SureTel
Continuity guide
Backup Internet for Business in South Africa
How a configured second path keeps the critical traffic moving when a primary connection drops — scoped per site, not promised by default.
- Licensed South African ISP
- Since 2010
- ICASA licence 0009/CECS/AUG/09
Answer first
Backup internet is a configured option, not an automatic guarantee
Backup internet for business is a second connection — most often LTE/5G, sometimes a separate fixed link — paired with a router or firewall that switches traffic between paths under agreed rules. It is scoped per site around coverage, equipment, the applications that must keep running and the role of voice. SureTel does not promise automatic, uninterrupted or zero-downtime continuity; the practical outcome depends on confirmed feasibility and configuration.
- A second connection is only half of it — the router defines the behaviour.
- LTE/5G suitability depends on coverage and equipment at the site.
- Failover scope is agreed, not assumed.
- Voice continuity can be handled separately by Cloud PBX rules.
- Availability is address-dependent; coverage is checked first.
What backup actually means
"Backup" is a configuration, not a product label
Adding an LTE SIM to an office does not create a backup. A backup result requires a second connection, equipment that can use it under defined conditions and a clear view of which traffic must keep flowing. The starting point is the operational problem, not the product.
| What the business sees | What needs checking before a recommendation |
|---|---|
| Primary fibre or wireless link drops during the day | Root cause (FNO, last-mile, power, customer-network), recurrence pattern, and whether a separate second connection is feasible at the address. |
| VoIP, card machines or cloud apps stall when the line wobbles | Which traffic must keep flowing during a primary outage, the router/firewall in place, and whether failover policy can be configured for that scope. |
| Different sites have different realities | Each address is reviewed on its own — fibre availability, LTE/5G coverage, equipment and the role backup must play. |
| "Just put LTE on it" requests | Coverage at the site, data policy and intended use, plus the router that will actually switch traffic — LTE alone in a dongle is not failover. |
What backup can protect
The workloads businesses scope first
Voice & VoIP
Inbound and outbound calls during the working day.
Card payments
Card machines and online checkout flows.
Cloud apps
Accounting, email, CRM and collaboration tools.
Remote access
VPN and remote-management traffic for staff and suppliers.
Connection categories
The building blocks of a business backup design
Most business backup designs draw from a small set of building blocks. A site may use one, two or a combination — the right mix is confirmed against the address and the traffic that must keep moving.
LTE / 5G backup
Mobile-network connection delivered through a compatible router. Suitability depends on coverage at the site, equipment, data policy and how the service is configured.
Dual-WAN routing
A router or firewall configured with two WAN inputs and policy rules for which traffic uses which path under which conditions. Behaviour is defined per site.
Second fixed connection
A separate fixed link (for example a second fibre on a different network where feasible) used alongside the primary. Availability is address-dependent.
Voice continuity options
Cloud PBX and SIP services can include call-routing options (for example divert to mobile) so calls have a path even when an office connection is unavailable.
Price orientation
Indicative starting prices, before feasibility
Published starting prices help frame the conversation. They are not a site-specific quote. The router or firewall, the agreed failover scope, contract terms and any other connectivity in the package can all affect the final solution.
| Service context | Approved public starting price | Important qualifier |
|---|---|---|
| LTE/5G Backup | From R379/month excl. VAT | Coverage, equipment and configuration must be confirmed at the address. |
| Business Fibre (primary) | From R599/month excl. VAT (FTTH) | Address feasibility and FNO infrastructure apply. FTTB starts higher. |
All prices are shown excluding VAT unless stated otherwise.
Practical scenarios
Four common decisions
Scenarios illustrate how backup is scoped in common business situations. They are not customer case studies and do not promise a specific outcome.
Illustrative
Small office that must keep card machines and email running
Primary fibre handles day-to-day use; an LTE/5G backup with a dual-WAN router is scoped to keep payments and email flowing when the primary path is down. Voice may be diverted via Cloud PBX rules.
Illustrative
Multi-branch retailer with one critical branch
Branches with low risk run on a single connection. The critical branch adds a second path, with failover policy reviewed against the actual applications used on site.
Illustrative
Office where fibre is pending
LTE/5G is discussed as a temporary primary, scoped around coverage and expected usage. It is not represented as identical to the future fibre service.
Illustrative
Site where LTE coverage is poor
Backup intent is honest about the result — without usable mobile coverage, LTE/5G backup is not a sensible option. Other paths (second fixed link, voice-only continuity) are considered instead.
