As South Africa’s #1 online review platform, we understand how overwhelming it can be to decide which businesses to choose when spending your hard-earned money. That’s why we make it our mission to help you do your research and choose only the best in the biz! Here are some top tips when choosing an internet service provider in South Africa.

What Are ISPs? 💭

ISP stands for Internet Service Provider and refers to any company whose business is to create, sell and implement your internet needs. Internet Service Providers allow you to connect your personal or business computers and mobile devices to the internet.

Choosing Your Internet Service Provider 💻

Thinking about upgrading from Wi-Fi to Fibre? Wanting to make the shift to uncapped internet? Wondering how to choose an ISP? Understanding internet services can be challenging, especially if you have no idea where to begin. 

The South African ISP industry is also growing exponentially, providing options for users based on factors such as internet speed, number of users and web space needed, to name just a few considerations. Therefore, choosing the perfect provider means assessing all your options and selecting the most appropriate one for the job.

To help choose an internet service provider in South Africa, you can search online to see which providers offer the best packages. You can also use a platform such as Hellopeter to see what real-life consumers are saying about South Africa’s major internet service providers.

This is a great way to view positive feedback, and negative reviews that can highlight potential warnings, such as poor customer service or constantly dropping lines or speeds. 

Now, it’s time to compare them using these details:

• Line Speeds

You want an internet connection that’s fast enough to watch your favourite Netflix shows, download documents and files, send and receive emails, surf the web, and perform other online actions.

• Cost

You’ll either need to purchase a modem separately, or it’ll be included in your contract. Some offers entail a fixed monthly billing, such as uncapped Wi-Fi. Always ask for a full breakdown of costs to see if any hidden expenses may apply.

• Terms and Conditions

Always read the fine print. If you’re unsure about anything, or the contract is phrased in a way you don’t understand, seek clarity. Never make assumptions.

• Additional Features

Many internet providers offer extras that increase the value of the package. Make sure that these genuinely do add value. Rather than choosing your provider just because of a free addition, think carefully about what the core package provides.

• Reliability 

How reliable is the service? Are there any complaints relating to its ability to provide consistent uptime? How do they deal with downtime? Always ask around to find out what people say – every company will tell you they are the most reliable, even if they’re not.

• Support

Don’t forget about customer support. How easily can your problems be resolved? What sort of support system do they offer? Even the most affordable costs won’t make up for poor service.

Before You Sign it, Hellopeter it ✍️

With the overwhelming amount of options available, it’s almost impossible to cut through the sales jargon and ISP marketing spiel. Marketers may not tell you this, but the least efficient way to select your provider is via clever ads and businesses’ product reviews. Remember, changing your provider isn’t always easy once you’re locked into a contract.

That’s why we recommend hopping onto your Hellopeter.com and researching what your fellow consumers are saying about the providers you are considering.

Hellopeter allows you to filter your ISP options by Star Rating and check out each provider’s Trust Index and Net Promoter Score, enabling you to make fully-informed Social-Proofed decisions.

Reviews on Hellopeter have helped over one million consumers make better choices. Had an experience you’d like to tell us about? Leave us a review here.