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.
Vox has partnered with Q-Kon to launch Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services, providing rapid, reliable and affordable high-speed connectivity for South African enterprises operating in remote or infrastructure-challenged regions.
LEO satellites orbit approximately 1,000km from Earth, enabling latency under 100 milliseconds with committed speeds of 100Mbps downloads and 20Mbps uploads. The technology requires minimal infrastructure investment while delivering immediate connectivity regardless of geographic barriers — making it ideal for sectors affected by floods, inaccessible terrain or unstable infrastructure.
Although costlier than fibre, Microwave or 5G, LEO packages can be customised for high uptime, redundancy, and mission-critical business applications. The service unlocks advanced operational capabilities such as automation, AI, predictive analytics and IoT, transforming commercial, agricultural, renewable power, hospitality, mining and manufacturing environments.
High-Speed LEO Satellite Connectivity Now Available to South African Enterprises
Vox, a market-leading end-to-end Internet service provider in South Africa, has partnered with Q-Kon to introduce LEO satellite connectivity to South African businesses. The network delivers rapid and reliable access to affordable, high-speed satellite communications capable of supporting:
Real-time data transfer
Enterprise communication platforms
Cloud-friendly applications
Video conferencing
Full MPLS and SD-WAN integration
IoT, automation and remote monitoring
For commercial, agricultural, renewable energy, hospitality, mining and manufacturing operations located in remote areas or regions affected by floods, weather conditions or unreliable infrastructure, LEO provides an immediate and robust solution to long-standing connectivity challenges.
Why LEO Satellite Internet Is a Breakthrough for SA Businesses
“Companies that operate in hard-to-reach areas of the country need a solution that reduces downtime, enhances their data capabilities, has low latency, and doesn’t limit their ability to explore the potential of emerging technologies,” says Kathleen Morris, Satellite Product Manager at Vox.
“In sectors like hospitality, high-end estates require always-on guest Wi-Fi; in mining, real-time data and seamless communication are essential. All of this is delivered by LEO.”
How LEO Satellite Technology Works
LEO satellites — arranged in a constellated network — orbit roughly 1,000km above Earth, offering:
Sub-100ms latency
100Mbps committed downloads
20Mbps committed uploads
With more than 648 OneWeb satellites currently in orbit, LEO provides near-global coverage regardless of terrain or location. Its proximity to Earth significantly reduces latency while enabling reliable high-speed performance.
The infrastructure requirements are minimal, allowing rapid deployment and immediate activation, even in areas with no terrestrial connectivity options.
Cost vs Value: Why LEO Is Worth It for Critical Operations
While LEO satellite services are more expensive than fibre, Microwave or 5G, the costs have lowered enough to make adoption viable for most organisations requiring:
Guaranteed uptime
Built-in redundancy
High availability for mission-critical applications
Reliable communication in remote or high-risk areas
LEO satellite constellations are designed to ensure continuity, offering a safeguard that keeps organisations connected even during infrastructure failures.
“LEO is changing the nature of communications in South Africa,” says Morris. “Automation, AI, and worker-safety technologies depend on reliable connectivity. IoT is transforming predictive maintenance and reducing downtime — saving companies millions. All of this is enabled by high-performance, low-latency connectivity, and LEO is now perfectly positioned to deliver it.”
LEO Connectivity: Built for South Africa’s Real-World Challenges
In a country where a single rainfall can remove a road and where terrestrial infrastructure continues to lag, LEO satellite services from Vox offer consistency and reliability when businesses need it most.
From complex ecosystems to harsh operating environments, LEO provides the capacity, speed, low latency and stability required to support enterprise-grade operations — no matter where in South Africa they are located.
There’s an old saying: “You get what you pay for.” That’s usually true — think Rolex vs the knock‑off, or a full Outlook mailbox versus a free webmail account. So when someone asks, “What’s Vobi? Why do I need it if I already use WhatsApp calling?” — fair question.
WhatsApp — brilliant for friends and family
WhatsApp changed everything for messaging. It uses your data or Wi‑Fi to send unlimited messages, share media, create groups and make voice or video calls — all without the SMS charges your mobile operator would charge. It’s simple, ubiquitous and excellent for staying in touch with people who are already on the platform.
But there’s a catch: WhatsApp only works seamlessly if the person you want to call or text is on WhatsApp too. If they’re not, you’ll need another method — usually your mobile airtime or a landline — and that’s where limits and costs creep in.
Vobi is a Vox mobile softphone that gives you Voice, video and text from your mobile phone, but with some key extras. Yes, it does all the things WhatsApp does. But it also lets you call any number (mobile or landline), not just other app users. That difference is huge for anyone who needs to reach people outside a single messaging ecosystem.
Quick wins with Vobi:
Call any number: make local calls to mobiles and landlines at reduced rates — handy when the person you’re calling isn’t on WhatsApp.
Vobi‑to‑Vobi: low or no cost for calls between users — great for families and small businesses.
International calling without roaming: call overseas without costly roaming arrangements.
Battery and data efficient: leaner data use than typical VoIP apps; uses local push notifications.
Seamless setup: activate via a web interface — no fiddly configuration.
Phonebook integration: works with your existing contacts.
Professional features: call recording, conference calling, call transfers, speed dial and Bluetooth headset support.
