Is your home internet keeping up with your household? It's easy to get used to slow speeds, dropped connections, and constant buffering — until something finally tips you over the edge. Here are five signs that it might be time to upgrade your fibre package (or switch to fibre altogether).
1. Videos keep buffering, even on a fast package
If you're regularly waiting for videos to load — even on platforms like Netflix, YouTube, or DSTV Stream — your internet connection may be the bottleneck. Streaming HD video consistently uses 5–8 Mbps per stream, and 4K can use 15–25 Mbps. If your package doesn't cover simultaneous streams across multiple devices, you'll feel it every evening.
This is especially noticeable if your household's internet demand has grown since you last upgraded your package. A plan that worked fine for one person may struggle to keep up with a family of four.
2. Video calls drop out or freeze regularly
Remote work and online learning depend on stable, low-latency internet. If your Zoom or Teams calls freeze, drop out, or look pixelated, the problem is usually one of two things: your connection speed isn't high enough to sustain the call while other devices are also online, or your line quality is inconsistent.
A quality fibre connection delivers consistent speeds with low latency, which is exactly what video calls need. If you work from home or your children study online, this is worth addressing.
3. Multiple devices slow everything down
Modern households have more connected devices than ever — smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and smart home devices all compete for bandwidth. If everything slows down the moment two or three people are online at the same time, your current package may simply not have enough capacity for your household's actual usage.
The solution isn't necessarily to limit who can use the internet — it's to move to a package that can handle your household's peak load comfortably. Our speed guide can help you work out what that looks like in numbers.
4. Downloads that should take minutes take hours
Downloading a large file, backing up to cloud storage, or updating a gaming console should be a background task — not something you plan your evening around. If your downloads are so slow that they're genuinely disruptive, you're likely on a package that was adequate some years ago but hasn't kept up with how your household uses data.
Modern fibre packages are significantly faster and more affordable than they were even three years ago. If you haven't reviewed your options recently, it's worth checking what's available on the Infini-fi deals page.
5. Your internet is on an old ADSL or fixed LTE plan
If you're still on ADSL or relying solely on a fixed LTE router for your home internet, there are likely faster and more reliable fibre options available at your address now — even if there weren't when you last checked. ADSL infrastructure is gradually being decommissioned across South Africa, and LTE routers, while useful, are subject to network congestion and varying speeds.
Fibre delivers consistent, uncapped speeds that don't drop at peak times in the way that LTE can. If your street has been cabled (many now have been), switching to fibre is usually a straightforward process.
What to do next
If any of these sound familiar, it's worth taking a look at what's available. Start with our fibre speed guide to understand what speed tier suits your household, and if your Wi-Fi feels patchy even though your package is decent, the slow Wi-Fi guide has practical fixes that often solve the problem without needing an upgrade at all.
When you're ready to compare packages, the Infini-fi deals page has current options across all available speed tiers.
Ready for the next step?
Find a deal that suits your lifestyle, or head back to the Knowledge Hub for more fibre help, FAQs and practical advice.
