30 Mbps ↓ / 30 Mbps ↑
Openserve 30/30
R439
Per Month
Cheapest via Webafrica
R14.63 per Mbps · symmetrical
- Uncapped & unshaped
- Symmetrical upload and download
- Cheapest on this tier via Webafrica
- Month-to-Month
- Promo rate - reverts to R539
Network Review · Updated 2026
Openserve Fibre
South Africa's largest open-access fibre network. 147 000 km of buried glass, 3 million+ connected homes and 200+ ISPs to choose from. Here's the complete, no-fluff guide.
Last reviewed
Reviewed by
Fastest Fibre editorial team
Independent & reader-funded
Best Openserve pick · Webafrica TrustPilot 4.4 · 14k+ reviews
on
1000/500 Mbps uncapped fibre
The sharpest R/Mbps in the current Webafrica Openserve catalogue — R1.55/Mbps, with free install and free Wi-Fi router included.
- Free standard install
- Free Wi-Fi router
- 14-day install guarantee
- Month-to-month
Live Deals · Webafrica
Webafrica Openserve Deals
Live Openserve uncapped fibre packages from Webafrica - South Africa's largest open-access fibre network. All sign-ups are routed via the verified affiliate link.
Prices checked 12 October 2026 · price-per-Mbps shown on every deal
Showing 10 deals
Cheapest
30/30 Mbps Uncapped
Openserve · Symmetrical
R539pm
R439pm
R14.63/Mbps
What's free
- Free standard installation
- Free Wi-Fi router
2nd cheapest
50/25 Mbps Uncapped
Openserve · Asymmetrical
R719pm
R619pm
R12.38/Mbps
What's free
- Free standard installation
- Free Wi-Fi router
3rd cheapest
50/50 Mbps Uncapped
Openserve · Symmetrical
R819pm
R16.38/Mbps
What's free
- Free standard installation
- Free Wi-Fi router
100/50 Mbps Uncapped
Openserve · Asymmetrical
R879pm
R8.79/Mbps
What's free
- Free standard installation
- Free Wi-Fi router
100/100 Mbps Uncapped
Openserve · Symmetrical
R959pm
R9.59/Mbps
What's free
- Free standard installation
- Free Wi-Fi router
200/100 Mbps Uncapped
Openserve · Asymmetrical
R1079pm
R5.39/Mbps
What's free
- Free standard installation
- Free Wi-Fi router
200/200 Mbps Uncapped
Openserve · Symmetrical
R1139pm
R5.70/Mbps
What's free
- Free standard installation
- Free Wi-Fi router
300/150 Mbps Uncapped
Openserve · Asymmetrical
R1209pm
R4.03/Mbps
What's free
- Free standard installation
- Free Wi-Fi router
500/250 Mbps Uncapped
Openserve · Asymmetrical
R1339pm
R2.68/Mbps
What's free
- Free standard installation
- Free Wi-Fi router
1000/500 Mbps Uncapped
Openserve · Asymmetrical
R1549pm
R1.55/Mbps
What's free
- Free standard installation
- Free Wi-Fi router
Webafrica ISP
Openserve Network
30/30 Mbps Uncapped
Download
30 Mbps
Upload
30 Mbps
Data
Uncapped
Contract
Month-to-Month
✓ Free standard installation✓ Free Wi-Fi router
R539pm
R439
per month
R14.63/Mbps
Webafrica ISP
Openserve Network
50/25 Mbps Uncapped
2nd cheapest
Download
50 Mbps
Upload
25 Mbps
Data
Uncapped
Contract
Month-to-Month
✓ Free standard installation✓ Free Wi-Fi router
R719pm
R619
per month
R12.38/Mbps
Webafrica ISP
Openserve Network
50/50 Mbps Uncapped
3rd cheapest
Download
50 Mbps
Upload
50 Mbps
Data
Uncapped
Contract
Month-to-Month
✓ Free standard installation✓ Free Wi-Fi router
R819
per month
R16.38/Mbps
Webafrica ISP
Openserve Network
100/50 Mbps Uncapped
Download
100 Mbps
Upload
50 Mbps
Data
Uncapped
Contract
Month-to-Month
✓ Free standard installation✓ Free Wi-Fi router
R879
per month
R8.79/Mbps
Webafrica ISP
Openserve Network
100/100 Mbps Uncapped
Download
100 Mbps
Upload
100 Mbps
Data
Uncapped
Contract
Month-to-Month
✓ Free standard installation✓ Free Wi-Fi router
