Understanding ISP Restrictions: Do You Really Need to Pay for a Public IP Address?

Recently, I encountered a frustrating situation with my Internet Service Provider (ISP) regarding restricted website access. Like many users, I was using OpenDNS, which resulted in several sites being blocked by default—including those containing adult content and popular torrent platforms like RARBG. After expressing my concerns to the ISP, they informed me that while they could remove these restrictions, I would need to opt for a “public IP address” at an additional cost of 100 ZAR per month.

This raised a red flag for me. Is this a common practice, or am I being taken advantage of? The thought of paying extra just to access websites that shouldn’t have been blocked in the first place felt unnecessary and frustrating.

I explored alternative solutions, as I had heard that many users circumvent such restrictions using VPNs. However, I was reluctant to invest in a VPN service due to the added expense and the potential decrease in internet speed. After all, why should anyone have to grapple with extra costs for basic online access?

Fortunately, after discussing my dilemma in a community forum, I received several helpful responses. Many users suggested adjusting the DNS settings on my device to utilize Google’s public DNS instead of the restrictive OpenDNS. Intrigued, I looked into it further and discovered step-by-step instructions on changing the DNS settings on my PC.

To my relief, making this adjustment effectively resolved the issue. I was no longer greeted with “website blocked due to content filtering” warnings when attempting to access previously restricted sites. It was a simple yet effective solution that I hadn’t come across in my earlier searches.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, consider exploring changes to your DNS settings before committing to additional fees suggested by your ISP. You might be surprised at how easily you can regain access to the content you desire without expanding your monthly expenses.

Thank you to everyone who offered their assistance—your insights truly made a difference!