Cool Ideas Fixed LTE (MTN) Odd Throttling (?) Behaviour

[Ernabr]

Waiting in anticipation on the next episode!

 

[Zarro2021]

Would love to know the answer to this as I have the exact same problem.

On the Uncapped Pro LTE package from Axxess with a fair usage of 1TB.

Im convinced MTN has some sort of grey listing of SIMs that use "excessive" amounts of data. Was running reliably at 100mb, hit the fair usage and was throttled down to 100k (which Im convinced is illegal as 100k is unusable but reliance on ICASA for enforcement makes this an impossible case), since then the SIM is throttled to maximum 10mb.

Axxess refuse to investigate, blaming MTN with the response "MTN has recently implemented network throttling for certain users due to congestion on their network. This throttling can sometimes occur before the FUP cap is reached and is entirely managed by MTN. It is not initiated or controlled by Axxess."

 

[Mobster]

Would love to know the answer to this as I have the exact same problem.

On the Uncapped Pro LTE package from Axxess with a fair usage of 1TB.

Im convinced MTN has some sort of grey listing of SIMs that use "excessive" amounts of data. Was running reliably at 100mb, hit the fair usage and was throttled down to 100k (which Im convinced is illegal as 100k is unusable but reliance on ICASA for enforcement makes this an impossible case), since then the SIM is throttled to maximum 10mb.

Axxess refuse to investigate, blaming MTN with the response "MTN has recently implemented network throttling for certain users due to congestion on their network. This throttling can sometimes occur before the FUP cap is reached and is entirely managed by MTN. It is not initiated or controlled by Axxess."

I am in the same boat as you. Same package with axxess but similar problems to the users in this thread and the Afrihost thread.

All started at the beginning of June for me.

June to July
From 12 am to 12pm speeds are capped at >=50mbps
From 12 pm to 12am speeds are capped to >=10mbps

July to August
It got better for a few days in the month capped at >=30mbps but generally i would be at the same as you >=10mbps.
Bad days i would get between 1-6mpbs

August to date
I'm at 1mpbs

Prior to these months i would average speeds at 80-110 and top out at 150 mbps

So i dont know whats going on if its an MTN problem, Tower/network congestion or a problem from our ISPs reselling FLTE services but this is the response axxess gave me.

Uncapped Pro LTE package from Axxess

"Fixed LTE customers should be getting anything between 8 and 10 Mbps on the Downlink and that is acceptable for this product when there are no tower issues/loadshedding. This is the minimum requirement for 1x streaming and 1 to 2 social media applications on mobile."

like bruh why charge me premium and say this is acceptable.
Paying for business class but getting a taxi seat Eish.

Looking forward to seeing what solutions Cool Ideas and Afrihost come up with so we can forward them to axxess

 

[AfriNatic]

I am in the same boat as you. Same package with axxess but similar problems to the users in this thread and the Afrihost thread.

All started at the beginning of June for me.

June to July
From 12 am to 12pm speeds are capped at >=50mbps
From 12 pm to 12am speeds are capped to >=10mbps

July to August
It got better for a few days in the month capped at >=30mbps but generally i would be at the same as you >=10mbps.
Bad days i would get between 1-6mpbs

August to date
I'm at 1mpbs

Prior to these months i would average speeds at 80-110 and top out at 150 mbps

So i dont know whats going on if its an MTN problem, Tower/network congestion or a problem from our ISPs reselling FLTE services but this is the response axxess gave me.

Uncapped Pro LTE package from Axxess


like bruh why charge me premium and say this is acceptable.
Paying for business class but getting a taxi seat Eish.

Looking forward to seeing what solutions Cool Ideas and Afrihost come up with so we can forward them to axxess

Hi

The only solution is to move to a 5G router. Unfortunately LTE is getting congested and throttling is more aggressive to prevent unusable service on a tower.

 

[bhaziwa]

Hi

The only solution is to move to a 5G router. Unfortunately LTE is getting congested and throttling is more aggressive to prevent unusable service on a tower.

But 5g has less data fup, why promote it at the first place?

 

[Mobster]

Hi

The only solution is to move to a 5G router. Unfortunately LTE is getting congested and throttling is more aggressive to prevent unusable service on a tower.

5G router or 5G service?

 

[Attic]

I am in the same boat as you. Same package with axxess but similar problems to the users in this thread and the Afrihost thread.

All started at the beginning of June for me.