R959
per month
R9.59/Mbps
Webafrica ISP
Openserve Network
200/100 Mbps Uncapped
Download
200 Mbps
Upload
100 Mbps
Data
Uncapped
Contract
Month-to-Month
✓ Free standard installation✓ Free Wi-Fi router
R1079
per month
R5.39/Mbps
Webafrica ISP
Openserve Network
200/200 Mbps Uncapped
Download
200 Mbps
Upload
200 Mbps
Data
Uncapped
Contract
Month-to-Month
✓ Free standard installation✓ Free Wi-Fi router
R1139
per month
R5.70/Mbps
Webafrica ISP
Openserve Network
300/150 Mbps Uncapped
Download
300 Mbps
Upload
150 Mbps
Data
Uncapped
Contract
Month-to-Month
✓ Free standard installation✓ Free Wi-Fi router
R1209
per month
R4.03/Mbps
Webafrica ISP
Openserve Network
500/250 Mbps Uncapped
Download
500 Mbps
Upload
250 Mbps
Data
Uncapped
Contract
Month-to-Month
✓ Free standard installation✓ Free Wi-Fi router
R1339
per month
R2.68/Mbps
Webafrica ISP
Openserve Network
1000/500 Mbps Uncapped
Download
1000 Mbps
Upload
500 Mbps
Data
Uncapped
Contract
Month-to-Month
✓ Free standard installation✓ Free Wi-Fi router
R1549
per month
R1.55/Mbps
Showing 10 of 10 deals · Prices indicative · Sign-up via the listed ISP · Affiliate links may earn us a commission on referrals
The Network
What is Openserve?
South Africa's largest open-access fibre network
Openserve is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Telkom SA and the largest fibre network operator (FNO) in South Africa. Unlike an internet service provider, Openserve does not sell internet directly to the public. Instead, the company builds and maintains the underlying fibre infrastructure - the trenches, ducts, splice cabinets and Optical Network Terminals - then leases that capacity to a wide ecosystem of retail ISPs.
That open-access model is the single most important thing to understand about Openserve. Whether you sign up with Webafrica, Afrihost, RSAWeb, Cool Ideas, Axxess, MWEB, Mitsol, Vox, Cybersmart, Home-Connect or Telkom themselves, the cable in the ground is the same. What changes is the price, the support experience, the router quality and the value-added bundles each ISP layers on top.
Uncapped, unshaped, and built for the long haul
With more than 147 000 kilometres of fibre optic cable already in service, Openserve reaches over 3 million customers in major metros, secondary cities, townships and gated estates from Cape Town to Polokwane. The company continues to roll out hundreds of kilometres of new cable every month, including aggressive expansion in previously under-served areas.
Every Openserve home package is uncapped, unshaped and unthrottled. There are no fair-use policies, no peak-time slow-downs and no surprise data caps. Plans start at 30/30 Mbps and currently scale up to 1000/500 Mbps, with the fastest fully symmetrical tier at 200/200 - more than enough for 4K streaming on multiple TVs, professional video calls, cloud backups, competitive gaming and a smart-home full of always-on devices.
147 000 km
Of fibre cable laid across South Africa
3 million+
Active homes and businesses connected
200+
Internet Service Providers on the network
1000/500 Mbps
Top residential tier (fastest symmetrical: 200/200)
Open access
No exclusivity, switch ISPs anytime
Best FNO 2026
Independently rated #1 in South Africa
Who it's for
Connecting Everyone
From a single flat to a sprawling lifestyle estate, from a one-person consultancy to a national retailer, Openserve has a route to your front door - and a partner ecosystem to deliver the experience.
