Afrihost canning double mobile data

[Chevron]

I think it trust most people believed that Afrihost were selling data at a real world non-inflated price...

I do NOT believe that Afrihost were selling data a a loss, slim or almost no margin yes but a loss? No way!

Their no free data prices are more expensive than almost all other similar offerings! Example 1GB = R99 but for R79 you can get 2GB from MWeb and get a free modem...

I think you are looking at this the wrong way...

The business accounts and capped with double data definitely. That's why they always had IPC issues and why now they are trying to get rid of it. They just couldn't afford the IPC upgrades. Also why now the home uncapped accounts are shaped way more than a year ago.

All makes sense when you think about it. Especially when you compare to other ISPs.

 

[Necropolis]

I get good value for money for mine. If an extra 6GB costs me R99, Ill keep it thanks.

On the 10gig Afrihost package with Plus included I will be paying all of R20 more that the Axxess 10 + 10gig account - and I am guaranteed to keep my double data - and there are all the other plus benefits included.

When Axxess' promotion ends all the people that have jumped from AH over the Axxess will be stuck paying R579 for 10 gigs of data.

 

[GoneWithTheWindows]

What's worse is Afrihost is still advertising double mobile data on their website.

Why is that worse?

They still do double data on their mobile packages? You just have to sign up for their AH+.

 

[AfriGenie]

The business accounts and capped with double data definitely. That's why they always had IPC issues and why now they are trying to get rid of it. They just couldn't afford the IPC upgrades. Also why now the home uncapped accounts are shaped way more than a year ago.

All makes sense when you think about it. Especially when you compare to other ISPs.

We definitely have enough IPC capacity at the moment.

The Uncapped accounts are being shaped a bit more in the past because a lot of the P2P download traffic on the Uncapped accounts was not being classified correctly, and this resulted in our shaping and bandwidth management not being as effective as it should have been.

And I have feeling the Double Data will remain around for ADSL for sometime yet.

 

[Chevron]

We definitely have enough IPC capacity at the moment.

Yeah, but you guys always wait till people complain before you upgrade IPC. Thrice in a row now. Never pro actively.

 

[AfriGenie]

Yeah, but you guys always wait till people complain before you upgrade IPC. Thrice in a row now. Never pro actively.

That is very true, that is something we are actually working actively on improving, we have added significantly to our monitoring and prediction facilities to ensure that we remain ahead on the curve of bandwidth demand.

 

[whatwhat]

It's going to be interesting to see what all the "Screw Afrihost - we're going to Axxess" people do when Axxess' newly started double data PROMOTION is also cancelled.

How so? Axxess prices are cheaper than AH when you take away the double promotion in anycase.

 

[Necropolis]

How do you figure that?

Assuming no AH+ - the 10gig AH package is R497pm and the Axxess one is R579 per month.

 

[whatwhat]

How do you figure that?

Assuming no AH+ - the 10gig AH package is R497pm and the Axxess one is R579 per month.

You're right, on that size package AH is better. I've only looked at the smaller packages since I don't need that much mobile data

500MB 49@Axxess, 58@AH
1GB 79@Axxess, 99@AH
2GB 139@Axxess, 145@AH

It's when the packages start differing in size that the differences come in.

 

[Viva]

You're right, on that size package AH is better. I've only looked at the smaller packages since I don't need that much mobile data

500MB 49@Axxess, 58@AH
1GB 79@Axxess, 99@AH
2GB 139@Axxess, 145@AH

It's when the packages start differing in size that the differences come in.

Yip, this is why I'm predicting that Afrihost's Mobile data pricing will drop in the near future - they'll be uncompetitive as soon as double data (without plus) falls away.

 

[Necropolis]

You're right, on that size package AH is better. I've only looked at the smaller packages since I don't need that much mobile data

500MB 49@Axxess, 58@AH
1GB 79@Axxess, 99@AH
2GB 139@Axxess, 145@AH

It's when the packages start differing in size that the differences come in.

Ahhh fair enough

 

[Bufamotis]

No double data, no need to stay with AH Mobile.
Wifi at work, wifi via WA at home, and 1Gb with cell provider while out..
AH SIM cancelled.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

Can someone point me to a link where I can see how the MobileTwo is going to change? Right now I have a number of MobileTwo packages which come in at R145/pm and give me 4GB (2+2 promo). To be honest I do not need all the fluff/bling with Afrihost+ as it just clouds the service offering (especially for business customers or people who just want plain mobile data).

I have just spoken to Afrihost and was told that MobileTwo will revert to 2GB at a monthly cost of R135 and top-up will cost R99.

I surely must misunderstand Afrihost+, as on Afrihost+ at R99/pm I will get 500MB of data and then would need to top-up another 2GB (at R99 per GB) in order to receive 4,5GB per month? If so, Afrihost+ will cost me R297/pm - almost double of what I am paying now.

If the above is the case, for R145/pm I can get alternatives and AH seems to be more expensive every turn you take:
- Afrihost's 2+2GB costs now R149 and if the free 2GB falls away I would assume that 2GB alone would then cost R149
- Axxess currently offers a 1+1GB (R 79) and a special promo 2+2GB (R139) - both substantially cheaper - https://www.axxess.co.za/mobile-data
- Telkom Mobile offers a 2+1GB (R 149) which would then be cheaper if AH reverts to R149 for 2GB - http://www.telkommobile.co.za/plans/prepaid-data/

To me Telkom Mobile looks as the most viable option (I think Axxess is also on the MTN network, so their promo will not last and surely AH being a MTN company will undercut competitors on the same network). Any comments?

@Afrihost peeps: I think if you continue to bury your head in the sand you should not be surprised if people cancel your MobileTwo packages - from my side there will be 8 cancellations coming in by the end of this week.

