Category: Product

Vox introduces cost-effective Active-Active Connectivity Solution for SMBs

Posted on by Andre Eksteen

By Andre Eksteen, Senior Product Manager – FTTB at Vox

Access to the internet has become the lifeblood of modern organisations, and companies have turned to fibre as a reliable means of connectivity. Many businesses are reliant on a single internet link; however, this poses a serious risk in case of downtime. In response, Vox has launched its Active-Active Redundant service, a cost-effective, seamless failover solution that offers continuity, bandwidth efficiency, and peace of mind for small and medium businesses.

Cost considerations tend to push many small and medium businesses (SMB) into only having a single connectivity link, but any disruption will leave them unable to communicate with employees, customers and suppliers. This makes redundant connectivity not just a nice-to-have, but a business-critical service. Those SMBs that do have some kind of failover often make use of a passive service that lays dormant until their primary link goes down. In effect, they are paying for something that they don’t really use.

The Vox Active-Active Redundant service combines two broadband links from different vendors, offering a load-balanced solution that supports simultaneous traffic across both links, providing customers with seamless failover in case of downtime on one link, with the other link maintaining internet connectivity. Customers with multiple fibre network operators in their area can use fibre as a secondary link, while those without this option can make use of a wireless service.

While there are existing active-active solutions on the market, these tend to run on Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) environments and are typically expensive. On the other hand, the Vox Active-Active Redundant service cost-effectively addresses the business need for reliable network uptime. It is a simpler solution, and customers stand to benefit from the savings where they don’t need the host of features that SD-WAN provides.

Customers making use of the Active-Active Redundant service can select between fibre network operators including Frogfoot, Openserve, MetroFibre, Link Africa, Octotel and Vumatel; wireless network connectivity options include MTN and Comsol. Businesses using this service can also obtain their secondary link at a reduced price if the primary link is also provided by Vox.

Pricing starts from R1 798 for dual 20 Mbps links and the potential monthly savings ranges between R100 and R400 on the secondary link and R99 for the Active-Active configuration. The service goes up to dual 500 Mpbs links, which are available for businesses with higher bandwidth requirements.

Benefits from using Vox’s Active-Active Redundant include increased uptime and business continuity, cost-savings from using both links for bandwidth, and improved efficiency with an active-active configuration that provides customers with burstable bandwidth when both links are operational. In addition, the service is offered as a simplified solution with included router setup, reducing the need for additional devices.

If your business has a high reliance on network uptime, you must consider introducing a failover service to your connectivity solution. And if you are looking at a cost-effective, seamless failover service that provides you more value for money, look no further than the Vox Active-Active Redundant service.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Active‑Active redundant connectivity?
Active‑Active redundant connectivity uses two independent internet links that operate simultaneously, sharing traffic and providing seamless failover if one link fails.

How is Active‑Active different from passive failover?
Passive failover keeps a secondary link dormant until the primary fails. Active‑Active uses both links concurrently, so you benefit from combined bandwidth and no wasted capacity.

Can I use fibre and wireless links together?
Yes. Where multiple fibre operators aren’t available, a wireless connection can be used as the secondary link to provide redundancy.

Do I need SD‑WAN to get Active‑Active functionality?
No. Vox’s Active‑Active Redundant service is a simpler, cost‑effective option that provides load‑balancing and failover without requiring a full SD‑WAN deployment.

Will both links be used all the time?
Yes. In an active‑active setup both links carry traffic during normal operation, giving burstable bandwidth and efficient use of resources.

How quickly will traffic switch if one link fails?
Failover is designed to be seamless so that business disruption is minimal. Vox configures the service to maintain connectivity when a single link experiences an outage.

Vox MTN LTE-A Promotion: Double the FUP, Double the Fun This Festive Season

Posted on by Chris Boshoff

With Vox and MTN LTE Uncapped Packages

 

In the spirit of giving back, Vox and MTN are running a fantastic Vox MTN LTE-A promotion to give you double the FUP, and more than double the fun.

“Double the what?” – yes, it’s a fair question.

In short, our promo gives you double the allocated data bundle, free of charge, till the end of January 2025.

Let’s see what you and your family can do with double the FUP when you sign up for a Vox MTN LTE Uncapped package.

But first – what does FUP actually mean?

To ensure fair use on the MTN network (and ISP networks in general), your maximum download and upload speeds will be adjusted if you consume more data in the specific month than the Fair Usage Policy, or FUP limit, of your selected plan.

This is called ‘speed throttling’ and it plays an important part of the FUP rules for your selected plan. If your Internet usage speed is throttled, you will still have use of the service at the adjusted rate until the next month, when your normal maximum speed is restored.

Let’s unpack it.

Sharing is Caring

This is how speed throttling works.

architecture 1837176 1920 | Vox | Vox MTN LTE-A Promotion: Double the FUP, Double the Fun This Festive Season

Imagine a multi-lane highway of holidaymakers all heading down to the coast. Everyone is keeping nicely to the rules of the road and sharing the infrastructure, except for a small group of road hogs swerving in and out of the lanes and taking up most of the road, trying to get there faster and inconveniencing everyone else in the process. Just because, you know, they’re ‘special’.

Because of their assumption that they own the road, everyone else is forced to repeatedly hit the brakes. And then, tada! – the Highway Police arrive and put a stop to their high jinks. While the road hogs are pulled over and put in their place, everyone else is able to continue travelling again at a decent speed, as per how the highway was designed to be used by all.

Well, FUP is all about making sure the Internet ‘highway’ is used fairly by everyone in a way that the designated infrastructure allows – and speed throttling plays an important part in doing this.

