Keeping in Touch in South Africa

Thanks to the excellent communications infrastructure, keeping in touch in South Africa will be a breeze. While there is room for improvement, there is easy access to moderately fast internet and comprehensive mobile and fixed-line telephone networks.

Internet in South Africa

While South Africa has one of the top 100 broadband speeds in the world, it still falls below the standard of several European and Asian destinations.

ADSL is widely available in South Africa but requires a fixed phone line. Telkom (a largely state-owned enterprise) owns the physical infrastructure of telephone lines throughout the country. ADSL users must, therefore, pay Telkom for line rental and their internet service provider for network access, which can prove expensive.

The good news is that fibre, a faster and often better-value alternative, is becoming increasingly accessible in South Africa as fibre networks are extended.

Major fibre networks include Openserve (owned by Telkom), Vumatel and Frogfoot. These companies lay down and own the fibre lines in various areas. Consumers do not pay fibre companies directly but purchase fibre via an internet service provider. Cost is determined largely by speed and usage. Recommended internet service providers include Afrihost, RSAWEB and Cool Ideas.

Another option for those looking to get online fast is mobile broadband, powered by South Africa’s mobile providers.

Useful links

• Telkom
• Afrihost
• RSAWEB
• Cool Ideas

Mobile phones in South Africa

South Africa has four major mobile providers: Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom Mobile. Expats can get a pay-as-you-go SIM card if they only plan to be in South Africa for the short term. It’s common to use mobile data to access the internet in South Africa. In the past, prices have been high, but these are slowly coming down due to competition between mobile providers.

Mobile phones can be bought at numerous places, including department shops and speciality cellular phone shops. Costs are reasonable, and people from various backgrounds have mobile phones.

Expats unsure of how long they’ll be in the country should be wary of signing an extended contract – sizeable fees can be attached to early termination, although call rates may be better than pay-as-you-go options. If you’re staying in the country for two years or more, you can take advantage of one of the many competitively priced contract deals available. These usually come complete with a brand-new phone.

Television in South Africa

South Africa’s basic TV options include SABC, a public broadcaster often criticised for its lack of quality content, and eTV, a private channel that provides better news coverage but limited entertainment options.

M-Net is a paid channel with occasional good shows, but most expats prefer DSTV, the country’s largest satellite TV service. DSTV offers many international channels, including M-Net. To get satellite TV, customers must buy a decoder and pay a one-time installation fee. There are different packages available at varying monthly prices.

Streaming services are a newer addition to South Africa’s entertainment scene. The most popular ones are Netflix, Showmax, and Disney+, while Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime are also becoming increasingly popular. These platforms offer a wide range of international movies and shows, and Showmax includes some local content too.

Postal services in South Africa

The South African Post Office is the public postal service, but it is largely ineffective, with many postal offices closing nationwide. You’re better off shipping your packages using private services, which are abundant in South Africa.

The cost of these will vary depending on the size of your package and the distance. Many of these services also offer international shipping services, making it easy to send and receive goods back home.