Constant availability: route your home or office calls to your mobile so you never miss a call.
PBX compatibility: works with Vox hosted PBX for business users.
Who benefits most?
The app suits both consumers and small to medium businesses. If you want the convenience of app calling but need to reach landlines, international numbers or keep business calls professional (recording, transfers, conference calling), it gives you flexibility WhatsApp alone cannot.
Keep your number — or get a new one
You can port your existing number to Vox and use it in the app, so incoming calls stay on your familiar number. Or, pick up a new Vox number and make all your audio and video calls through the app — effectively turning your mobile into your home or office phone.
More than another free chat app
WhatsApp is brilliant for social messaging. Vobi is designed to be more useful when you need reach, flexibility or professional features. If “more is more” sounds like a plan (better call quality, lower rates to non‑app numbers, and PBX integration), Vobi is worth a look.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vobi?
Vobi is a Vox mobile softphone app for voice, video and text that lets you call other Vobi users and any mobile or landline number using the Vox network.
Is it free?
The app is free to download on Android and iOS. Call rates vary depending on destination and whether you call another Vobi user or a non‑Vobi number.
Can I keep my current phone number with Vobi?
Yes — you can port your existing number to Vox and use it in the app, or choose a new Vox number.
How is it different to WhatsApp?
Unlike WhatsApp, Vobi lets you call any mobile or landline number (not only other app users), supports call recording, conference calling and can integrate with Vox hosted PBX for business use.
Will it use lots of my mobile data?
Vobi is optimised for efficient data use and typically consumes less data than some other VoIP apps, but actual usage depends on call length and whether you use voice or video.
Tips to make sure you’re getting what you signed up for
Picture the scene. It’s early afternoon and your small one is streaming HD videos in one room, your teenager is on a video call in their bedroom, and mom and dad are both working from home, simultaneously accessing the Internet via different laptops, in two other corners of the house. Best of all, thanks to your Fibre to the Home (FTTH) Internet connection, there’s no buffering or lagging in sight.
How to make the most of your Vox connectivity line
Looking back, it’s quite surprising to think that even 15 years ago, this wasn’t a common scenario – for starters, YouTube was only started in 2005, and Netflix Streaming in January 2007. As for widespread Fibre connectivity in South Africa, it was still just a twinkle in somebody’s eye, because the first subsea Fibre cable to reach South Africa went live only in 2009. Today, Internet access has become one of the most important areas of our lives.
Internet connectivity opens us up to an incredible world of information, entertainment and opportunity, and nobody wants a slow or buffering connection, while price and value-conscious consumers are justifiably concerned about getting true value from their purchases. But what happens when you’ve paid for a decent Internet package, but it doesn’t seem to be working quite as well as you expected? When the Modern Family-inspired Internet scenario sketched out above starts stuttering and freezing?
Because even with a Fibre Internet connection – generally regarded as the crème de la crème of Internet connectivity – several factors can still reduce the performance of your Fibre to the Home (FTTH) Internet speed and reliability.
This article looks at how you can make the most of your Vox FTTH Connectivity line when certain challenges rear their heads.
Wi-Fi: Enabling Wireless Connectivity from Your Fibre Optic Line
Good Internet connectivity depends on many factors, including your Internet Service Provider (ISP) first and foremost, as well as the speed of your chosen Internet package; whether your devices are modern or no longer that new; and Wi-Fi options and challenges.
The job of a Wi-Fi router is to ‘convert’ the data packets carried within light pulses through Fibre Optic cables laid in your neighbourhood, into the Wi-Fi radio wave signal inside your home.
This then enables your family’s digital devices – laptops, tablets, smartphones and smart TVs – to link into the Internet, creating a wireless Internet connection for your home (cable-free Internet, in other words).
Wi-Fi functionality is integral to the performance of your Fibre-based Internet line.
Improving Your Wireless Signal
If your internet connectivity line doesn’t seem to be giving you the results you were expecting, or if you’re experiencing Wi-Fi dead zones in your home (caused by the distance of your device from the wireless router, thick walls or electrical interference), there are a few things you can do to improve your Wi-Fi network, as follows:
Router position: Choose a central location in your home, and raise the router off the floor. Also, don’t place the Wi-Fi router inside a cupboard or desk. Sometimes just raising the router a little higher up from the floor for better signal distribution will increase its range and speed. Make sure your router is away from other electronic and electrical equipment, metal objects and solid brick or concrete walls.
Router speed: Your router should handle a speed rated the same or higher than your chosen Internet package. And so, if your Fibre Internet is 500Mbps, your router should be able to offer speeds at least this fast.
Number of devices: All Wi-Fi equipment supplied by Vox is strong enough to cover an estimated 100 square metres, depending on what material your walls are made of. Vox recommends adding an additional device for every 50 to 100 square metres extra.
How many mesh units can I have in my home? The Vox two-pack can connect up to 100 devices and you can include up to eight units in your home if more coverage is needed. A Vox Wi-Fi Home Mesh network can handle a mix of IoT products, smart TVs, smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices, such as wireless printers.
Other devices can interfere with your Wi-Fi connection, including microwave ovens, cordless phones, Bluetooth products, baby monitors, alarms, cameras and other wireless LANs. To prevent this, position the Wi-Fi router or mesh extender as far away as possible from microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, and 2.4 GHz cordless phones.