What’s FUP, Guys?

As outlined above, Fair Usage Policy (FUP) is a set of guidelines imposed by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to ensure fair and equal access to the Internet for all users. It’s designed to prevent network abuse and congestion by placing limits on the data usage of individual subscribers, especially at peak usage times.

If you use more than a certain, predetermined ‘fair’ amount of data in a given timeframe, your line speed could be slowed down during peak times to give other users fair access to the network.

In essence, FUP is designed to prevent a few users from hogging the available bandwidth, thereby causing shared services to become unavailable for others. And so, if you’ve ever found that your broadband speed has suddenly slowed down significantly, you might have just been FUPPED. You were one of the roadhogs!

Or, to put it in terms that might appear in your contract: “When you reach your FUP, your speed will be throttled up to 1Mbps.”

In simple terms, being throttled means that your upload and download speeds will be significantly reduced. You just got pulled over – except that the ISPs are nicer than the Highway Police and they let you off with a warning.

lego 5567753 1920 | Vox | Vox MTN LTE-A Promotion: Double the FUP, Double the Fun This Festive Season

That’s because with FUP, your ISP doesn’t send you to jail and stop your Internet usage completely, but instead allows you to continue accessing the Internet and ‘keep on driving’ – just significantly slower for a while. By restricting individuals’ bandwidth, more people can use the Internet service at the same time.

 

The Convenience and Quality of LTE-A Connectivity

With high-speed, top-quality Internet access, Fixed LTE-A offers connectivity that provides near-Fibre like experiences, together with hassle free installation: a plug and play service means no waiting for fixed line installation.

In addition, where Fibre networks might take weeks or months to roll out and to install, Fixed LTE-A is a rapid order-to-installation product – whenever there is high-density Fixed LTE-A coverage, the time to deliver quality Internet access is between seven to 10 days – another win as we approach the festive season!

go sign 2816455 1920 | Vox | Vox MTN LTE-A Promotion: Double the FUP, Double the Fun This Festive Season

Enough Bandwidth for the Good Times

Many people are still on vacation quite late into January, after which they go back to school, varsity / college, and work. And so now we see the real advantage of signing up for the promo – increased data consumption! (And as mentioned previously – free of charge!)

Different apps have different data appetites – streaming on Netflix or Showmax in HD will consume more data than just reading an article online, and downloading a game eats up more data than actually playing it.

Here are some everyday activities that you and your family are likely to be doing more of at this time of the year, together with their possible hourly data consumption rates:

  • Web browsing: Approximately 50 to 70MB per hour.
  • Streaming video: High-definition (HD) video can consume up to 8GB per hour.
  • Online gaming: Up to 100MB per hour.
  • Social media: Platforms like Instagram and Facebook can use around 200MB per hour.

 

Vox and MTN Fixed LTE-A Promo Offerings

The current promotion applies to two of our Vox Fixed MTN LTE-A offerings, as follows:

Normal Offering:

  • R849 per month: Uncapped with normal FUP of 1,000GB (ie line speed is throttled back for the rest of the month when you / your household have used 1,000GB of data).
  • R499 per month: Uncapped 50MBps with normal FUP of 500GB (line speed is throttled for the rest of the month when 500GB of data usage is reached).

Promotional Offering:

During the promotion period, the Uncapped 1,000GB FUP offering will be extended to 2,000GB, and the uncapped 50Mbps FUP offering will be doubled to 1,000GB (1TB of data usage).

RICA documents will be required when ordering Vox Fixed MTN LTE-A and these are:

  • A certified copy of your ID; and
  • Proof of your residential address that is not older than three months.

A Great Start to the Year

With the Vox / MTN Uncapped LTE promotion, we’re offering you – free of charge – double the bandwidth before FUP is applied, on the specified packages.

  • No more slow internet
  • Stream without buffering
  • Connect to multiple smart devices
  • VoIP calling and lightning-fast connection
  • Efficient for going back to work and studies

AdobeStock 399195503 resized 3 | Vox | Vox MTN LTE-A Promotion: Double the FUP, Double the Fun This Festive Season

From video calls to streaming entertainment, gaming and online shopping, Vox and MTN’s Fixed LTE Uncapped Double the FUP deal has you covered to ensure that your Internet connection is up to the task and ready to manage the digital demands of you and your family.

You can click here to find out more .

Vox doubles up the data for MTN fixed wireless customers this festive season

Posted on by Theo van Zyl

In December and January, Vox’s MTN fixed wireless LTE customers can enjoy twice as much data. Always keen to give back, Vox is doubling the amount of data its uncapped package customers can use. So, if a customer pays for one terabyte of data, they’ll have access to two terabytes during this time. This offer is available to Uncapped (FUP of 1000GB) and Uncapped 50Mbps (FUP of 500GB) customers.

Customers can use the extra data to catch up on social media, to stream their favourite podcast, keep the kids busy on a rainy day or finally get the chance to watch that movie they’ve been eyeing for months. And for those travelling over the holidays, with MTN’s fixed wireless package, customers can take their connection along with them.

Connectivity across two locations

One of the unfortunate realities of going on holiday is that you can’t take your fibre line with you, says Theo Van Zyl, Head of Wireless at Vox, which typically means that you end up using your mobile data to stay online. This is one of the big benefits of mobile — it allows users to connect on the go — but convenience comes at a premium and things can get a little pricey if you’re steaming or scrolling for hours on end, he adds.

According to Van Zyl, MTN fixed wireless LTE customers can access the service from an address other than their primary registered location. This makes it possible to take your MTN-approved router and SIM to different locations, such as a holiday home, provided that the secondary location has MTN Fixed LTE coverage.