Connecting your home
Getting Openserve into your home is straightforward. Start by entering your address on a coverage checker - if you're lit up, you can usually pick from 30 or more ISP packages competing for your business. Once you choose a plan, an Openserve technician arrives, drills a small entry point, runs the fibre from the nearest pole or kerb, and mounts an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) inside your home. Your ISP then ships a router, and within a few days you're online with uncapped, unshaped fibre.
- Once-off install fees are set by the ISP, not the network - compare them
- No exclusivity - change ISP whenever you want
- Speeds from 30/30 Mbps to 1000/500 Mbps
- ONT mounted inside the home, neat and tidy
Connecting your business
Openserve runs dedicated business products built for SMBs, enterprise and government. Business fibre includes higher service-level agreements, faster mean-time-to-repair, prioritised fault handling and the option of dedicated symmetrical bandwidth instead of best-effort residential speeds. The company invests continuously in next-generation transport, MPLS and IP/MPLS-VPN solutions so that even branches in remote locations can plug into the same backbone that powers banks, retailers and cloud providers.
- Business-grade SLAs and uptime targets
- Symmetrical speeds for VoIP, video and SaaS
- Layer-2 and Layer-3 corporate connectivity
- Bundled voice and managed services available
Connecting your estate
Homeowners' associations and body corporates love Openserve because the infrastructure is installed at zero cost to the estate. There's no exclusivity contract, which means residents are never locked into a single ISP. Openserve engages directly with the HOA, conducts a site survey, plans the duct routing, installs ONTs in each unit and hands over a fully tested, activated network. The result is a future-proof amenity that adds resale value and lets every household choose their own deal.
- Free fibre infrastructure for HOAs
- Open access - every resident picks their own ISP
- No long-term lock-in or kickback clauses
- Tailored installation that respects estate aesthetics
Connecting your customers
If you're a wholesale partner, reseller or international carrier, Openserve provides the broadband, data and voice products you need to build commercial offerings. The wholesale division supports new-entrant ISPs with onboarding, technical integration, billing systems and product training. International operators can land traffic in South Africa and reach end users on the country's most extensive last-mile footprint - without having to build any of it themselves.
- Wholesale broadband, voice and transit
- Dedicated channel and partner support
- API-driven provisioning for modern ISPs
- Reach into 800+ exchanges nationally
Pricing
Every Openserve speed tier
One card per Openserve FTTH speed tier, showing the cheapest ISP we hold a verified price for. Openserve sets the network; the ISPs set the price, and the spread is wide - at 1 Gbps it runs from R1 549 to R2 499 depending on who you buy from.
Prices checked 12 October 2026. Monthly-billed packages only; pre-paid passes are priced per pass, not per month, and are excluded from per-month figures.
50 Mbps ↓ / 25 Mbps ↑
Openserve 50/25
R599
Per Month
Cheapest via MWeb
R11.98 per Mbps
- Uncapped & unshaped
- Upload capped at 25 Mbps
- Cheapest on this tier via MWeb
- Month-to-Month
- Promo rate - reverts to R749
50 Mbps ↓ / 50 Mbps ↑