App-Enabled: If you want to check your Wi-Fi range, there are apps available for Apple and Android smartphones, for example ‘Sweetspot’ for Apple and ‘WiFi analyzer’ for Android.
Not Just the Wi-Fi to Consider
A Wi-Fi router is not the only critical component that enhances your user experience.
Wired after all: As outlined above, a Wi-Fi Home Mesh network can provide incredibly strong Internet connectivity, but there are still times when an Ethernet cable might be the best solution – for example, if you have very thick walls, or for plugging into an HD television or gaming setup, where the speed needs to stay high and the connectivity lag-free. Look at buying an Ethernet cable that is rated for ‘Cat 5e’ or ‘Cat 6’.
Great Internet, old device = problem: You won’t get the maximum range and performance from a newer wireless router unless your devices also use the same Wi-Fi standard. An old laptop is unlikely to have ‘ac’ or ‘n’ Wi-Fi access, so check the specifications to see which wireless standard it is using. If you don’t want to buy a new laptop straight away, you can buy a wireless adapter that plugs into a USB port on your laptop.
The Magic of Blazing Fast Internet
When you signed up for your FTTH Internet connection, you chose an option for yourself and your family that is fast, reliable and future-proof, and ready to deliver you the best possible Internet experience. Considering its scope and importance, maximising your internet connectivity line is critically important.
The good news is that you can optimise your home Wi-Fi experience with the right choice of routers, extenders and mesh options.
Your Vox Home Fibre line is future‑proof and capable of delivering outstanding home Internet, but a few simple tweaks to router placement, device choices and using mesh or Ethernet where needed will ensure the whole family gets the experience you expected.
If you need help optimising your home Wi‑Fi or want to add Vox Wi‑Fi Home Mesh, simply visit vox.co.za, sign up with Vox, or contact Vox Support on 087 805 0530.
With Vox Fibre to the Home, you are enabled by great Internet access. Welcome to a world of online opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if the issue is my Vox Fibre line or my home Wi‑Fi?
Run a speed test directly from a device connected by Ethernet to your router. If wired speeds match your plan, the issue is likely Wi‑Fi or device related.
How many Vox mesh units do I need?
A Vox two‑pack covers many typical homes and supports up to 100 devices. You can add up to eight units for larger homes or difficult layouts.
Where should I place my router for best coverage?
Position the router centrally, elevated and away from thick walls, metal objects and kitchen appliances. Avoid cupboards or behind large furniture.
Will a mesh system reduce my Internet speed?
A well-configured mesh keeps speeds high across the home. For best performance, place mesh units strategically and use wired backhaul where possible.
Do I need a new router if I upgrade my Vox Fibre package?
Your router should support the speed of your new package. If it’s rated lower than your plan, consider upgrading to a higher‑spec router or Vox Wi‑Fi Home Mesh.
Can old devices cause slow Wi‑Fi for the whole house?
Older devices can occupy airtime and reduce performance for others. Where possible, update device Wi‑Fi adapters or move bandwidth‑heavy tasks to wired connections.
Is Ethernet worth the hassle for a smart TV or console?
Yes. Ethernet (Cat 5e/Cat 6) offers the most reliable, low‑latency connection and is ideal for HD streaming and competitive gaming.
How do I contact Vox Support for help?
Visit vox.co.za for product info and self-service tools, or call Consumer Support on 087 805 0530 for assistance.
Getting the right fit for your household’s size, usage habits and budget
There’s an age-old fairytale for children called ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’. If you think about it from a South African perspective, it’s really a tale of a home invasion – a minor and harmless one at least. One takeaway from the folk tale (besides ‘Don’t enter people’s homes when they aren’t there!’) is apparently that Goldilocks is looking for her fit in life.
Image courtesy www.kids-pages.com
Here at Vox, we obviously don’t condone home invasions of any sort, but we do endorse finding the right fit. As one of South Africa’s leading Internet Service Providers (ISPs), we understand that your online experience should allow everyone in your home to enjoy seamless connectivity for all their devices and activities. We also know that choosing the right Internet plan for your household doesn’t have to be an impossible fairytale either.
At Vox, we’ve got multiple Connectivity plans for you to choose from, but it’s important to understand some key points to make an informed decision.
So here’s a guide on selecting the best Vox Internet plan based on the size of your household, the usage habits of everyone who lives there, and your budget – because just like Goldilocks (but not in a creepy way) we understand the importance of getting it ‘just right’.
Assess Your Household’s Internet Usage
Start by assessing your household’s Internet usage patterns. How many Internet users do you have at home and what do they do online? For example, do your family members regularly spend time streaming entertainment, gaming or in online video meetings? How many devices could potentially be connected simultaneously at any given moment? Thinking about these factors will help you to determine the required speed and data allowances of your Internet plan.
Internet speed is typically measured in megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and uploads. So: how many teenagers – or almost teenagers – are living in your house, and are any of them currently planning a career in gaming or becoming a YouTuber? You’ll want to choose higher speeds if anyone in your home is regularly involved in bandwidth-intensive activities like online gaming or HD streaming.
