Most affordable uncapped 50Mbps Internet for South Africans without fibre

While fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connectivity is seen as the ideal connectivity type regarding speeds, reliability, and value for money, fibre is not available everywhere.

Wireless technologies like fixed-LTE, fixed-5G, and fixed-wireless access (FWA) combined cover a much greater portion of the South African population.

These technologies offer a viable alternative to South African residents without FTTH coverage, often offering similar performance at highly competitive prices.

It should be noted that most fixed-LTE and fixed-5G packages aren’t ideal for heavy data consumers, as network operators implement fair usage policies (FUPs) to protect their networks’ integrity.

Through FUPs, operators implement data consumption thresholds on fixed-5G and fixed-LTE packages, limiting speeds once the customer reaches the threshold.

This ensures all customers have access to reliable connectivity, rather than a few hogging bandwidth in an area and slowing performance for the rest.

Entry-level fibre prices have shifted recently. Many FNOs previously offered speeds as low as 10Mbps on low-end packages. It is now common to see 25Mbps and 50Mbps packages in the entry-level bracket.

MyBroadband looked for the most affordable 50Mbps or higher fixed-LTE, fixed-5G, and FWA products available to South African residents.

It should be noted that Internet service providers (ISPs) like Axxess offer best-effort speeds on their fixed-5G and fixed-LTE packages.

This means customers will get the highest speeds possible, dictated by their coverage and router capability until they reach the FUP threshold.

We included these packages in our analysis.

The most affordable 50Mbps alternative to fibre is RSAWeb’s fixed-LTE offering on MTN’s network. The package provides speeds up to 50Mbps for 100GB before throttling to 2Mbps for the remainder of the billing cycle.

The package costs R345 per month and includes a discounted once-off fee of R1,499 for the router.

Axxess’s 75Mbps fixed-LTE product on MTN’s network is the next-most affordable at R399 per month. Subscribers will get speeds of up to 75Mbps until they reach a 150GB FUP threshold. Speeds are throttled to 2Mbps thereafter.

Axxess charges a discounted once-off fee of R1,499 for the router.

The most affordable fixed-5G option is Axxess’s Standard 5G package on MTN’s network for R449. The connection is best effort, which Axxess claims will offer speeds of up to 500Mbps.

Subscribers get best effort speeds for 300GB before the connection is throttled to 2Mbps. Axxess charges R1,499 once-off for the router.

Axxess’ Standard 5G package on Vodacom’s network is the next-most affordable fixed-5G connection at R495 per month.

It offers similar speeds to the MTN package but with a lower FUP threshold of 250GB before throttling to 2Mbps. Customers who opt for this package pay the same once-off router fee.

Heavier data users may find Afrihost’s 50Mbps fixed-5G connection on MTN’s network, Rain’s RainOne offering, or SuperSonic’s Airfibre offering more suitable to their needs.

Afrihost charges R749 per month for the 50Mbps fixed-5G product on MTN’s network. The package has an FUP threshold of 1TB.

Once the customer reaches the 1TB threshold, speeds are throttled to 1Mbps for the remainder of the billing cycle. Afrihost charges a discounted once-off fee of R2,999 for the associated router.

South Africans with Supersonic Airfibre coverage can get its uncapped 50Mbps package for R799 per month. The package has no FUP threshold, and the required router is included in the monthly fee.

Rain’s Rain One 60Mbps package is the most expensive listed. However, like Supersonic’s Airfibre offering, it has no FUP limits, making it truly uncapped.

The package includes Rain’s “the101pro” router and costs R825 per month.

The table below compares the most affordable 50Mbps or higher Internet connections available to South African residents without fibre coverage.