Openserve 50/50
R709
Per Month
Cheapest via MWeb
R14.18 per Mbps · symmetrical
- Uncapped & unshaped
- Symmetrical upload and download
- Cheapest on this tier via MWeb
- Month-to-Month
- Promo rate - reverts to R859
75 Mbps ↓ / 75 Mbps ↑
Openserve 75/75
R845
Per Month
Cheapest via RSAweb
R11.27 per Mbps · symmetrical
- Uncapped & unshaped
- Symmetrical upload and download
- Cheapest on this tier via RSAweb
- Month-to-Month
100 Mbps ↓ / 50 Mbps ↑
Openserve 100/50
R789
Per Month
Cheapest via MWeb
R7.89 per Mbps
- Uncapped & unshaped
- Upload capped at 50 Mbps
- Cheapest on this tier via MWeb
- Month-to-Month
- Promo rate - reverts to R939
100 Mbps ↓ / 100 Mbps ↑
Openserve 100/100
R879
Per Month
Cheapest via MWeb
R8.79 per Mbps · symmetrical
- Uncapped & unshaped
- Symmetrical upload and download
- Cheapest on this tier via MWeb
- Month-to-Month
- Promo rate - reverts to R1 029
200 Mbps ↓ / 100 Mbps ↑
Openserve 200/100
R959
Per Month
Cheapest via MWeb
R4.79 per Mbps
- Uncapped & unshaped
- Upload capped at 100 Mbps
- Cheapest on this tier via MWeb
- Month-to-Month
- Promo rate - reverts to R1 109
200 Mbps ↓ / 200 Mbps ↑
Openserve 200/200
R1 079
Per Month
Cheapest via MWeb
R5.39 per Mbps · symmetrical
- Uncapped & unshaped
- Symmetrical upload and download
- Cheapest on this tier via MWeb
- Month-to-Month
- Promo rate - reverts to R1 229
300 Mbps ↓ / 150 Mbps ↑
Openserve 300/150
R1 159
Per Month
Cheapest via MWeb
R3.86 per Mbps
- Uncapped & unshaped
- Upload capped at 150 Mbps
- Cheapest on this tier via MWeb
- Month-to-Month
- Promo rate - reverts to R1 309
500 Mbps ↓ / 250 Mbps ↑
Openserve 500/250
R1 339
Per Month
Cheapest via Webafrica
R2.68 per Mbps
- Uncapped & unshaped
- Upload capped at 250 Mbps
- Cheapest on this tier via Webafrica
- Month-to-Month
1000 Mbps ↓ / 500 Mbps ↑
Openserve 1000/500
R1 549
Per Month
Cheapest via Webafrica
R1.55 per Mbps
- Uncapped & unshaped
- Upload capped at 500 Mbps
- Cheapest on this tier via Webafrica
- Month-to-Month
Head to head
Openserve vs Vumatel
South Africa's two biggest fibre networks compete on price, speed and footprint. Vumatel tends to dominate in dense suburban Johannesburg and parts of Cape Town, while Openserve has the broader national reach. Every figure below is the cheapest monthly line we hold a verified price for on that network at that tier - green marks the cheaper network where both sell it, and a dash means that network has no line at that tier at all.
| Speed tier | Vumatel | Openserve | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30/30 Mbpssymmetrical | R409 via Vox | R439 via Webafrica | R30 |
| 50/25 Mbps | R505 via Vox | R599 via MWeb | R94 |
| 50/50 Mbpssymmetrical | R590 via Vox | R709 via MWeb | R119 |
| 75/75 Mbpssymmetrical | — | R845 via RSAweb | — |
| 100/50 Mbps | R695 via Vox | R789 via MWeb | R94 |
| 100/100 Mbpssymmetrical | R795 via Vox | R879 via MWeb | R84 |
| 200/100 Mbps | — | R959 via MWeb | — |
| 200/200 Mbpssymmetrical | R1 009 via Webafrica | R1 079 via MWeb | R70 |
| 300/150 Mbps | — | R1 159 via MWeb | — |
| 500/200 Mbps | R1 095 via Vox | — | — |
| 500/250 Mbps | — | R1 339 via Webafrica | — |
| 1000/250 Mbps | R1 195 via Vox | — | — |
| 1000/500 Mbps | R2 150 via Vox | R1 549 via Webafrica | R601 |
What a year on Openserve actually costs
Advertised monthly price and twelve-month cost of ownership are different rankings on this network, because the once-off fee and the promo step-up are set by the ISP rather than by Openserve.
