Small businesses switching from ADSL to fibre are usually chasing download speed, when the more important gains are reliability and upload speed. A connection that drops during a card payment or a cloud backup costs more than a slow download ever does, and upload speed is what actually determines how well video calls and cloud systems perform.
Judge any connectivity option on these rather than the headline download number.
Reliability matters more than speed
A fast connection that drops during trading hours costs sales, particularly where card payments or cloud point-of-sale systems depend on it. Ask about actual uptime in your specific area, not the marketed average.
Where the business genuinely cannot afford downtime, a secondary connection, even a basic mobile backup, is cheaper than the cost of a card machine failing during a busy period.
Upload speed is the number most people ignore
Cloud backups, video calls and any system sending data outward depend on upload speed, which is often far lower than download speed on the same package. Check both figures separately before comparing packages.
A business relying on video calls with clients or uploading large files regularly should weigh upload speed as heavily as download speed, not as an afterthought.
Compare on total cost, not the headline price
Installation costs, contract term, and what happens if you move premises all affect the real cost. A cheaper monthly rate with a long lock-in and no portability can cost more over its term than a slightly dearer flexible option.
Business packages often include service level commitments and faster fault response than consumer packages, which is worth paying for if downtime is expensive to you specifically.
Build for customers who are not yet on fibre
Your business connection improving does not change what your customers have. If you sell online, continue building for the customer on a slower connection or limited data, since that remains most of the market.
Where a provider fails to deliver what was contracted, complaints can be escalated to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa after their own process is exhausted.
Frequently asked questions
Should I switch from ADSL to fibre?
Usually yes if it is available and affordable, but judge it on reliability and upload speed rather than download speed alone.
Why does upload speed matter?
Cloud backups, video calls and anything sending data outward depend on it, and it is often far lower than download speed on the same package.
What should I compare beyond the monthly price?
Installation cost, contract term, portability if you move premises, and service level commitments for fault response.
Does my customers’ connectivity matter too?
Yes. Your own upgrade does not change what customers have, so build online offerings for slower connections as well.
What if my provider does not deliver what was promised?
Escalate to the communications regulator after exhausting the provider’s own complaints process.
Further reading
Originally published in April 2018. Updated September 2026 to explain what actually matters when choosing fibre for a small business.
