The Internet has dramatically changed the way we do business, engage with each other and obtain information.
While the infrastructure may not be as established in South Africa as in other parts of the world, things are certainly getting better as competition is heating up, but what is the true total cost of uncapped ADSL in South Africa? This is a question that personal finance management tool, moneysmart recently addressed.
In South Africa it is not possible to get uncapped ADSL Internet without installing and renting a normal telephone line, which is only available through Telkom. You also need to rent an ADSL line, which comes at an additional charge. Luckily, most ISP‘s allow you to rent an ADSL line directly through them. So if you are planning to get uncapped ADSL, it‘s a good idea to know the total costs associated with it.
In this article, written by Stefan De Klerk, moneysmart looks at the total cost for the entry-level ADSL line speeds, 1Mbps and 2Mbps, with total costs including residential line rental (exchange connection), ADSL line from Telkom and an uncapped ADSL account.
Moneysmart also compared costs if you bundle your ADSL line with your ISP, meaning you get your ADSL line from your ISP directly and not through Telkom.
Here are the various costs incurred from Telkom. All costs include VAT:
- Residential line installation (exchange connection): R551.69
- Residential line rental (exchange connection): R148.37 per month
- Telkom ADSL rental 1Mbps: R165.00 per month
- Telkom ADSL rental 2Mbps: R299.00 per month
- ADSL installation: R705.20
The R705.20 installation charge for ADSL is not charged if you choose the self-installation option.
Below is a comparison of the costs of uncapped ADSL from different providers in South Africa. They are all for the standard uncapped accounts:
Note: Please keep in mind that this comparison highlights the costs of home ADSL. The above prices are subject to change and were accurate at the time of publishing this article. This comparison of uncapped ADSL costs is not intended to act as a definitive guide to uncapped ADSL in South Africa. moneysmart cannot be held responsible for any decision made based on this exercise. It‘s recommended that you check with the ISPs‘ websites before making a final decision regarding uncapped ADSL.
