Fibre ISP for Home Use

[Dooper]

Hi Everyone,

Any advice on the best, most reliable ISP for Fibre in Cape Town? I am looking at 10/5 option with Uncapped and looking for the best deal - not necessarily the cheapest, but the most reliable and helpful when something goes wrong. Looking at spending between R450 - R600, but I see Webafrica have an option for R399?
I have looked at RSA Web, Vox and Webafrica as possible options but Webafrica receive some poor reviews?

 

[PBCool]

Hi Everyone,

Any advice on the best, most reliable ISP for Fibre in Cape Town? I am looking at 10/5 option with Uncapped and looking for the best deal - not necessarily the cheapest, but the most reliable and helpful when something goes wrong. Looking at spending between R450 - R600, but I see Webafrica have an option for R399?
I have looked at RSA Web, Vox and Webafrica as possible options but Webafrica receive some poor reviews?

Which fibre network? Openserve?

 

[Dooper]

Yes Openserve.

 

[cavedog]

Yes Openserve.

R499 for CISP 10/2 on Openserve is a pretty decent deal. R399 for Afrihost 8/5 is also decent but 2Mbps less for a R100 saving. Might be better to go with CISP.

 

[wingnut771]

R499 for CISP 10/2 on Openserve is a pretty decent deal. R399 for Afrihost 8/5 is also decent but 2Mbps less for a R100 saving. Might be better to go with CISP.

according to mybroadband article now the table says webafrica is 10mb for R399.

Don't know if that is a typo.

 

[cavedog]

according to mybroadband article now the table says webafrica is 10mb for R399.

Don't know if that is a typo.

Not a type but that is their "uncapped" meaning 100GB FUP. Not a good deal at all. If you are on the entry level speeds you at least need unshaped, uncapped and unthrottled data. Imagine being throttled or shaped on a 10Mbps. would be horrible.

 

[Dooper]

I also have it as R399 for 10Mb with Webafrica. But what is Webafrica like? There are some mixed feedback? Would 10Mb be good enough for streaming music video, little bit of netflix etc - mostly 1 user?

 

[Dooper]

Not a type but that is their "uncapped" meaning 100GB FUP. Not a good deal at all. If you are on the entry level speeds you at least need unshaped, uncapped and unthrottled data. Imagine being throttled or shaped on a 10Mbps. would be horrible.

Thanks - so what would be the best unshaped, unthrottled option uncapped with 10Mbps?

 

[cavedog]

I also have it as R399 for 10Mb with Webafrica. But what is Webafrica like? There are some mixed feedback? Would 10Mb be good enough for streaming music video, little bit of netflix etc - mostly 1 user?

Do not go for the R399 option from Webafrica. it has the 100GB fair use policy. Spend R100 more monthly and go with Cool Ideas 10/5. You will thank me later. If you really want to go with webafrica then you need to go for the 10/5 uncapped premium with no Fair use policy and is going for R619 and then you see Cool Ideas is better.

 

[cavedog]

Thanks - so what would be the best unshaped, unthrottled option uncapped with 10Mbps?

On Openserve you really only have 2 options that I would recommend. 1st place would go to CISP with their 10/5 for R499. It's unbeatable. Then second place would Afrihost with their 8/5 Openserve line for R399. In my optionion that R100 saving is not worth it. Go for Cool Ideas 10/5 for R499 per month.

 

[Dooper]

On Openserve you really only have 2 options that I would recommend. 1st place would go to CISP with their 10/5 for R499. It's unbeatable. Then second place would Afrihost with their 8/5 Openserve line for R399. In my optionion that R100 saving is not worth it. Go for Cool Ideas 10/5 for R499 per month.

Thanks alot this really helps! I am really a complete novice with this. But don't want to sign up for something and then a month later find out there were better options around in terms of value for money. Where is more info on the Coolideas and CISP options? I don't see it on their websites?

 

[cavedog]

Thanks alot this really helps! I am really a complete novice with this. But don't want to sign up for something and then a month later find out there were better options around in terms of value for money. Where is more info on the Coolideas and CISP options? I don't see it on their websites?