What the advertised rate impliesWhat year one actually costs
| # | Package | Advertised | Reverts to | Once-off | 12-month total | Effective /mo | Rank on cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MwebOpenserve · 30/30 Mbps | R439 | R539after 3 mo | not stated | R6 168 | R514+R900 vs advertised | 2 |
| 2 | WebafricaOpenserve · 30/30 Mbps | R439 | R539after 2 mo | R249 | R6 517 | R543+R1 249 vs advertised | 5 |
| 3 | VoxOpenserve · 30/30 Mbps | R450 | R509after 2 mo | R230 | R6 220 | R518+R820 vs advertised | 3 |
| 4 | AfrihostOpenserve · 30/30 Mbps | R497 | — | R0 | R5 964 | R497 | 1 |
| 5 | RSAwebOpenserve · 30/30 Mbps | R505 | — | R250 | R6 310 | R526+R250 vs advertised | 4 |
| 6 | MwebOpenserve · 50/25 Mbps | R599 | R749after 3 mo | not stated | R8 538 | R712+R1 350 vs advertised | 7 |
| 7 | WebafricaOpenserve · 50/25 Mbps | R619 | R719after 2 mo | R249 | R8 677 | R723+R1 249 vs advertised | 9 |
| 8 | VoxOpenserve · 50/25 Mbps | R650 | R719after 3 mo | R230 | R8 651 | R721+R851 vs advertised | 8 |
| 9 | AfrihostOpenserve · 50/25 Mbps | R697 | — | R0 | R8 364 | R697 | 6 |
| 10 | MwebOpenserve · 50/50 Mbps | R709 | R859after 3 mo | not stated | R9 858 | R822+R1 350 vs advertised | 14outside the top 10 |
A once-off installation or activation charge is paid once, so it weighs on year one and not on year two. Where a line wins on the advertised rate but loses over twelve months, check how long you expect to keep it, and compare on effective monthly cost rather than on the headline. Next: every Openserve deal we track, sortable.
Choose your ISP
Top ISPs on the Openserve Network
Because Openserve is open-access, more than 200 retail providers compete for your sign-up. Pricing on identical line speeds can differ by R150 or more between ISPs, and the support experience varies dramatically. Here are some of the most popular Openserve resellers in South Africa, with a quick honest note on what each is known for.
Webafrica
Editor's PickAggressive promo pricing, free first month often included.
See Webafrica dealsAfrihost
Tiered Pure plans, well-known brand, solid app and support.
RSAWeb
Premium feel, capped and uncapped options, Cape Town favourite.
Cool Ideas
Power-user darling, gaming-friendly routing and peering.
Axxess
Veteran ISP with flexible month-to-month plans.
MWEB
Long-standing brand with bundled email and security extras.
Vox
Strong on business fibre, voice and managed services.
Cybersmart
Symmetrical Faster Internet plans, no contracts.
Home-Connect
Promo-driven Openserve packages with frequent specials.
Telkom
Network owner - bundled mobile and voice on-net pricing.
Mitsol
Boutique ISP with attentive support and clean billing.
Supersonic
MTN-owned, expanding rapidly across Openserve coverage.
Step by step
How Openserve Fibre Works
Going from "interested" to "browsing at full speed" usually takes between 7 and 21 days. Here is what actually happens behind the scenes.
- STEP 1
Network roll-out
Openserve and its accredited construction partners trench, mole and aerial-string fibre cable street by street. New suburbs are typically lit up in waves over a few months, with feeder cabinets installed along main routes to act as aggregation points for the surrounding homes.
- STEP 2
Coverage check & ISP choice
You enter your address into a coverage checker (Openserve's own, or any partner ISP's) to confirm your line is ready for activation. With over 200 ISPs riding the same physical infrastructure, the smart move is to compare two or three options on price, support reputation and contract length before committing.
- STEP 3
Installation appointment
Once you order, your ISP places the request with Openserve. A technician contacts you to schedule a 2–4 hour installation window. They run a single fibre strand from the kerb or pole into your home, drill a discreet entry point, and mount a small white Optical Network Terminal (ONT) on an internal wall near a power outlet.
- STEP 4
Router & activation
Your ISP ships a Wi-Fi router (free on most contracts) pre-configured with your account credentials. Plug it into the ONT with the supplied patch cable, switch it on, and within minutes you're live with uncapped, unshaped fibre at the speed you ordered. Most ISPs include a free 30-day trial period to confirm you're happy with the line.
Choose well
Finding the right speed
Buying too little fibre is annoying. Buying too much is expensive. The trick is matching your line to how you actually use the internet - number of devices, streaming habits, gaming, work-from-home, smart-home gear and how patient your housemates are. Use this quick guide as a sanity check before you click "subscribe".
