BitCo Consumer Review

This is not uber important so BitCo can answer in their own time (so please don’t say that this is not the official customer interaction platform).

How exactly does the "Fair usage throttling" work? I understand that it kicks a 5mbs user down to about 2mbs after a duration.

Having and paying for "5mbs" is all good and fair if Ookla tests looks pretty. But right now I once again have very bitter and duped flavor in my mouth and wallet.

Tried doing an Origin update. Just me at home and no one using webz. Update is 92MB. First 60ish MB the bw was @ a good ~500kbs. Then what down to exactly the "throttle" speed.

Stopped everything, waited an hour and tried something similar... again, not even a proper 2 minutes and the network drops to the "expected ~200KBs"...

So - how long does it truly and officially take before one is punished than less what is being paid for? Again - no problem with FAP. Just a big problem with a package posing as 5mbs while it will not even bring you a 92MB file without going down to 2MB.

Everyone I suggested BitCo to in the beginning are now a bit miffed as well - NOT ONE of these households and businesses are anywhere near happy.

Be more transparent.
 
This is not uber important so BitCo can answer in their own time (so please don’t say that this is not the official customer interaction platform).

How exactly does the "Fair usage throttling" work? I understand that it kicks a 5mbs user down to about 2mbs after a duration.

Having and paying for "5mbs" is all good and fair if Ookla tests looks pretty. But right now I once again have very bitter and duped flavor in my mouth and wallet.

Tried doing an Origin update. Just me at home and no one using webz. Update is 92MB. First 60ish MB the bw was @ a good ~500kbs. Then what down to exactly the "throttle" speed.

Stopped everything, waited an hour and tried something similar... again, not even a proper 2 minutes and the network drops to the "expected ~200KBs"...

So - how long does it truly and officially take before one is punished than less what is being paid for? Again - no problem with FAP. Just a big problem with a package posing as 5mbs while it will not even bring you a 92MB file without going down to 2MB.

Everyone I suggested BitCo to in the beginning are now a bit miffed as well - NOT ONE of these households and businesses are anywhere near happy.

Be more transparent.

Hi KirPlunk,

The full policy, with the detail you are looking for can be found here: http://bitco.co.za/acceptable-and-fair-use-policy/

We encourage users experiencing problems to please contact support so that qualified personnel can confirm that the cause is either the Accpetable adn Fair Usuage Policy or determine if there is a different cause. There are multiple reasons you could be experiencing reduced speeds, sometimes on our side and sometimes not.

If you have reached out to us here because you have already contacted support, and they have confirmed that you are being shaped due to over utilisation, please consult the policy. Should you have queries thereafter may we please ask you to log another support ticket and PM us the ticket number so that we can direct the query, internally, to the correct personnel to answer your questions.

Regards,

BitCo
 
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Update Netflix - Unotelly - BitCo Router

Status: Working

Problem: You getting the dreaded "You are using the a proxy service" error while trying to connect to the US Netflix catalog

Fix:
- Set your Region in UnoTelly to US 5/6
- In your router browse to:
- Advanced -> DHCP/DNS
- IN the dnsmasq custom confg free text box put in:

dhcp-option=net:filter,6,8.8.8.8
dhcp-option=net:filter,6,8.8.4.4
dhcp-option=net:filter,6,23.246.0.0
dhcp-option=net:filter,6,45.57.0.0
dhcp-option=net:filter,6,185.2.0.0
dhcp-option=net:filter,6,198.38.0.0
dhcp-option=net:filter,6,198.45.0.0

- Restart everything and clear browser cache's if you using a browser and all should be fine.
 
I must say, their service did degrade quite some.
I had a 12 month contract with Bitco since end 2014. It was working 100% until beginning Feb 2016. I downloaded a windows installation file at between 11am and 12am, was running at almost the full 5mbps. Literally an hour afterwards my bandwidth degraded to less than 1mbps (on a 5mbps contract), thereafter it never improved over the days/weeks, that is except at about midnight, then I'd have the full 5mbps bw. Struggled with their support. No explanation, just "The engineers are unable to fix the issue" and a de-installation offered. I am a Network Security Engineer by profession, in my experience it has the same symptoms of someone dropping the QoS, so I suspect they either have skills issues, or they are simply oversubscribed and need to get rid of some home users.
 
I think it's time for Bitco to show a bit more value for money with regards to their existing home users, even their business clients.

"Cell C is also in discussions with other fibre network operators to provide an end-to-end service to customers across the country.
C-Fibre will initially be available in three variants – all offering unlimited, unrestricted symmetrical data.

C-Fibre 20Mbps – R899 per month
C-Fibre 50Mbps – R1,149 per month
C-Fibre 100Mbps – R1,499 per month
All offerings include free installation valued at R1,710, free connection worth R999, and a free Wi-Fi router with LTE failover worth R1,799."
 
