The latest MyBroadband Speedtest results allow us to compare cellular/wireless network provider latency against ADSL networks.
Internet Solutions reigns locally, with the best latency result of 94ms. It is surprising to note that Vodacom comes in second in local Speedtests, with 103ms.
For online gamers, a stable Internet connection with consistently low latency and minimal data packet loss is important. For this reason, ADSL is usually the connection of choice for gamers, when it is available – for the rest, there are cellular/wireless providers. Many games can operate well over a low bandwidth connection, but poor latency can be the downfall of an online match.
MyBroadband’s Speedtest filters thousands of results based on IP address ranges, user survey input, and other variables to ensure accurate results are achieved. Tests are made to Johannesburg and London Speedtest servers to differentiate between local and international network performance.
SA Speedtest results
The following table provides an overview of the average local latency for South African ADSL network operators and cellular/wireless operators, based on tests made by users to MyBroadband’s Johannesburg Speedtest server:
| Johannesburg speed test server results | |
| Provider | Latency (ms) |
| Internet Solutions | 94 |
| Vodacom | 103 |
| MWEB | 105 |
| Web Africa | 118 |
| Telkom | 123 |
| Cell C | 130 |
| Cybersmart | 139 |
| 8ta | 145 |
| MTN | 220 |
| iBurst | 239 |
| Neotel | 253 |
International Speedtest results
The international Speedtests to London reveal that Internet Solutions has the best latency (233ms). As might be expected, the cellular/wireless providers prop up the bottom end of the list, with MTN faring the worst at 460ms.
The following table provides an overview of the average international latency for local cellular/wireless and ADSL broadband providers.
| London speed test server results | |
| Provider | Latency (ms) |
| Internet Solutions | 233 |
| Web Africa | 234 |
| MWEB | 244 |
| Cybersmart | 254 |
| Telkom | 290 |
| Cell C | 302 |
| 8ta | 308 |
| Vodacom | 320 |
| Neotel | 325 |
| iBurst | 389 |
| MTN | 460 |
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