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Fibre speed test

Test your fibre connection and compare the result with the package you pay for, whether your line is Vumatel, Openserve, Frogfoot, Octotel or MetroFibre.

For a true line reading, connect a laptop to the router with an Ethernet cable. Fibre packages are sold on wired speed, and most WiFi cannot deliver more than 100–300 Mbps even from the next room.

What fibre speed should you get?

Fibre is the one connection type where the result should sit close to the number on the package. On a cable, expect roughly 90–100% of your package download. Packages above 500 Mbps often test at 60–90% because the router, the laptop’s network port and the test itself become the limit.

Package	Expected on a cable	Expected on WiFi (same room)
20–50 Mbps	Within 10%	Within 10%
100 Mbps	90–100 Mbps	60–100 Mbps
200 Mbps	180–200 Mbps	80–200 Mbps
500 Mbps	350–500 Mbps	100–400 Mbps
1 Gbps	600–950 Mbps	150–600 Mbps

Upload depends on the network. Vumatel, Frogfoot and Octotel lines are usually symmetrical; Openserve packages often have lower upload than download.

Fibre network operator vs ISP: who does what

In South Africa the company that owns the fibre in your street is usually not the company you pay each month. Vumatel, Openserve, Frogfoot, Octotel, MetroFibre and others build and maintain the line and the ONT box on your wall. Your ISP, such as Afrihost, Mweb, Vox, Cool Ideas, Axxess or Telkom, sells the package, routes your traffic and handles support.

This matters when something goes wrong. A dead line (red LOS light on the ONT) is the operator’s fault, logged through your ISP. A line that is fine in the day but crawls at 8 pm is usually the ISP running out of capacity, and switching ISP on the same line can fix it without a new installation.

Why your fibre is slower than your package

WiFi, not the lineNine times out of ten. Test on a cable before anything else. If the cable result matches your package, the fix is router placement, the 5 GHz band or a mesh system. See the WiFi speed test guide.
The router is too oldISP-supplied routers from a few years ago often have 100 Mbps ports. If you upgraded to 200 Mbps or more and the result did not change, the router is capping you.
Wrong package provisionedCheck your ISP account. Upgrades can take a day to apply and lines are occasionally left at the old speed.
Evening contention at the ISPIf the line is fine at 10 am and slow at 8 pm every night, the ISP is oversubscribed. Log it with both results; if it does not improve, change ISP.
A fault on the lineFluctuating speeds, dropouts or a red LOS light on the ONT mean the fibre or ONT needs attention. Your ISP logs it with the operator.
Something on your network is using the lineCloud backups, game updates, a TV downloading in the background. Check the router’s client list or pause everything and retest.

Fibre and load-shedding

The fibre network itself has backup power, so the line stays up. Your ONT and router do not, unless you power them. A small UPS or mini UPS rated for routers keeps both running for four to eight hours and costs less than a month of most fibre packages.

Common questions

What speed should my fibre test at?

Within about 10% of your package on a cable. WiFi will be lower, and packages above 500 Mbps rarely test at full speed on any device.

Why is my fibre slow at night?

Usually ISP contention. If the line is fine in the day and slow every evening, log it with your ISP with both results.

Is my fibre Vumatel or Openserve?

The sticker on the ONT box on your wall names the operator, and so does your ISP account.

Do I need a new router for gigabit fibre?

Yes if the current one has 100 Mbps ports or older WiFi. You need gigabit WAN and LAN ports and WiFi 6 or better to get close on wireless.

What does the red light on my ONT mean?

Loss of signal on the fibre. Log it with your ISP; the network operator will send a technician.

Test by provider

Guides: WiFi speed test Ping test