3G HSDPA Availability

[Tegnik]

I have scanned through the forums, and I didn't find an answer. So I start my own thread with a burning question:

1: Why doesn't Vodacom want to give a concrete answer as to when they will make 3G available in my area?

2: What has to be done to make 3G available?

3: What is the cost of making it available?

Would Vodacom care to answer me and +- 50 other customers if we will pay for such an upgrade?

MTN doesn't offer 3G in my area either, but even if they did... I am not that desperate.

[Pay no attention to my location as "Potchefstroom", because that is where I study, and not where I need 3G]

 

[vodacom3g]

I have scanned through the forums, and I didn't find an answer. So I start my own thread with a burning question:

1: Why doesn't Vodacom want to give a concrete answer as to when they will make 3G available in my area?

2: What has to be done to make 3G available?

3: What is the cost of making it available?

Would Vodacom care to answer me and +- 50 other customers if we will pay for such an upgrade?

MTN doesn't offer 3G in my area either, but even if they did... I am not that desperate.

[Pay no attention to my location as "Potchefstroom", because that is where I study, and not where I need 3G]

1: Where did you ask? I can only find this post. Can you maybe PM me the reference number you got from 155 and I can follow up.

2: A site must be found, approval must be obtained, backhaul must be available and there must be enough of a requirement.

3: A few million, so for +- 50 users, probably about R250 000 per user.

 

[Hummercellc]

um?

If memory serves me right, was it not Vodacom’s mission to have every base station in the country upgraded to 3G? This was when the service was launched…
Ok I also have a question now..
How can a company such as Vodacom who make an extremely incredible profit, take so long to upgrade all existing 2G equipment to EDGE or 3G?
Just weird fact, that Cell C who are not performing so well in the profit margins, managed to upgrade their few thousand base stations to EDGE in record time, and are still deploying sites at an alarming rate.
Ok so I understand that it is sometimes a base station manufacturer problems. But has the older base stations not paid for themselves over and over?
Also I think cellular operators should stop sponsoring sports, I mean rather fix or upgrade something on your network, in turn making your customers happy. Ok yes it all about advertising but Vodacom have a very strong hold on the market. So there is not massive need to advertise.

Don’t bash me for this just a though….

P.S. Don’t even compare MTN to any other network. They equal mismanaged heaven.

 

[vodacom3g]

If memory serves me right, was it not Vodacom’s mission to have every base station in the country upgraded to 3G? This was when the service was launched…
Ok I also have a question now..
How can a company such as Vodacom who make an extremely incredible profit, take so long to upgrade all existing 2G equipment to EDGE or 3G?
Just weird fact, that Cell C who are not performing so well in the profit margins, managed to upgrade their few thousand base stations to EDGE in record time, and are still deploying sites at an alarming rate.
Ok so I understand that it is sometimes a base station manufacturer problems. But has the older base stations not paid for themselves over and over?
Also I think cellular operators should stop sponsoring sports, I mean rather fix or upgrade something on your network, in turn making your customers happy. Ok yes it all about advertising but Vodacom have a very strong hold on the market. So there is not massive need to advertise.

Don’t bash me for this just a though….

P.S. Don’t even compare MTN to any other network. They equal mismanaged heaven.

Can't recall the intention was to upgrade every 2G tower to 3G. Would costs 10's of billions to do so. So not feasible. Telkom just announced spending R3B (I think) for 220 3G towers. Vodacom already have a few thousand 3G towers. But it will take many years to get the same coverage.

The 3G network needs many more towers to cover the same area, so many (many) more towers will have to be built to give the same footprint.

Upgrading GPRS to EDGE is still within the same family so it's normally just a software upgrade, just as Vodacom have upgraded from 3G to HSDPA-1.8 to HSDPA-3.6 to HSDPA-7.2. All just software. There is no 'upgrade' from 2G to 3G, rather it's a brand new network.

 

[Hummercellc]

Ok yes I do know that it would be a brand new network and costs a lot of money. However Vodacom's EDGE network is still a bit patchy. Compared to MTN.

