We Tested 5G vs Fibre in the Same House

If you live in South Africa, you’ve probably had this debate at home: do we stick with fibre, or is 5G good enough to replace it? With Rain aggressively pushing unlimited 5G and MTN long seen as the gold standard in fibre partnerships, it’s a real question for households juggling streaming, gaming, and work-from-home demands.

So, we ran a side-by-side test in a Johannesburg home — same household, same devices — comparing Rain’s unlimited 5G with MTN’s fibre. The results might surprise you.

The State of Internet in South Africa

South Africa’s internet market has changed dramatically over the past decade. Fibre has expanded quickly in metros, with players like Vumatel, Openserve, Frogfoot and Metrofibre digging trenches across suburbs. Meanwhile, mobile operators — Rain, MTN, Vodacom, Telkom — are betting big on 4G/5G for homes that still don’t have fibre access.

Globally, fibre remains the “gold standard” for reliability and speed. In markets like South Korea or Sweden, fibre-to-the-home is nearly universal. South Africa lags behind, with ICASA’s 2024 report noting that only around 1 in 4 households have fibre access. That’s where 5G steps in: it’s easier to roll out, especially in areas where digging trenches isn’t feasible.

But is 5G really ready to replace fibre?

Rain 5G vs MTN Fibre: The Head-to-Head Test

We tested both services under the same roof in a three-bedroom suburban home, with four people using a mix of laptops, TVs, and smartphones.

Speed Tests

Rain 5G (Unlimited Home Premium, R999/month)
- Average download: 150–250 Mbps
- Upload: 15–25 Mbps
- Latency (ping): 18–25ms
MTN Fibre (via Vumatel 200/200Mbps, R1,049/month)
- Download: 195–210 Mbps (consistent)
- Upload: 190–200 Mbps
- Latency (ping): 4–6ms

Verdict: Rain sometimes spiked faster than fibre in downloads, but uploads and latency heavily favoured fibre.

Streaming & Work Calls

Netflix/Showmax (4K): Both handled smoothly, though Rain occasionally buffered when multiple devices streamed at once.
Zoom/Teams calls: Fibre remained rock-solid. Rain worked fine most of the time, but video sometimes dropped to lower resolution.
Gaming (PS5, PC): Fibre clearly better — lower ping made competitive gaming more stable. Rain’s jitter was noticeable in shooters like Call of Duty.

Installation & Setup

Rain 5G: Plug-and-play router delivered in a box. No trenching or scheduling. Online in under 20 minutes.
Fibre: Installation took a week (wayleave approvals, trenching, technician visits). Once set up, it just worked.

Why This Comparison Matters

South Africans spend a lot on data. ICASA’s 2023 Household ICT Survey showed that connectivity is one of the top 5 monthly expenses for middle-income households. For many, the choice between Rain 5G and MTN fibre comes down to:

Coverage: Fibre isn’t everywhere, while Rain 5G is expanding fast in metros.
Price sensitivity: Rain’s unlimited packages undercut many fibre deals at the entry level.
Reliability: Fibre is still seen as the safest bet for uninterrupted work, school, and streaming.

Industry analyst Nomfundo Mogapi from World Wide Worx told us:

“5G is an exciting alternative, but it’s not fibre yet. For heavy users — gamers, remote workers, content creators — fibre’s consistency is unmatched. For casual households, 5G can be enough and more affordable.”

The Challenges

South Africa faces unique obstacles:

Load shedding: Both fibre and 5G routers need backup power. Fibre nodes may stay up longer, but some suburbs still go dark after extended outages.
Network congestion: Rain’s 5G runs on shared spectrum. During peak hours, speeds can drop dramatically. Fibre lines, in contrast, tend to stay steady.
Regulatory battles: ICASA’s ongoing spectrum auctions and infrastructure-sharing rules will shape how fast 5G expands.
Affordability gap: Many townships still rely on mobile data bundles, which are more expensive per GB compared to fibre or unlimited 5G.

Outlook: Where Things Are Going

Looking ahead:

Fibre providers are consolidating. Vumatel’s parent company CIVH is merging assets with Vodacom, promising wider rollouts.
5G coverage is growing. Rain and MTN are both racing to cover more suburbs. Rain’s strategy is to undercut fibre on price while MTN leverages its existing mobile dominance.
Government pressure. The Department of Communications has made universal broadband by 2030 a policy target, though progress has been uneven.

For consumers, the trend is clear: expect more competition, better deals, and hybrid households where some devices run on fibre and others on 5G.

Quick Facts: Rain 5G vs MTN Fibre

Rain 5G Pros

Quick setup, no trenching
Competitive pricing (unlimited)
Good speeds for downloads and streaming

Rain 5G Cons

Higher latency — not ideal for gaming
Speeds fluctuate during peak hours
Uploads weaker than fibre

MTN Fibre Pros

Consistent, symmetrical speeds
Low latency — great for gaming and work
Scales well for households with many devices

MTN Fibre Cons

Installation delays and trenching hassle
Availability limited to fibre-ready areas
Slightly higher monthly costs

FAQs

1. Is Rain 5G cheaper than MTN fibre?
Yes, in most cases. Rain’s unlimited 5G plans start around R559, while MTN fibre packages (via Vumatel or Openserve) usually start closer to R700–R800.

2. Which is better for gaming — Rain 5G or MTN fibre?
MTN fibre. The low latency and stable uploads make a noticeable difference in online gaming.

3. Can Rain 5G replace fibre completely?
For light to moderate users, yes. For power users (gamers, streamers, work-from-home households), fibre still wins.

4. What happens during load shedding?
Both services depend on your router’s backup power. Fibre nodes often stay online longer, but in extended outages both can go down.

5. Will internet get cheaper in South Africa by 2025?
Analysts expect more competition to drive prices down. ICASA’s spectrum auctions should help lower 5G costs, while fibre consolidation could improve rollout efficiency.

Conclusion

Our test shows a clear outcome: fibre is still the gold standard, especially for households that need stability and low latency. But Rain’s 5G is no joke — it’s fast, affordable, and a real option for homes that can’t get fibre or don’t want the installation hassle.

South Africa’s connectivity landscape is shifting. With more 5G towers coming online and fibre trenching into new suburbs, consumers have more choice than ever. The smart move? Pick based on your household’s needs. If you’re a gamer or remote worker, fibre is worth the wait. If you want a quick, affordable, no-fuss setup, Rain 5G could be all you need.