the right technology: Fibre where possible; Wireless or LTE as backup or interim solutions.
4. Add redundancy: consider a managed failover (e.g., Fibre + Wireless) to prevent downtime.
5. Work with a provider: a reputable ISP can help size your needs and offer Advanced SLAs and support options.

How Vox can help

We offer a range of options for South African businesses — from scalable Business Fibre plans to temporary Wireless and LTE solutions for continuity while you wait for Fibre installation. If you’re unsure what will suit you best, our teams will assess your needs and recommend the appropriate mix of speed, reliability and cost.

Don’t be a Maverick and guess your Internet needs. Choose the right Internet speed for your users, applications and growth plans. The correct mix of speed, reliability and support will keep your teams productive, your customers happy and your operations future-ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How is Internet speed measured?
   Internet speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps) and shows how much data can be transferred per second. Speeds are usually shown as download/upload (e.g., 50/10 Mbps).
2. How much Internet speed does my small business need?
   For general office work and web conferencing, 20–50 Mbps may be enough for a small team. If you run frequent HD video calls, cloud backups or large file uploads, consider 50–200 Mbps or higher.
3. What’s the difference between Fibre and LTE/5G?
   Fibre gives consistent, high-speed, low-contention connections and is usually ideal for businesses. LTE/5G is wireless, quicker to deploy and useful as a temporary solution or failover where Fibre is unavailable.
4. Why is upload speed important?
   Upload speed affects cloud backups, file sharing and video calls. If your team shares large files or uses cloud apps, upload capacity is critical.
5. How can I future‑proof my business connectivity?
   Choose scalable plans, consider redundant links (Fibre + Wireless failover), and work with a provider that offers fast support and an easy upgrade path – like Vox.