Choosing a Internet Plan and Line rental

[DarshanN95]

Hi Guys

Im so confused right about choosing a package. What the hell is Line rental and why do ISP's include it in their bundles?

Also If i have a voice package from Telkom why must i still pay for line rental? I would like to choose a Capped Data plan with at least 10mb/s but do i have to pay for the 10mb/s part??

If anyone can help me understand the whole process and what i should be paying for monthly...

Thanks for the help

 

[CrazyBob]

Yeah, it's awesome hey. You gotta pay monthly for both your Telkom phone line (even if you don't use it) and an ADSL line rental fee just to get connected to ADSL. The line rental fee varies depending on the speed you wish to get (http://www.telkom.co.za/sites/athome/productsandservices/internetandbroadband/adsl/). Most metro areas you should get between 6-10mbps. If you're one of the very lucky few that are in an area that's been ADSL2+ enabled, you could get up to 40mbps, but at a premium.

Then you gotta add on an ADSL capped packaged after all that. Most ISP's offer bundles where you can actually pay them for the ADSL line rental fee part at a bit of a discount. It's another hoop to jump through if you have any issues with the line, so depends on you if you think it's worth it.

I for instance have a 10mbps line with Afrihost & 200GB data. Total cost would then be R758 to Afrihost including bundled line and I think it's something like R150 to Telkom for the phone line rental for a total of just over R900pm.

Just noting that I'm glad you're after a capped plan rather than uncapped. Uncapped is just asking for a world of misery what with throttling and shaping and FUPs.

Best ISPs as a general consensus would be: Afrihost, WebAfrica, Vox Telecom, Axxess

 

[The Axxess Lady]

Hi Guys

Im so confused right about choosing a package. What the hell is Line rental and why do ISP's include it in their bundles?

Also If i have a voice package from Telkom why must i still pay for line rental? I would like to choose a Capped Data plan with at least 10mb/s but do i have to pay for the 10mb/s part??

If anyone can help me understand the whole process and what i should be paying for monthly...

Thanks for the help

Hi DarshanN95,

As explained by CrazyBob ADSL consists of three elements, your Voice Line, ADSL Line and your data. Have a look at our Capped Combo's, they include your ADSL Line rental and your data at a reduced price http://goo.gl/9u4SWd.

The Axxess Lady

 

[Yuu]

Well explained above and if you want to further your reading then read up on Access Line Deficit. That is where that extra line rental is going towards.

I know this can be argued back and forth but that is the crux of it .

 

[Saba'a]

Also telkom softcap vs hard capping by axxess and others. Only reason I am not moving.

 

[Chevron]

Hi Guys

Im so confused right about choosing a package. What the hell is Line rental and why do ISP's include it in their bundles?

Also If i have a voice package from Telkom why must i still pay for line rental? I would like to choose a Capped Data plan with at least 10mb/s but do i have to pay for the 10mb/s part??

If anyone can help me understand the whole process and what i should be paying for monthly...

Thanks for the help

So to get ADSL you need 3 things.

1. A telephone line. (paid to telkom)
2. ADSL fee (paid to telkom or adsl fee)
3. Data from an ISP

 

[Mental]

So to get ADSL you need 3 things.

1. A telephone line. (paid to telkom)
2. ADSL fee (paid to telkom or adsl fee)
3. Data from an ISP

So, if I get a telephone line installed @ ~R600 + monthly rental (Telkom) all I need is an ADSL bundle (line + data) from any ISP and a router, then I'm good to go?

Any suggestions for routers? (if it's not derailing the thread too much)

 

[I O U]

.. all I need is an ADSL bundle (line + data) from any ISP .. Any suggestions for routers?

I've written this before on the forum, and am suggesting to you as well, to rather stay away from those bundled options. If you have enough problems with your ISP & the ADSL portion of your line is controlled by them, then to move to a different ISP entails moving back to Telkom at the very least, before you go on to the next ISP, and back to Telkom again (when you have problems with the new ISP).

If you do a "self installation" of your ADSL, which only entails a few basic steps (for a single ISP), then you'll be able to switch ISPs at will, and have multiple ones at the same time (a bit more difficult re the settings on modem/router concerning bridge & half-bridge modes, but there's always help).

I'd never hand my ADSL line over to an ISP in order to save a few Rand, each month.

Here's some info. I posted a while ago, on modems / routers, but you might also want to consider an all-in-one modem/router with wi-fi - D-Link & TP-Link are good, reasonably priced options ..

Read @cavedog's comments as well:
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...0mbps-Adsl?p=13237392&highlight=#post13237392

 

[furpile]

A good way to get started is with Telkom's simple plans. Then you get installation and a modem for free (if this special is still available). Just make sure its on month to month and not a contract. Then you can see what works best for you and you can easily switch to another ISP for a capped account if you want to.

 

[Mental]

A good way to get started is with Telkom's simple plans. Then you get installation and a modem for free (if this special is still available). Just make sure its on month to month and not a contract. Then you can see what works best for you and you can easily switch to another ISP for a capped account if you want to.

No catch if you cancel within a few months regarding the router or anything else?

 

[furpile]

No catch if you cancel within a few months regarding the router or anything else?

Nope, have heard that you should stay with TI for 3 months but it is not stated anywhere. I canceled the ISP part with Telkom after the first month and just keep the line and ADSL with them. Other people I know are still on their uncapped packages and are happy with it. Depends what you want really.