But you will need to set things up properly before you go. Here are a few points to remember.

  • MTN fixed wireless LTE customers who want to register their holiday accommodation as a second location must do so before leaving their primary location to ensure uninterrupted service. This is important so that MTN knows where their users are and can more effectively manage network capacity so that everyone has a positive experience. If the router is turned on at an unregistered location without updating the portal, your SIM will be locked.
  • To access the secondary location functionality, log into the Vox Customer Portal and check that the new address has MTN coverage. If you’re travelling to a far flung location where MTN doesn’t have coverage, you’ll get an error when trying to add the second location address. If there is coverage where you’re headed, simply select the service you want to change by clicking ‘Edit’ under the Secondary Location section and then confirm the change by selecting ‘Update’.
  • Make sure that you have an MTN approved router and your SIM card at your second location. Without an approved device at your secondary location, you won’t be able to connect. You can check out a full list of MTN approved routers here.

 

With Vox’s Fixed MTN LTE service, you can enjoy uninterrupted and reliable internet access at home and on holiday.

 

What the Fibre? How to Choose an Internet Service Provider (An Effective Guide)

Posted on by Suhail Dinat

Mama always said life is like a box of chocolates: you never quite know what you’re going to get. And the same applies with your connectivity. Choosing an Internet Service Provider can be tricky.

The world we live in is proof that there’s such a thing as “too much choice”.

Gone are the days of limited options or distorted supply/demand ratios (unless it’s a Dubai chocolate or working electricity).

Want a burger? You can choose any topping, any meat, and if you’re not feeling for McDonald’s, you can take your pick from synthetic burger-like ingredients at any given corner.

Pizzas have crust choices, brand choices, cheese choices, and even the option to blaspheme with pineapple.

Even our SA staple, Nando’s, has a new variant every second month (vote for Pedro!)

And that’s just the food industry.

The Fibre game is no different. Choosing the right Internet Service Provider has become a maze of navigating terminology, promotional deals, speeds, prices, and additional extras. We all claim we’re the best – so how is a customer supposed to know which one really is?

How to choose an Internet Service Provider

  1. Step One: Choose Vox.
  2. Step Two: If you’re with another Internet Service Provider, head to vox.co.za and sign up.

The End.

Yeah, we’re kidding. Life isn’t that simple. But hey, cutting to the chase once in a while is quite fun, no? On a serious note, here’s what goes into making an informed (and non-regrettable) Fibre choice.

Why choose Fibre over other connections?

Fibre delivers higher speeds, lower latency and symmetrical upload/download performance — which makes it ideal for streaming, gaming, video calls and cloud backups.

  • Speed and reliability: Fibre lines are less affected by distance and congestion than copper or ADSL, so you’ll get consistent speeds during peak times.
  • Symmetrical speeds: Upload speeds often match downloads — perfect if you’re working from home, uploading large files or hosting video calls.
  • Future-proofing: Fibre handles increasing home and business demand so you won’t have to upgrade again soon.

Figure out what you need, how you need it, and what your Connectivity demands are, and you’re already past step one.

Internet Service Provider cheat sheet

Look beyond headline speed — check contention, availability, installation terms, support and any extra costs.

  • Real-world speed vs marketed speed: Ask about typical speeds during peak hours, not just the maximum.
  • Contention ratio and dedicated options: Lower contention (or 1:1 for dedicated lines) gives better performance for business-critical use.
  • Installation time & costs: Confirm whether an installation fee applies, whether there’s any equipment rental and how long the technician wait time is.
  • Contracts and hidden costs: Read the small print for early‑termination fees, price increases and fair‑use policies.
  • Support & SLA: For small businesses, an SLA and 24/7 support minimise downtime. For homes, reliable support and clear SLAs matter too.
  • Extras: VLANs, static IPs or redundancy options can be important for businesses — ask if they’re included or optional.

How to check Fibre availability in your area

You can use our area coverage tool or contact our Sales Team with your exact address and suburb.

  • Many providers list availability by suburb or street; enter your full address or call the sales line for a precise check.
  • If Fibre isn’t available, ask about temporary or alternative options (Vox Kiwi,5G or satellite).
  • Pro tip: availability often differs between metros (Joburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria) and outlying suburbs — always check by street.

What speed do you actually need?

For most households, 20–50Mbps is fine; streamers, gamers or multi-device homes should consider 50–100Mbps or higher. Small businesses often need symmetrical 50Mbps+ and lower contention.

  • Single user / basic browsing: 10–20Mbps.
  • Streaming HD and video calls (2–3 people): 20–50Mbps.
  • Large families, 4K streaming, gaming: 50–100Mbps.
  • Small business, cloud backups, video conferencing: 50Mbps+ symmetrical recommended.

Before you sign up with an Internet Service Provider

  • Confirm real-world speed expectations and contention ratio.
  • Ask about installation fees, router rental and contract length.
  • Check SLA and support hours (is 24/7 support included?).
  • Verify whether the package includes static IPs, VLANs or failover options (this is important for businesses).
  • Read the T&Cs for price increases and exit fees.
  • Make sure there’s a clear contact for help and escalation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fibre Internet?
Fibre uses glass strands to carry data at light speeds with low latency, offering more reliable and faster connections than copper or mobile options.

How do I check if Fibre is available at my address?
Enter your full street address into our area coverage tool or contact our sales team with the suburb and street name for a precise check.

Do Fibre packages have data caps?
Many Fibre packages are uncapped (ours definitely are), but always check the provider’s fair‑use policy and contract details before signing.

