Fibre Installation Explained

Fibre is currently the most reliable internet connection solution available to homes and businesses in South Africa. It uses fibre optic technology to literally transport data at the speed of light, and therefore provides superiorly fast connectivity. It’s also one of the most reliable connections that has little to no interruptions.

With these advantages, it’s no wonder why fibre is currently causing such a wave of excitement across the country!

The very first step towards getting a fibre line connected to your home or office is to ensure that the optic cables have been laid in your area. Fibre broadband is relatively new to South Africa, and while the cables have been installed in most cities, there are many residential and rural regions that are still waiting for their turn.

Your local ISPs will be able to tell you if fibre is available to your address. If they confirm that you’ll have access, then the next step is to shop around for cheap internet deals. Once you have found a perfect fibre plan that suits your budget, you can contact the relevant internet provider. This ISP will then forward you an agreement and start with the installation and activation process.  

Once you have selected a fibre plan and are happy with the contract terms supplied by the ISP, then you can place your order and activate the installation process.

Your fibre supplier will then contact you directly to arrange a suitable date and time to carry out the installation. You’ll be supplied with an average turnaround time, which is typically 2-4 weeks (sometimes sooner), and a few additional details may be requested.

Most ISPs supply their customers with a free Wi-Fi router which will be delivered to you before or during the installation. Your provider will set this router up for you and connect it to your fibre line as well as to all your devices in your home or office. Most modern routers are easy to use and set-up yourself too, so you may be given this option instead.

And just like that – you’ll have fast and reliable internet at your fingertips!  

The cost of installing a fibre line varies between different internet service providers and there is no set fee to go by. Instead, you will have to review each fibre deal to determine which option will be more affordable. However, to give you some direction, most South African ISPs bill as follows:

• One-off installation costs. If a fibre line has already been laid from outside your property into your home or office, then you shouldn’t have to pay a cable installation fee. This cost will have been covered by the previous property owner or lessee. If the cable has not yet been directed to your property, then most ISPs charge an average of R1500-R2000 as a one-off cost.

• One-off activation costs. Some ISPs will request an upfront activation cost while others will work this into your contract. The activation fee is generally no more than R1000.

• Set-up costs. The set-up costs typically refer to the router you are issued and its configuration. Sometimes this fee will be included in the activation fee, although, most ISPs advertise the inclusion of a router and its set-up as “free”. 

• Contractual fees. Most ISPs in South Africa run on 12 to 24-month contracts. The monthly fees will vary between packages. Sometimes, the monthly contract fee will include installation/activation/set-up costs so that these payments do not have to be made upfront.

If you are in doubt as to whether a fibre connection is for you, then allow us to share some “food for thought”:

1. Fibre costs less than data bundles (in terms of value for money).
2. A fibre line will increase the selling-price of your home or office.
3. It’s a stable connection-type that’s not vulnerable to extreme weather conditions.
4. The optic cables are not affected by other radio frequencies or communications.
5. Fibre optic lines are a more environmentally friendly alternative to DSL copper cables.
6. It’s currently the fastest internet connection available for home use.
7. The installation process is quick and generally hassle-free.

Shopping for internet deals can be overwhelming. There are so many options to choose from and the chore of contacting or researching each ISP for a quote can be tedious. But that’s where we can help! We invite you to use our free internet comparison tool. Simply fill in just a few details and we’ll do the administrative work for you. Within minutes, we’ll provide you with a list of cheap fibre deals to compare.