 

[Viva]

Can someone point me to a link where I can see how the MobileTwo is going to change? Right now I have a number of MobileTwo packages which come in at R145/pm and give me 4GB (2+2 promo). To be honest I do not need all the fluff/bling with Afrihost+ as it just clouds the service offering (especially for business customers or people who just want plain mobile data).

I have just spoken to Afrihost and was told that MobileTwo will revert to 2GB at a monthly cost of R135 and top-up will cost R99.

I surely must misunderstand Afrihost+, as on Afrihost+ at R99/pm I will get 500MB of data and then would need to top-up another 2GB (at R99 per GB) in order to receive 4,5GB per month? If so, Afrihost+ will cost me R297/pm - almost double of what I am paying now.

If the above is the case, for R145/pm I can get alternatives and AH seems to be more expensive every turn you take:
- Afrihost's 2+2GB costs now R149 and if the free 2GB falls away I would assume that 2GB alone would then cost R149
- Axxess currently offers a 1+1GB (R 79) and a special promo 2+2GB (R139) - both substantially cheaper - https://www.axxess.co.za/mobile-data
- Telkom Mobile offers a 2+1GB (R 149) which would then be cheaper if AH reverts to R149 for 2GB - http://www.telkommobile.co.za/plans/prepaid-data/

To me Telkom Mobile looks as the most viable option (I think Axxess is also on the MTN network, so their promo will not last and surely AH being a MTN company will undercut competitors on the same network). Any comments?

@Afrihost peeps: I think if you continue to bury your head in the sand you should not be surprised if people cancel your MobileTwo packages - from my side there will be 8 cancellations coming in by the end of this week.

Al that is going to change is that the promotional double data falls away as long as you're not an Afrihost+ subscriber @ R99/month.

Subscribing will means you pay R145 + R99 = R244/month and you'll receive 2GB + 2GB + 500MB a month.

Axxess belongs to Afrihost, and their offering is also promotional, I'm sure it will only last for the duration of the summer.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

You misunderstand Afrihost+. Subscribing will means you pay R145 + R99 = R244/month and you'll receive 2GB + 2GB + 500MB a month.

Also, Axxess belongs to Afrihost, and their offering is also promotional, I'm sure it will only last for the duration of the summer.

I thought I did, but surely, Afrihost complying to CPA should then make it clear when a commercial contract's terms changes. I could not find this information. Also for R244/pm I can pretty much pick mobile data from anywhere else. AH is introducing all sorts of "noise" to cloud the content of the product.

I have now filed a ticket with AH to get at least some response in writing. Where did you come up with R244 BTW? The R99 is for AH+ and what's the R145 for (I assume it is the current 2+2 cost, but what does this mean for new customers signing up in January?)

 

[Viva]

I thought I did, but surely, Afrihost complying to CPA should then make it clear when a commercial contract's terms changes. I could not find this information. Also for R244/pm I can pretty much pick mobile data from anywhere else. AH is introducing all sorts of "noise" to cloud the content of the product.

I have now filed a ticket with AH to get at least some response in writing.

Gian (CEO) sent an email explaining this. Did you not get the mail? More than that, we've all been expecting the double data promotion to end for months now - it was always a promotion with an expiry date and Afrihost warned numerous times that it was coming to an end. They just managed to extend it until now.

 

[GoneWithTheWindows]

Gian (CEO) sent an email explaining this. Did you not get the mail? More than that, we've all been expecting the double data promotion to end for months now - it was always a promotion with an expiry date and Afrihost warned numerous times that it was coming to an end. They just managed to extend it until now.

Exactly.

 

[Viva]

When signing up, you agreed to the following clause:

"Mobile Two packages will get an additional Two GB of free Anytime data on top of the normal Two GBs until 31 December 2014, at which point the offer will be revised or extended."

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

Gian (CEO) sent an email explaining this. Did you not get the mail? More than that, we've all been expecting the double data promotion to end for months now - it was always a promotion with an expiry date and Afrihost warned numerous times that it was coming to an end. They just managed to extend it until now.

I got the below and re-read it now (in context with the comments in the forum) and perhaps it would have been better for AH to be more transparent about this in their email. I would have just said "Hey, you are using MobileTwo at R145/pm and our promo comes to an end, but if you upgrade to our Afrihost+ offering at R244/pm you will retain the same perks and then some" - would have been a lot simpler than Gian's long-winded/convoluted emails (perhaps AH needs to hire a proper marketing person who can simplify his 3am email rants).

....
Is there a Silver Lining?

Yes. You can still keep Double Mobile Data on a mobile package of your choice if you have Afrihost Plus+.

I do realise this means you will have to pay more but unfortunately it is the only way we can still manage to offer Double Data and even come close to breaking even.

Fortunately with Afrihost Plus+ you do get other mobile data perks (such as an extra 500MB of Mobile Data AND 2-for-1 Mobile Data topups anytime of the month) so I sincerely believe the R99 is well worth the value you get.

It's absolutely fine if you choose not to join Afrihost Plus+. I would, however, suggest that you do look at it and decide for yourself whether it is worth it or not.

...

 

[sovielenamen]

Gian (CEO) sent an email explaining this. Did you not get the mail? More than that, we've all been expecting the double data promotion to end for months now - it was always a promotion with an expiry date and Afrihost warned numerous times that it was coming to an end. They just managed to extend it until now.

Everybody who signed up AFTER the mail was sent out might have a valid case to complain though. As advertsing double data PER MONTH and providing double data only for the rest of the already running month is most probably to be regarded as misleading at the best.
Consumers are as far as I know not obligated to investigate in depth the promises made by companies although they are of course well advised to do this.