Festive Season Network Freeze Periods
Over the festive season, fibre and LTE/5G network operators pause most work on their networks. Your internet keeps working and faults are still attended to, but new installations, Moving Homes and Service changes may be delayed. Each network sets its own dates, so check the table for your network operator.
The festive season is a time to slow down, and networks do it too. Each year, the companies that run the networks behind your connection (network operators) pause most work to keep everything running smoothly over the holidays. Here's what it means for your Service, and when each network takes its break.
What is a network freeze?
A freeze is a set period when a network operator stops non-essential work on its network. Your internet keeps working as usual, but anything that needs the network operator to make a change, like a new installation or a speed change, may wait until the freeze is over.
Fibre freeze dates 2026/2027
| Network operator | Freeze period | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Evotel | 18 December 2026 to 5 January 2027 | A smaller team is on call for essential work, with limited support. |
| Frogfoot | TBA | Dates not yet confirmed. |
| MetroFibre | 14 December 2026 to 10 January 2027 | No network changes during the freeze. New installations pause from 23 to 27 December 2026 and pick up again on 28 December 2026. Full operations resume on 11 January 2027 at 08:00. |
| MTN Fibre | TBA | Dates not yet confirmed. |
| Octotel | TBA | Dates not yet confirmed. |
| Openserve (incl. Web Connect) | TBA | Dates not yet confirmed. |
| Thinkspeed | 11 December 2026 to 6 January 2027 | No installations or network changes. Orders placed before the freeze are handed over up to and including 11 December 2026. |
| Vumatel (incl. Vuma Reach) | TBA | Dates not yet confirmed. |
| Zoom Fibre | TBA | Dates not yet confirmed. |
| All other fibre networks | TBA | Most networks pause installations and changes from mid-December to early January. |
LTE and 5G freeze dates 2026/2027
| Network operator | Freeze period | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| MTN | TBA | Dates not yet confirmed. |
| Telkom | TBA | Dates not yet confirmed. |
TBA means the network operator hasn't confirmed its dates yet. We update this page as soon as they do.
Not sure which network you're on? Log in to Customer Zone and open your Service. Your network operator is listed in the Service description.
What happens to my internet during the freeze?
Carries on as usual
- Your internet connection
- Logging faults on your existing connection
May be paused or delayed
- New installations and activations
- Moving Homes to a new address
- Service upgrades and downgrades
- Fault repairs on networks running with a smaller team
- Router deliveries over public holidays
Planning a new installation or move?
Get your order in early, well before your network's freeze starts. Orders that can't be finished before the freeze are picked up once the network operator is back to full speed.
Moving over the holidays? Start your Moving Homes request a few weeks before your network's freeze date so you're not left offline in your new place.
Frequently asked questions
Will my internet stop working during the freeze?
Not at all. A freeze only pauses work on the network. Your existing connection keeps working as usual.
Can I still log a fault during the freeze?
Yes. Faults are still logged and attended to, and the faults team keeps you updated. Some network operators work with a smaller team over this time, so repairs may take a little longer.
I ordered before the freeze. Will it still be installed?
That depends on your network operator and how far along your order is. If your installation can't be finished before the freeze starts, it's scheduled once the freeze ends.
Will my router still be delivered?
Router deliveries may take a little longer over public holidays. We'll pop delivery cut-off dates in here as soon as we have them.
My network shows TBA. What should I do?
Plan as if the freeze runs from mid-December to early January, which is when most networks take their break. Pop back here for confirmed dates.
Why do network operators have a freeze period?
The holidays are a busy time for internet use, and many technical teams are on leave. Pausing changes keeps networks stable while fewer people are on hand.
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