V3G will Vodacom be doing the new edge upgrade to support 592kbps speeds?

link: http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com..._Siemens_Networks_doubles_EDGE_data_speed.htm

 

[vodacom3g]

Ok yes I do know that it would be a brand new network and costs a lot of money. However Vodacom's EDGE network is still a bit patchy. Compared to MTN.

V3G will Vodacom be doing the new edge upgrade to support 592kbps speeds?

link: http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com..._Siemens_Networks_doubles_EDGE_data_speed.htm

Not aware of any plans. Will ask. We don't use NSN kit on 2G.

Vodacom actually has a larger EDGE network that MTN (last stats I saw) but it's very focused to the South.

 

[Hummercellc]

Not aware of any plans. Will ask. We don't use NSN kit on 2G.

Vodacom actually has a larger EDGE network that MTN (last stats I saw) but it's very focused to the South.

Thanks V3G

and sorry iDDQDm0de for going a tad of topic.

I suppose 6/12 or half a dozen. Same thing. Where Vodacom has better coverage in Jo'Burg MTN might be better in Cape Town, just an example.

 

[Ghost02]

Can't recall the intention was to upgrade every 2G tower to 3G. Would costs 10's of billions to do so. So not feasible. Telkom just announced spending R3B (I think) for 220 3G towers. Vodacom already have a few thousand 3G towers. But it will take many years to get the same coverage.

The 3G network needs many more towers to cover the same area, so many (many) more towers will have to be built to give the same footprint.

Upgrading GPRS to EDGE is still within the same family so it's normally just a software upgrade, just as Vodacom have upgraded from 3G to HSDPA-1.8 to HSDPA-3.6 to HSDPA-7.2. All just software. There is no 'upgrade' from 2G to 3G, rather it's a brand new network.

So then why can't they just do a software upgrade to make EDGE more available, would be better to have EDGE where there is no 3G. I'd rather have EDGE than GPRS.

 

[vodacom3g]

So then why can't they just do a software upgrade to make EDGE more available, would be better to have EDGE where there is no 3G. I'd rather have EDGE than GPRS.

Agree, half the network was software upgradeable, so it was done. Look on the coverage map. The other half required new hardware, so not so easy. Choice here is do we upgrade to EDGE or spend the money on 3G? WE opted for 3G with EDGE in the places where there is a requirement but no ability to get 3G towers up.

 

[Tegnik]

1: Where did you ask? I can only find this post. Can you maybe PM me the reference number you got from 155 and I can follow up.

2: A site must be found, approval must be obtained, backhaul must be available and there must be enough of a requirement.

3: A few million, so for +- 50 users, probably about R250 000 per user.

I didn't ask on the forums. Half of the 50 users are the head of a privately owned platinum mine. If the whole mine stops operation for 1 minute, it loses approximately R500 000. I wouldn't ask if we couldn't manage it. Here is a funny fact: even with Telkom's reputation, we got tired of Vodacom's excuses and tried to call them (Telkom). They are sending a tech guy on Friday to give us a quote on making the whole town ADSL available.

Another fun fact: every time we called Vodacom they never got further than saying: we understand sir, but we have to follow our rollout plans. Maybe your town is included in our rollout plan. Be patient.

 

[vodacom3g]

I didn't ask on the forums. Half of the 50 users are the head of a privately owned platinum mine. If the whole mine stops operation for 1 minute, it loses approximately R500 000. I wouldn't ask if we couldn't manage it. Here is a funny fact: even with Telkom's reputation, we got tired of Vodacom's excuses and tried to call them (Telkom). They are sending a tech guy on Friday to give us a quote on making the whole town ADSL available.

Another fun fact: every time we called Vodacom they never got further than saying: we understand sir, but we have to follow our rollout plans. Maybe your town is included in our rollout plan. Be patient.

Maybe if you can post this mysterious location, I can look into it?

 

[ic]

I have scanned through the forums, and I didn't find an answer. So I start my own thread with a burning question:

1: Why doesn't Vodacom want to give a concrete answer as to when they will make 3G available in my area?

2: What has to be done to make 3G available?

