Randpark Ridge in Gauteng boasts the fastest fixed broadband speeds in South Africa, according to research by Analytico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The market research and network intelligence firm analysed thousands of Internet speed test results measured MyBroadband’s Speed Test platform in the third quarter of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The analysis used speed tests that were performed with users connected to Wi-Fi, which will mostly be when they are using a fibre-to-the-home (FTTH), fixed-LTE, or fixed-5G connection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Analytico found that Randpark Ridge had the highest average download speeds of any neighbourhood in South Africa during the period, at 75.79Mbps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Randburg-based suburb is considered upmarket and is mostly made up of residential properties with a few commerce nodes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The suburb’s proximity to the Randburg city centre and Sandton make it highly popular, although it has problematic rush-hour traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both of the country’s two biggest fibre network operators \u2014 Openserve and Vumatel \u2014 offer connectivity in the suburb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is likely to have contributed to its high placement, considering FTTH boasts high and consistent speeds at affordable prices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Randpark Ridge just edged out Wierdapark in Centurion in download speeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second-placed suburb in the City of Tshwane recorded 75.02Mbps as its average download speed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Wierdapark’s average upload speed was higher than Randpark Ridge’s \u2014 at 53.27Mbps compared to 48.09Mbps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Third-placed Noordwyk in Midrand had the highest upload speed of any neighbourhood in the top 10, at 76.72Mbps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was particularly noteworthy, considering its download speed was slower at 72.51Mbps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tight relationship between downloads and uploads suggests that the area has a high penetration of FTTH customers using symmetric connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In many cases, fixed-LTE and fixed-5G will have slower upload than download speeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Randpark Ridge also had substantially higher average latency than other neighbourhoods in the top 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its 40.98ms was over double the average across the top 10. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike download and upload speeds, higher latency is worse, as it means the travel time of data packets is slower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That could suggest more residents in Randpark Ridge are using higher-latency broadband technologies such as fixed-wireless access or fixed-LTE. It could also be the additional latency caused by home Wi-Fi routers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FTTH and fixed-5G typically have sub-20ms latency, although this can vary with the latter depending on connectivity strength. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
40ms latency is still very usable, although it is not ideal for fast-paced online gaming where fractions of a second can mean the difference between winning and losing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gamers in Eldoraigne in Centurion have it really good in this regard, with the lowest average latency of 11.22ms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One noteworthy finding from the analysis was that there had been a drastic improvement in fixed Internet performance in South Africa over the past two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n