General Information   History   Culture   Food   Driving   Money   Health & Safety   Weather   Telecomms   Public Holidays   Joburg Tourguide		General Information   Stadiums   Events Calendar	General Information   Advertise

About SA - Telecommunications

Internet

South Africa has the best internet connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it is still somewhat slow compared to the first world, e.g., USA, UK. We have 3G, GPRS, and WiFi in most major cities, as well as ADSL/DSL. If you are likely to need internet access, please check that your accommodation offers it first, as you may experience difficulty obtaining GPRS/3G coverage, for reasons explained below. There are many places that offer WiFi or use of computer terminals, especially in malls, so you're unlikely to be unable to get internet access. Be aware that you should never give your banking details over internet in a public place or internet cafe.

Telephony and Safety

South Africans love their cellular telephones. In fact, almost everyone has one, from the richest to the poorest. Our network is GSM, so American visitors should ensure that their cellphones are GSM-capable, eg., quad- or tri-band. There are not many public telephones and a large proportion of them take special cards that you purchase at stores, rather than coins. So you probably need a working cellphone, especially in case you get lost. Do not underestimate the size of South Africa; it is approximately 1/3 the size of the USA, and our largest city, Johannesburg, is about the size of New York or London, so it's easy to get lost.

South Africa recently introduced an anti-terrorism and anti-crime law which requires all cellphone holders to register their cellphones at a cellphone store. This law is called RICA. The trouble is, you're required to bring ID and proof of residence. We are not sure that a hotel booking sheet or foreign passport will suffice; in our experience, most cellphone stores want or expect South African proof of residency, and will refuse to sell you a phone or SIM-card unless you can do so. So it is crucial that before you leave your home country, that you ensure that your cellular service provider has a roaming agreement with one of the South African service providers, so that your phone will continue to work when you land. If this is not possible, you can ask for advice.

If you purchase a SIM in South Africa, you can top up your airtime or talking minutes at most ATMs or shops. Passages taken with permission from "An Insider's Guide to Johannesburg" by J. M. Ostrowick

Back