25 – 50 Mbps
Singles & couples
Browsing, social media, HD streaming on one or two screens, light video calls. The cheapest entry point into fibre and a major upgrade from any LTE or ADSL line.
100 Mbps
Average families
Multiple 4K streams at the same time, console gaming, smart-home cameras and remote work for one or two adults. The sweet spot for most South African households in 2026.
200 – 300 Mbps
Power users & teens
Game downloads in minutes instead of hours, simultaneous video conferencing across the house, cloud photo backups in the background. Symmetrical-friendly uploads make a noticeable difference here.
500 Mbps – 1 Gbps
Creators & pros
Studio-grade upload speeds for video editors, photographers, software developers pushing large repositories, and households with 20+ connected devices. Future-proofs you for the next 5 years.
Openserve FAQ
Everything customers ask before signing up.
Yes - and the data backs it up. Openserve was independently named South Africa's Best Fibre Network Operator in 2025 and 2026, scoring highly on uptime, line stability and fault resolution times. There is a long-running debate on forums like MyBroadband about Openserve vs Vumatel, and the honest answer is that both are excellent. Openserve tends to have the edge on stability and national reach, while Vumatel often wins on raw price in the suburbs where it dominates.
It depends entirely on the ISP, not on the contract length. Of the 49 monthly Openserve lines we track, 39 publish a once-off fee and it runs R0 to R250 - Afrihost charges nothing. The other 10 do not state one where we can read it, which is not the same as it being free, so check at sign-up. Routers are generally free to use rather than free to own and stay the ISP's property. If your home needs a non-standard installation (long cable runs, multiple drilling points, aerial work) the technician will quote any extras before starting.
If your address is already lit and an ONT is mounted, activation can happen within 3 to 7 working days. A brand-new installation where the technician must run cable into your home typically takes 7 to 21 days from order to first byte. Estate roll-outs and complex installs can take longer.
Yes. The fibre belongs to Openserve, not your ISP. You can move from Webafrica to Afrihost to RSAWeb without a new installation, without a new router (in most cases) and without your ONT being touched. Most ISPs will manage the porting for you and aim for a same-day cutover.
The fibre line itself stays live during power outages because Openserve's exchanges and active equipment run on backup batteries and generators. To keep your home connected you need backup power for two devices: the ONT on the wall and your Wi-Fi router. A small inverter or UPS rated 600 VA upwards will keep both running for 4 to 8 hours, which is enough to ride out most stages of load-shedding.
Symmetrical means upload and download speeds are equal - for example 100/100 Mbps. Asymmetrical means upload is slower than download, typically half - for example 100/50 Mbps. Symmetrical is better for video calls, large file uploads, cloud backups and hosting anything from home. For pure consumption (Netflix, browsing, gaming) asymmetrical is usually fine and often a few rand cheaper.
Your B-number (sometimes called a circuit or service number) is the unique identifier Openserve assigns to your physical line. You'll find it on your ISP welcome email, in your account portal, on the sticker on your ONT and on any fault ticket. Quoting it speeds up support enormously.
No, the line stays with the property. You'll cancel the service at your old address and place a new order at your new address. If both homes are on Openserve you can usually transfer your account and keep the same ISP and package without breaking your contract.
Open access
Get Openserve through these ISPs
Openserve doesn't sell direct - you sign up through an ISP that resells the same line. Same cable, different price, router and support. Compare what each ISP offers on Openserve before you commit.
Webafrica
Entry-level 30/30 Mbps uncapped from R439 with free router and standard install - the highest-rated ISP on the network.
See Webafrica on OpenserveAfrihost
Pure Fibre plans on month-to-month terms, backed by Afrihost's award-winning app and support.
See Afrihost on OpenserveMWeb
Promo-led pricing and a free-to-use router across Openserve's national footprint.
See MWeb on OpenserveRSAweb Prepaid
Prepaid Openserve fibre - pay a month at a time with no debit order and no contract.
See RSAweb on OpenserveReady for Openserve at home?
Check coverage at your address and compare every Openserve deal from every ISP - in seconds. No spam, no commitment, just real prices.
Openserve fibre from R439/moView packages