Cell C begins moving customers off its network

[Jamie McKane]

Cell C begins moving customers off its network

Cell C has started the process of migrating customers to MTN's cellphone tower infrastructure as it prepares to switch off its own radio access network.

The mobile operator is sending customers an SMS asking them to turn on Data Roaming manually on their devices to ensure their mobile data connection remains active.

 

[McGuywer]

FNB Connect customers as well?

 

[backstreetboy]

FNB Connect customers as well?

Cell C's switching off their own network...

 

[Antelope]

So will cellc still have a 4G/LTE network?

 

[Nephew_]

So will cellc still have a 4G/LTE network?

Nope

 

[blunt]

FNB Connect customers as well?

@Cell_C are FNB connect customers also part of this switch over which will be completed early Feb (according to https://www.cellc.co.za/cellc/networkconnect)?

 

[dominic]

....while at the same time applying for spectrum....

 

[backstreetboy]

....while at the same time applying for spectrum....

They’ll be using their own spectrum on the MTN network...

 

[NeonNinja]

So what happens to the current hardware?

 

[Gnome]

Nope

What will they have?

 

[Dames]

Quite a turnout for the books - after all those years of aggressive network infrastructure investment to this...

 

[system32]

So what happens to the current hardware?

In 2010, Cell-C was forced to sell their towers assets to ATC (American Tower Corporation), and then rented capacity from ATC.

Global Wireless Infrastructure Provider | American Tower

Global leader in digital infrastructure. Explore our wireless communications and data center solutions.

atcsouthafrica.co.za

I suspect MTN is just cheaper to use than ATC.

 

[rpm]

So what happens to the current hardware?

Cell C CEO Douglas Craigie Stevenson previously told MyBroadband some of the company’s radio network equipment will be sold, which will generate money for the company.

In addition, certain rented components of its radio network will be given back to the companies it leases it from.

 

[Binary_Bark]

So my Cell C sim will now actually get reception and work?

 

[Easter Bunny]

MyBroadband asked Cell C for further comment, but the company did not respond by the time of publication.

probably no signal on their side.

 

[susefan]

There is no mention of prepaid customers. When will they be migrated to MTN radios?

 

[now05ster]

Still roaming on Vodacom but at 2G speeds. Cell C always had terrible voice quality.

 

[HartsockZA]

In 2010, Cell-C was forced to sell their towers assets to ATC (American Tower Corporation), and then rented capacity from ATC.

Global Wireless Infrastructure Provider | American Tower

Global leader in digital infrastructure. Explore our wireless communications and data center solutions.

atcsouthafrica.co.za

I suspect MTN is just cheaper to use than ATC.

ATC is kak expensive their pricing models are ridiculous.

 

[Swa]

Confusing. What happened to the part where Cell C will be a seamless full fledged mobile operator? Now we actually have to select roaming.

 

[DeTector]

Confusing. What happened to the part where Cell C will be a seamless full fledged mobile operator? Now we actually have to select roaming.

This is only while the changeover is happening. They don't want you to lose data access. Will be seamless roaming (auto) after the whole subscriber base is moved over - in mid Feb.