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    FastestFibre.co.za
    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.

    Excited young boy wearing gaming headset enjoying fast Openserve fibre internet
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    Fastest Fibre editorial team
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    Methodology
    How we test & rank SA fibre
    Live pricing · address-level coverage
    Best Openserve pick · Webafrica TrustPilot 4.4 · 14k+ reviews
    WebafricaonOpenserve

    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
    From
    R1549
    / month
    Check availability
    Opens Webafrica · address coverage check
    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 1 November 2026 · price-per-Mbps shown on every deal

    Showing 10 deals
    Cheapest
    Webafrica
    30/30 Mbps Uncapped
    Openserve · Symmetrical
    R539pm
    R439pm
    R14.63/Mbps
    What's free
    • Free standard installation
    • Free Wi-Fi router
    Check Availability
    2nd cheapest
    Webafrica
    50/25 Mbps Uncapped
    Openserve · Asymmetrical
    R719pm
    R619pm
    R12.38/Mbps
    What's free
    • Free standard installation
    • Free Wi-Fi router
    Check Availability
    3rd cheapest
    Webafrica
    50/50 Mbps Uncapped
    Openserve · Symmetrical
    R819pm
    R16.38/Mbps
    What's free
    • Free standard installation
    • Free Wi-Fi router
    Check Availability
    Webafrica
    100/50 Mbps Uncapped
    Openserve · Asymmetrical
    R879pm
    R8.79/Mbps
    What's free
    • Free standard installation
    • Free Wi-Fi router
    Check Availability
    Webafrica
    100/100 Mbps Uncapped
    Openserve · Symmetrical
    R959pm
    R9.59/Mbps
    What's free
    • Free standard installation
    • Free Wi-Fi router
    Check Availability
    Webafrica
    200/100 Mbps Uncapped
    Openserve · Asymmetrical
    R1079pm
    R5.39/Mbps
    What's free
    • Free standard installation
    • Free Wi-Fi router
    Check Availability
    Webafrica
    200/200 Mbps Uncapped
    Openserve · Symmetrical
    R1139pm
    R5.70/Mbps
    What's free
    • Free standard installation
    • Free Wi-Fi router
    Check Availability
    Webafrica
    300/150 Mbps Uncapped
    Openserve · Asymmetrical
    R1209pm
    R4.03/Mbps
    What's free
    • Free standard installation
    • Free Wi-Fi router
    Check Availability
    Webafrica
    500/250 Mbps Uncapped
    Openserve · Asymmetrical
    R1339pm
    R2.68/Mbps
    What's free
    • Free standard installation
    • Free Wi-Fi router
    Check Availability
    Webafrica
    1000/500 Mbps Uncapped
    Openserve · Asymmetrical
    R1549pm
    R1.55/Mbps
    What's free
    • Free standard installation
    • Free Wi-Fi router
    Check Availability

    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.

    Glowing neon green fibre network globe representing Openserve's nationwide footprint
    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 R997 to R2 499 depending on who you buy from.

    Prices checked 2 November 2026. Monthly-billed packages only; pre-paid passes are priced per pass, not per month, and are excluded from per-month figures.

    30 Mbps ↓ / 30 Mbps ↑

    Openserve 30/30

    R437
    Per Month

    Cheapest via RSAweb

    R14.57 per Mbps · symmetrical

    • Uncapped & unshaped
    • Symmetrical upload and download
    • Cheapest on this tier via RSAweb
    • Month-to-Month
    • Promo rate - reverts to R495
    Check Availability
    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
    Check Availability
    50 Mbps ↓ / 50 Mbps ↑

    Openserve 50/50

    R647
    Per Month

    Cheapest via RSAweb

    R12.94 per Mbps · symmetrical

    • Uncapped & unshaped
    • Symmetrical upload and download
    • Cheapest on this tier via RSAweb
    • Month-to-Month
    • Promo rate - reverts to R795
    Check Availability
    75 Mbps ↓ / 75 Mbps ↑

    Openserve 75/75

    R647
    Per Month

    Cheapest via RSAweb

    R8.63 per Mbps · symmetrical

    • Uncapped & unshaped
    • Symmetrical upload and download
    • Cheapest on this tier via RSAweb
    • Month-to-Month
    • Promo rate - reverts to R835
    Check Availability
    100 Mbps ↓ / 50 Mbps ↑

