Category: Vox 4 Thought

Fibre or Wireless for Business: When Your Real Estate Makes a Difference

Posted on by Vivienne Fouche

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 to the Business

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.

 

Wireless for business
Image courtesy of: https://protowermaintenance.com/what-is-microwave-communication/

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.

system 3541577 1920 | Vox | Fibre or Wireless for Business: When Your Real Estate Makes a Difference

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.

Backup or Back Out – Why Failovers are so NOT over

Posted on by Suhail Dinat

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.

 Image of a PC with a Cloud Solution as backup

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:

  1. 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.
  2. Failovers aren’t copy-paste solutions. Some are unpredictable, and not all “solutions” are foolproof.
  3. 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.

Vox Hosting with the Mosting

Posted on by Vivienne Fouche

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

street 767772 1920 edited | Vox | Vox Hosting with the Mosting

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

difference 7370145 1920 | Vox | Vox Hosting with the Mosting

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.

open sign 1309682 1920 | Vox | Vox Hosting with the Mosting

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!

Enhancing Customer Experience with Advanced Voice Services

Posted on by Vivienne Fouche

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:

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.

 

Discuss your Advanced Voice Services strategy with Vox — call 087 805 0300 or request a tailored quote online.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

A World-Class Workforce: Optimising Remote Work with Advanced Telecom Solutions

Posted on by Vivienne Fouche

Remote work is now a business imperative, and getting it right starts with the right connectivity. Remote work depends on consistent, secure and scalable internet for collaboration, cloud access and customer-facing services. This article explains how organisations can use a mix of fibre, LTE/5G, wireless and satellite options — backed by managed security and strong SLAs — to build a world-class remote workforce.

Why reliable connectivity matters for remote work

Remote work is more than a location change — it’s a change in how work happens. Teams need low-latency video calls, reliable VPNs, cloud-based apps and secure access to company systems. Interruptions not only reduce productivity but can compromise customer service and security. Choosing the right connectivity and support model ensures that employees stay productive whether they’re at home, in a small office or travelling.

Connectivity options that support remote work

Use a mix of technologies to meet varying needs across your workforce. Each option has a role in a resilient remote-work strategy.

Fibre to the Home

Fibre to the Home delivers high-speed, symmetrical performance ideal for heavy users — video conferencing, large file transfers and real-time collaboration. For businesses that require predictable throughput, dedicated Fibre (1:1) removes contention and offers low latency for critical services.

Business Fibre and Contended Fibre

Business Fibre packages balance cost and performance for SMMEs. Contended options reduce costs while still improving stability over legacy DSL, making them a solid choice for many remote teams that do not require full dedicated bandwidth.

LTE & 5G

LTE and 5G provide fast, quick-to-deploy connectivity for mobile workers and home offices where fixed lines are limited. These services are a great primary option in urban areas or a failover solution where continuity is essential.

Wireless & Satellite

For remote or rural locations, wireless and satellite connectivity ensure coverage where fixed-line infrastructure is unavailable. Satellite offers reach; wireless solutions are quick to install and can serve as primary or backup links.

Security and managed services for remote teams

Reliable bandwidth must be paired with security. Managed security services — including endpoint protection, secure VPNs, and centralised policy management — protect remote devices and corporate data. A managed-service model relieves internal IT teams by delivering ongoing monitoring, threat detection and rapid incident response, which is especially valuable for distributed workforces.

Design for resilience: SLAs, redundancy and support

When planning remote-work connectivity, consider service-level agreements and support. For teams running business-critical applications, dedicated Fibre with comprehensive SLAs (for example, industry-standard uptime guarantees) provides predictable performance. For mixed environments, use LTE/5G or wireless as temporary or permanent failover to preserve business continuity. 24/7 support and clear escalation paths reduce downtime and restore productivity quickly.

Practical considerations for IT and business leaders

  • Assess bandwidth needs per role: not all staff have the same requirements.
  • Mix technologies: combine Fibre, LTE/5G and wireless to balance cost and resilience.
  • Centralise security: apply consistent policies for remote endpoints and enforce multi‑factor authentication.
  • Plan installation and upgrades: some options are quick to deploy (LTE/5G, wireless), while Fibre installations may have longer lead times but deliver better long-term performance.
  • Choose transparent offerings: select providers that clearly state contention ratios, SLA terms and support hours to avoid surprises.

How Vox can help enable your remote workforce

Vox offers a portfolio of connectivity and managed services designed for businesses enabling remote work:

  • Dedicated Fibre for organisations needing uncontended 1:1 bandwidth and low latency.
  • Business and FTTH packages for more cost-efficient, reliable home-office connectivity.
  • LTE/5G and wireless options for fast deployment and failover capability.
  • Satellite where fixed-line options are not feasible.
  • Managed security and 24/7 support to protect remote endpoints and reduce IT overhead.