The table below offers some useful guidelines.
choose internet plan South Africa
Select Your Internet Plan for Seamless Connectivity
When you’re choosing a household Internet plan, you want one that offers sufficient speed to support your family’s online activities without experiencing slowdowns or buffering.
Compare pricing structures among our different Internet offerings to find a plan that fits your budget and your speed requirements, as well as whether your Internet data usage will be capped or uncapped. At any given moment, you’ll find a promotional offer available and a variety of options across all our different Connectivity options (which are outlined in the next section).
Evaluate your household’s typical data consumption and choose a plan with sufficient data allowances to avoid throttling of your Internet speeds. Throttling occurs if you use more than a certain, pre-determined (as outlined within your contract) ‘fair’ amount of data in a given timeframe.
If your Internet usage is ‘throttled’, your line speed is slowed down during peak times to give other users fair access to the network. In simple terms, being throttled means that your upload and download speeds will be significantly reduced at certain times, until the new month begins and the ‘reset button’ takes you back to your contractual speeds. If you find that your home’s Internet connection is being regularly throttled, perhaps you need to upgrade to a package with higher speeds.
Types of Internet Connections
You can find out what types of Vox Internet connections are availably simply by going to the Vox home page and typing in your address. All the options available to you in your area will then be shown.
These could include the following: Fibre to the Home, which provides blazing-fast Connectivity by using light pulses to transmit data packets through Fibre Optic cables; LTE and 5G, which work via the same wireless cellular technology that powers your mobile phone network; and Satellite, presenting your eye in the sky when other options aren’t available.
Each type of Internet connectivity for home usage has unique characteristics:
Fibre to the Home: Enjoy super-fast, reliable Internet with Vox’s Fibre to the Home packages, with speeds that range from 4Mbps to a whopping 1Gbps.
Satellite: When your area’s access to FTTH, LTE and 5G connectivity is limited, Vox offers Satellite Internet, independent of cabling, across the country. It isn’t as fast as the other options, but it’s reliable and available across South Africa.
Choose the Right Internet Plan Today
Selecting the right Internet plan makes sure that everyone in your home can stay connected and productive, for communication, remote work and online learning, banking, shopping and entertainment.
At Vox, we know that, just like the Three Bears in the age-old fairytale, everyone’s needs are different. Why not contact us today for expert advice on how to choose the right Internet plan for your home and your family? We’ll help you make the right choice: not too big, not too small, but just right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is fibre always better than 5G or satellite? Fibre typically offers the most reliable speeds and lowest latency. 5G/LTE can deliver fibre-like speeds and fast installation in many areas. Satellite is best where terrestrial services aren’t available.
What does ‘uncapped’ mean and is it worth it? Uncapped means you don’t have a fixed data limit for normal use; check for any fair-usage policy. Uncapped plans are valuable for heavy households whose members frequently stream, game or work from home.
Why does my internet speed slow down at certain times? That’s usually due to throttling under a fair-use arrangement or network contention during peak hours. Upgrading to a higher-tier or uncapped plan can help.
Can I mix connections (fibre with LTE backup)? Yes. Vox and many ISPs offer redundant setups (fibre primary with LTE failover), which is useful for critical remote work or businesses operating from home.
How many Mbps do I need for remote work and video conferencing? For reliable video calls, aim for at least 10–25Mbps per active remote worker, with good upload speeds to avoid degraded video quality.
How do I check which Vox options are available at my address? Use the Vox availability checker on vox.co.za and enter your address to view Fibre, LTE/5G and Satellite options and the recommended plans for your area.
The issue of how to become part of an elite, exclusive grouping that others urgently want to belong to has been around for centuries and more. An invitation to ‘join the club’ usually speaks to people’s pre-programmed desires to be part of the In-Crowd and enjoy positive outcomes in one way or another.
In the UK and across Europe, we have royalty and rock stars. In America, there’s the huge celebrity that comes with being part of the crème de la crème of Hollywood. (Oh yes, and these days, if you’re a Tech Billionaire you automatically snagged an invitation to the 2025 Presidential Inauguration.) In South Africa, we had our own even-bigger-than-royalty home-grown celebrity with our late, truly great President Mandela, and we admire and revere our sports heroes (preferably when they’re winning, of course).
On social media we have the Blue Tick badge – a verification sign to show that the site is authentic. And when it comes to web hosting, here at Vox we know that Premium Hosting with WordPress is the Blue Tick that your business needs.
(Not to be confused with WhatsApp blue-ticking, which means you’re being ignored or even ghosted.)
So let’s look at why Premium Hosting from WordPress gives you and your target market peace of mind that you’re dealing with the real deal – and why you would want your business to join this club.
Your Web Hosting: The Real Deal
A social media Blue Tick is a recognised stamp of approval that provides ways to separate an account from a duplicate or spam account. The advantages of this badge – which is different for Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn – include greater credibility and a reduced fear of impersonation, higher search results, potential increased engagement and increased brand awareness.
Now if only there was a way to apply all those benefits to your website.
Enter WordPress and Premium Hosting.
WordPress is a Content Management System (CMS) that’s used to manage blogs, full-blown websites, online e-commerce stores, news portals and other types of websites. Its mission is to enable the creation and editing of content on a website without needing to be fluent in a programming language. WordPress makes it easy for content producers without any previous coding knowledge to design and manage their entire portal, store or blog, simply and intuitively.
