Do what you do best ...

[Dolby]

I've had Vodacon for 10+ years - first as a voice only, then data and finally Blackberry. For pretty much the entire time, I've been happy with voice and had no issues.

For this reason I took up a 2 year 2GB data contract, data SIM and more recently, a MyMeg500. Even with my old 3.6 modem, I'd often get speeds of 2+mbps - which was great!

However, things started slipping towards the start of this year and I decided to not renew my data contract as speed slipped from 2mbps, 1.5mbps and finally to an average of 500kbps. All this despite increased publicity as to the speed of the network increasing to a minimum of 7.2. In reality, I don't recall the last I saw 1mbps+ - but as its usuable, I haven't really moaned.

In certain parts of the house, GPRS is the only thing received recently. In the old days, I'd get a minimum of 3G with HSDPA around the house.

Today, my BIS was up and down the entire day - going for periods of up to an hour without BIS. This isn't the first time this has happened and sadly, I'm not in a remote area either : Randpark Ridge, Gauteng.

From what I see, the network is degrading - and degrading badly. Your prices are sky high with many simply waiting for contracts to end before bailing. I almost get the feeling you're out of your depth when it comes to offering data and your BIS service isn't great.

Please can you simply focus on providing voice services and let the big boys do data and other services?

 

[ginggs]

Please can you simply focus on providing voice services and let the big boys do data and other services?

Big boys? Name one ISP bigger than Vodacom.

 

[Dolby]

I meant 'big boys' as in the guys focused on data (ie their core business) that don't do a half job, such as Mweb or IS.

Regarding 'bigger than Vodacom' - what is your defintion?

 

[Basilrsa]

From what I see, the network is degrading - and degrading badly. Your prices are sky high with many simply waiting for contracts to end before bailing.

I agree with you 100% on this point. In my area (Sunward Park, Boksburg) it's a roller coaster ride. Our towers are definately overloaded in the evenings after everone gets home from work.
I have become totally disolusioned with VC 3G and can't wait for my contract to end next year. From then on it will be on to ADSL. (I only live 800m from the exchange and the copper should still be good.)
From then on I will only buy a small data bundle for my phone each month, for use "on the go"
I think it's time for Vodafone to put pressure on the local management to be "future proof" driven, and not just look at the next financial years profits.
Does VC use local money to build their networks in other countries on the African continent?

 

[Dolby]

You know, MTN is more stable, Telkom is faster and Cell C a ton cheaper.

I wish they'd focus on voice. I haven't many complain about the voice of Vodacom - but when it comes to data/BIS, they're horrible and these isn't much space for them.

 

[davemc]

Down here I have stopped using my Vodacom cell phone completely.
If somebody calls, I struggle to give them my land-line number, but I do and then we can communicate.
When the holiday-makers arrive, it's going to be impossible.

 

[Venomous]

Dolby,

i'm pretty close to you (location)

i run a business from home & use to use only Voda 3G. Late last year the service started dropping....

By Jan it was BAD & by Feb i often non-existant.

So i ordered ADSL after i finally got an answer of '' there's a tower in planning @ ruimsig stadium''

i'm located between you & there.

 

[Dolby]

Yea - it was about the time.

I've pinned it roughly 8-12 months.

I'm in a rented place for a few months longer and I'll install ADSL at the other place. What annoys me it's a large area and reasonable size hub for business. I've noticed a degrading of data AND BIS - to the point where I SMS and browse on a Telkom SIM rather than relying on a Blackberry. I used to place my BB next to me, fall asleep and wake ... and while I'm waking browse either FB or MyBB just to get an update. Phone stayed on 3G and all was great.

Nowadays I need to put the phone a metre away (otherwise the now GPRS-signal causes interference) and when I awake, 8 of 10 times browsing won't work.

I pay R135.00 + R70.00 + R150.00pm to Vodacom for 'service' - and yet need to pay the same to Telkom for a real service. Kills me paying both - but I'm locked in with Vodacom.

On the plus, someone came out from Vodacom yesterday to check the area and I'll see what the report is in a few days. Gut tells me all 5 of my appliances are either faulty or need an upgrade - but a small part me hopes he'll admit to oversaturation or something else.

 

[grok]

This is the exact reason I got rid of Vodacom 3G and got on the ADSL bandwagon instead.

I've been using 3G for about 3 years at 2 different (home) locations, then around Jan/Feb started getting the problem where I'd be connected with 3-4 bars yet got no throughput, i.e. zero bytes transferred either way. Downloads kept stalling, signal jumped from 3G to GPRS endlessly. Helpdesk wasn't helpful, kept telling me to upgrade to the latest VC connect client etc. Finally figured their coverage at my location had degraded & wasn't gonna improve so I switched to ADSL around April.

 

[Dolby]

That's what I get ; full signal and no throughput ... And around the same time it started degrading as well.

Also the constant 3G to GPRS change - thought this seems to be more GPRS nowadays