Cheaper HSPDA Modem and Data

[FireTelkom]

Hi

I did investigation into getting a E220 HSPDA modem on the cheapest possible way and found the following:

On 500MB Data contract - R249 per month
On 1Gig Data Contract - R449 per month.

However, the following options are available to new subscribers:

1. Topup 200 - E220 modem with once-off payment of R189 and thereafter R200 per month - (Can easily be used for 500MB per month)
2. Topup 275 - E220 modem for free and monthly payment of R275. You need to add R14 prepaid airtime per month and can then get 1Gig and the datacard for only R289 per month.

The best is however that if you travel (like me) for periods exceeding 6 weeks out of the country, you do not activate a bundle and the amount (either R200 or R275) will be carried over to the next month.

If you are a big browser that use more than 2Gig of data a month, then the Topup packages is also cheaper than the normal data contracts. You can buy a R1000 prepaid voucher at Pic a Pay for R975. You will however get R1100 worth of airtime for the payment of R975. In this way, when you use more than 5Gig of data per month, you will pay just more than 17c per MB instead of the 19c per MB on the Data Contracts.

I picked up my E220 on the Talk 200 yesterday from Incredible Connection. This prices will still be valid for all of May at any Vodacom Service Provider outlet.

By planning my data use and bundles on the Talk 200 package, I am saving money and with the unused money being carried over to the next months, I have created my own hybrid Data Carry over system.

Makes you think!!!!

I think it is time for Vodacom to do the following to its normal Datacard contracts:

500 MB Contract - Monthly payment of R200, out of bundle rate of 30c/MB.
1Gig Contract - Monthly payment of R300, out of bundle rate of 20c/MB.
2 Gig Contract - Monthly payment of R400, out of bundle rate of 17c/MB.

In the above way, The rates between Topup and Datacards as well as prepaid using vouchers from Pic a Pay at discounted rates will be equalised. It will also be easier for me to from the beginning use a 2Gig contract and not worry about exceeding the 2Gig limit. In this way the customers commit to a minimum data usage and now upfront the cost of data. This will also be in line with the structuring of the Talk packages. Their is no talk package where you pay the same for calls as pay as you go users once you have used all your inclusive minutes...........

The following table will explain the total cost per option for different data usage (using 1000MB = 1G):
Data Contracts
Data Usage 500MB 1 Gig 2 Gig
500MB R200 R300 R400
1 Gig R350 R300 R400
2 Gig R650 R500 R400
3 Gig R950 R700 R570
5 Gig R1550 R1100 R910

I am sure their is also other permutations where the out of bundle rate can be reduced on increasing data usage. It will however make the pricing model more fair and easier for corporates to use.

Think about it.

FireTelkom

 

[boerbok]

If you already have a modem here is a cheaper way to get your data on 500 package
I have seen at Pick&Pay that they are selling the Big Bonus voucher for R600 (could even be less). This will give you R75 month airtime. you the just need to add R114 to buy a 500m bundle.
Over a year you would thus be spending (114 X 12 = 1368 + 600 = 1968) which works out to 32.8c a meg

This way you are you are not even tied in since you are only paying for R600 upfront
I know that you can only buy R110 vouchers for the 114 needed but use your imagination and buy a once-off R29 or R55 needed for the shortfall

 

[FireTelkom]

You are correct with your sums but you must not forget that my calculations included a datacard, in your example you must pay R2499 additional (or R1999 at Incredible connection special till the weekend) to get the datacard.

If you already have a datacard, you can also use the Smartup voucher from Smartcom. Currently at R1999 and this will give you 24 x 135 or a total of R3240. The additional that you need can be added by buying the 1000 voucher from Pic a Pay at 975 and you will get R1100 worth of money on your prepaid.

If you use the above example for the 500MB offering, you will only pay 26.23c/MB.

My initial mail was only to show that

1. the addtional you pay above the bundle price for the datacard on the datacontract does not make sence
2. Prepaid data is in fact now cheaper than contract data

FireTelkom

 

[boerbok]

My 2 cents was not intended to put down your option. That is indeed the best option if you do not have a datacard
just trying to lay all the cheaper options on the table

The only thing I do not like about the Smartcom voucher idea is that you have to pay more upfront and are tied into all that money(but you do get an even cheaper rate)