All three give you uncapped, no-contract home internet — the real difference is how each one is delivered, and that changes what you should expect for reliability, speed and installation.
The core trade-offs, in plain terms.
| Factor | Fibre | Fixed LTE | 5G |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it connects | Physical fibre-optic cable installed to your home | SIM-based router using the mobile network, fixed to one address | SIM-based router using 5G towers, fixed to one address |
| Typical setup time | Scheduled installation — depends on network operator | Same-day — plug in the router and go | Same-day — plug in the router and go |
| Speed consistency | Stable and symmetrical — not affected by other users nearby | Can vary with tower congestion and distance from mast | Higher ceiling than LTE, but also varies with tower load and signal |
| Best for | Homes and offices wanting the most consistent connection | Renters, moves, or addresses without fibre yet | Areas with strong 5G coverage wanting more speed than LTE |
| Contract | Month-to-month, no lock-in | Month-to-month, no lock-in | Month-to-month, no lock-in |
| Starting price | R349/month | R550/month | R800/month |
Most people are really choosing between two options. Here is the straight answer for each pairing.
The real difference is the medium. Fibre is a physical cable dedicated to your property, so your speed does not drop because neighbours are streaming, and upload matches download — which matters for video calls, cloud backups and working from home. Fixed LTE reaches you over the mobile network, so throughput depends on your distance from the mast and how busy that tower is at peak time. LTE wins decisively on setup: the router is couriered pre-configured and works the moment you plug it in, with no trenching, no landlord permission and nothing to install. If you rent, move often, or fibre is still months away in your area, LTE is the practical choice — and because every Dalkom package is month-to-month, switching to fibre later costs you nothing.
5G has a genuinely high ceiling and can outrun entry-level fibre on download tests. The catch is that it is still a shared radio connection: performance varies with your distance from the tower, whether walls or buildings sit in the path, and how many people are on that cell at 8pm. Fibre does not fluctuate that way, and its upload speed is typically symmetrical rather than a fraction of download. For gaming and video calls, that stability and low latency usually matter more than a high peak number. 5G makes most sense when you have strong coverage confirmed at your address and fibre has not been trenched in your street.
These two work identically from your side — a SIM-based router fixed to one address, live the day it arrives. The difference is the network generation behind it. 5G offers much higher speeds and lower latency, but its coverage footprint in South Africa is still far smaller than LTE and is concentrated in metros and larger towns. LTE reaches almost everywhere and costs less. The deciding factor is simply whether 5G is confirmed at your exact address: if it is and the budget allows, take 5G; if not, LTE is the dependable option. Run a coverage check and we will show which of the two is actually live at your door.
A dedicated fibre-optic line run to your property. The most consistent option since your speed doesn't share capacity with neighbours.
A router using the mobile network at a fixed address. No cable installation needed — ideal where fibre isn't available yet.
The newest wireless option, capable of higher speeds than LTE where 5G towers are already in range of your address.
