How to test your Internet speed in South Africa

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When rating your ISP, it is important to keep in mind that your real-world Internet speeds can be impacted by more than network quality. Testing your internet speeds ensures you are getting the performance your ISP has promised. There are several reasons that your speeds may not match the package you are paying for – and not all of them are the fault of your ISP or network provider. In real-world scenarios, it is unlikely you will ever reach these respective speeds – but you can expect numbers that approach this figure. Next, you must click “Start Test” – and the tool will automatically calculate your ping, download speed, and upload speed. You should therefore perform speed tests on your home network regularly to ensure you are getting full value for your money.

  • The MyBroadband Speed Test app is powered by 10Gbps servers at vendor-neutral Teraco data centres in South Africa.
  • These packages promise impressive upload and download speeds – but not every ISP delivers upon these promises.
  • The easiest way to do this is by using the MyBroadband Speed Test app.

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The MyBroadband Speed Test app takes all of this into account and will help you understand your real-world Internet speed – and whether it matches your Internet provider’s promises. This gives you a more realistic representation of your Internet speeds in real-world conditions. This ensures that all speed tests are free from the biases of any specific ISP, instead showing your true Internet pathway. The best way to test your Internet speed in South Africa is by using the MyBroadband Speed Test app. Performing regular speed tests is the best way to ensure you are getting full value for your money from your ISP. This tool is available at speedtest.co.za or speedtest.mybroadband.co.za.

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MyBroadband Insights used data collected from the MyBroadband Speed Test app, comprising over 6.1 million speed tests performed over 4G connections during the five-year period. This app is available for free on Android, Huawei, and iOS, and gives you your real-world download speed, upload speed, and ping time. If your ISP promises 100Mbps download speeds and you’re getting 85Mbps, this is perfectly normal, but if you’re only getting 20-30Mbps, this is well below reasonable expectations. The Microsoft 365 Copilot app brings together your favorite apps in one intuitive platform that keeps your data secure with enterprise data protection.

Find your favorite apps, your files, and your inspiration with the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on the web. Other factors, such as the adoption of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6e routers that support faster data speeds, also play a role, enabling South Africans with faster line speeds to take full advantage of this capacity. These cables provide South Africa with additional capacity, leading to more resilient networks, reduced congestion during peak times, and faster Wi-Fi speeds across the board. The average upload speed climbed by 147% to hit 30.9Mbps in 2024, while the average latency was cut in half over the same period — coming in at 36.1ms for 2024. By 2024, the average download speed across the country was 36.1Mbps downloads, showing an impressive 117% improvement.

To understand if your download and upload speeds are acceptable, you must understand what speeds your ISP promised. These packages promise impressive upload and download speeds – but not every ISP delivers upon these promises. MyBroadband Insights analysed the average broadband speeds across Wi-Fi networks in South Africa for each year since 2020. All speed tests were conducted on the MyBroadband Speed Test app, which is the go-to speed test app for South Africans. Our results showed that download speeds in South Africa had improved from 37.1Mbps in 2020 to 53.5Mbps in 2024 — a 44.2% increase. After testing their network speeds — mobile or Wi-Fi — South Africans can use the app to rate the performance of their ISP.

If none of the above tips are applicable, it is time to contact your ISP. In this scenario, there are several reasons your Internet could be slow – and not all of them are your ISP or network provider’s fault. The easiest way to do this is by using the MyBroadband Speed Test app. Therefore, if you are performing a speed test on a laptop or computer, it is preferable to connect via a LAN cable to negate any Wi-Fi issues. The best way to avoid this is to turn off other devices and rerun your speed test to see what difference this makes.

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Every year, millions of South Africans daman game app run speed tests on their smartphones using the MyBroadband Speed Test app to ensure their connections are working or to see how their provider is faring. The MyBroadband Speed Test app is a popular tool used by millions of South Africans every year to test their broadband speeds. This means that the speed tests executed through the app are free from the bias of any specific Internet Service Provider. Many factors can affect these Internet speeds, such as your Internet package, router, cellular reception and how many active devices you have on your network. You must therefore take these factors into account when judging whether your Internet speeds are appropriate for the package you are on.