    Openserve 100/50

    R777
    Per Month

    Cheapest via RSAweb

    R7.77 per Mbps

    • Uncapped & unshaped
    • Upload capped at 50 Mbps
    • Cheapest on this tier via RSAweb
    • Month-to-Month
    • Promo rate - reverts to R885
    Check Availability
    100 Mbps ↓ / 100 Mbps ↑

    Openserve 100/100

    R777
    Per Month

    Cheapest via RSAweb

    R7.77 per Mbps · symmetrical

    • Uncapped & unshaped
    • Symmetrical upload and download
    • Cheapest on this tier via RSAweb
    • Month-to-Month
    • Promo rate - reverts to R995
    Check Availability
    200 Mbps ↓ / 100 Mbps ↑

    Openserve 200/100

    R897
    Per Month

    Cheapest via RSAweb

    R4.49 per Mbps

    • Uncapped & unshaped
    • Upload capped at 100 Mbps
    • Cheapest on this tier via RSAweb
    • Month-to-Month
    • Promo rate - reverts to R1 145
    Check Availability
    200 Mbps ↓ / 200 Mbps ↑

    Openserve 200/200

    R947
    Per Month

    Cheapest via RSAweb

    R4.74 per Mbps · symmetrical

    • Uncapped & unshaped
    • Symmetrical upload and download
    • Cheapest on this tier via RSAweb
    • Month-to-Month
    • Promo rate - reverts to R1 185
    Check Availability
    300 Mbps ↓ / 150 Mbps ↑

    Openserve 300/150

    R997
    Per Month

    Cheapest via RSAweb

    R3.32 per Mbps

    • Uncapped & unshaped
    • Upload capped at 150 Mbps
    • Cheapest on this tier via RSAweb
    • Month-to-Month
    • Promo rate - reverts to R1 285
    Check Availability
    500 Mbps ↓ / 250 Mbps ↑

    Openserve 500/250

    R997
    Per Month

    Cheapest via RSAweb

    R1.99 per Mbps

    • Uncapped & unshaped
    • Upload capped at 250 Mbps
    • Cheapest on this tier via RSAweb
    • Month-to-Month
    • Promo rate - reverts to R1 445
    Check Availability
    Best Value
    1000 Mbps ↓ / 500 Mbps ↑

    Openserve 1000/500

    R997
    Per Month

    Cheapest via RSAweb

    R1.00 per Mbps

    • Uncapped & unshaped
    • Upload capped at 500 Mbps
    • Cheapest on this tier via RSAweb
    • Month-to-Month
    • Promo rate - reverts to R1 695
    Check Availability
    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.

    Cheapest monthly line at every speed tier either network sells, per network, with the ISP that sells it. Of the 7 tiers both networks carry, Vumatel is cheaper on 6 and Openserve on 1. Source: FastestFibre deal tracking across 685 monthly-billed packages. Monthly-billed packages only; pre-paid passes are priced per pass, not per month, and are excluded from per-month figures. Prices checked 2 November 2026.
    Speed tierVumatelOpenserveGap
    30/30 MbpssymmetricalR399 via RSAwebR437 via RSAwebR38
    50/25 MbpsR489 via RSAwebR599 via MWebR110
    50/50 MbpssymmetricalR489 via RSAwebR647 via RSAwebR158
    75/75 Mbpssymmetrical—R647 via RSAweb—
    100/50 MbpsR439 via RSAwebR777 via RSAwebR338
    100/100 MbpssymmetricalR439 via RSAwebR777 via RSAwebR338
    200/100 Mbps—R897 via RSAweb—
    200/200 MbpssymmetricalR539 via RSAwebR947 via RSAwebR408
    300/150 Mbps—R997 via RSAweb—
    500/200 MbpsR699 via RSAweb——
    500/250 Mbps—R997 via RSAweb—
    1000/250 MbpsR699 via RSAweb——
    1000/500 MbpsR1 899 via RSAwebR997 via RSAwebR902
    Cheapest monthly line at every speed tier either network sells, per network, with the ISP that sells it. Of the 7 tiers both networks carry, Vumatel is cheaper on 6 and Openserve on 1. Source: FastestFibre deal tracking across 685 monthly-billed packages. Monthly-billed packages only; pre-paid passes are priced per pass, not per month, and are excluded from per-month figures. Prices checked 2 November 2026.