WordPress Premium Hosting goes further by offering a reliable, locally hosted WordPress website without the administrative challenges of managing a server. Your company gains the benefits of a professional site that is secure and able to grow with your business.
But why should you choose WordPress Premium Hosting over some of the other options that are available? And how does Vox assist?
No More Singing the Blues of Shared Web Hosting
With e-commerce enabled functionality, your website is a place of business in its own right. It’s often the first experience customers have of your organisation.
Traditionally, shared web hosting means that more than one website shares the resources of a single virtual or physical server. This makes for a low-cost solution but means that service levels can’t be guaranteed.
Unlike shared web hosting, Vox’s Premium WordPress offering is a solution for customers who require better performance, uptime and scalability.
Vox Premium WordPress hosting offers the following:
Dedicated hosting infrastructure – no more shared web hosting.
High-speed storage, ensuring premium performance.
Built on the Vox Internet network, meaning guaranteed performance with the ability to upgrade when required.
Monthly Website Vulnerability Assessments to identify risks and be proactive with your website’s cybersecurity.
Ongoing backups to ensure you don’t lose your website.
Locally hosted servers with 99.9% uptime guarantee.
Taking Your Business to the Next Level
WordPress hosting is tweaked for high traffic websites, providing excellent performance and faster loading websites. Vox’s Premium WordPress offering delivers performance and scalability to your fingertips, with three different package options depending on your needs: WordPress Starter; WordPress Innovator and WordPress Fanatic.
With all of these benefits, be prepared to turbo-charge your website – and your business – and enjoy greater credibility, rock-solid e-commerce performance, increased engagement and positive brand awareness. Welcome to the Premier Club.
Vox has a business solution no matter where you’re based, because location matters. Whether your premises sit in a newly cabled business park or in an area where fibre isn’t yet available will determine the most practical, cost‑effective and resilient connectivity option. Vox offers both Business Fibre and licensed Wireless for Business so your organisation can stay connected, wherever you are.
‘Location, location, location.’
It’s the mantra that estate agents everywhere live by, and it also works in the world of Business Connectivity – where your business is located can have significant implications for your Internet options.
Is your organisation situated in an area where Fibre Optic Cables are already laid – or at least in the planning stage? If so, sorting out excellent Internet Connectivity for your organisation is guaranteed, and you’ll be able to make use of the fantastic speed of Fibre to the Business (FTTB), with its clear benefits for all users.
But what if the neighbourhood doesn’t yet have FTTB on its radar?
That’s when you look to another phrase that starts with the letter ‘L’ – and find out how ‘Line-of-sight’ can also help with excellent Internet access, through Wireless for Business Connectivity, delivered by Microwave radio technology.
We take a look at the different features and benefits provided by both FTTB and Wireless Connectivity for organisations.
Business Fibre: A Premium Cabled Service
Internet Connectivity that’s provided by Fibre to the Business, or FTTB (as well as Fibre to the Home, FTTH) uses Fibre Optic cables, composed of strands of glass, to transmit Data at incredibly high speeds using light pulses sent through the glass Fibre. This means that Fibre Optic networks are capable of much greater speeds and bandwidth than the traditional copper-based ADSL lines.
Fibre Optic solutions bring you the best available speed within the current Internet landscape – users can achieve incredible speeds of up to 1,000Mbps. They’re also highly reliable due to the smooth, constant flow of Data during transmission, while the steady signal, with increased bandwidth, means that even with multiple users, Fibre Optics can handle the load.
Overall, Fibre Optic Internet is generally regarded as being the pinnacle of Connectivity. However, it’s not the only option for businesses to consider today.
Not Just for the Office Kitchen
Microwave Internet – also known as Wireless – is a worthy alternative to FTTB, especially in areas where the Fibre Network Operators (FNOs) haven’t yet laid the required cabling infrastructure. It’s just as fast as Fibre, and more widely available.
Microwave signals provide a fixed wireless broadband connection through a high-capacity Microwave radio link, requiring arguably less infrastructure than Fibre Optics. A fixed Microwave signal delivers both voice and data traffic over long distances and to more remote locations and rural areas.
Wireless Microwave Connectivity requires power and a clear line of sight, with its access towers connected to Fibre lines. A device is pointed at a tower which services the area in which your business operates. While the last-mile connection may be wireless, the backhaul is provided by Fibre Optics.
Vox Business Wireless, using licensed Microwave spectrum, is an excellent replacement for traditional fixed-line last-mile connections. With Vox, you can ensure that your business is always connected where Fibre connectivity is limited or not available, and the deployment is significantly quicker than with Fibre.
You can also choose to connect a Temporary Vox Wireless connection while you wait for your Fibre – our rapid Installation saves you time and gets your Internet operating at world-class standards. Vox Wireless can also be used as a redundancy option to Fibre, to ensure that your business is always connected.
Which Option is Right for Your Business?
Fibre to the Business is generally regarded as being the ‘standard bearer’ of Internet connectivity today. Often referred to as the ‘gold in the ground’, it opens a fantastic doorway to the business requirements of the digital age.
