During the festive season, most Fibre Network Operators (FNOs) implement network freeze periods. These freezes help ensure network stability during a time when staffing and operational capacity are reduced.
While essential services remain operational, certain activities such as new installations, upgrades, or planned maintenance may be limited or paused.
What Is a Network Freeze?
A network freeze is a period where:
- Planned network maintenance is paused
- New fibre installations may be limited or unavailable
- Network upgrades and line changes may be delayed
- Only emergency faults and outages are prioritised
- Support teams may operate with skeleton staff
Confirmed FNO Freeze Periods
Frogfoot
- Freeze period: 12 December 2025 to 5 January 2026
- All planned and routine maintenance is on hold
- Emergency work will continue where required
- Network Operations Centre remains operational 24/7
Openserve
- Shutdown period: 22 December 2025 to 6 January 2026
- Last working day before shutdown: 19 December 2025
- Normal operations resume on 7 January 2026
- Skeleton staff available for support during this period
MetroFibre
- Freeze period: 15 December 2025 to 11 January 2026
- No core network changes or planned maintenance permitted
- Emergency and standard maintenance tickets remain active
- NOC and maintenance teams on standby
Vumatel
- Network maintenance freeze: 12 December 2025 to 12 January 2026
Civil work and maintenance
- Civil work pauses on 12 December 2025
- Civil work resumes on 12 January 2026
- Planned network maintenance is frozen for the duration
Orders and installations
- Order placement continues as normal
- Installations continue until 24 December 2025
- Limited ad-hoc installations may take place until 31 December 2025, excluding public holidays
- Regular installation scheduling resumes on 2 January 2026
Support
- Core support teams operate with skeleton staff
- Maintenance on major public holidays is limited unless pre-arranged
Octotel
- No installations will take place on 24 to 26 December 2025 and 1 January 2026
- Installation activity will continue at reduced capacity outside of these dates
ThinkSpeed
- Freeze period: 12 December 2025 to 7 January 2026
- No installations or network changes during the freeze
- Orders placed before 12 December may complete by 15 December 2025, if infrastructure is in place
- Support remains available for existing services
Evotel
- Office closed from 12 December 2025 to 5 January 2026
- Last installations for the year take place on 19 December 2025
- Skeleton staff available via email and WhatsApp during the closure
MTN
- Freeze period: 12 December 2025 to 6 January 2026
What This Means for You
Faults and outages will still be attended to during the festive season, but response times may be longer than usual due to reduced operational capacity.
If you are planning a new fibre installation, upgrade, or line change, we strongly recommend placing your order well before mid-December to avoid delays.
Planning ahead beats festive frustration. Every time.