    What Openserve actually costs to own

    Advertised monthly price and 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. Over 24 months that gap decides 8 of the 10 contested tiers on the network.

    What the 10 cheapest advertised fibre packages imply year one costs, against what it actually costsRSAweb30/30 MbpsR5 244 impliedR6 074 actualMweb30/30 MbpsR5 268 impliedR6 417 actualWebafrica30/30 MbpsR5 268 impliedR6 517 actualVox30/30 MbpsR5 400 impliedR6 220 actualAfrihost30/30 MbpsR5 964 impliedR5 964 actualMweb50/25 MbpsR7 188 impliedR8 787 actualWebafrica50/25 MbpsR7 428 impliedR8 677 actualRSAweb50/50 MbpsR7 764 impliedR9 494 actualRSAweb75/75 MbpsR7 764 impliedR9 894 actualVox50/25 MbpsR7 800 impliedR8 651 actual
    What the advertised rate impliesWhat year one actually costs
    What the 10 cheapest advertised fibre packages imply year one costs, against what it actually costs
    #PackageAdvertisedReverts toOnce-off12-month totalEffective /moRank on cost
    1RSAwebOpenserve · 30/30 MbpsR437R495after 2 moR250R6 074R506+R830 vs advertised2
    2MwebOpenserve · 30/30 MbpsR439R539after 3 moR249R6 417R535+R1 149 vs advertised4
    3WebafricaOpenserve · 30/30 MbpsR439R539after 2 moR249R6 517R543+R1 249 vs advertised5
    4VoxOpenserve · 30/30 MbpsR450R509after 2 moR230R6 220R518+R820 vs advertised3
    5AfrihostOpenserve · 30/30 MbpsR497—R0R5 964R4971
    6MwebOpenserve · 50/25 MbpsR599R749after 3 moR249R8 787R732+R1 599 vs advertised10
    7WebafricaOpenserve · 50/25 MbpsR619R719after 2 moR249R8 677R723+R1 249 vs advertised9
    8RSAwebOpenserve · 50/50 MbpsR647R795after 2 moR250R9 494R791+R1 730 vs advertised11outside the top 10
    9RSAwebOpenserve · 75/75 MbpsR647R835after 2 moR250R9 894R825+R2 130 vs advertised14outside the top 10
    10VoxOpenserve · 50/25 MbpsR650R719after 3 moR230R8 651R721+R851 vs advertised8

    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.

    Source: FastestFibre deal tracking, computed from the 49 monthly-billed packages we track. Ranking by advertised monthly price and ranking by what year one actually costs are not the same ordering: 2 of these 10 cheapest-advertised lines fall outside the 10 cheapest to own over 12 months, and 10 change position. The widest gap is RSAweb on Openserve (75/75 Mbps Uncapped), advertised at R647/month but R9 894 over 12 months — R2 130 more than the advertised rate implies. Totals charge the promotional rate for the months it runs, the standing rate thereafter, and the once-off fee where the operator publishes one. Monthly-billed packages only; pre-paid passes are priced per pass, not per month, and are excluded from per-month figures. As of 1 November 2026.
    Cheapest to own, 24 months
    R11 928
    Afrihost · 30/30 Mbps Uncapped
    Lowest advertised rate, same term
    R12 014
    RSAweb at R437/mo advertised
    Tiers that reverse over the term
    8 of 10
    contested tiers where the cheapest sticker is not the cheapest line
    RSAweb: cheapest sticker vs cheapest line
    9 vs 2
    tiers where it advertises least, against tiers where it actually costs least over 24 months
    Source: FastestFibre deal tracking, from each ISP's own published rate card. The same Openserve line costed over 24 months across five sellers, with each ISP's promo reversion and once-off included. Computed from 49 monthly-billed Openserve FTTH lines. Openserve Web Connect is a separate and cheaper product and is not in these figures. As of 1 November 2026.
    Source: FastestFibre deal tracking, from each ISP's own published rate card. The same Openserve line costed over 24 months across five sellers, with each ISP's promo reversion and once-off included. Computed from 49 monthly-billed Openserve FTTH lines. Openserve Web Connect is a separate and cheaper product and is not in these figures. As of 1 November 2026.
    MetricValueDetail
    Cheapest to own, 24 monthsR11 928Afrihost · 30/30 Mbps Uncapped
    Lowest advertised rate, same termR12 014RSAweb at R437/mo advertised
    Tiers that reverse over the term8 of 10contested tiers where the cheapest sticker is not the cheapest line
    RSAweb: cheapest sticker vs cheapest line9 vs 2tiers where it advertises least, against tiers where it actually costs least over 24 months
    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 Pick