Update Netflix - Unotelly - BitCo Router

Status: Working

Problem: You getting the dreaded "You are using the a proxy service" error while trying to connect to the US Netflix catalog

Fix:
- Set your Region in UnoTelly to US 5/6
- In your router browse to:
- Advanced -> DHCP/DNS
- IN the dnsmasq custom confg free text box put in:

dhcp-option=net:filter,6,8.8.8.8
dhcp-option=net:filter,6,8.8.4.4
dhcp-option=net:filter,6,23.246.0.0
dhcp-option=net:filter,6,45.57.0.0
dhcp-option=net:filter,6,185.2.0.0
dhcp-option=net:filter,6,198.38.0.0
dhcp-option=net:filter,6,198.45.0.0

- Restart everything and clear browser cache's if you using a browser and all should be fine.

Sadly didn't work for me
 
Many international sites are dead for me tonight. Can't run a speed test at speedtest.net to a US location at all. Indiegogo.com doesn't load and so forth. Local sites seem fine though and the MyBroadband speed test gives me full speed.
 
I think it's time for Bitco to show a bit more value for money with regards to their existing home users, even their business clients.

"Cell C is also in discussions with other fibre network operators to provide an end-to-end service to customers across the country.
C-Fibre will initially be available in three variants – all offering unlimited, unrestricted symmetrical data.

C-Fibre 20Mbps – R899 per month
C-Fibre 50Mbps – R1,149 per month
C-Fibre 100Mbps – R1,499 per month
All offerings include free installation valued at R1,710, free connection worth R999, and a free Wi-Fi router with LTE failover worth R1,799."

Vumatel is starting the fiber build in my area on the 18/04/2016, I can get 100 mbps for the same price as i'm paying for 10mbps from Bitco.
 
I think it's time for Bitco to show a bit more value for money with regards to their existing home users, even their business clients.

"Cell C is also in discussions with other fibre network operators to provide an end-to-end service to customers across the country.
C-Fibre will initially be available in three variants – all offering unlimited, unrestricted symmetrical data.

C-Fibre 20Mbps – R899 per month
C-Fibre 50Mbps – R1,149 per month
C-Fibre 100Mbps – R1,499 per month
All offerings include free installation valued at R1,710, free connection worth R999, and a free Wi-Fi router with LTE failover worth R1,799."

Link?
 
My road with Bitco officially ended today with the de-installation taking place now as we speak.

I can't re-iterate what a flawless time I have had with Bitco. To top it all off, normally companies start treating you like shyte when you leave or terminate a contract. My experience was exceptional.

Little background:
I moved out of the property 16/03/2016. New owners taking occupation 01/04/2016. I arranged for the de-installation and was put in contact with Maxime. She took it upon herself to contact the new owners and arrange for a time and date the de-installation could be done. She gave feedback once it was confirmed. My problem was the house will be empty and I will not let the router and switch stay in an empty house. I asked her if there is anyway we can arrange for a time to meet to have it dropped off. She suggested she will phone me as soon as the team are close to the property so I can have the equipment delivered. True to her word she called me when they were 5 minutes out and I had my dad drop off the equipment.

Garth and Michael please make sure she gets the recognition for this compliment?

Maxime:
Your service throughout this whole process was without flaw, you took it onto yourself personally
To contact the new owners to set up an appointment, liaise with me directly and even going the extra
Mile when I requested you please call me when they are close so I can deliver the switch and router
Since the property was empty. I would like to thank you for your exceptional service and would like
My appreciation to be seen by Garth and Michael. Guys, she’s remarkable, dependant and reliable. I hope
You know how lucky you are to have such a person working for you. I really do appreciate your
Exceptional service Maxime and know you will go far in the future with that attitude.
 
I can't re-iterate what a flawless time I have had with Bitco. To top it all off, normally companies start treating you like shyte when you leave or terminate a contract. My experience was exceptional.

Little background:
I moved out of the property 16/03/2016. New owners taking occupation 01/04/2016. I arranged for the de-installation and was put in contact with Maxime. She took it upon herself to contact the new owners and arrange for a time and date the de-installation could be done. She gave feedback once it was confirmed. My problem was the house will be empty and I will not let the router and switch stay in an empty house. I asked her if there is anyway we can arrange for a time to meet to have it dropped off. She suggested she will phone me as soon as the team are close to the property so I can have the equipment delivered. True to her word she called me when they were 5 minutes out and I had my dad drop off the equipment.

Garth and Michael please make sure she gets the recognition for this compliment?

Maxime:
Your service throughout this whole process was without flaw, you took it onto yourself personally
To contact the new owners to set up an appointment, liaise with me directly and even going the extra
Mile when I requested you please call me when they are close so I can deliver the switch and router
Since the property was empty. I would like to thank you for your exceptional service and would like
My appreciation to be seen by Garth and Michael. Guys, she’s remarkable, dependant and reliable. I hope
You know how lucky you are to have such a person working for you. I really do appreciate your
Exceptional service Maxime and know you will go far in the future with that attitude.

Thank you very much for your patronage Pitbull, we are indeed sad to have to say good bye. Thank you as well for this incredible feedback. All credit will go to Maxime appropriately. We appreciate your feedback.

Sincerely hoping that our paths cross again in the near future.

- BitCo
 
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