Broadband Report 2008

Hi Anathema

Thanks for the feedback.

Can you please explain what is meant by audited? Would you like KPMG to look at the results? Why will this be necessary?

This is a standard survey and the results are reported – similar to basically all other surveys and academic studies of its kind. To pay an auditing firm a bag full of money to put their stamp on the results is worthless…the purpose of the report is to help consumers to make an informed decision, which it does.

Regards,

RPM
 
Last edited:
rpm said:
Hi Anathema

Thanks for the feedback.

Can you please explain what is meant by audited? Would you like KPMG to look at the results? Why will this be necessary?

This is a standard survey and the results are reported – similar to basically all other surveys and academic studies of its kind. To pay an auditing firm a bag full of money to put their stamp on the results is worthless…the purpose of the report is to help consumers to make an informed decision, which it does.

Regards,

RPM
Click to expand...

Sorry read your other reply before this one, which does indeed answer my question.

The reason why auditing results would be good is that they would serve to make this report something seasonal which carries great value and validity for the industry it represents.

I never knew it was simply a buyers guide in which case shouldnt it rather be shown as just that? :confused:
 
Last edited:
TheRoDent said:
Telkom DSL 4mbps pricing doesnt look right - it's cheaper than the 512kbps ?

DSL512 website is shown as www.telkon.co.za (perhaps intentional, or badly scanned page? :) )

Wisp Wi-FI website is wrong. It must be www.wapa.org.za not waspa

Also, what on earth is the background image ? It looks a bit like a high voltage isolator ?
Click to expand...

Telkom DSL 4 Mbps is indeed cheaper when buying it from Telkom direct because of reduced fees for Do Broadband offerings. No discount for 512 :(

Telkon.co.za - badly scanned - not intentional :)

Background image - I am wondering myself...graphic designer did it...maybe sponsored by a BPL provider? :D

Gatecrasher said:
Sentech MyWireless international download speed looks faster than the local speed. Is that right?
Click to expand...
It is correct. This is most likely a consequence of a small sample, and lots of international bandwidth for a very small user base ;)
 
Ummm, 3GB on 512kbps is more expensive than 3GB on 4096kbps? Methinks whoops.

Otherwise: tasty!
 
The report is interesting, but, like Anathema, I'd like to see a paragraph about how it was compiled. I found it odd that both MTN and Vodacom got the same score (85%). Is this just a subjective judgment like in figure skating, or is it a calculated result from a poll?

There were some anomalies.

The Telkom Level 1 bundle (1Gb @ 384 for R199) is missing.

The Telkom fixed line offerings didn't show the hefty 10G/20G/30G free local data once the local/international cap is finished. I've been told it's not a special offer, but rather an "ongoing" scheme that has been around for quite a while. The 'free' router is worth mentioning.

In the Wireless section, iBurst is given a "Good support" comment in the Verdict, but in the blue section with the score, it gets slated as "Poor". So was it good or was it poor?? From reading some comments in the iBurst forum, I would say poor.

When it comes to speeds, are the local Telkom speeds faster than international?

In the support section, Telkom is given a good score in the graph - coming 3rd top, but is listed as poor in the description. My experience is that it is quite poor.

Lastly, in the mobile broadband section, Cell-C edge speed is apparently up to 244Mb/s. Where did this figure come from? Perhaps this is the theoretical speed, but is nowhere near actual. The report then goes and leaves it out of the speed comparison graph, yet gives Sentech a speed lower than broadband limits!!
 
rpm said:
Telkom DSL 4 Mbps is indeed cheaper when buying it from Telkom direct because of reduced fees for Do Broadband offerings. No discount for 512 :(
Click to expand...

Verdict - Stable and reliable, but
DSL 4 Mbps is far better value for
money for only R 87 more.
Click to expand...

Maybe you need to clarify this. Is it more? Or less?
 
rpm said:
This is for access only. We tried to make it as clear as possible...if we add information we will start to add complexity :(
Click to expand...

All I will say is that as it stands it looks like a blooper. I also think you should have clearly separated out the access part from the ISP package:

Access Price: Rnnn ( Telkom )
Data Price: Rnnn (3GB) (IS)

for example. Then shown more results.

When you get to your speed graphs this becomes more important - not all international traffic is going via Telkom's cables - the IS satellite option is not shown. The "support" graph is therefore also not clear - is it covering my DSL 512 from Telkom only, or my DSL 512 plus my IS package - seeing as you munge it all together when stating the costs?

The last section on the ISPs is fine. I can't comment on the mobile as I don't use it. But the fixed broadband section is a confused mish-mash.
 
Um.... RPM you forgot that, you only get HSUPA/HSDPA3.6 on Vodacom if you pay the extra R49. if i am not mistaken? so effectively on Vodacom it is R389 for 2gig bundle at 384k UL & 1800k DL. Otherwise it would be R448 for 2gig with HSUPA/HSDPA3.6. Which would mean MTN are cheaper.

Peace out…
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X