However, Vox’s Wireless for Business is an excellent alternative to Fibre to the Business, particularly when the Fibre Optic cabling infrastructure hasn’t yet been laid in your neighbourhood. One potential drawback is that, because the connection is delivered over the air, line-of-sight is needed between both points. This can make installation more difficult in certain locations – for example if your business premises is in a valley surrounded by hills.
A Microwave Internet link can also be used as an excellent backup solution to Fibre, because when a company isn’t reliant on only one technology, this allows for business continuity and resilience planning. If a fault should occur with a Fibre connection, the Microwave Internet solution isn’t likely to be experiencing the same type of failure: one solution runs through cabling while the other is air-based.
An Added Bonus: The Best of Both Worlds
The choice between FTTB and Wireless to the Business is essentially a win-win for our customers. But what if there was a reason NOT to make a choice? What about an option that provides the best of both worlds?
If downtime would be a catastrophe for your business, then check out our Active-Active offering and enjoy the best of both worlds – Vox is the first local ISP to offer this exciting new product!
Vox has always been able to incorporate both FTTB and Wireless to the Business into our business failover solutions, which are designed to keep your organisation’s Connectivity up and running even during challenging periods. And now, we’ve proudly gone one step further.
Our new Active-Active failover offering is a groundbreaking new option that no other local ISP is presenting. This option maximises the use of both a Business Fibre connection as well as a Wireless to the Business solution, to make sure that your organisation never loses connectivity.
Our National Footprint
The great news is that Vox is able to offer viable solutions for your business, no matter where your organisation is located. Our innovative Connectivity solutions can be customised to the specific challenges of your business location and buildings, as well as your Internet speed requirements.
Our Wireless offerings range from 5Mbps up to 100Mbps, with alternatives in between. As for our Business Fibre solutions, our range can go up to 1Gbps, and we offer scalable options with tailored value-adds to suit your business needs – for example, state-of-the-art Wi-Fi connectivity and DDoS attack defences.
Our offerings criss-cross South Africa no matter where your business is situated. Contact us today for more information, because we’ve got the ‘Location, location, location’ philosophy sorted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wireless as reliable as Fibre?
Wireless (licensed microwave) is highly reliable and carrier‑grade, especially when mounted on properly surveyed sites, but it usually requires line‑of‑sight. Dedicated Fibre offers uncontended bandwidth and typically the highest resilience for heavy, continuous workloads.
What speeds can I get with Vox Wireless?
Vox Wireless licensed microwave services are available from 5 Mbps up to 100 Mbps (symmetrical), offered as either broadband (shared) or dedicated (1:1) links.
Can Wireless be used as a failover to Fibre?
Yes. Wireless is commonly used as a temporary connection while waiting for Fibre or as a redundant/failover link to keep your business online during cable faults.
What is Active‑Active and do I need it?
Active‑Active uses both fibre and wireless concurrently to maximise availability. It’s recommended where downtime would be costly, for example within retail, call centres, data replication and payment processing environments.
How long does installation take?
Wireless installations are typically faster because they don’t require trenching; Fibre timelines depend on local build status and site readiness. Contact Vox for a site assessment and estimated lead time.
Are speeds symmetrical?
Yes. Vox offers symmetrical lines for both Fibre and Wireless where specified (important for uploads, cloud backups and VoIP).
Do Vox services include SLAs and business support?
Vox provides 24/7 business support. Premium and Dedicated services offer stronger SLAs and priority support; details are provided during quoting.
What if my site is in a valley or has obstructions?
If line‑of‑sight is an issue, Vox will recommend alternative options based on a site survey, for example a nearby rooftop relay, temporary wireless, fibre where available, or hybrid redundancy.
Why Failovers Still Matter in 2025 | Vox Business Continuity Solutions
The Problem with a World That Never Stops Evolving
The problem with a world filled to the brim with evolving technology is that practically everything seems outdated.
A while ago, just having Home Internet was a hard sell. Today? Users fight for the Wi-Fi and ISPs compete with line speed. Nokia, once the great innovator of our time, are now the Manchester United of the tech world (sorry, Mancs), and Blackberry has regained its front-of-mind status as a fruit rather than a defunct manufacturer.
Point is, tech evolves, innovations improve, and yesterday’s solutions can sometimes prove themselves redundant – but what happens when a valuable product gets caught in the mix?
There’s a reason “old is gold” still holds some weight – and today we’re making a case for Failovers. Yup, they’re still relevant, yup, they’re still a potential asset, and yup, dismissing them could still leave your business vulnerable to rather unnecessary risks.
Today, we unpack the concept and explore why this (seemingly) old-school solution can, in fact, continue to play a vital role in your IT Strategy.
First off – what is a Failover?
A failover is the automatic process of switching to a standby system, server, or network when your main connection fails.
Think of it as the safety net of the tech world – it allows you to stay connected and seamlessly continue working, browsing, and moving in the event of an unexpected disruption.
Make no mistake; this isn’t just a tech solution. It’s about continuity, peace of mind, and the ability to keep going. In a country where an unexpected interruption is seemingly always minutes away, why wouldn’t you need a backup to tide you through those unwanted down periods?
Failover at a Glance:
Feature
Benefit
Automatic switching
Keeps systems online when primary fails
Instant activation
Prevents downtime and data loss
Easy integration
Works with existing IT infrastructure
Business continuity
Maintains operations during outages
So, What’s the Issue?