    Aggressive promo pricing, free first month often included.

    See Webafrica deals

    Afrihost

    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.

    1. 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.

    2. 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.

    3. 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.

    4. 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.

    Every Openserve tier, cheapest seller first

    Openserve publishes 11 residential FTTH tiers and five ISPs we verify sell on them. The rung you want is the one where the download stops being the constraint - above that, you are paying for headroom you will not use.

    Openserve speed tiers and the cheapest live price on each tier30/30 MbpsSymmetricalfrom R43750/25 MbpsAsymmetricalfrom R59975/75 MbpsSymmetricalfrom R647200/100 MbpsAsymmetricalfrom R897300/150 MbpsAsymmetricalfrom R997500/250 MbpsAsymmetricalfrom R9971000/500 MbpsAsymmetricalfrom R997
    Source: FastestFibre deal tracking. Cheapest verified monthly price on each Openserve speed tier we track. As of 1 November 2026.
    Openserve speed tiers and the cheapest live price on each tier
    SpeedLine typeNetworkCheapest ISPFromR/Mbps
    30/30 MbpsSymmetricalOpenserveRSAwebR437R14.57
    50/25 MbpsAsymmetricalOpenserveMwebR599R11.98
    75/75 MbpsSymmetricalOpenserveRSAwebR647R8.63
    200/100 MbpsAsymmetricalOpenserveRSAwebR897R4.49
    300/150 MbpsAsymmetricalOpenserveRSAwebR997R3.32
    500/250 MbpsAsymmetricalOpenserveRSAwebR997R1.99
    1000/500 MbpsAsymmetricalOpenserveRSAwebR997R1.00

    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, 49 publish a once-off fee and it runs R0 to R250 - Afrihost charges nothing. The other 0 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.
    The verdict

    Where Openserve earns its price, and where it does not

    Openserve FTTH is the right buy if…

    • You want the widest national footprint and will shop the sellerOpenserve reaches all nine provinces, and because it is open-access the fibre is identical whoever bills for it. We hold verified prices for 49 monthly Openserve FTTH lines from five ISPs across 11 tiers, so on this network the only thing worth shopping is the invoice.
    • You will read the 24-month numberThe cheapest Openserve line to own over 24 months is 30/30 Mbps Uncapped from Afrihost at R11 928 all in, against R12 014 for the line that advertises the lowest monthly rate. Both numbers include the once-off and the step-up when the promo ends.
    • Every seller publishes its once-offAll 49 Openserve lines we track state an activation charge, which is unusual - it runs from R0 to R250 depending on the ISP, so the installation side of the decision can be costed exactly rather than guessed at.

    Who should look elsewhere

    • You are picking the seller off the advertised rateRSAweb advertises the lowest monthly rate on 9 of the 10 contested tiers and is the cheapest line to own on only 2 once the promo reversion and the once-off are counted. On this network the cheapest sticker is almost never the cheapest line.
    • You want the cheapest symmetrical line in the countryOpenserve is not usually it. Of the tiers Openserve and Vumatel both carry, Vumatel is the cheaper network on most of them - the comparison is on this page above. Openserve wins on where it reaches, not on what it costs.
    • Your street shows Openserve Web Connect rather than FTTHWeb Connect is a different and cheaper Openserve product, and none of the figures on this page apply to it. If that is what your address returns, price it as its own thing instead of reading an FTTH table and expecting the same line.
    Verdict on Openserve FTTH, from the packages and prices we track on this page. Prices checked 1 November 2026.

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    Openserve fibre from R437/moView packages