What speed do I need for working from home?
For video calls, file uploads and multiple users, aim for symmetrical 50Mbps or higher, depending on team size and workloads.

What if my area doesn’t have Fibre?
The Vox area coverage tool automatically gives you every available option – from Vox Kiwi to LTE and 5G to get connected.

What’s a 3CX – And What Does Titanium Status Actually Mean?

Posted on by Natalie van der Merwe

In an IT world full of acronyms, we unpack this brilliant technology

 

3CX is an open-standard[1], software-based business phone system that delivers advanced telephony functionality and is super easy to use, manage and install. 3CX is an Enterprise-grade communications platform that is primarily targeted at the SME market due to its affordability – and yet, in an interesting twist, many enterprise businesses are also adopting 3CX, as they take note of its benefits.

3CX offers very competitive pricing, as well as feature-rich Unified Communication functionality, which includes instant messaging or chat; Voice; video conferencing and data sharing; email, voicemail and SMS; and out-of-the-box integrations into popular CRMs.

Vox is a 3CX Titanium Partner – we operate at the highest 3CX partnership level, to the tremendous benefit of our customers. We are also one of a select few Titanium partners in South Africa, the highest level that a 3CX partner can achieve, and awarded only to 3CX’s most successful and experienced partners.

 

3CX features 1 1 | Vox | What's a 3CX - And What Does Titanium Status Actually Mean? 

Benefits for Vox Clients

Titanium partner status is reserved for true 3CX all-stars! This, together with our Advanced Technical Certification, guarantees our customers excellent service and support.  In addition, Titanium partner status ensures we get the best price from 3CX, which allows us to offer an enterprise grade product at pricing all customers can afford.

We are also Certified as a Preferred 3CX SIP Trunk provider[2] (one of only two in South Africa), which gives customers additional peace of mind that our network is compatible with any 3CX deployment. We have been thoroughly tested with 3CX to ensure no manual configurations, which means you can simply plug and play your PBX with our SIP trunks.

 

How the Vox-3CX Partnership Began

Before onboarding 3CX, Vox was selling a combination of open-sourced, on-premises and cloud-based solutions, which provided very basic PBX functionality.  Although it satisfied the requirement for thousands of customers, we knew that we needed to expand our portfolio to be more relevant with our offerings and technology.

Simply put, we needed a product that would carry us into the future.

Before 2020, on-premises solutions were becoming less relevant, and our customer demands for UC&C[3] were increasing significantly – which our solutions at the time did not offer.  When we were faced with the pandemic in 2020, it became clear that we required UC&C offerings to cater to our customers’ work from home communication requirements.

Becoming a 3CX partner for Vox was a very seamless process, but it did take drive, dedication and ambition to take this further and achieve Titanium status.  Vox is an agile business, and so we are able to make decisions and change direction very quickly to ensure that our customers have the products and services they need.

In the quest to present the best solution possible, we spent significant time in our R&D labs running tests, documenting our installation best practices and automating many of our provisioning processes. The end result was being able to go to market confidently with a working solution, and without any hiccups.  This was a critical step, as it cemented our long-term relationship with our customers.

Our engineers flew through the technical certification process and managed to achieve Advanced Technical certification within the first two months of becoming a 3CX partner.

Our team of sales specialists, who are dedicated to anything PBX, also completed their technical certifications, which gave them the ability to confidently design and sell 3CX solutions to prospective customers.

3CX made it easy for Vox to become technically certified with their free on-line training and assessments.

 

Along the Way

Together with the certification for Technicians and Sales Specialists, we also upskilled all our direct and indirect sales force employees, equipping them to understand the value of 3CX and uncover opportunities with customers. Overall, our comprehensive training programme included everyone from sales, pre-sales, installations engineers, support engineers, and core engineers.

We moved through the partner status ranks in record time – starting at Bronze, we worked our way up to Titanium status in less than one year (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium) – a feat of which we’re very proud, as it shows our ability to adapt, and our willingness to do more.

It wasn’t very long after launching that we realised we had hit the jackpot – our customers loved 3CX, our sales staff loved 3CX and our engineers loved 3CX!  This was a recipe for success and before we knew it, we were hitting the lights out.

 

Moving forward

Vox is able to support all types and sizes of customers – we have 3CX customers ranging from two or three extensions to customers with thousands of extensions.

Cloud PBX | Vox | What's a 3CX - And What Does Titanium Status Actually Mean?

And in addition to this, we don’t only sell 3CX – Vox offers a complete suite of complementary products: from last mile connectivity and market leading uncapped or rated calling plans, world-class data infrastructure to host customers 3CX services, to telephone expense management reporting.  We are proud to add this to our 3CX achievements over the last three to four years.

The journey to Titanium Partner status demands a high level of technical skill, dedication to customer satisfaction, and a proven track record in implementing 3CX solutions.

Becoming a 3CX Titanium Partner marked a significant achievement for Vox, and we are very proud to be able to let our clients know that we have achieved this milestone in supporting and maintaining their 3CX systems.

 

[1] An open standard is a standard that is freely available for adoption, implementation and updates. Examples include XML, SQL and HTML Businesses within an industry share open standards because this allows them to bring value to both themselves and to customers.

 

[2] SIP Trunks are virtual phone lines that are delivered over the internet, replacing the need for physical telephone lines.

 

[3] Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C) integrates diverse communication tools, such as Voice, IP Telephony Calling, Instant Messaging, Desktop Sharing, Presence, and Web Conferencing, Audio Conferencing, and Video Conferencing, to interact together in a virtually seamless way.

