Cell C Dropping "Fixed" LTE - What are the alternatives?

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Mets

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As per the heading. I received notice from M-web that they are ending the Cell C contracts at the end of October and that they now offer Fibre (not available in my area) or a similar LTE package via Telkom.

I currently pay R530 for 100GB and have my own router
Telkom's offer = 50GB anytime + 50GB Bonus + 100GB night time (12am - 7am) @ R759
+"Free Router" valued at R1999 (Huawei B525)

Problems with this:
1) I have a router, don't want to pay for a "free" router with my monthly package
2) I'm never going to use the night time data, so I'll pay R229 more for the same amount of data
3) According to the sales consultant I'll be debited the full price of the router should I cancel before the end of the 24-month contract

I see all the ISP's are running with the exact same deal (Mweb, Openweb, Vox, Afrihost, Axxess etc.) Only Axxess indicates that a sim only option is "coming soon".

Anyone in the same boat as I? I'm not keen on the Telkom option except if I can do it on a month to month package, with my own router at a reduced rate.
 
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Been with CellC since they started in 2001. Wonderful service, both voice and data up to Jan this year

LTE dropped from 20 mbps to 0,6 mpbs
Signal at home was always 5 bars, now it is 1 and "LTE" usually off

I got a Telkom SIM and used that. I buy prepaid voice and data now and then. Its the same price

It was a palava porting the number. Bought a pre-paid SIM and phoned 081XX customer care number. Unhelpful and clueless. Spent nearly 2 hours at Telkom shop. Horrible experience, clerk picked his nose all the time. In the end a friend who works at a CellC shop did it

LTE from Telkom is certainly better than CellC. Pity their customer service is so abysmal
 
chrisc said:
Been with CellC since they started in 2001. Wonderful service, both voice and data up to Jan this year

LTE dropped from 20 mbps to 0,6 mpbs
Signal at home was always 5 bars, now it is 1 and "LTE" usually off

I got a Telkom SIM and used that. I buy prepaid voice and data now and then. Its the same price

It was a palava porting the number. Bought a pre-paid SIM and phoned 081XX customer care number. Unhelpful and clueless. Spent nearly 2 hours at Telkom shop. Horrible experience, clerk picked his nose all the time. In the end a friend who works at a CellC shop did it

LTE from Telkom is certainly better than CellC. Pity their customer service is so abysmal
Click to expand...

Telkom usually just works, but heaven help you if you run into problems ...
 
Just today I bought an LTE router from Vodacom. I haven't signed a contract yet as I still need to cancel with MWEB after a 20 year relationship with them broke down beyond repair. Until that's finalised I'll use the router with my phone data.

Vodacom's offer of 50GB + 30GB night time data may not be enough for you, but it' should be enough for me.
 
Anyone have any experience with Openweb LTE packages.

I see they have an Uncapped LTE package @R1499 and they provide higher speeds and a higher FUP.
Up to 12Mbps until 200GB, then up to 6Mbps until 350GB, then up to 3Mbps for the rest of the month

Although I have coverage LTE-A on Telkom, MTN and Vodacom they said they don't have coverage for me.

Who is their provider and does anyone have an Openweb LTE Package?
 
eagle2k said:
Anyone have any experience with Openweb LTE packages.

I see they have an Uncapped LTE package @R1499 and they provide higher speeds and a higher FUP.
Up to 12Mbps until 200GB, then up to 6Mbps until 350GB, then up to 3Mbps for the rest of the month

Although I have coverage LTE-A on Telkom, MTN and Vodacom they said they don't have coverage for me.

Who is their provider and does anyone have an Openweb LTE Package?
Click to expand...
If you search mybb hard enough, you will see that tons of users have problems with Openweb. Also, it looks like they are Telkom, in which case there capped packages are really expensive.
 