These services are supported by clear service descriptions and SLAs intended to give businesses the visibility and assurance they need when building distributed teams.

Ready to make remote work reliable and secure for your people? Speak to a Vox specialist to design a resilient, cost-effective connectivity and security plan tailored to your workforce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best connectivity option for remote work?
It depends on the user’s needs. For heavy collaboration and low latency, dedicated Fibre or FTTH is best. For flexibility and quick deployment, LTE/5G or wireless are effective. Many organisations use a hybrid approach.

How quickly can remote workers be connected?
LTE/5G and wireless solutions can be deployed quickly, often within days. Fibre installations depend on local infrastructure and lead times but offer superior long-term performance.

Can I use wireless or satellite as a permanent solution?
Yes. Wireless and satellite are viable permanent solutions where Fibre isn’t available, though they may have different latency and contention characteristics compared with Fibre.

What security measures should remote workers use?
Use managed endpoint protection, enforce multi‑factor authentication, deploy secure VPN access and ensure regular patching. A managed security service can centralise these controls and monitor threats.

What SLAs should I expect from a provider?
Look for clearly defined SLAs covering uptime, response times and support hours. For critical services, higher-availability SLAs and dedicated support are recommended.

 

Work, Play and Everything In Between: How South Africans Use Our Internet Time

Posted on by Vivienne Fouche

South Africans use their Internet time for much more than browsing — it’s the hub for work, entertainment, learning and connecting with friends and family. Whether you’re joining a work meeting, watching the latest series, gaming with mates or catching up on news, the way we spend our online hours tells a lot about how life has adapted to always-on connectivity. So much so, we spend over nine hours online every day, according to this report.

Here’s a clear look at the behaviours shaping internet use across the country — and simple tips to make every minute online work for you.

Internet time in the workplace — remote and hybrid routines

The shift to remote and hybrid work hasn’t vanished. Many people now split their working week between the office and home, making stable, reliable internet a must. Video calls, cloud collaboration tools and file sharing are everyday essentials; when these work smoothly, productivity stays high and work-life balance becomes easier to manage.

  • Common work uses: video conferencing, cloud storage and collaboration platforms, remote desktop access.
  • Top tip: prioritise a connection with consistent upload and download speeds for smoother video calls and faster file transfers.

Streaming and on-demand entertainment — evenings and weekends online

Streaming remains one of the biggest uses of household data. From global shows and local series to live sports and music, many South Africans now expect high-definition playback without buffering. Peak streaming times are generally evenings and weekends, when households tune in together.

  • Common streaming uses: TV series, movies, live sport, music and podcasts.
  • Top tip: Use scheduled downloads or lower playback quality for background viewing to reduce data pressure during peak times.

Social media, messaging and staying connected

Social platforms and instant messaging are central to daily life — for catching up with friends, following news and staying on top of trends. Short videos, image sharing and live streams have increased the amount of time spent scrolling and interacting online.

  • Common social uses: short-form video, group chats, content sharing and live streaming.
  • Top tip: Use app settings to limit auto play or background data consumption if you want to reduce usage.

Gaming and live streaming — a growing community

Online gaming and live-streaming are major draws for many South Africans, especially younger users. Competitive gaming, multiplayer sessions and watching game streams all place particular demands on latency and stable upload speeds.

  • Common gaming uses: multiplayer matches, game downloads and livestream viewing.
  • Top tip: For better responsiveness, choose packages with lower latency and consider wired connections for consoles or PCs.

 

Average daily time online - South Africa vs the rest of the world

Learning, shopping and practical tasks — everyday essentials

The Internet is the default for learning, shopping and managing services. From online courses to banking and health info, many everyday tasks now happen online. Reliable connectivity makes these activities quicker, safer and more convenient.

  • Common practical uses: e-learning, online banking, shopping, telehealth and municipal services.
  • Top tip: Keep devices and browsers updated, and use strong passwords or multifactor authentication for online accounts.

Managing home networks — tips for better performance

Households often juggle many devices at once: phones, laptops, smart TVs and home-office kit. A few simple steps can improve everyone’s experience:

  • Place your router centrally for the best coverage.
  • Use wired connections for bandwidth-heavy devices where possible.
  • Schedule heavy downloads outside peak hours.
  • Prioritise devices or apps that need the best performance (video call or gaming optimisation).

 

Main reasons South Africans Use the Internet | Vox

What this means for ISPs and users

As online habits diversify, Internet Service Providers must offer flexible packages that can handle mixed household needs — fast downloads for streaming, reliable uploads for video calls and low latency for gaming. For users, picking the right package and following smart network practices will make online life smoother.

