South Africa has seen an enormous increase in the demand for reliable and fast internet over the last seven years. Fibre connections have skyrocketed over 4200% in the country.

One of the driving factors for this widespread adoption of fibre internet is the digital kickstart that the pandemic brought about. We are also living in a time when the prevalence of the virtual world is on the rise. Trends that are sweeping the globe, like cloud computing, virtual reality, the internet of things (IoT) and e-commerce, require high-quality internet connections.

Exponential increase in fibre uptake

The preferred internet choice in South Africa is fibre – ADSL subscriptions are being left behind as people are opting for a faster, more reliable internet connection. Fibre-to-the-home subscriptions have soared from 31 843 to 1.3 million over the period from 2015 to 2021. 

This is an increase of a whopping 4231%. During the same period, the number of fixed line broadband subscriptions saw a 61% rise. According to the World Bank, the digital economy has grown almost two-and-a-half times faster than the global economy over the past 15 years; it now represents around 15.5% of the global GDP.

Fibre optics: a game changer

Fibre optic cables are made of glass and cased in plastic. They carry data by means of light pulses, transporting substantially more data than the copper cables used in ADSL technology, and at up to 20 times the speed. 

Fibre cables are more hard-wearing and lighter, offering consistency and a more stable connection. This makes it the technology best suited for remote workers and households using multiple devices or high-defifinition streaming. 

Fibre boom supports economic growth

The fibre boom is offering significant scope for local business growth across most sectors. Consumers have come to expect quality online availability and poor internet comes with the risk of losing customers. Reliable, high-speed internet enables companies to extend their reach to new markets and through exciting new channels and remote working opportunities. 

Fibre internet allows users to upload and download content almost immediately, without delays, buffering or lost connections. Fibre is much faster than ADSL, which helps to avoid issues like peak traffic overloads and throttling. 

The boom in internet traffic in SA has been supported by higher speeds and increased fibre infrastructure. The internet service provider (ISP) market is competitive – a fact that has allowed fibre connections to become an affordable and reliable option. 

Fibre boom holds advantages for SA

Inclusive economic growth across the board is essential for South Africa as a country. Bridging the digital divide is a crucial priority for our government, which is working toward providing universal internet access to its citizens. 

Amidst growing demand for fast, reliable internet connections, fibre subscriptions are set to finally overtake fixed broadband by 2023. The solid internet connection offered by fibre technology allows business to thrive and people to lead a better digital quality of life.

Whether you use fibre for entertainment or work, more South Africans than ever before are choosing fibre. If you sign up with WonderNet, there is no installation activation fee. Our flexible packages can be upgraded at any time. This gives you total freedom to enjoy high speed internet when you like and for how you like.

WonderNet is an ISP that is dedicated to delivering value for money and reliable connectivity to homes across the country. For more information about our fibre offerings or to get a quote for an internet upgrade, please contact us today or check if we’re connected to your address.