Why you shouldn’t sleep on Wireless Lite

Posted on by Suhail Dinat

In a world rife with imitations and where China Mall runs rampant, the word “Lite” is usually synonymous with “terrible”.

Coke light? Never mind.

Corsa light? Never leaves the fast lane.

Bud light? Why waste your time.

 

It seems like the term, “let there be light” was really not applicable to many of today’s inventions – but you get rules, and you get exceptions. And, in an environment (over)saturated with high-speed, premium connectivity solutions – why would you settle for “Lite” when you could get the best? Stay tuned, dear readers – because while the name may suggest a watered down experience, we’re here to fix your notions and (hopefully) explain why it’s an ideal choice for users across the board.

 

  • Affordability, plus quality:

Traditional or premium plans can certainly be expensive. Wireless Lite, however, represents a more affordable alternative which is less damaging to your bottom line. It allows you to enjoy all the essential connectivity features you know and love yet skip the hefty price tag. If you’re a user who doesn’t necessarily require uncapped data or ridiculous bandwidth, it may be the ideal option to Lite up your life.

  • Every day use without yesterday’s speed:

True, Wireless Lite isn’t designed for heavy, intensive use (gamers, look away now). However, it does provide ample bandwidth for the everyday tasks that matter. Simple browsing, checking mails, running your teams or shopping online? You’re covered, and then some – which is ideal for those who don’t need the bells and whistles, but still require a smooth and reliable experience.

  • The smarter backup plan.

If you’re already paying for a premium connectivity solution, do you need to fork out similar bucks for your backup? Wireless Lite is a simpler, more affordable way to setup your secondary failover without breaking bank. Some need it for their vacation homes, others for when the Fibre fails, and the rest somewhere in between. Whatever your intention, going Lite is a good way to ensure your backup is there, but not draining you unnecessarily.

  • There’s beauty in minimalism

Not everyone needs a 1GB line complete with SD-WAN and bandwidth designed for mining Bitcoin. Sometimes, simplicity = beauty. We highly doubt gran, or someone who’s constantly on the go, is in the market for a heavy duty FTTH line – which is why a more minimal approach to browsing may be more down your alley. Wireless Lite provides the perfect amount of connectivity for your essential activities whilst skipping the bells and whistles you think you need, but don’t end up using.

Why you shouldn’t sleep on Wireless Lite:

Fact is, Wireless Lite is more than “Fibre Junior” – it’s actually a smarter choice for people who desired simplified connectivity tailored to their needs. By offering a service which is reliable, affordable, and versatile, this nifty service challenges the notion that “bigger = better”.

In fact, it’s a fantastic option for light users, budget conscious individuals, or someone seeking a no-frills, no-fuss Connectivity option plain and simple.

If you’re in the market for a solution which is budget and lifestyle friendly, remember that there’s a simplified option out there for you – look into Wireless Lite, we daresay you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Protecting the Things that Matter with Norton

Posted on by Suhail Dinat

Keep your children safe online and enjoy real-time threat protection with Norton from Vox.

Has the world every been more interconnected than today?

Work. Socialising. Shopping. Conversing. Banking.

Almost everything we do, see, or interact with is seemingly interlinked and intertwined. You can order food at the press of a button or make an urgent payment within a few clicks of your device. You can capture moments, share ideas, talk to your loved ones or run an empire via a digitised global interweb where everything, and everyone, is connected.

The unfortunate reality, however, is that most of the things that matter to us are stored or conducted online. Great for ease-of-access, sure – but safe? Debatable.

It appears as if we’ve swapped “risk free living” for convenience – and the age of Cyber Crimes is at an all-time high (plus growing at exponential rates). Enter Norton (brought to you by Vox), which offers comprehensive, easy-to-use protection to help safeguard the things that really matter.

First off – what’s the issue, and why is it an issue?

Cyber threats are at an all-time high – and why wouldn’t they be? The pandemic issued in an era of digitisation. Criminals in general are nothing if not opportunistic, and the rampant rise of online activity resulted in an unfortunate yet inevitable increase in online threats. Whether breaching systems, stealing personal information, or compromising devices, these are real-world issues with real-world consequences that, sadly, aren’t going away. In fact, all the signs point to exponential year on year growth within the Cyber Crime sector – which is enough to make anyone shudder.

(Forget hacking for a second – that’s just the tip of the iceberg – and spare a thought for the sheer volume of unregulated, underaged minors with Internet access. Your kid’s digital safety is an entirely different behemoth that needs to be contended with parallel to your own personal/business security).

It’s overwhelming.

It’s daunting.

It’s enough to make anyone want to cancel their Wi-Fi subscription for good.

But what if it didn’t need to be? Enter the world of Norton, where you no longer have to worry about navigating this digital minefield alone. Enter the world of robust tools designed with your safety in mind. Enter the world of defending your personal, digital, and family assets against all forms of cyber threats. Let’s unpack this world, and you may find a few boxes ticked (as well as a few concerns put to bed).

Comprehensive Threat Protection, and then some…

  1. The first benefit of Norton products is real-time threat protection, which actively (and constantly) scans connected devices to block, detect, or remove threats altogether before your information is made vulnerable. They say prevention is better than cure, and no more so than in the world of cybersecurity. By adopting a proactive approach, you can keep all forms of malware, viruses, ransomware and beyond at bay to ensure maximised security + peace of mind.

*fun fact: with a Norton VPN, your online activities remain private and encrypted – meaning you can even connect to public Wi-Fi while travelling and rest assured your information is secure.

  1. Everything in life is password protected – but how protected are your passwords, really? To be honest, remembering fifteen different unique passwords (with characters, letters, a haiku and blood sample) across multiple websites can be… overwhelming. Never fear. Norton offers Password Manager software to store, generate, and protect it on your behalf – simple solution, sorted.