Quick checklist — optimise your internet time

  • Choose a package matched to your household’s primary use (streaming, work or gaming).
  • Use ethernet for devices that need stable connections.
  • Manage background app updates and scheduled downloads.
  • Label and secure your Wi-Fi network to avoid unauthorised use.
  • Choose Norton from Vox to manage family screen time

Make your connection work for you

The internet is no longer a luxury — it’s central to how we work, relax and learn. By understanding common patterns of use and taking a few simple steps to manage your connection, you’ll get better performance exactly when you need it. If you’re thinking about upgrading or want help choosing the right plan, a short review of your household’s usage patterns will point you to the best fit.

Questions? We’ve Got Answers

  1. How do South Africans typically use the Internet?
    We use the internet for work, streaming, social media, gaming and practical tasks like banking and learning — with usage often concentrated in the evenings and weekends.

  2. What’s the best connection for working from home?
    A connection with reliable upload and download speeds, low latency and consistent performance is best for remote work — especially for video conferencing and cloud collaboration. It doesn’t get better than Vox Fibre.

  3. How can I reduce buffering when streaming?
    Reduce playback quality, schedule downloads outside peak hours, or upgrade to a plan with higher bandwidth to reduce buffering and improve HD playback.

  4. Does gaming need a special type of connection?
    Gaming benefits from low latency and stable upload speeds. Wired connections and prioritised network traffic for gaming devices can improve responsiveness.

  5. How can I check if my home internet plan is right for my family?
    Review the number of devices, common online activities (streaming, work, gaming), and peak usage times. If multiple users stream or work simultaneously, choose a higher-bandwidth plan.

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.

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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.

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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!

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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

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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 .

Braaivleis, Rugby, Sunny Skies and Weather News

Posted on by Vivienne Fouche

Vox Weather is transforming weather monitoring – for everyone

“Rain, rain, go away, come again another day…”

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We’re probably around nursery school age when we first realise the everyday importance of the weather in our lives. Sun, wind, rain, snow: the weather affects many personal aspects, including our health and moods, safe travels, our social lives and energy consumption, and of course planning which clothes to wear.

Let’s also not forget the ice-breaking conversational advantages of talking about the weather during awkward social occasions, like first dates.

Basically, the weather and its daily impact on our lives is always a big deal – which is why Vox was so pleased to launch its weather channel online in 2021, in partnership with presenter-meteorologist Annette Botha. Vox Weather, with almost 400,000 followers currently, is now incredibly excited to begin launching some amazing products to its loyal fans.

Here’s a look at the first Vox Weather offering that’s geared to help amateur weather enthusiasts everywhere with their daily and weekly planning: the ‘Tornado Twister’ weather station.

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Storm Chasing at Home

Tracking the weather is fascinating (just ask practically everyone who lives in the UK).

With a Tornado Twister weather station in your home, you can accurately monitor the weather, and be in the know about factors like temperature, humidity, rainfall, windspeed, solar radiation, the UV index and air pressure around your home environment – over and above your daily tuning into Vox Weather for the rest of your province and the country, of course.

With access to their own personal weather stations, homeowners receive real-time weather updates and can predict changes in weather patterns. Having access to accurate weather data at your fingertips lets you plan your day – and your week – accordingly.

You can get alerts about sudden storms, heavy rainfall or even extreme temperatures, allowing you to take necessary precautions. This type of information is obviously also excellent for farmers and anyone else whose work would be badly affected by storms or heavy snowfall – time to bring in the sheep and cattle, or close the cable car station?

 

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Sports Fans, Athletes and Concerts

We don’t say ‘Sunny South Africa’ for nothing! SA is famous for our sunshiny climate and with this comes our national love of the outdoors: what’s summer without planning regular braais and picnics, not to mention attending rugby, football and cricket matches, and concerts in the park? And for those who are do-ers and not only spectators, it’s important to know about the UV index for that pre-Comrades qualifying marathon.

Knowing the weather conditions in advance helps us to make informed decisions about taking part in sports activities and other fun outdoors, to make sure everyone can have the best time possible – including singing in the rain, if necessary, but at least protected by a raincoat or umbrella.

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Calling All Gardeners

Weather obviously plays a vital role in maintaining a thriving garden. Different plants have specific requirements when it comes to sunlight, temperatures and moisture. With a weather station, you can monitor these factors and adjust your gardening plans to help your plants stay healthy and happy. Monitoring humidity levels also helps to prevent plant diseases.

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Getting Started

The Tornado Twister is very easy to install and set up on your own, or if you prefer, an on-site installation option is available with a Vox engineer for a small fee (you can contact Vox on 087 500 0530 to inquire).