Cool ideas and CISP is the same company. They offer free installation which is nice. I do get your concern but if 10Mbps is the option you are looking for THERE is NO better deal than Cool Ideas. On the higher speeds then it's a different ball game but then obviously it will be higher than your budget you were mentioning of R450-R600 so I would say go for Cool Ideas but you are free to wait for more feedback.

https://www.cisp.co.za/ftth/openserve-residential/

 

[Dooper]

Thanks alot this really helps! I am really a complete novice with this. But don't want to sign up for something and then a month later find out there were better options around in terms of value for money. Where is more info on the Coolideas and CISP options? I don't see it on their websites?

Found it! Will check it out - thanks alot! Any other tips or things I need to know?

 

[Dooper]

Cool ideas and CISP is the same company. They offer free installation which is nice. I do get your concern but if 10Mbps is the option you are looking for THERE is NO better deal than Cool Ideas. On the higher speeds then it's a different ball game but then obviously it will be higher than your budget you were mentioning of R450-R600 so I would say go for Cool Ideas but you are free to wait for more feedback.

https://www.cisp.co.za/ftth/openserve-residential/

Should I be concerned about the below -

PLEASE NOTE: Openserve Installation includes the first 8m of trenching. Openserve will charge for any additional trenching per metre that needs to be done.
*The Free router remains the property of Cool Ideas and will need to be returned to us if the service is cancelled.

*FREE INSTALLATION

 

[uzairb]

As mentioned above Cool Ideas 10/5 deal is the best.. For standard usage, youtube, netflix, mobile devices etc.. its more than sufficient.

 

[PBCool]

Should I be concerned about the below -

PLEASE NOTE: Openserve Installation includes the first 8m of trenching. Openserve will charge for any additional trenching per metre that needs to be done.
*The Free router remains the property of Cool Ideas and will need to be returned to us if the service is cancelled.

*FREE INSTALLATION

Only if your installation is going to cost extra, I don't think we've ever billed additional tbh.

 

[Dooper]

Only if your installation is going to cost extra, I don't think we've ever billed additional tbh.

* And re the "free router remains the property of Cool Ideas"? What would happen if it were to break or get stolen etc?
Could I ask your advice regarding installation as well. Probably a stupid question, but I live in a complex and is there a way to know where the lines run or if excessive digging etc would be required?

 

[cavedog]

Should I be concerned about the below -

PLEASE NOTE: Openserve Installation includes the first 8m of trenching. Openserve will charge for any additional trenching per metre that needs to be done.
*The Free router remains the property of Cool Ideas and will need to be returned to us if the service is cancelled.

*FREE INSTALLATION

No unless you have trenched Openserve fibre and they need to trench more than 8m. This 8m covers trenching and not the actual cable length so if you have Aerial fibre then this does not apply to you and if you have trenched and more than 8m the contractor will discuss this with you before they proceed so it's unlikely that you will get a huge bill without you knowing anything.

 

[cavedog]

* And re the "free router remains the property of Cool Ideas"? What would happen if it were to break or get stolen etc?
Could I ask your advice regarding installation as well. Probably a stupid question, but I live in a complex and is there a way to know where the lines run or if excessive digging etc would be required?

In complexes they use existing conduits if they fail with that they run the line along the building to the nearest splitter. You would have noticed these white boxes mounted against the buildings with a silver steel pipe going to the ground. These are the splitters. They will push a pulling wire through the conduits along side an existing Telkom copper line to install. In your case there will be no trenching. Trenching is for trenched Openserve fibre and usually only applies to free standing homes where they need to trench to the nearest splitter.

 

[PBCool]

* And re the "free router remains the property of Cool Ideas"? What would happen if it were to break or get stolen etc?
Could I ask your advice regarding installation as well. Probably a stupid question, but I live in a complex and is there a way to know where the lines run or if excessive digging etc would be required?

If it gets stolen you would claim from your insurance?