 

  1. They say children are our future (or something motivational along those lines) – Norton is second to none when it comes to ensuring family safety. Their extensive Parental Control features ensure that no stone is left unturned. Monitor, track, or watch your kid’s online behaviour, set limits, block inappropriate content or even identify their whereabouts – it’s the present, and future, of redefined digital wellbeing for minors.

Why do it with Vox?

By combining one of SA’s leading ISPs with one of the World’s leading Antivirus Protectors, you get double the guarantee of digital excellence. Enjoy powerful cybersecurity solutions (made better, of course, by Vox Fibre) as well as our dedication, reliability, and service excellence. By choosing Norton, through Vox, you gain the benefit of cutting-edge technology backed by a brand founded on doing, and being, better.

Be it your personal information, your loved ones, your business or your finance, you can confidently navigate a dangerous, tricky digital landscape. Make the decision to protect the things that matter today, tomorrow, and beyond.

 

FAQs

Can I manage my child’s online safety with Norton?
Yes. Norton’s Parental Controls let you monitor and manage children’s device use, block inappropriate content, set time limits and even locate their devices – and your children – for peace of mind.

What does Norton from Vox protect me against?
Norton 360 protects devices from malware, viruses, ransomware and phishing, and includes VPN, Password Manager and Parental Controls to safeguard privacy, accounts and family members.

Is a VPN included and can I use public Wi‑Fi safely?
Yes, Norton’s VPN encrypts your connection so you can use public Wi‑Fi more securely, helping prevent snooping or data theft while you’re on the move.

How does Norton’s real‑time threat protection work?
Norton constantly scans apps, downloads and web activity to detect and block known threats and suspicious behaviour before these threats can compromise your device or data.

What does the Norton Password Manager do?
Password Manager stores, generates and auto‑fills strong, unique passwords for sites and apps, so you don’t have to remember dozens of logins, improving your account security.

Which devices and operating systems are supported?
Norton 360 supports Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and is designed to work across multiple devices so you can protect PCs, Macs, tablets and smartphones.

How do I get Norton through Vox and are there trials or promotions?
You can subscribe to Norton from Vox (bundled with Vox Fibre). Promotional offers have included initial free months and month‑to‑month licences. Check Vox product pages or speak to support for current deals.

What support is available if I need help with installation or issues?
Vox-backed Norton customers have access to customer support and installation assistance. Norton also provides user guides and 24/7 protection monitoring – contact Vox support for help specific to your bundle.

So, What’s the (Sweet) Deal with Vox Wireless Lite?

Posted on by Craig Blignaut

Vox Wireless: Just as fast as Fibre, and more widely available

 

What do Coca Cola and Vox Wireless to the Business (WTTB) each have in common? Besides being leading brands in their arenas, that is.

The answer is in the word Light. Or Lite.

Coca Cola gave the world Coke Light, for those who wanted the same original sweet taste but with zero sugar. Vox Fixed Wireless to the business (WTTB) gives you two options, including Vox Wireless Lite – because we also believe in providing a fantastic product, but with choices available for different requirements.

Wireless Lite is especially good for start-ups and SMEs. It’s also on promotion right now.

Let’s see how well it could work for your business.

 

A Quick Technology Outline

Fixed Wireless can deliver a Fibre-like experience if the service provider gets it right with regards to capacity and area coverage. This, of course, goes without saying at Vox.

Vox Fixed Wireless is a high-quality, high-speed Fixed Wireless connection, using Microwave technology that can be deployed around South Africa, to ensure that your business is always connected. It’s an excellent alternative when Fibre cables aren’t laid in your area, or as a redundancy option if your Fibre goes down. It’s also a fantastic solution if you need to be connected in a hurry and can’t wait weeks for your Fibre installation.

Coca Cola never officially reveals its recipes, but here at Vox we believe in being transparent, so let’s take a look at how WTTB works.

It’s pretty simple.

 

700x400 Wireless blog | Vox | So, What’s the (Sweet) Deal with Vox Wireless Lite?

 

  • A device is pointed at a tower, which services the area in which your business is situated.
  • The device provides a high-speed Internet connection using Microwave technology, whose access towers are served and connected to Fibre lines as the ‘backhaul’.
  • Because the station is close to and in view of the premises, a Fixed Wireless connection can deliver a very fast Internet experience with low latency.

 

Vox Wireless Lite

Vox Wireless Lite is one of two different Fixed Wireless offerings for businesses that we offer, with the other being Vox Wireless.

Vox Wireless Lite – Licensed is a more cost-effective service than Vox Wireless, without compromising on quality. This service is available as a Broadband Primary service but will also make an excellent Failover solution to cater for all your business needs.

We offer a Symmetrical service (same upload and download speeds) of 10 Mbps and 20Mbps, and an Asymmetrical service of 50Mbps and 100 Mbps.

Vox also offers Vox Wireless Lite – Unlicensed, in which different speed profiles are once again offered, but with this option, all speeds are Asymmetrical.

With Vox Wireless Lite, just like Coke Lite, we leave out one ingredient, so where the beverage is minus the sugar, we help you streamline your costs by leaving off the Voice offering that comes with Vox Wireless, which includes a Voice VLAN to streamline your VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) communication.

But don’t worry – if your business grows, you can add more ‘sugar’ later – it’s simple to change options.

 

Something for Every Business with Vox Fixed Wireless Options

The famous beverage company has a range of refreshing drinks available in several varieties and sizes to suit different lifestyle, and in the same way, Vox Wireless to the Business is able to cater to your different needs and speeds.