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  • For example, 500Mbps and 1Gbps line speeds are now available for under R1,000 per month in South Africa, and as these solutions have become more affordable, South Africans have started to opt for faster line speeds.
  • By 2024, the average download speed across the country was 36.1Mbps downloads, showing an impressive 117% improvement.
  • Local Internet package prices have decreased significantly in recent years, resulting in more South Africans being able to afford high-speed connectivity in their homes.
  • In other words, Wi-Fi speeds in South Africa improved by over 20% every year on average — with download speeds improving by an average of 22% annually and upload speeds improving by 26% annually.
  • Therefore, if you are performing a speed test on a laptop or computer, it is preferable to connect via a LAN cable to negate any Wi-Fi issues.
  • The best way to test your Internet speed in South Africa is by using the MyBroadband Speed Test app.

Another reason your speeds may not accurately reflect your Internet package is if you use Wi-Fi, rather than a wired connection. In this scenario, your speed test results would be lower than the actual amount of bandwidth being delivered by your network provider, as a speed test can only determine how much available speed you have on your network. For example, you may have many background apps running across the various devices in your home. However, if the speed test shows that you only achieved a download speed of 25Mbps, this would not be acceptable.

MyBroadband proudly displays the “FAIR” stamp of the Press Council of South Africa, indicating our commitment to adhere to the Code of Ethics for Print and online media which prescribes that our reportage is truthful, accurate and fair. No matter whether you’re considering switching networks, or just curious about what Internet options are available around your area, this information is easy to access and extremely valuable. These technologies include 3G, LTE, and 5G, and this information is available for all South African mobile network operators. Another valuable feature is the app’s ability to show users what mobile Internet technologies are available in their area.

This data is then presented in a simple and user-friendly interface without any intrusive ads for an undisturbed, seamless experience. The MyBroadband Speed Test app is the best way to measure the performance of your South African Internet connection. It is hosted at vendor-neutral data centres in Teraco, and on hosting servers that have 10Gbps capabilities.

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Local Internet package prices have decreased significantly in recent years, resulting in more South Africans being able to afford high-speed connectivity in their homes.

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This is according to new research by MyBroadband Insights, which analysed over 8.2 million Wi-Fi speed tests conducted on smartphones and computers between 2020 and 2024. MyBroadband Insights used this data to assess the performance of 4G networks across the country over the last five years. These tests provide MyBroadband Insights with a huge amount of data that gives valuable insight into broadband network performance across South Africa. Its popularity is driven by the fact that the app is free to download from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store — and it is ad-free, making it incredibly user-friendly. Instead, these tests show your true internet pathway – giving you a more realistic representation of your real-world Internet speed. The MyBroadband Speed Test app prides itself on hosting servers with 10Gbps capabilities at vendor-neutral data centres in Teraco.

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download and upload speeds

For example, if your ISP has promised you a download speed of 100Mbps, and your speed test indicates 90Mbps, this is acceptable. Give students the tools to learn and collaborate on projects together and independently, all in one place Teachers and students get access to the best tools for learning anywhere—in the classroom, remotely or in a blended environment—for free Your files and memories stay safe and secure in the cloud, with 5 GB for free and 1 TB+ if you go premium Help your students connect and achieve more together, whether in the classroom, at home, or around the globe online with collaborative tools.

In other words, Wi-Fi speeds in South Africa improved by over 20% every year on average — with download speeds improving by an average of 22% annually and upload speeds improving by 26% annually. The analysis showed that the average download speeds in 2020 were 16.6Mbps, the average upload speeds were 12.5Mbps, and the average latency (ping) was 73.9ms across South Africa. The graphs below show the average download speeds, upload speeds, and latency of 4G broadband in South Africa since 2020. Average 4G download speeds in South Africa have risen by over 40% in the last five years, upload speeds have improved by 31% over the same period, and latency has improved by 8%. You can download the app for free on Android, Huawei, and iOS, and in mere seconds, it will measure your download and upload speeds, as well as your ping time. For example, with the above package, you can expect 100Mbps download speeds and 10Mbps upload speeds.

This ensures that when you run a speed test through the MyBroadband Speed Test app, you can trust that the results are unbiased. The MyBroadband Speed Test app is powered by 10Gbps servers at vendor-neutral Teraco data centres in South Africa. Additionally, when your favourite websites load slowly, speed tests help you determine what is at fault. To use the data the app provides, you also need to understand what each of the three data points represents. It is also worth restarting your modem or router if you get a bad speed test reading, as this may fix any device-related issues that are causing lower speeds. Wi-Fi speeds are generally lower and less stable than using a LAN cable, and this can be amplified if you have an older router, or one that is not operating effectively.