3: What is the cost of making it available?

Would Vodacom care to answer me and +- 50 other customers if we will pay for such an upgrade?

MTN doesn't offer 3G in my area either, but even if they did... I am not that desperate.

[Pay no attention to my location as "Potchefstroom", because that is where I study, and not where I need 3G]

I didn't ask on the forums. Half of the 50 users are the head of a privately owned platinum mine. If the whole mine stops operation for 1 minute, it loses approximately R500 000. I wouldn't ask if we couldn't manage it. Here is a funny fact: even with Telkom's reputation, we got tired of Vodacom's excuses and tried to call them (Telkom). They are sending a tech guy on Friday to give us a quote on making the whole town ADSL available.

Another fun fact: every time we called Vodacom they never got further than saying: we understand sir, but we have to follow our rollout plans. Maybe your town is included in our rollout plan. Be patient.

Something fishy about this story IMO, anyways good luck, please post pictures of the dorpie and its Platinum mine and the new ADSL DSLAM'ed exchange, and a photo of the hero from Telkodemonopolies that comes out to rescue the dorpie from obscurity.

 

[Tegnik]

Maybe if you can post this mysterious location, I can look into it?

I only realised now you are a Vodacom rep. You have to understand that it is quite cumbersome to have to speak to people on the phone that hardly ever cares. In no way am I directing my post at you, you have to understand that.

The mysterious town is Setaria. Located just outside Thabazimbi (which has 3G).

I should apologise for the tone of my post, but even when we offered to assist with the funds towards such an upgrade, we had no concrete answers.

It should be said that I have 3G on my phone almost 300 meters outside of the town, but then goes away instantly (no gradual degredation of signal). Do you think that an amplifier of some sort would suffice?

 

[Tegnik]

Something fishy about this story IMO, anyways good luck, please post pictures of the dorpie and its Platinum mine and the new ADSL DSLAM'ed exchange, and a photo of the hero from Telkodemonopolies that comes out to rescue the dorpie from obscurity.

The mine is called Northam Platinum Ltd. And truly, we did receive a reply from Telkom and they are doing as I said. But I can confirm 100% that the majority will use 3G rather than ADSL if it were available. Hence the constant nagging by us. Including an internet cafe which is owned by a local tannie here.

 

[ic]

I only realised now you are a Vodacom rep. You have to understand that it is quite cumbersome to have to speak to people on the phone that hardly ever cares. In no way am I directing my post at you, you have to understand that.

The mysterious town is Setaria. Located just outside Thabazimbi (which has 3G).

I should apologise for the tone of my post, but even when we offered to assist with the funds towards such an upgrade, we had no concrete answers.

It should be said that I have 3G on my phone almost 300 meters outside of the town, but then goes away instantly (no gradual degredation of signal). Do you think that an amplifier of some sort would suffice?

I suspect that v3g's earlier post about using a 3G cell extender would apply in this case for the benefit of several people in the dorpie...

 

[vodacom3g]

I only realised now you are a Vodacom rep. You have to understand that it is quite cumbersome to have to speak to people on the phone that hardly ever cares. In no way am I directing my post at you, you have to understand that.

The mysterious town is Setaria. Located just outside Thabazimbi (which has 3G).

I should apologise for the tone of my post, but even when we offered to assist with the funds towards such an upgrade, we had no concrete answers.

It should be said that I have 3G on my phone almost 300 meters outside of the town, but then goes away instantly (no gradual degredation of signal). Do you think that an amplifier of some sort would suffice?

I'm sure we can do something?

Why don't you drop me a PM with all the exact details, your contact details, etc. and I'll make sure it gets to the right people.

 

[vodacom3g]

Seems Santa decided to visit your mining town over Xmas and declared you all good boys and girls. You should see something in your stocking soon.

At least before the Easter Bunny.

 

[Tegnik]

I am now speechless. Truly I am. Vodacom has reclaimed my customer loyalty.

If I walk into a Vodashop, and someone that works there grabs me by the tie and chokes me into a deep sleep, I would still say: "you have a much better grip than anyone from MTN, well done!"