June to July
From 12 am to 12pm speeds are capped at >=50mbps
From 12 pm to 12am speeds are capped to >=10mbps

July to August
It got better for a few days in the month capped at >=30mbps but generally i would be at the same as you >=10mbps.
Bad days i would get between 1-6mpbs

August to date
I'm at 1mpbs

Prior to these months i would average speeds at 80-110 and top out at 150 mbps

So i dont know whats going on if its an MTN problem, Tower/network congestion or a problem from our ISPs reselling FLTE services but this is the response axxess gave me.

Uncapped Pro LTE package from Axxess


like bruh why charge me premium and say this is acceptable.
Paying for business class but getting a taxi seat Eish.

Looking forward to seeing what solutions Cool Ideas and Afrihost come up with so we can forward them to axxess

I feel for you. This issue is mega frustrating. It's interesting to see that I am not the only one who was getting this issue, because I was really starting to think that it's something specific to my exact location.

Cool Ideas has been amazing through the whole ordeal, but seeing as the issue lies with MTN and they don't really want to admit to anything, (Maybe they really don't know the issue, but I highly doubt it) I have unfortunately had to give up and cancel the LTE service. I just want to make it crystal clear that Cool Ideas has gone above and beyond with trying to help me through all this. Even in the end, when swapping to other services, they have been doing everything in their power to make the transition easier, offering advice as well as keeping me connected so I don't be stuck without internet before the next LTE service was setup. I actually get a lump in my throat at the thought of leaving, which I think says alot when talking about a business where I haven't physically met a single person.

Anyway....

After looking around a bit I have decided to sign up with Vodacom for an LTE package as a replacement service. They are apparently in the top two LTE providers in my area (Along with MTN), and they were the only place I could find with a somewhat decent FUP (2TB). So far it looks okay (80Mbps or so). Not as fast as the MTN LTE was when working correctly, but much faster than the 30Mbps (or 10 Mbps in the afternoon/evening) I was being subjected to. Only time will tell.

I do hope the issue gets resolved for the rest of the folks battling with this. Maybe it is as AfriNatic says, and it's a congestion thing, but in my battles, I was assured by MTN that there weren't conjestion issues on the towers around me, so I don't know.

At least now there's a thread that people suffering with this issue might stumble upon and know they're not alone.

 

[CoolEscalator]

I feel for you. This issue is mega frustrating. It's interesting to see that I am not the only one who was getting this issue, because I was really starting to think that it's something specific to my exact location.

Cool Ideas has been amazing through the whole ordeal, but seeing as the issue lies with MTN and they don't really want to admit to anything, (Maybe they really don't know the issue, but I highly doubt it) I have unfortunately had to give up and cancel the LTE service. I just want to make it crystal clear that Cool Ideas has gone above and beyond with trying to help me through all this. Even in the end, when swapping to other services, they have been doing everything in their power to make the transition easier, offering advice as well as keeping me connected so I don't be stuck without internet before the next LTE service was setup. I actually get a lump in my throat at the thought of leaving, which I think says alot when talking about a business where I haven't physically met a single person.

Anyway....

After looking around a bit I have decided to sign up with Vodacom for an LTE package as a replacement service. They are apparently in the top two LTE providers in my area (Along with MTN), and they were the only place I could find with a somewhat decent FUP (2TB). So far it looks okay (80Mbps or so). Not as fast as the MTN LTE was when working correctly, but much faster than the 30Mbps (or 10 Mbps in the afternoon/evening) I was being subjected to. Only time will tell.

I do hope the issue gets resolved for the rest of the folks battling with this. Maybe it is as AfriNatic says, and it's a congestion thing, but in my battles, I was assured by MTN that there weren't conjestion issues on the towers around me, so I don't know.

At least now there's a thread that people suffering with this issue might stumble upon and know they're not alone.

Thank you for your kind words and patience with us tying to resolve your issue.
We are still committed to this and get constructive answers from MTN in this regard and will continue pursuing the matter further.

We wish you all the best and hope we can offer you excellent services again in the future

 

[AfriNatic]

But 5g has less data fup, why promote it at the first place?

Not with Afrihost. Not sure about other ISP's

5G router or 5G service?

Router. The old Fixed LTE simcards will work just fine in an approved 5G router. You will get 5G speeds and not have to worry for now about congested towers and dynamic throttling once LTE on a tower becomes congested as for now 5G has enough capacity.