 

choice 2692466 1920 | Vox | So, What’s the (Sweet) Deal with Vox Wireless Lite?

All Vox Wireless packages include data and line rental, and speeds can range from 5Mbps to 1Gbps – the flexibility and choice of packages is a real value-add, allowing you to match your speeds to your business needs.

The main features and benefits of Fixed WTTB are as follows:

  • Quick to deploy in feasible areas: If your business has a remote site where no fixed-line connectivity is possible, Vox Fixed Wireless options are an ideal alternative. They are also generally quicker than Fibre to install.
  • Duplex Service enables you to transmit and receive data at the same time, giving you dual efficiency.
  • Managed Service 365/24/7 Support ensures that we’re there when your business needs us the most.
  • Scalable: It’s easy to upgrade your link to grow with your business.
  • Business continuity: Can be deployed as a primary or failover service to ensure you are always connected.

 

Depending on the area and requirement, Vox Wireless works with the following Wireless connectivity providers: Comsol, Easyweb, Kliq. MTN, Rapidnet, Tech5 and VO Connect.

 

Sweet Offerings to Refresh Your Business

Vox Wireless offers speeds comparable to Fibre, but is more widely available. With quick deployment and low latency, it’s geared to help your business stay connected. Whether you’re in the city centre or out in the country, Vox Wireless ensures your business stays connected, competitive, and ready to grow.

For high speeds and the most innovative, cutting-edge microwave technology on the market, you can’t go wrong with Fixed Wireless to the Business from Vox. Whether it’s Vox Wireless or Vox Wireless Lite, we’ve got you covered with great options.

And we think that’s a pretty sweet and refreshing deal.

 

artem beliaikin rNQ3TFuLkQU unsplash Coke | Vox | So, What’s the (Sweet) Deal with Vox Wireless Lite?

On-Premises or in the Cloud: Which PBX Works Best for Your Business?

Posted on by Natalie van der Merwe

People still need to be able to talk voice to voice for best results

In a world with abundant business communication channels – emails, texting, website dropdown platforms and chatbots – speaking to an actual person through a voice solution is still a hugely important element of the overall communication suite. Texting or chatbots alone can’t replace the personal touch.

Having the option of speaking to a person in real time enables a more intimate connection, helping to develop strong relationships and trust between your customers and your company.

In this article, we’ll compare on-premises PBX with cloud solutions – which one is best for your business?

 

Outlining Your PBX Options

 

AdobeStock 116119162 | Vox | On-Premises or in the Cloud: Which PBX Works Best for Your Business?

 

“Hold on please while I put you through…”

Is there any customer out there who has never yet heard these words? Probably not – it comes with the traditional PBX and customer service territory.

PBX, or Private Branch Exchange, is a well-known element of any organisation’s communications systems between employees and customers. The technology provides telephony functionality such as call transferring, conference calling and voice mail.

The traditional PBX, which has been used for decades, is a business phone system that connects all office desk phones within an organisation on the same network, relying on copper landlines, with the PBX hardware installed on-site.

Over the last decade, we’ve seen a rise in hosted PBX solutions, which are cloud-based alternatives offered by VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) providers. Cloud PBX offers many of the same features as traditional PBX, with less complicated on-site installation and maintenance, potential cost savings, a number of useful features and minimal hardware requirements. 

 

 

Differences Between On-Premises and Cloud PBX Systems

Different aspects of each system provide insights into how each one could align with your different business needs and environments.

 

Costs

  • On-premises PBX systems usually require a higher initial investment in equipment and installation costs. There are likely to be costs associated with maintenance and upgrades.  
  • Cloud PBX generally involves a lower initial setup cost because it needs minimal physical infrastructure. Due to economies of scale, providers can offer Cloud PBX services at a nominal monthly fee, making it cost-effective for businesses with limited capital. A reliable Internet connection is a critical core cost factor, but with advancements in technology, high-speed internet is becoming more accessible and affordable. This allows customers to maximise their investment into quality data connections for their Cloud PBX services   

 

Scalability

  • Expanding an on-premises PBX can be expensive, often requiring physical hardware or licensing additions.
  • In contrast, a hosted PBX solution allows businesses to add or remove services as needed, providing greater flexibility and cost savings. 

 

Maintenance and Upgrades

  • On-premises PBX systems require on-site technical support for maintenance and hardware upgrades. This can lead to operational disruptions and additional labour and parts fees. Furthermore, when parts become obsolete, businesses may face significant challenges in sourcing replacements, leading to unnecessary downtime and further expenses. 
  • A cloud-based PBX system is maintained and upgraded by the service provider, and this remote management makes sure your cloud solution is always up to date with the latest features and security patches, with minimal downtime for the business.

 

Security and Compliance

  • On-premises PBX systems allow companies to directly manage the security policies of their hardware but are more susceptible to data breaches if these policies are not managed correctly. This includes risks from outdated software and weak passwords. On-premises PBXs also require physical security measures to protect them from unauthorised access. This would include secure rooms, surveillance and restricted access, which in turn could be more costly and complex to manage.
  • With cloud PBX solutions, it’s the responsibility of the vendor to ensure that the systems adhere to the latest security standards and compliance regulations, including the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act. Most cloud PBX providers implement advanced security measures to protect the data and prevent intrusions.

