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Sunday, April 26, 2020

Best internet solutions for home-use

The internet has improved our lives for good. It's changed the way we learn, read, do business, and talk to each other. It’s hard to imagine life without it. At this point, it's as basic a need as water and electricity.

To match the pace of our booming society, we need access to a reliable, good internet connection.

When it comes to finding the best internet service solution for your home, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. The needs of every household are different, and what works for one family might not be the right fit for another. Whether you're looking to use the internet for entertainment, work from home or communicate with friends and family, there's an internet solution for you. But with so many options on the market, it can be hard to know where to start.

That's why it's so important to compare internet connection options and prices in South Africa before deciding. By taking the time to shop around and compare internet packages, you can be sure that you're getting the best value for your money.

Thankfully, you don't need to do it all alone. You've got Best Internet on your side. We eliminate the hassle of finding the best (and cheapest) deals on internet by bringing you South Africa's top internet providers and helping you compare deals by price, internet speed and brand. We're here to make finding a package that suits your budget and location convenient.

What internet options are out there?

You can count all the WiFi network options on one hand. Neat, huh? Ranked from latest and fastest to oldest and slowest, they are:

  • Fibre
  • Cable
  • DSL
  • Dial-up
  • Satellite

LTE, on the other hand, is not considered Wi-Fi. It’s technically considered “mobile broadband technology” as it's used for mobile phones and computer tablets. Notice the small LTE icon on your screen when you switch from WiFi to data? That shows you they're different. The latest LTE technologies are 4G and 5G — and they're wicked fast.

What's the difference between Wi-Fi and LTE?

Good question. The main difference between WiFi and LTE lies in their connection radius. Both are wireless internet connections which are generally suitable for most households.

With Wi-Fi, a “middle-man” device is needed to transmit the wireless signal, like a router. To stay connected, connected devices must remain within 90 metres of w wi-fi signal. This is why you lose connection when you leave your house.

Unlike Wi-Fi, LTE requires no fixed connection. Meaning that with 4G and 5G LTE, devices can be miles away from the service provider's base station. All you need is a smartphone and solid coverage in your area to connect. This is why you can use your data wherever you are, as long as you have good reception.

Did you know you can also use LTE for home use? You'll need an LTE-enabled SIM to hotspot from and a quick setup, and then you'll be good to go!

Can I get Wi-Fi without an Internet provider?

It’s pretty easy. Simply hotspot or "tether” your LTE-enabled SIM from your smartphone or tablet. This will transform your device into a mobile hotspot, which you can connect to other devices like laptops or smart TVs.

Who has the fastest internet?

In South Africa, these 6 ISPs have the fastest home internet:

  1. Cool Ideas
  2. Afrihost
  3. Webafrica
  4. Vox Telecom
  5. Axxess
  6. MWEB

You'll notice that most of the fastest internet solutions are connected through fibre since it has the quickest connectivity available. With speeds of up to 1000Mbps, it's as fast as the speed of light! (Go figure)

Is LTE as fast as fibre?

Of course, LTE is not as fast as fibre, but it's still pretty quick. And it's the most movable and adaptable connection. You can use your LTE-SIM for a range of plug-and-play activities. Want to see what LTE deals people like best?

What is the best wireless home internet service provider in South Africa?

Ranked by overall customer satisfaction, these are South Africa's top-rated ISPs today, with mainly fibre, LTE or ADSL connections:

  • Supersonic
  • CipherWave
  • Cool Ideas
  • Cybersmart
  • RSAWEB
  • Vox Telecom
  • MTN
  • Rain
  • Cell C
  • Afrihost
  • Herotel
  • Vodacom

How do I know if I have ADSL or VDSL?

Great question. DSL stands for “Digital Subscriber Line” and is wired through your home using existing telephone wires.

Both ADSL and VDSL are simply altered versions of DSL. The “A” in ADSL stands for “asymmetric” since it offers higher upload speeds than download speeds (while DSL works at identical rates.) The “V” in VDSL stands for “very-high-bit-rate" since it's newer and faster.

The main difference between ADSL and VDSL, is that VDSL makes use of telephone wires until a certain point and then switches to fibre optic cables nearer to the user's location. VDSL has faster speeds and lag-free streaming, but it's not as widely available as ADSL.

Got it?

Which Wi-Fi is best in my area?

We pride ourselves on being your favourite internet shopping assistant. We've even made it easy for you to find the best Wi-Fi in your area. Simply plug your address into our coverage map to filter out the service providers and find an ISP suited to you.

Get the top internet money can buy with Best Internet. Compare deals and ISPs here.

Digital Storyteller
Aspen Henriksen
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