Recent times have seen a marked increase in the shift to Cloud Solutions or Distributed Systems. As such, many believe that failovers are now obsolete. Most backup systems come with built-in redundancies included, making yesterday’s protocols wholly unnecessary (at surface level).
The dangers of this mindset, however, are threefold:
Assuming your “built-in” redundancy covers everything is like assuming your body-corp insurance will fix your geyser – it won’t. There are always blind spots.
Failovers aren’t copy-paste solutions. Some are unpredictable, and not all “solutions” are foolproof.
It only takes one failure. One breach or downtime event can tank your organisation’s reputation – so why take the chance?
Why Failovers Are Still Relevant
Failovers still matter because they’re built for unpredictability. They’re designed and tested to mitigate all risks – even the ones your cloud setup may overlook.
Key benefits include:
Meeting all compliance and SLA requirements, especially for disaster recovery.
Ensuring immediate, seamless recovery with minimal downtime and impact.
Offering cost-effective reliability compared to expensive multi-cloud solutions.
Q&A: Busting the Myths
Q: A failover is too much of a headache – I want simple. A: The tech has advanced, and automation now makes failovers easy to manage and integrate.
Q: This is unnecessary. A: We live in South Africa. The next big outage, downtime, or cable theft is always around the corner. You need a plan that lets your business keep running through chaos.
Q: My business isn’t big enough – go pitch to Vodacom. A: Failovers scale. Affordable options exist for SMEs, startups, and corporates alike.
Feature
Failover
Cloud Redundancy
Activation
Instant switch to backup connection
Manual or automated depending on provider
Cost
Scalable and often lower
Higher, depending on multi-cloud setup
Customisation
Fully configurable per business
Limited to provider architecture
SLA Compliance
Yes, directly supports DR and uptime goals
Depends on vendor agreements
Let’s Wrap It Up:
Failover technology is not just yesterday’s news, but today’s solution and an integral part of long-term business success.
By integrating this (admittedly) old yet (admittedly) gold technology into your IT Strategy, you can circumvent potential disruptions as if they didn’t even happen.
Besides, when it comes to Backup or Back Out – why choose the second option? Invest in a system that ensures that even if a system fails, your business won’t.
Providing a solution to meet your business requirements
Customer loyalty today demands digital options. If your business doesn’t have an attractive and well-functioning website, your potential customers will shop elsewhere.
South Africa’s online retail sector showed a significant increase in the past few years, growing by almost 30 percent (29 percent) between 2022 and 2023. Having reached the R71 billion mark in 2023, online sales are now anticipated to break the R100 billion barrier by 2026 – which is just around the corner.
And so, with South Africa’s online sales soaring, there’s never been a better time to make sure your business has a functioning website. Even with a bricks-and-mortar operation, it’s essential to back it up with an online option as well.
If you’re keen to upgrade your company’s online presence quickly and effectively – or even kickstart one if you haven’t got a website already – Vox offers several different hosting experiences with solutions to meet your business’s unique requirements, no matter your budget.
Domain and Web Hosting: The Right Address and Functioning Operations
In the physical world, you need an address so your customers can find you, and you need premises from which to operate. These two terms represent different things in terms of getting your website infrastructure up and running.
Start with an address: Domain hosting is a service that allows you to choose and register a unique online name for your website and brand, in other words your web address.
Make sure your premises are fit for purpose: Behind the address lies the property from which your business operates. Web hosting is essentially what stores all your site’s information and files. It’s usually a server, or space on a server.
Let your customers come inside: When someone uses your domain to access your website, signals are sent to the server, which then opens up your live site for the customer – the online version of ‘going into your shop’.
With Vox Web Hosting, you rent space on our server and host your website contents through us. We offer multiple platforms to choose from, including WordPress, Linux and Windows. Vox Web Hosting includes a free .co.za domain.
Backed by Vox Expertise
As well as being able to choose from multiple platforms and have a free domain, Vox Web Hosting also offers the following benefits:
Extensive network coverage: Vox Web Hosting has an established national and international backbone with over 13 local PoPs (Point of Purchase outlets) and footprints in all the Teraco Data Centre environments.
Security Team: All servers sit behind Vox’s state-of-the-art firewall infrastructure, with virus management and security updates.
24/7 Expert Support: Our servers are locally hosted and managed around the clock by our engineering team for peace of mind.
Includes a Free SSL Certificate: If you’re going to run a prosperous website that is secure for your users and browsers, SSL certificates are an essential. Vox SSL Certificates keep your customers’ confidence by ensuring the safety of their data while they visit your website.
WordPress, Linux and Windows are some of the world’s most popular website hosting platforms today, and Vox Web Hosting is proud to bring you different options across each brand.
Shared Web Hosting: Linux and Windows
Shared hosting makes getting started online simpler and easier, saving you money, as well as taking the headache out of hosting.
With Vox shared Web Hosting, our customers experience a form of web hosting in which more than one website shares the resources of a single virtual or physical server, which means a stable but also low-cost solution.
Choose from Linux options as follows:
Linux Basic: 1GB of storage, 25 email addresses;
Linux Standard: 4GB of storage, 75 email addresses;
Linux Advanced: 20 GB of storage, 200 email addresses; and
Linux Ultimate: 30 GB of storage, 250 email addresses.
