A new home comes with a long to-do list: utilities, change of address, the actual moving truck. Internet is the one people leave until last and then regret, because getting connected can take days or even weeks if the line isn’t already in. Sort it before you sign and you can be online the day you move in. Here’s the checklist we’d run for any new place.
Why internet belongs on your moving checklist
Fibre in South Africa is decided street by street, sometimes home by home, so the place you’re moving to might have great fibre, none at all, or a line that’s “coming soon”. Unlike electricity or water, you can’t assume it’s there. For buyers and renters it pays to check before you commit, and for anyone working from home it can be a dealbreaker. Better still, every check below is free and takes minutes.
Estate agents and landlords: “what’s the internet like?” is one of the first questions buyers and tenants ask. Running this check up front (and noting the network and speeds) makes a listing far easier to sell or let.
1. Check fibre at the exact address
Start with the address itself, not the suburb. Coverage can differ between two homes on the same street, and complexes and flats vary unit by unit. Pop the full address into the coverage check on FibreScout’s home page and you’ll see every network that reaches that spot at once, instead of checking each provider one by one. If you’re still scouting areas, you can also browse our fibre-by-area pages to get a feel for a suburb first.
Read the result honestly. Live means you can order and usually be installed quickly. Coming soon means it’s on the roadmap but not ready, so treat any date as an estimate rather than a promise. Not available means no fibre yet, so you’ll want a backup plan (more on that below). We go deeper on reading these statuses in how to check fibre coverage at your address.
2. Find out which network (FNO) it’s on
Once you know fibre reaches the home, check which network operator (FNO) owns the line: Vumatel, Openserve, Frogfoot, Octotel, MetroFibre and others. The FNO sets reliability and the price floor, while the ISP you pay sits on top of it. This matters when you move because the FNO decides which ISPs you can choose from and what speeds are on offer. Our networks page lists who covers where, and SA’s fibre networks compared explains how they differ.
It’s also worth asking the seller, agent or previous tenant whether a line was ever active at the property. A home that’s been connected before can often be reactivated fast, sometimes the same day, because the physical fibre is already in. A brand-new install needs a technician visit and more lead time.
3. Compare ISPs and the real monthly price
Because South African fibre is open-access, one line usually carries many competing ISPs, so the same speed on the same network can cost noticeably less from one provider than another. Don’t just take the first deal the landlord mentions. Compare the ISPs available on your line by their real monthly price (watch for promo rates that jump after a few months, installation or activation fees, and whether the router is included or rented).
Our providers directory shows the ISPs with their customer ratings, and how to compare fibre the right way walks through doing it in the correct order. Also decide on the contract: a month-to-month plan costs a little more but lets you walk if you move again, handy if the new place is temporary.
4. Installation: new line vs transfer
There are a few ways to get connected at a new place, and they have very different timelines:
| Scenario | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Line already active / previously installed | Often a quick reactivation, sometimes same-day, since the fibre is already in the home. |
| Fibre on the street, but a new install | A technician visit to run the line in and set up the ONT and router, typically a few working days to a couple of weeks. |
| Transferring your current ISP to the new address | Possible if the new home is on a network your ISP sells, but it still depends on a line being available there. |
Ask about installation and activation fees up front (some ISPs waive them on promo, some don’t), and confirm whether the router is yours to keep. Our installation guide covers what actually happens on the day so there are no surprises.
5. Line up a 5G/LTE backup if fibre isn’t there yet
If the new place shows “coming soon” or “not available”, don’t panic. A 5G or LTE router is a solid stopgap. In areas with good 5G, speeds can rival entry- to mid-range fibre, and there’s no trenching to wait for, so you plug it in and you’re online from day one. It’s usually month-to-month, so you can switch to fibre the moment the line reaches you. We weigh up the trade-offs in fibre vs 5G and LTE vs fibre.
One tip: register your interest with the network operator(s) for the new address even if you go the 5G route. Areas with lots of registered demand often get prioritised for rollout, and it costs nothing.
6. Get the timing right so you’re not offline
Connectivity gaps usually come down to timing, not coverage. A few habits avoid them:
- Order the new connection as soon as you have a move-in date, rather than waiting until you’ve moved, especially if it’s a new install.
- Don’t cancel your current line until the new one is confirmed working. If you’re on Telkom or Openserve, our guide on cancelling a Telkom line covers notice periods.
- Check whether your ISP can transfer your existing service to the new address. It’s often simpler than cancelling and re-signing.
- If there’ll be a gap, keep a 5G/LTE router or even a mobile hotspot ready for the first few days.
The quick checklist
Copy this and run it before you sign on a new place:
- ☐ Check fibre at the exact address, not just the suburb.
- ☐ Note which network (FNO) covers it, and whether a line was ever active.
- ☐ Compare ISPs and real monthly price on that line, including fees and router.
- ☐ Confirm the installation type (reactivation vs new install) and the lead time.
- ☐ Check 5G/LTE backup options if fibre is “coming soon” or unavailable.
- ☐ Order early, keep the old line until the new one works, and ask about a transfer.
Do these and internet becomes the easy part of moving rather than the thing that leaves you tethering off your phone for a fortnight. Start with the address: check what fibre is available at your new home. It’s free and takes a minute.