City in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Internet in Durban: speed, SIM cards and coworking

Updated October 2026Sources

50 MbpsMedian download

Is the internet good in Durban?

Median fixed broadband in South Africa is 50 Mbps and mobile is 70 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Wifi is good in malls and cafés in Umhlanga and Florida Road; coworking options are limited.

Getting online in Durban

	Details
Home fibre	Fibre widely available in Umhlanga, Morningside and Ballito; around R500–R900 a month for 100 Mbps.
Cafés and coworking	Wifi is good in malls and cafés in Umhlanga and Florida Road; coworking options are limited.
Outages	Load-shedding rare since 2024; floods and cable theft cause local outages.
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)

Internet speeds in Africa

National medians, Speedtest Global Index.

Country	Fixed	Mobile
Egypt	99 Mbps	52 Mbps
Morocco	57 Mbps	70 Mbps
Botswana	52 Mbps	—
South Africa	50 Mbps	70 Mbps
Tanzania	41 Mbps	33 Mbps
Kenya	23 Mbps	45 Mbps
Namibia	18 Mbps	—

Quick answers

Is the internet fast in Durban?

Which SIM card should I get in Durban?

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.

More about Durban

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Sources

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 Spotted something out of date?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.