ADSL South Africa - ADSL Broadband Cap

Click here for a full list of factors to consider when getting ADSL Broadband.

A "Cap" on an ADSL line is simply a limit to how much memory one can download per month. It is usually measured in GB (gigabytes) and once depleted, (Hard Cap) your ADSL internet connection stops working or (Soft Cap) you are switched to a throttled service (slower connection) or have the option to buy additional bandwidth.

In other words, if the ADSL Broadband offering you are subscribed to are "Hard Capped" then the connection will stop working as soon as you go over your monthly limit.

On the other hand, if you are subscribed to an ADSL Broadband offering with a "Soft Cap" you will have the option to buy additional bandwidth when the cap is reached or will be switched to a throttled service (slower connection).

It must also be added that many ADSL Broadband offerings with a "Soft Cap" allows one to surf local sites and make downloads from local sites after the cap is reached. This is called "Local Only ADSL Broadband" or "Local Only Bandwidth." The cap on "Local Only Bandwidth" is normally higher than the cap on "International Bandwidth" because "Local Only Bandwidth" is cheaper.

So choosing the right cap is important, otherwise you may find yourself short close to the end of the month or stuck with a slow connection or not able to surf international sites.

Even if you sit with a "Soft Cap" and have the option to top-up or buy additional bandwidth, you don't really want to do that when you reach your cap. The reason for this is simple, additional bandwidth normally comes at a much higher price than bandwidth within the cap.

So what Cap do you need? 

Here are some guidelines:

• 1GB : For those wishing to download email and surf the net just for banking or similar purposes once in a while, 1GB is all you need. 

• 3GB : For the average user, wishing to download email, surf the net daily and download small to medium files. 3GB is sufficient for most people. 

• 5GB : For those wishing to play games online, you will find that you will need at least a 5GB account. 

• 10GB or more: This type of bandwidth is really only needed for gamers and downloading large files such as games or videos. 

• 30GB : Good for businesses with multiple users. 

Uncapped ADSL Broadband vs. Capped ADSL Broadband

"Uncapped ADSL Broadband" refers to unlimited or unrestricted monthly bandwidth usage while "Capped ADSL Broadband" means there are a limit or restriction on the bandwidth one may use. "Uncapped ADSL Broadband" is the best connection to have if you are bandwidth hungry although it's normally more expensive than "Capped ADSL Broadband" for obvious reasons.

The same principles apply to other broadband offerings that are "Capped" or "Uncapped" (Soft or Hard).