Cell C, MTN, Vodacom showdown - 4G network claims

Well, one of the complainants still advertise its service as "broadband" while ASA ordered them on 10 August to stop using the term as its service is NOT broadband... Advertising something you don't have - C for yourself...
 
Thats it MTN and Vodacom, get ANGRY with Cell C! Angry enough to undercut their prices!
 
Sore losers, much?

Admittedly, I'm not in favour of them using the term 4G even if they slap a minute "s" onto it. However, if the only companies this is affecting in a detrimental way are those that have been raping the public for years, then I'm not too upset about it (especially with the agreeably priced HSDPA+ packages Cell C recently launched).

Basically, what I'm saying is that the tears of "Proudly (raping) South African(s)"-companies means nothing to me.
 
As the article pointed, 4G as a technology framework is well defined by the ITU, formally called "ITU-Advanced"

What's not that well known is the definition of 'mobility' in the spec.

"High Mobility" (which must be at least 100Mb/s) is defined as speeds up to 350Km/h!

"Low Mobility" (which must be at least 1Gb/s) is defined as up to walking speeds.

Today, no real-world technology is available that can achieve this, though 6 submissions have been made to the ITU on technologies that can be developed to their ITU-Advanced spec. These all boil down to either LTE-Advanced or 802.16m.

Even with the fast pace of development, we're probably at least 2 to 3 years away.
 
What i find interesting is that in all the months that sprint in the US has been advertising their 4G network (which it isn't), and HTC selling the EVO4G and the Epic 4G, i have never read a single complaint anywhere.

So what does that mean, are south africans better informed/pedantic or something?

For the record, i don't quite like cell c spreading disinformation like they are.
 
With that being said, bring on the cheap gigs so we can enjoy the start of the revolution!!!
 
Its a marketing ploy.
CellC are just using the term to keep MTN and VC thinking about 'definitions'.
Whats the worst that could happen, Cell just has to take the 4gs name off.
While MTN and VC think they have won, they have actually lost cos all the boradband customers will have moved to CellC.
 
jak3 said:
What i find interesting is that in all the months that sprint in the US has been advertising their 4G network (which it isn't), and HTC selling the EVO4G and the Epic 4G, i have never read a single complaint anywhere.

So what does that mean, are south africans better informed/pedantic or something?

For the record, i don't quite like cell c spreading disinformation like they are.
Click to expand...
The 3G speed is fine with me, I mean 21Mbps, how much faster do you want. Plus it works with existing technology which is a plus. The crucial thing is the data cap/allowance, with which Cell C is clearly the best ATM.
 
I don't care if it's 4G or not ... as long as the prices are good I sitting happy!
 
All smoke and mirrors... Each and every survey I came across highlighted that the consumers in this country's highest priority is LOWER RATES from mobile providers. Stuff 21Mbps, I'm perfectly happy with 3.6Mbps, just drop the rate!
 
jak3 said:
What i find interesting is that in all the months that sprint in the US has been advertising their 4G network (which it isn't), and HTC selling the EVO4G and the Epic 4G, i have never read a single complaint anywhere.

So what does that mean, are south africans better informed/pedantic or something?
Click to expand...

LTE and WiMAX 802.16e-2005 are being branded "4G" by a bunch of overseas companies even though it's technically "pre-4G" tech. People don't seem to be caring much because the maximum downlink speed ratings are close enough.

But you're right, at this rate we'll have to start calling LTE-Advanced and WiMAX 802.16m "4.5G" :P
 
the problem as I see it is this:
Is it true the Cell C has a ITU defined 4G network? No.
Have they claimed that their network is a ITU defined 4G network?
I don't think so - bring the evidence

Have they claimed to be building an ITU defined 4G network?
Yep, that much is clear.

Are they building an ITU defined 4G network?
Pretty much, they are building the backhaul. They are having technicians research updates and progress on 4G development.

Are VC and MTN able to make the same claim?
Yes, I doubt that Telkom can though - as I understand it Telkom mobile is happy with 3G to serve there purposes. iBurst is similarly not appearing to be looking over the horizon.

Should networks be marketing what they are intending and building?
Tricky one. They shouldn't mislead people about products but they should be motivated to be next generational. I mean Apple punted NeXT, Microsoft had N(ew) T(echnology).

The ASA IMHO needs to formulate additional rules concerning communication marketing and I think networks in particular need to differentiate between what puffing up what we'll be able to do from what the network is certified as able to do. Industry marks should be VERY strict.
Terms like uncapped need to acquire a defined meaning - uncapped does not mean unlimited.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X