Decision helper
Which backup pattern fits which site
Swipe to compare →
| Pattern | When it tends to fit | What needs confirming |
|---|---|---|
| Single connection | Low operational impact if internet is offline for a short period. | Document the impact tolerance; revisit if business reliance changes. |
| LTE/5G backup | Site has usable mobile coverage and a router that can manage failover. | Suitability and behaviour are confirmed per site, not promised by default. |
| Second fixed connection | Two diverse fixed paths are feasible at the address. | Availability is address-dependent and is confirmed via the coverage check. |
| Voice continuity only | Calls are the critical workload, not data. | Cloud PBX / SIP routing rules can divert calls when the office is offline. |
How it works
How a backup configuration is arranged
A backup arrangement is the combination of the primary connection, a second connection, the router or firewall that switches between them, and the rules that say what happens to which traffic. Each piece is reviewed against the site.
Failover policy
A failover policy describes which traffic uses which path under which conditions. It can be set up to switch all traffic, or only the scoped workloads, when the primary connection is detected as down.
Detection and switch-over
The router decides when a primary path is unavailable based on the checks it is configured for. Switch-over is not instantaneous in every design and is not framed as seamless.
Voice continuity
Voice continuity can be handled inside the Cloud PBX or SIP service — for example by diverting an inbound number to a mobile when the office is offline. This works independently of the data failover.
Scope and accountability
What SureTel owns and what stays third-party
A backup design typically touches several providers and pieces of equipment. SureTel is one accountable contact for the SureTel-supplied solution; third-party dependencies remain outside SureTel's direct control.
| Area | SureTel | Third-party dependency |
|---|---|---|
| Primary connection | SureTel can supply or coordinate the primary service where in scope. | FNO, building access and last-mile infrastructure remain third-party dependencies. |
| Backup connection | SureTel supplies the agreed backup service (e.g. LTE/5G) and configuration scope. | Mobile-network coverage, indoor signal and operator policy remain outside SureTel's control. |
| Router / firewall | SureTel can supply and configure a supported router under the agreed scope. | Existing customer equipment must be assessed; not every device supports the required failover behaviour. |
| Customer network | Guidance can be provided where in scope. | Internal LAN, Wi-Fi, power and end-user devices remain the customer's responsibility unless explicitly contracted. |
| Outage handling | SureTel is the accountable contact for the SureTel-supplied solution. | Restoration of third-party services follows their own processes and timeframes. |
From requirement to deployment
How SureTel scopes a backup solution
Share the site and the requirement
Address, what must keep running, current connection and any router/firewall in place.
Confirm feasibility
Check primary connectivity, LTE/5G coverage and equipment options for the address.
Scope the configuration
Agree the failover behaviour, traffic priority and any voice-routing rules.
Implement and support
Deploy the agreed services, document the scope and provide a single contact for the SureTel-supplied solution.
Related routes: LTE/5G Backup · Business connectivity · Cloud PBX · Coverage checker
FAQs
Backup internet for business FAQs
What does backup internet for business actually mean?
It means a configured second path that the business can fall back on when the primary connection is unavailable. The behaviour is defined by the router or firewall, the second connection (typically LTE/5G or a separate fixed link) and the agreed scope. It is not an automatic equivalent of the primary connection.
Is LTE the same as failover?
No. An LTE/5G service is one possible second connection. Failover is the behaviour of a router or firewall switching traffic between two paths under defined rules. Both pieces need to be in place — and configured for the site — before the result can be described as failover.
Will backup internet stop my business going offline?
It can reduce the impact of a primary-connection outage for the traffic that has been scoped, where coverage, equipment and configuration support it. SureTel does not promise zero downtime, automatic continuity or guaranteed availability; the practical outcome depends on the site, the services in use and third-party dependencies.
Do I need backup internet for my office?
It depends on how much the business relies on internet during the day. Card machines, VoIP, cloud applications and remote access tend to drive the requirement. SureTel scopes backup around what must keep running, not as a default add-on for every site.
How much does backup internet cost?
LTE/5G Backup starts from R379 per month excl. VAT. Final pricing depends on the router or firewall, the scope of the failover configuration, contract terms and any other connectivity in the package. Pricing is confirmed after a feasibility and requirements review.
Can I use my existing router?
Sometimes. The router or firewall must support two WAN inputs and the failover behaviour the business needs. SureTel can review existing equipment and recommend a suitable option where required.
What about voice calls when the internet drops?
Cloud PBX and SIP services can include call-routing options — for example diverting an inbound number to a mobile when an office is offline. Those rules are configured as part of the voice service; they do not depend on the office data link.
Is backup internet available everywhere in South Africa?
Availability is address-dependent. Fibre and LTE/5G coverage vary by site and need to be confirmed. Use the coverage checker to start that conversation.
Next step
Ready to scope backup internet for your site?
Share the address and a short outline of what must keep running. SureTel will use that context to confirm the most practical next conversation.
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