Both configs working
🇿🇦 South Africa · MTN · HTTP Custom · Fastest

HTTP Custom config file for MTN South Africa

The fastest free internet option on MTN South Africa. Two variants: Unlimited for everyday use and Fast for peak throughput. Both work on a zero-balance SIM and require no data bundle to connect.

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Typical speed
5-20 Mbps
Method
HTTP proxy / SNI
Durability
1-4 weeks
Config file
.hc

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MTN South Africa HTTP Custom config files

Two variants are available. Use Unlimited as your daily driver. Switch to Fast when you need maximum throughput for a specific task.

Recommended start
Unlimited Config
Connects through a server path with no data cap and moderate speed. Less likely to be caught in MTN SA's update cycle than the Fast config because the traffic volume is less conspicuous.
Speed: 5-12 Mbps Lifespan: 2-4 weeks
High throughput
Fast Config
Routes through a higher-capacity proxy path that peaks at 15 to 20 Mbps. More likely to trigger MTN SA's traffic shaping for long sessions, and expires sooner than the Unlimited config.
Speed: 10-20 Mbps Lifespan: 1-2 weeks
Config name File Variant Status Updated Download
MTN SA HTTP Custom Unlimited .hc No data cap, moderate speed Working Latest ↓ Download
MTN SA HTTP Custom Fast .hc High speed, expires sooner Working Latest ↓ Download

When a config stops working, switch to the ha tunnel plus config while a fresh .hc file is uploaded. You can also request an updated config and it will be ready within 24 hours.

How it works

HTTP proxy tunnelling on MTN South Africa

HTTP Custom works by disguising your traffic as ordinary web requests and routing it through a proxy port that MTN South Africa leaves open for specific services. The config sets a custom payload and an SNI value in the HTTP header that convinces MTN SA's network equipment to forward the traffic to the proxy server rather than blocking it. The proxy server then connects to the wider internet on your behalf and returns the response through the same tunnel.

The reason HTTP Custom delivers the fastest speeds on MTN SA is that HTTP proxy connections are lightweight. Unlike SSH tunnelling or TLS encryption, HTTP proxy tunnels do not wrap traffic in additional encryption layers that add processing overhead. The tunnel is essentially riding a gap in MTN SA's traffic management rules rather than actively encrypting and re-encrypting data, which is why it transfers data faster but also why it stops working as soon as MTN closes the relevant proxy port.

MTN South Africa participates in MTN Group's coordinated network update schedule, which closes proxy ports across the pan-African network every 2 to 3 weeks on average. When an HTTP Custom config expires, the connection either fails immediately or shows Authentication failed. At that point the only options are to switch to an alternative app or wait for a fresh .hc file. I upload a new config within 24 hours of a request.

When to use it

HTTP Custom versus other MTN SA options

Use HTTP Custom when
✅You need the fastest possible speeds on MTN SA for HD streaming or large file downloads
✅You are on a strong 4G LTE signal in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban or another major metro
✅You are comfortable switching to ha tunnel plus when the .hc config expires every few weeks
✅You primarily download files, stream video or load media-heavy pages where raw throughput matters most
Switch to another app when
🔸The config has been patched and you need something working immediately without waiting for a new file
🔸You are in a rural area or on a 2G or 3G signal, where ha tunnel plus holds more reliably
🔸You need low-latency performance for gaming or real-time audio calls, where Stark VPN's UDP tunnelling is more suitable
🔸You want a config that lasts longer between refreshes and do not need peak download speeds

Setup guide

How to import and connect HTTP Custom on MTN South Africa

The import process takes under two minutes. Start with the Unlimited config. If it does not connect within 30 seconds, try the Fast config before concluding the config has expired.

1
Download the Unlimited .hc config file
Download the Unlimited config from the table above. The file ends in .hc. Do not rename it and do not open it in a text editor. Import it through the HTTP Custom app only.
Download the Fast config at the same time and keep it in your Downloads folder as a backup.
2
Install HTTP Custom
Install HTTP Custom from the Google Play Store or from TechTrix. Open the app. You will see the main screen with a power button in the centre and a folder icon or three-dot menu at the top right.
3
Import the .hc config file
Tap the folder icon or the three-dot menu and select Import Config. Navigate to your Downloads folder and select the .hc file. The app loads all settings from the file. You do not need to enter a server address, port or any other setting manually.
Do not edit any settings after importing. The config is pre-tuned for MTN SA and manual changes will break the connection.
4
Disable any active data bundle first
If your MTN SIM has an active data bundle, go to Android settings and switch mobile data off, then back on. This resets the SIM connection to zero balance. HTTP Custom needs to connect on zero balance to use the free tunnel. If a bundle is active, it may try to use paid data instead.
5
Tap the power button to connect
Tap the large power button on the HTTP Custom main screen. Accept the VPN permission when Android prompts you. The status bar turns green and shows bytes transferred when the tunnel is active. Connection usually takes under five seconds on a strong MTN 4G signal.
If it does not connect within 30 seconds, try the Fast config variant. If neither connects, the configs may have been patched. Switch to the ha tunnel plus config.