 

[DTBA]

Not with Afrihost. Not sure about other ISP's



Router. The old Fixed LTE simcards will work just fine in an approved 5G router. You will get 5G speeds and not have to worry for now about congested towers and dynamic throttling once LTE on a tower becomes congested as for now 5G has enough capacity.

Hi

Could you check a tower for me if its 5G enable?


Just would like to know if its worth upgrading to 5G modem





7245+28W

Kathu, South Africa

Plus codes

Plus codes are short codes for locations, for places that don't have their own street address.

plus.codes

 

[AfriNatic]

Hi

Could you check a tower for me if its 5G enable?


Just would like to know if its worth upgrading to 5G modem
View attachment 1839929




7245+28W

Kathu, South Africa

Plus codes

Plus codes are short codes for locations, for places that don't have their own street address.

plus.codes

No doesn't look like it on the portal. Only the ones in town are.

 

[HerZeLeiD]

I feel for you. This issue is mega frustrating. It's interesting to see that I am not the only one who was getting this issue, because I was really starting to think that it's something specific to my exact location.

Cool Ideas has been amazing through the whole ordeal, but seeing as the issue lies with MTN and they don't really want to admit to anything, (Maybe they really don't know the issue, but I highly doubt it) I have unfortunately had to give up and cancel the LTE service. I just want to make it crystal clear that Cool Ideas has gone above and beyond with trying to help me through all this. Even in the end, when swapping to other services, they have been doing everything in their power to make the transition easier, offering advice as well as keeping me connected so I don't be stuck without internet before the next LTE service was setup. I actually get a lump in my throat at the thought of leaving, which I think says alot when talking about a business where I haven't physically met a single person.

Anyway....

After looking around a bit I have decided to sign up with Vodacom for an LTE package as a replacement service. They are apparently in the top two LTE providers in my area (Along with MTN), and they were the only place I could find with a somewhat decent FUP (2TB). So far it looks okay (80Mbps or so). Not as fast as the MTN LTE was when working correctly, but much faster than the 30Mbps (or 10 Mbps in the afternoon/evening) I was being subjected to. Only time will tell.

I do hope the issue gets resolved for the rest of the folks battling with this. Maybe it is as AfriNatic says, and it's a congestion thing, but in my battles, I was assured by MTN that there weren't conjestion issues on the towers around me, so I don't know.

At least now there's a thread that people suffering with this issue might stumble upon and know they're not alone.

MTN started doing this to us now since 2 days ago. 6mbit after 12pm. 160gb into our 500gb FUP. Since most of our usage is during the day streaming Youtube between 2-4 people, it has now become almost a useless service when we actually use it.

 

[MrGristle]

MTN started doing this to us now since 2 days ago. 6mbit after 12pm. 160gb into our 500gb FUP. Since most of our usage is during the day streaming Youtube between 2-4 people, it has now become almost a useless service when we actually use it.

I've had the exact same experience on Afrihost's Uncapped Pure Fixed LTE (MTN) since, I believe, the start of August:

• 6Mbps up and down between 12:00 and 00:00
• 30Mbps up and down between 00:00 and 12:00

So the only solution is to buy a supported 5G Router? Even if 5G service isn't available in my area?

 

[HerZeLeiD]

So the only solution is to buy a supported 5G Router? Even if 5G service isn't available in my area?

Rain allowed me to sign up for their 5G service 3 years ago even though I was technically out of the coverage area according to their map. I ended up on a tower ~800m away and I always had a strong signal. Wonder if the same is possible with Afrihost/MTN. Hard to test this since people don't usually have a spare R4000 MTN compatible router lying around.

 

[airborne]

My experience with MTN 5G is you need a very strong 5G signal to get decent speeds.

 

[MrGristle]

For those still experiencing this issue and are curious as to why, I just came across the following MyBroadband article: MTN secretly throttling uncapped 4G in South Africa, posted last week:

MTN secretly throttling uncapped 4G in South Africa

MTN has implemented a hidden network optimisation algorithm as a safety net to manage its 4G network capacity. This adds a layer of throttling in addition to its regular uncapped FUP.

mybroadband.co.za

 

[HerZeLeiD]

They change it a lot too. Yesterday I was throttled to 8mbit for the entire day. Today I'm back on 30mbit. Haven't seen the 100mbit we pay for since the 8th. But hey, R599 is "too cheap".