In addition, it comes with a general warranty (subject to terms and conditions): each unit is guaranteed for up to 12 months from the date of purchase and Vox Weather will replace any components at no charge if they should become faulty.

A quick note: it’s important to keep your Tornado Twister free of insects and spiders that might want to make their home in it. We know that you’ll follow a gentle re-homing policy and place them somewhere else in your garden to carry on playing their part in your mini ecosystem.

 

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Transform Your Weather Monitoring

With accurate weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities zoned into your particular property, the Tornado Twister helps you plan your daily activities effectively and take necessary precautions against unpredictable weather conditions.

Whether it’s optimising your gardening, maximising your energy efficiencies or planning your best social life, the personalised weather data adds an extra layer of convenience to your planning.

Enhance your daily life by bringing the technology of weather intelligence right into your home – not forgetting to join the Vox Weather community online for your daily national forecasts, of course!

Click here to find out more.

 

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Why Your FTTH Choice Can’t Wait Until 2025

Posted on by Suhail Dinat

You’ve heard it before – FTTH is the gold standard of Internet, it’s the fastest, the best, the greatest invention since the wheel/sliced bread (depending on who you ask) and the way to go for Connectivity. You’re probably well versed with its benefits – even signed up elsewhere? (not Vox? Ja ne, shame).

Regardless, if you’re a late joiner, thinking of joining the market, or deciding to change service providers (yeah buddy!) consider this your sign. Today, we’ll unpack how there’s no time like the present – as well as how waiting until 2025 may in fact be a costly mistake.

  1. Black Friday isn’t every day

It’s a well-documented fact that November brings some of the best deals around (we’ve all seen the footage outside Game and Makro riots). Black Friday wouldn’t be a thing if it occurred every Friday, would it? Many ISPs (watch this space) and FNOs (watch this space x2) run annual November promotions (some throughout the course of the month) which offer discounts, special rates, or a certain number of months free – these can be steep, and allow you to spend your hard earned cash elsewhere. Why pay full price, right? By waiting until 2025, you’re likely to miss out on an otherwise amazing special offer – meaning more reason to pull the trigger this side of the year.

Why you can’t wait:

  • You can enjoy one-time-only specials which free up funds for other expenses
  • Many offers include bundles services, or premium features at reduced rates – which you’ll have to wait a full year for (if they return at all)
  • By missing a limited window, you’ll likely end up paying more for the same thing within the space of a few days.

 

  1. ISPs need December too.

We may sell technological solutions, but we’re only human after all. As December rolls around, our staff is eagerly anticipating a break from their desks and chance to recuperate (so that, ya know, we can go back to being awesome in next to no time). While Vox doesn’t totally close, our operations are vastly scaled back – meaning less support staff, delayed customer response times, and of course a longer wait for new installations.

Why this matters:

  • Our cut off period (17 November) means new installations will have to roll into the new year – meaning signing up after said period = a very lengthy wait to get connected.
  • With a backlog of new installations in waiting, your preferred window could be booked up before you know it – this may cause frustration down the line.
  • Acting earlier, rather than later, allows you to avoid delays, beat the new year rush, and sidestep the December slowdown altogether.

 

  1. Installation Cutoffs

Most areas have cutoff dates for new installations and FTTH lines – these start from mid-November and continue until December (in order to accommodate for the holiday period). If you’re someone who is serious about getting Connected, fast (see what we did there?), you’ll need to pull the trigger in order to avoid falling on the unwanted end of said cutoff period.

In simple English:

  • You may end up waiting until January (or beyond) for a new installation once the cutoff date has expired – be sure to check with your potential ISP as to when this is to avoid disappointment.
  • Remember, even when installations do open again, maintenance/existing customers as well as a FIFO (first in, first out) process will be applicable.
  • Upgrading early means guaranteeing speedy access to your high-speed connectivity – just in time for the festive season.

 

  1. New Year, New Prices?

We could lecture you about inflation, the rising cost of living, and all of the tedious stuff which, loosely translated, means spending more for the same thing – but we’re well versed in such lingo, right? Most ISPs review their pricing structures once the new year commences – meaning there’s a chance you’ll be affected by a 2025 price hike should you opt not to sign up in 2024.

No further points, your honour.

Simply put, the time to act is right now.

We can definitively conclude that waiting until 2025 could prove a costly, frustrating, time-consuming endeavour that you’d be best to avoid altogether. Between Black Friday deals, the end of year “slow” period, installation cutoffs and beyond – the time is now to get Connected.

Enjoy fast, reliable connectivity and be ready to usher in both the festive season and new year with a speedy bang – make your move and don’t miss out, then thank us later.

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