FAQ

HTTP Custom on MTN South Africa

What is the difference between the Unlimited config and the Fast config? +
The Unlimited config uses a server path that MTN SA's traffic management has not aggressively rate-limited. It delivers consistent 5 to 12 Mbps and lasts 2 to 4 weeks before expiring. The Fast config routes through a higher-capacity proxy path that peaks at 15 to 20 Mbps but is more conspicuous because high-throughput proxy traffic is easier for MTN SA's systems to identify, so it expires in 1 to 2 weeks. Use Unlimited daily. Switch to Fast when you need maximum speed for a specific download or task and do not mind if it expires sooner.
The .hc file will not open in HTTP Injector. Are .hc and .ehi files interchangeable? +
No. .hc files are the proprietary config format for HTTP Custom only and will not import into HTTP Injector, which uses .ehi files. The two apps use entirely different payload structures and server authentication methods. If you try to load a .hc file into HTTP Injector, it will either fail silently or import incorrectly and produce a connection that does not work. If you need an HTTP Injector config for MTN South Africa, request a separate .ehi file here.
HTTP Custom shows Authentication failed when I try to connect on MTN South Africa. What does this error mean? +
Authentication failed in HTTP Custom does not mean a password is wrong. It means the proxy server rejected the connection request because the port or payload the config uses no longer matches what MTN SA's network expects at that point. This is the specific error that appears when a config has been patched as part of MTN Group's update schedule. Switch to the ha tunnel plus config immediately. Then request a fresh HTTP Custom file and it will be uploaded within 24 hours.
My HTTP Custom connection slows dramatically after 20 to 30 minutes of use. Is MTN throttling the tunnel? +
Yes. MTN South Africa applies traffic shaping to long-running proxy sessions that exceed a throughput threshold over a sustained period. Disconnecting and reconnecting resets the session counter on MTN's side, and the connection usually starts at full speed again. If you are on the Fast config and this happens consistently, switch to the Unlimited config. The lower peak speed on the Unlimited path makes it less likely to trigger MTN SA's shaping for typical browsing and streaming sessions.
Does HTTP Custom show a VPN icon in the status bar? Will MTN know I am tunnelling? +
Yes, Android displays a key or shield icon in the notification bar whenever any VPN or tunnel is active. MTN SA can see from its network data that a tunnel session is open on your line. Their standard response to working configs is to patch the proxy port, not to flag individual subscribers. I have not received any report of MTN SA suspending an account for using these configs. That said, avoid sensitive financial transactions while connected, as your traffic passes through a third-party proxy server before reaching its destination.
HTTP Custom connects but certain apps are blocked even while the tunnel is active. Why? +
Some apps use certificate pinning, meaning they verify the SSL certificate of every server they connect to and reject connections that route through a proxy. Banking apps, certain streaming services, and some Google apps do this. HTTP Custom cannot tunnel those connections because the proxy breaks the certificate chain the app expects. This is a limitation of HTTP proxy tunnelling, not a config problem. For apps that block HTTP Custom, ha tunnel plus handles certificate-pinned connections differently through SSH and works where HTTP Custom fails.
HTTP Custom works on Wi-Fi but not on MTN mobile data. What is causing this? +
When HTTP Custom runs on Wi-Fi, it uses the router's internet connection and bypasses MTN SA entirely. On mobile data, the .hc config has to match MTN SA's specific proxy port and payload to get past the network gate. If the app connects on Wi-Fi but fails on mobile data, the config is almost certainly expired or it was not built for MTN SA. Confirm you downloaded the config from this page. Configs from other sites or other networks use different server addresses and payloads and will not work on MTN South Africa.
Config expired? Need a fresh file?

Request an updated HTTP Custom config for MTN South Africa and it will be uploaded within 24 hours.

Request updated config →
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