HSDPA on MTN?

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jhart

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The Vodacom 3G forum is buzzing like crazy...

And here we are with nothing new on MTN's HSDPA?

All the Vodacom 3G towers are converted to HSDPA already...

Vodacom now even offers premature upgrade options and trade-ins and MTN is silent as the grave (as usual)...

I don't have the courage to call MTN's notorious help desk as I suppose they won't have any answers anyway?

Any news, anyone?

:(
 
Thats why they call it MTN -
Misfortunate Tedious Network
 
Correct me if I'm wrong

Wasn't it MTN who were bragging about being the first to HSDPA?

MTN reiterated that they have launched this 3G upgrade first, stating that “HSDPA went live on the MTN network on March 22, the first mobile operator to launch in South Africa.”
Click to expand...
 
My point exactly EdRobinson...

A poor PR joke that meant nothing!!!

Vodacom now even has TV ads of HSDPA and no sign of MTN...

Let's hope MTN can at least match Vodacom's offer, but it would be nice if they can better it!!!
 
MTN's HSDPA

Let's break the silence.

MTN's HSDPA rollout is going according to plan. The entire MTN core network has been upgraded and a significant number of towers have already been upgraded and are live. All MTN subscribers have had their profiles upgraded to take advantage of the increased speeds offered by HSDPA. Several thousand Sierra Wireless AC850 cards have already been sold (and a smaller quantity has just arrived at MTN's central warehouse - most of these will probably be destined for the corporate market). After Easter a significant quantity (more than several thousand) of the new customised MTN Data Card will arrive. These cards will be distributed through all MTN channels - direct sales (corporate), as well as MTN stores and non MTN Service Providers.

Current data performance is typically a max DL of approx 1.4 Mbps and a max UL of approx 256 Kbps. The maximum capable with current technology is a DL of 1.8 Mbps and a max UL of 384 Kbps.

All price plans and tariffs applicable to 3G are applicable to HSDPA - there is no premium charge for the additional bandwidth.

I welcome comments and questions and am in an official position to answer them as an authorised (and intimately involved) MTN representative.
 
hi, mtn_data_dude. just out of curiosity, will you be open to other mtn broadband-related questions/queries as well (eg gprs/edge/3g, handsets, etc), or just hsdpa?
 
Any Queries

I'm happy to answer ANY data related queries.
 
Welcome MTN_Data_Dude! Good luck on the forum - you have your work cut out for you :)

Some of us have a burning question regarding 3G coverage in Cape Town - will bump up the relevant thread and would appreciate if you could comment.

Thanks...
 
Welcome MTN_Data_Dude!

Do you have any info yet if MTN wil offer trade-ins or premature upgrades for the new data cards?

;)
 
3G Coverage in Cape Town

See my post on Cape Town 3G Coverage thread.
 
Welcome on board MTN Data Dude. I am sure there will be lots of queries and look forward to hearing your responses to some of them.

One question .. would MTN have the same process as vodacom with regards to their HSDPA network and only utilise the "service" (HSDPA) when needed? Or would MTN make HSDPA availble for constant use as for example just downloading a web page or text emails?
 
@MTN Data Dude

Do you know the price of these new MTN data cards?

And what will the price be when signing a contract (MYCHOICE 75)?
 
HSDPA Availability

HSDPA is available to our subscribers based on:

1) Terminal capability (which bearers are supported)
2) Radio Signal Conditions and available bearers on the cell
3) Radio Capacity (affected by the total number of simultaneous users)

What this implies is that different radio access bearers (RAB) are available for a 3G/HSDPA cell. Provided the terminal (card phone, etc.) supports HSDPA and the subscriber is provisioned for HSDPA (all are) then the user will have automatic access to the HSDPA bearer. If the radio condition deteriorates then likewise throughput will degrade and the bearer could drop to a lower coding scheme (RAB). Likewise capacity administration may prevent the HSDPA user from gaining full access to the HSDPA RAB and hence the user could be down converted to a lower RAB.
 
Vodacom First

Quote out of today's Financial Mail:

Vodacom has drawn first blood in its battle with rival MTN to create an updated and faster version of their third-generation (3G) cellular networks.

MTN Group CEO Phuthuma Nhleko caused a stir when he announced at a presentation to shareholders and analysts last month that MTN SA had already launched its high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) service. HSDPA is sometimes referred to as enhanced 3G or super 3G and is capable of delivering download speeds of up to 1,8 Mbit/s. That's five times faster than conventional 3G networks. Later, upgrades to the technology will result in speeds increasing several-fold again.

But MTN's announcement that it had switched on its HSDPA network rings somewhat hollow as the data cards consumers need to access the network at the new, higher speeds will not be available for several weeks yet. Vodacom's cards, on the other hand, are already available in stores. MTN's HSDPA network is live but, for the moment, its subscribers have no way of accessing it.
 
Hoodwink said:
Quote out of today's Financial Mail:

Vodacom has drawn first blood in its battle with rival MTN to create an updated and faster version of their third-generation (3G) cellular networks.

MTN Group CEO Phuthuma Nhleko caused a stir when he announced at a presentation to shareholders and analysts last month that MTN SA had already launched its high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) service. HSDPA is sometimes referred to as enhanced 3G or super 3G and is capable of delivering download speeds of up to 1,8 Mbit/s. That's five times faster than conventional 3G networks. Later, upgrades to the technology will result in speeds increasing several-fold again.

But MTN's announcement that it had switched on its HSDPA network rings somewhat hollow as the data cards consumers need to access the network at the new, higher speeds will not be available for several weeks yet. Vodacom's cards, on the other hand, are already available in stores. MTN's HSDPA network is live but, for the moment, its subscribers have no way of accessing it.
Click to expand...

Tried connecting to MTN's "HSDPA" network in Durban yesterday using a Vodacom HSDPA card and only kept getting 3G. Has anyone actually experienced HSDPA on the MTN network or is this another scam like when they first advertised Blackberry?:confused:
 
Voda 3G cards/MTN sim cards

will the old 3G cards (that everyone is trading in) work with MTN sim cards?
 
3g_rox said:
Tried connecting to MTN's "HSDPA" network in Durban yesterday using a Vodacom HSDPA card and only kept getting 3G. Has anyone actually experienced HSDPA on the MTN network or is this another scam like when they first advertised Blackberry?:confused:
Click to expand...

Tried again today - still no HSDPA in Durban CBD. Come now MTN, what's happening?:mad:
 
Midrand -83 DB 2 Bars
AC 850

Download time: 3.093 seconds
Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
Estimated line speed: 1319.1 (kilobits/second)
Estimated line speed: 161.7 (kiloBytes/second)
 
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