City in Western Cape, South Africa
Internet in Cape Town: speed, SIM cards and coworking
Is the internet good in Cape Town?
Median fixed broadband in South Africa is 50 Mbps and mobile is 70 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Good wifi in most cafés and all coworking spaces; many have battery or inverter backup.
Getting online in Cape Town
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Home fibre | Fibre from Vumatel, Openserve and others in most suburbs; 100 Mbps for roughly R500–R900 a month, installed in days. |
| Cafés and coworking | Good wifi in most cafés and all coworking spaces; many have battery or inverter backup. |
| Outages | Load-shedding has been rare since 2024; check the EskomSePush app. |
| Tourist SIM | Vodacom and MTN counters at Johannesburg and Cape Town airports; passport and address needed for RICA registration. Data costs more than in much of Africa. |
| eSIM | Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors. |
| Carriers | Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom |
| Monthly data plan | R200–450 ($12–27) |
Coworking spaces in Cape Town
Spaces we checked are open in 2026. Prices change; confirm on their sites.
| Space | Area | Day pass |
|---|---|---|
| Workshop17 | V&A Waterfront and Kloof Street | — |
Internet speeds in Africa
National medians, Speedtest Global Index.
Quick answers
Is the internet fast in Cape Town?
Median fixed broadband in South Africa is 50 Mbps and mobile is 70 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Good wifi in most cafés and all coworking spaces; many have battery or inverter backup.
Which SIM card should I get in Cape Town?
Vodacom and MTN counters at Johannesburg and Cape Town airports; passport and address needed for RICA registration. Data costs more than in much of Africa.
Can I use an eSIM in South Africa?
Yes. Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors, and travel eSIMs work too.
Are there coworking spaces in Cape Town?
Yes: Workshop17.
More about Cape Town
Going to Cape Town solo?
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Sources
- Speedtest Global Index: South Africa
- Vodacom
- MTN
- Cell C
- Telkom
- MyCiTi
- Airports Company South Africa
- Cape Town Tourism
Speeds are medians from Ookla's Speedtest Global Index, cited for reference. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.