Ok, so it looks like I have the following option available on sim only deals:
Telkom via Axxess
Pro - Not limited to fixed location (I can take my router with on holiday and use my data)
61-day data rollover
Con - More Expensive - R699 (120 + 120) or less data R499 (80 + 80)*
*Does anyone know what Telkom charges for top-ups per GB?

MTN via Supersonic
Pro - Just a bit more than my current R530 - R599 (100 + 100)**
Con - Fixed location (I can't use the data away from the registered location)
** Does anyone know what MTN charges for top-ups per GB?

If I can go for Telkom's 80+80 option I can pay less than I currently do, Top-up as required or carry over data in months when I don't use up my data. I'll also have the flexibility to use my router wherever I travel (coverage dependent).

Any suggestions or flaws in my reasoning?
 
Just confirmed with Axxess.
These are the top up prices:
af78e2dcd3154c760c61076fe9eec0ad.jpg


I'm pretty convinced to go for the smaller package (80+80) and top up when needed.
 
Mets said:
Ok, so it looks like I have the following option available on sim only deals:
Telkom via Axxess
Pro - Not limited to fixed location (I can take my router with on holiday and use my data)
61-day data rollover
Con - More Expensive - R699 (120 + 120) or less data R499 (80 + 80)*
*Does anyone know what Telkom charges for top-ups per GB?

MTN via Supersonic
Pro - Just a bit more than my current R530 - R599 (100 + 100)**
Con - Fixed location (I can't use the data away from the registered location)
** Does anyone know what MTN charges for top-ups per GB?

If I can go for Telkom's 80+80 option I can pay less than I currently do, Top-up as required or carry over data in months when I don't use up my data. I'll also have the flexibility to use my router wherever I travel (coverage dependent).

Any suggestions or flaws in my reasoning?
Click to expand...
TELKOM - Average speed - cheaper top up prices
MTN - Higher than average speeds - More expensive to top up.

Any friends with A telkom sim?
Any friends with an MTN sim?
Ask them to come over and do a speed test.
take it from there. Might be worth it to spend a little more and have piece of mind. (MTN)

In saying that i have been with telkom and i have had no issues, A few bad speeds but otherwise happy.
 
ReeceDBN031 said:
TELKOM - Average speed - cheaper top up prices
MTN - Higher than average speeds - More expensive to top up.

Any friends with A telkom sim?
Any friends with an MTN sim?
Ask them to come over and do a speed test.
take it from there. Might be worth it to spend a little more and have piece of mind. (MTN)

In saying that i have been with telkom and i have had no issues, A few bad speeds but otherwise happy.
Click to expand...

I have both. Although Supersonic is the most incompetent company I've ever come across, the speeds and reliability of the MTN network are far superior to Telkom...
 
Webafrica is going to send a Telkom SIM to me at the end of the month, no need for new router or anything. I have a CellC data package, but since WA offered me a 120+120 data package on Telkom, lets see how that goes.
 
hjst45 said:
I have both. Although Supersonic is the most incompetent company I've ever come across, the speeds and reliability of the MTN network are far superior to Telkom...
Click to expand...
YES, MTN is just superior.. to bad supersonic service is crap apparently.. Was looking at getting their product.
 
ReeceDBN031 said:
YES, MTN is just superior.. to bad supersonic service is crap apparently.. Was looking at getting their product.
Click to expand...
And how! Holy ****

So ordered 4 x MTN Packages from SuperSonic

3 weeks now and its not couriered yet
Still at the projects office
 
eagle2k said:
And how! Holy ****

So ordered 4 x MTN Packages from SuperSonic

3 weeks now and its not couriered yet
Still at the projects office
Click to expand...
Went into Telkom shop, got SIM loaded data, up and away. 56mbps down and 23mbps up. Decent
 
eagle2k said:
And how! Holy ****

So ordered 4 x MTN Packages from SuperSonic

3 weeks now and its not couriered yet
Still at the projects office
Click to expand...

Funny enough, ordered 2nd one on Friday and yesterday they even sent an SMS with a tracking number. Second time around much better, probably because I pestered them so much...
 
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