 

Reliability and Performance

  • On-premises PBX systems are vulnerable to issues such as wear and tear and power outages, because they use traditional phone lines to transfer phone calls. The costs to implement a Disaster Recovery (DR) strategy for on-premises PBX systems can add further expenses for a business.
  • The reliability of your cloud PBX system requires an excellent Internet connection. It’s useful to implement an Internet failover solution to ensure your internet connection remains up during any disruptions. The cloud PBX vendor should ensure the cloud PBX platform has sufficient redundancy built into it to provide continuous services for customers.

 

 

 

Vox and Your Business Communications: Key Takeaways

julian hochgesang Dkn8 zPIbwo unsplash | Vox | On-Premises or in the Cloud: Which PBX Works Best for Your Business?

 

Each of the offerings discussed has its own set of advantages and challenges to consider. 

  • Cloud phone systems, particularly hosted PBX systems, are fast gaining popularity as the preferred modern telephone solution for many businesses throughout South Africa. They are suited for companies looking for a minimal initial investment, and their flexibility is perfect for growing businesses or those with fluctuating needs. Furthermore, businesses can enjoy the benefits of a fully managed service where the service provider takes care of the support and maintenance.
  • On the other hand, on-premises PBX systems are generally more suitable for larger corporations with big budgets and space to host the physical hardware, as well as having the resources to manage and maintain the system.

 

Choosing between on-premises or cloud PBX must be based on careful assessment of a business’s specific communication needs, growth expectations and budget constraints.

The decision of which offering to take up lies with your business. The ability to offer the best of each possibility lies with Vox – with superb offerings such as our multiple PBX offerings, both on-premises and cloud, and including 3CX (Vox is a Titanium 3CX partner, the highest ranking that can be achieved).

Contact us for more information on choosing the best PBX offering for your business, and keep those voice-to-voice communications enriching your organisation’s customer experience on a daily basis.

From Good to Great: Making the Most of Your M365

Posted on by Vivienne Fouche

Empowering you and your family across multiple devices

 

“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” – Ken Olsen, founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977

This sentence definitely goes down in history as one of those things people deeply regret saying later. And while it’s easy to predict things in retrospect – ‘Hindsight is 20/20 vision’, as the saying goes – it seems incredible to think that people once lived in a world without access to personal laptops and smartphones in their lives, which have now become such an integral part of our home functioning for work, homework, financial planning and operating, entertainment and simply staying in touch.

The installation of Microsoft 365 (‘M365’) onto your devices will upgrade this even further – this brilliant software can maximise your devices and create truly next-level experiences.

Let’s look at how you can go from good to great with Microsoft 365.

 

Always Better with M365

monique carrati ONn4OfAnxZY unsplash | Vox | From Good to Great: Making the Most of Your M365

“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” —Forrest Gump

But the great thing about Microsoft 365 is that you know exactly what you’re going to get (and it’s always a sweet deal). With Vox and Microsoft 365 for personal use, you can communicate, write, edit, do complex maths-based planning, share ideas, create presentations, and generally stay productive from anywhere, at any time.

Microsoft 365 Personal (for one individual) or Family (up to six people) will empower you and the rest of your family to stay productive from anywhere, at any time, across multiple devices. The subscription comes with 1TB of secure cloud storage space, advanced security features and innovative apps, all in one plan.

 

Features and Benefits

Some of the features and benefits include the following:

  • Microsoft 365 works on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets.
  • Applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote come with offline access and features that make your life easier.
  • Microsoft Defender provides advanced security for your personal data and devices.
  • Outlook gives you advert-free secure email.
  • Microsoft Editor provides advanced spelling, grammar and writing assistance.
  • Clipchamp video editor’s robust tools, including premium filters and effects, lets you create and edit videos easily, while AI-powered tools give you next-level productivity options.
  • Stay in touch with 60 minutes of Skype calling per month.
  • Create and manage databases for big or small projects with Access (PC only).
  • When you’re stuck, Microsoft 365 Family and Personal Subscribers have access to ongoing 24/7 technical support, via chat or email, with Microsoft-trained experts.

 

Making Your M365 Experience Better

Enable your life with M365’s multiple tools. Here are some tips to make your M365 experience even better.

brooke cagle g1Kr4Ozfoac unsplash | Vox | From Good to Great: Making the Most of Your M365

  • Organise Notes with OneNote: Microsoft’s OneNote is an app used for storing information and taking notes. OneNote notebooks allow you to store links, save photos and drawings and write with a stylus, keeping research notes in one convenient spot.
  • Recall Sent Messages: The next time you mistakenly click ‘send’ on an Outlook email, it’s possible that you can still recall an unread sent message. (Please note: Message recall is only available if both you and the recipient have a Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange email account within the same organisation. You cannot cancel an email sent through Outlook on the web, and you are not able to recall a message that’s already been read.)
  • Use Keyboard Shortcuts: Microsoft offers dozen of keyboard shortcuts in Windowsto make your life easier. It’s useful to remember a few that work for you the best.  For a fun example, hold down Shift + [colon] plus [closing bracket on the zero key] and you get a smiley face. 😊
  • Don’t Recreate, Restore: Who hasn’t had the awful experience of working for hours on a document, only to accidentally delete it? Microsoft Office 365 enables you to restore your last saved copy (and a number of previous copies). View and restore files in SharePoint or OneDrive by clicking File > Infoand selecting View. You can see previous versions and restore prior content, and  while it might not take you back to exactly where you left off, you can still get back a lot of your hard work and then carry on.

 

With Microsoft 365, you get smart assistance features that help you create amazing content fast on any device. Imagine living in a world without access to Microsoft 365… No thanks!

Click here to find out more about how Vox can help you with Microsoft 365 for home use.

“Greatness is a lot of small things done well.” – Eric Thomas (American motivational speaker and author)

 

 

 

 

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