Broadband Network Speeds in SA

Ookla’s NetIndex website has become the premier service for comparing and ranking consumer download speeds around the globe.

The NetIndex results are based on millions of recent test results from Speedtest.net. The average throughput is calculated using results over the past 30 days where the mean distance between the client and the test server is less than 300 miles.

According to NetIndex the average download speed globally is 8.89Mbps while the average upload speed is 2.96Mbps.

The countries with the highest average download speeds are Lithuania (32.40Mbps), South Korea (29.47Mbps) and Sweden (24.96Mbps).

South African Download Speeds

The average South African download speed is 2.91Mbps while users recorded an average upload speed of 1.11Mbps.

The Top 10 broadband service providers are listed below, but it should be noted that the results are based on all tests on the network from an ISP, which may include core network tests and tests from non-broadband services like fibre leased lines.

1. Cybersmart – 6.86Mbps
2. Neotel – 5.79Mbps
3. Vodacom – 3.68Mbps
4. Cell C – 3.67Mbps
5. MTN – 3.55Mbps
6. Altech Technology Concepts – 2.98Mbps
7. WebAfrica  – 2.79Mbps
8. Global Internet Access – 2.71Mbps
9. Telkom – 2.56Mbps
10. MWEB Connect – 2.38Mbps
11. Internet Solutions – 2.31Mbps
12. Africa INX – 2.23Mbps
13. XDSL Dynamic ADSL – 2.15Mbps
14. X-DSL -  1.79Mbps
15. Neology DSL – 1.41Mbps
16. BCSGroup DSL – 1.37Mbps
17. Screamer Telecoms -  1.15Mbps

Network Stability

Ookla’s NetIndex also provides a graph for each broadband network provider which tracks the average speed over a period of 18 months.

In the case of Cell C, for example, the graph clearly shows strong download speed growth after the operator switched on its 21Mbps HSPA+ network.

When  it comes to sheer network stability Web Africa and MTN are hard to beat, as shows in the graphs below.

Broadband Speed Graphs