Best fibre ISP according to network quality

[Dr_Sting]

Hi,

Vumatel is finally installing tomorrow and I still have to decide which ISP to sign up with.

An article on Mybroadband in January, https://mybroadband.co.za/news/adsl/196402-best-adsl-ftth-and-mobile-isps-in-south-africa.html, showed Cybersmart, Crystal Web, Cool Ideas and Webafrica were among the top 4 (Network quality)

I'm more interested in the best network quality on FIBRE ONLY as supposed to best priced, etc.

Is there perhaps an updated article showing the latest comparisons?

Please can you give me some feedback on your experience to help me make my final decision.

I'm steering towards Crystal Web or Cybersmart at the moment.

Thank you.

 

[Sinbad]

CW or cool ideas. Can't go wrong with either.

 

[coop]

I'm with Cool Ideas and couldn't be happier. I've had no problems with speed locally or internationally. My wife plays Runescape on UK servers and loves the stability of the connection for gaming. I have never seen any sign of shaping or throttling. It's also nice to not have to worry about the bandwidth I use.

In fact, the only thing I can fault is the supplied router, which is a TL-WR840N, the router works OK, and gives reasonable coverage, but it's not what I'd call a world class router. But it comes free and can be returned to CISP if I ever leave them (which is only likely to happen if I move into an area that has no fiber or I drop dead, I really can't imagine any other circumstance that would make me change ISP's).

 

[stefan9]

Cool ideas or crystalweb. Both excellent.

 

[Mr Scratch]

+1 for Cool Ideas

 

[Ferris Wheel Junkie]

I am currently a very happy Crystal web ADSL customer, and was intending to change over to their fibre options as soon as it is ready in my area.
The cables are currently being installed in my complex, and I am told our area is "live" so this could be as soon as a week or two away.

I was surprised to see Crystal web has a R1750 connection / installation fee, while Web Africa has none (for Openserve network.)

That certainly seems like a deciding factor for me, could any one justify spending the fee to choose CW over WA?
As I say I am a very happy Crystal web customer, and was really hoping to stay with them.

 

[Sinbad]

I am currently a very happy Crystal web ADSL customer, and was intending to change over to their fibre options as soon as it is ready in my area.
The cables are currently being installed in my complex, and I am told our area is "live" so this could be as soon as a week or two away.

I was surprised to see Crystal web has a R1750 connection / installation fee, while Web Africa has none (for Openserve network.)

That certainly seems like a deciding factor for me, could any one justify spending the fee to choose CW over WA?
As I say I am a very happy Crystal web customer, and was really hoping to stay with them.

Surprising that you'd choose lower quality over paying a connection fee, but, you get what you pay for.

 

[Ferris Wheel Junkie]

Well, I am asking, is the quality difference worth R1750?

I play online games, and want good ping, but its not like I'm choosing between the best and the worst networks.
My choice is between 1st (CW with a score of 8.71) and 3rd (WA with 8.11) based on the above article https://mybroadband.co.za/news/adsl/196402-best-adsl-ftth-and-mobile-isps-in-south-africa.html

I mean, do we even know if that difference is noticeable?
Web Africa's capped packages are also on average R100 per month cheaper than CW.
With that and no connection fee, I am not sure how they score worse than CW on value for money?

 

[Sinbad]

Well, I am asking, is the quality difference worth R1750?

I play online games, and want good ping, but its not like I'm choosing between the best and the worst networks.
My choice is between 1st (CW with a score of 8.71) and 3rd (WA with 8.11) based on the above article https://mybroadband.co.za/news/adsl/196402-best-adsl-ftth-and-mobile-isps-in-south-africa.html

I mean, do we even know if that difference is noticeable?
Web Africa's capped packages are also on average R100 per month cheaper than CW.
With that and no connection fee, I am not sure how they score worse than CW on value for money?

Check for lock in duration, etc...

 

[Mr Scratch]

Currently Crystal Web on Openserve is trash. Look at their thread, it's full of complaints.

 

[Ferris Wheel Junkie]

Nothing that I could see, WA offer month to month, free router can be returned if you cancel.

At the moment I am undecided, and just looking for some input from current customers.

 

[Sinbad]

Nothing that I could see, WA offer month to month, free router can be returned if you cancel.

At the moment I am undecided, and just looking for some input from current customers.

Mkay. Then I'm just gonna say that maybe WA can afford to absorb the connection fees based on their size...?

 

[PBCool]

Nothing that I could see, WA offer month to month, free router can be returned if you cancel.

At the moment I am undecided, and just looking for some input from current customers.

Anyone that is covering the line installation fee locks you into term, basically it's all "month-to-month" but if you exit before the term is up you need to pay the monies back again.

 

[Geoff.D]

Currently Crystal Web on Openserve is trash. Look at their thread, it's full of complaints.

Why would that be? What are you implying here? Openserve technology not compatible with CW as an ISP?

 

[Mr Scratch]

Why would that be? What are you implying here? Openserve technology not compatible with CW as an ISP?

No, they used to be awesome and now they're terrible. Likely because they no longer have any presence here on MyBroadband and look like they are solely focused on non-openserve products.

 

[Geoff.D]

No, they used to be awesome and now they're terrible. Likely because they no longer have any presence here on MyBroadband and look like they are solely focused on non-openserve products.

CW does not have a presence on the forum? I think you need to look again.

And no they are not focused on non-OpenServe products ---- they would alienate quite few of their existing customers on ADSL and FTTH on OpenServe if they were to do that.

Please substantiate your viewpoint with some examples.

 

[Mr Scratch]

CW does not have a presence on the forum? I think you need to look again.

And no they are not focused on non-OpenServe products ---- they would alienate quite few of their existing customers on ADSL and FTTH on OpenServe if they were to do that.

Please substantiate your viewpoint with some examples.

1. They do not post in their thread.

2. Their support agents do not consider this forum as a means of support.

3. Their Openserve performance (fibre and dsl) has been absolutely trash for many people, go read their unofficial thread.

4. They have been developing their own wireless network for the past while and plan to push that heavily from the wording in their previous mails.

5. Their portal has been in development for the past 4(?) years and is still lacking the most basic of features.

 

[Geoff.D]

1. They do not post in their thread.

2. Their support agents do not consider this forum as a means of support.

3. Their Openserve performance (fibre and dsl) has been absolutely trash for many people, go read their unofficial thread.

4. They have been developing their own wireless network for the past while and plan to push that heavily from the wording in their previous mails.

5. Their portal has been in development for the past 4(?) years and is still lacking the most basic of features.

Okay CW users the opening salvo has been fired off

Now it is your job to respond ......

 

[Mr Scratch]

Okay CW users the opening salvo has been fired off

Now it is your job to respond ......

This is not the thread to do so, they have been vocal in the correct thread and suggest you stop looking to instigate.

 

[Geoff.D]

This is not the thread to do so, they have been vocal in the correct thread and suggest you stop looking to instigate.

Then why did you raise this issue and imply that there is no thread in which complaints could be lodged?