Alternatively, Vox Web Hosting also offers Windows options, as follows:
Windows Standard: 2GB of storage, 100 email addresses;
Windows Advanced: 4GB of storage, 200 email addresses; and
Windows Ultimate: 20GB of storage, 250 email addresses.
Premium WordPress Hosting
If you want to kick your website functionality up a notch, consider WordPress. Over the last two decades, WordPress has grown from being a simple blogging website to one of the world’s most used hosting platforms today.
Our premium WordPress offering delivers performance and scalability to your fingertips. It’s an excellent solution for customers who require better performance, uptime and scalability – although please note: it doesn’t come with email addresses built into the offering.
WordPress Starter is ideal for startups that require a professional WordPress website, offering 50GB storage and able to cater to up to 30,000 visitors monthly.
WordPress Innovator is perfect for growing businesses that need to scale and require speed and reliability, with 100 GB storage and ideal for up to 120,000 monthly visitors.
WordPress Fanatic is excellent for running an e-commerce website, with 150GB storage. It’s capable of catering to an unlimited number of visitors monthly.
Which Option to Choose?
Whether your business is already established or a startup about to take off, you need a strong online presence. From your website address to the online ‘premises’ behind it, Vox has the right option to help you with your online sales.
Shared hosting shares a single physical server with hundreds (if not thousands) of other websites, giving you a low-cost service. WordPress hosting is tweaked for high traffic websites, providing excellent performance and faster loading websites.
Contact us for more information and we can assist you with working out the option that’s best for your business. We can help you establish a business identity, give your organisation a professional look and feel, and build credibility on the web.
Join the sales revolution and be part of the drive to reach the one billion Rand online sales mark next year!
Advanced Voice Services are a vital part of modern customer experience. Even in a digital-first world, many customers prefer talking to a person — and how those voice interactions sound, feel and flow shapes their perception of your brand. Vox helps organisations implement cloud-based voice and unified communications (UC) solutions so voice interactions are consistently reliable, professional and cost-effective.
Why Voice still matters for customer experience
A seamless voice interaction can be the difference between a satisfied customer and a lost one. In saturated markets where offerings are similar, exceptional customer service becomes a key differentiator. Clear, friendly and efficient voice communications build trust, reduce friction and encourage repeat business. Enabling your teams with the right voice platforms ensures staff can deliver those experiences every time.
What we mean by Advanced Voice Services
Advanced Voice Services cover modern, cloud-first voice technologies that go beyond a traditional telephone line. Typical components include:
Call routing, analytics and integration with CRM systems
Advanced Voice solutions — tailored for your business
Vox provides a range of Advanced Voice Services designed to fit different business needs and budgets:
Multiple PBX options: on-premises and cloud PBX platforms, including Vox’s Titanium 3CX partnership for certified deployments.
Fully managed Business Voice: Vox hosts and manages the infrastructure in secure data centres with a Fibre backbone and redundancy for resilience.
Microsoft Operator Connect: quick, integrated voice for organisations using Microsoft Teams.
Flexible Rated Voice plans: choose usage-based billing or fixed monthly plans for smaller organisations (fixed unlimited voice for businesses with up to 50 staff).
Concierge support plans: premium cover for mission-critical environments with priority response and extended oversight.
Reliability and compatibility you can trust
When customers call, dropped or poor-quality calls damage trust. Vox carries out rigorous compatibility testing with partner platforms to ensure the voice network and OEM solutions (for example 3CX and Operator Connect) work seamlessly together. High uptime, redundant connectivity and managed infrastructure help keep calls clear and available when your customers need you.
Practical steps to improve voice interactions today
Implementing technology is only part of the solution. Combine Vox Advanced Voice Services with these practices to lift customer experience:
Prioritise employee training: focus on active listening, clarity, empathy and problem resolution. Regular coaching and feedback maintain consistent performance.
Use proactive communications: reach out with pre-emptive notifications about service changes, follow-ups after incidents, or targeted offers via voice and messaging.
Embed customer feedback loops: collect, review and act on caller feedback so improvements are continuous.
Optimise call flows and routing: ensure callers reach the right team quickly and use IVR sparingly to avoid friction.
What are Advanced Voice Services?
Advanced Voice Services are cloud-first voice and unified communications solutions — including VoIP calling, cloud PBX, Operator Connect for Teams, and analytics — that improve call quality, routing and customer experience.
How do Vox Advanced Voice Services improve call reliability?
Vox uses certified partner platforms, secure data centres and a Fibre-backed network with redundancy. Compatibility testing with OEM solutions reduces call drops and ensures consistent call quality.
Can I integrate Vox voice with Microsoft Teams?
Yes. Vox offers Microsoft Operator Connect, a simple way to add PSTN calling into your organisation’s Teams environment with managed voice services.
What pricing options do Vox Voice plans offer?
Vox provides flexible Rated Voice plans — usage-based or fixed monthly fees — and an unlimited voice option for smaller businesses (organisations with 50 staff or fewer). Vox will recommend the best plan based on call volumes and business needs.
Do you offer managed support for mission-critical environments?
Yes. Vox offers concierge-level support plans for high-risk or mission-critical operations, with priority response, monitoring and extended service coverage.
