HSPA+ Speeds in Gauteng Region - Known Issue (From Cell C)

[SlowInternet]

Hi Ron

Any idea when Heidelberg Gauteng will have coverage ? Thank you

 

[Park@82]

The Web Portal is coming, timeline I cannot comment on, but will leave that as soon. As to the monitoring of account usage, would a daily SMS with amount used and amount left be helpful? That may be something we could do quite quickly if everyone thinks that would be a benefit.

Regards
Ron

Ronald Reddick
CTO
Cell C

Thanks for the update Ron. A sms wont help me. I have my modem connected to a router (no SMS functionality). We have been trying to get some of the router manufacturers to add USSD support but to no avail: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...-C-UMTS-HSPA?p=5327879&viewfull=1#post5327879
It's pain to have to go get the modem from the router every time...

Regards
A happy Cell C customer.

 

[SoTrue]

The connection in Hatfield, Pretoria this morning was very slow, erratic, etc, even while it showed a strong signal - this has been ongoing for quite a few weeks. I had to fall back to my Vodacom service again.

 

[Bedford]

Nice to see this sort of input and i really hope it isnt just a phase. Please keep this up Ron! and again thanks for taking the time to chat to us!

 

[murraybiscuit]

thanks ron. i see you called your apartment a "flat". extra marks there

+1 for coverage in north riding/bellairs drive
my concern is that upington gets coverage by the end of the year, but people in highly populated ares who should be covered still won't have it.
please don't forget those people in the rush to roll out new coverage.

it may be an idea to have a simple page on your site with people who're having signal issues.
let them specify their area, then collate the data and attend to the areas which have the highest demand as a priority?

 

[torgo]

Hi Ron

Yesterday the smtp server for cell c was down. Could receive but not send email. The internet was fine. Late last night and this morning, the modem connects but no internet, no email.

Thanks

 

[Ryder_JHB]

Hi Ron, very nice to see you in here responding to queries! I'm one of the MyBroadBand members who attended the JHB Launch, and had the pleasure of meeting you!

What are CellC's plans as far as inbound connections / unrestricted APN's are concerned? Pls see this thread: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/304569-Inbound-Connections-Unrestricted-APN

Hope you can shed some light on the issue!

 

[rorz0r]

Great to see some info on the issues etc here!

 

[torgo]

Is it really Ron from cellc?

 

[murraybiscuit]

Is it really Ron from cellc?

him
http://www.techcentral.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/CTO.jpg

 

[Dolby]

When I went to CellC Northgate to buy the R1499 / modem / 2GB p.m. data prepaid offer, the guy in the shop answered my question "What coverage do CellC have in this area (i.e. near Northgate)?"

His answer was: "it's OK, unless you live in Bellairs drive"

Yea - this will be great if coverage can be increased. I'm moving into a place in 3/4 months on Bellairs and need broadband In fact, it was a requirement before signing the offer.

I did do my own tests and it was 'ok' on Bellairs ... but got 9mpbs down over the road from The Dome and a friend regularly get's around 6mpbs in his complex on the CNR of Pritchard and Bellairs. So just seems to dip occasionally, I think

 

[ronbo4GS]

All,
It is me, see the attached picture, and thanks for the remark on using flat versus apartment. After living in London for a number of years and mainland Europe my English has become more English versus American.

Am at the office right now, I did not down the problem areas and passed this to the NOC team to check into. I will have time tonight to address the other questions this evening when I get back home.

And yes I do plan on being on here much more often and I have asked my management team to also spend some time each day on the forum to help address issues.

Regards
Ron

Ronald Reddick
CTO
Cell C

 

[Park@82]

You guys rock! Keep it up.

 

[Deckert]

USSD for bundle info

I will speak with Marketing and get some ideas going, SMS is easy, the email would be a little harder...

Why not use USSD for that. The Cell C dongle application under windows already has a really nice USSD interface (under the "Services" button). For example, if you issue *120*663# as the command, you get back your cellphone number. In exactly the same way you can add a "usage check" USSD command. It would be simple and elegant.

Or just add it into the USSD self-service menu (*147#).

--deckert

 

[Park@82]

Why not use USSD for that. The Cell C dongle application under windows already has a really nice USSD interface (under the "Services" button). For example, if you issue *120*663# as the command, you get back your cellphone number. In exactly the same way you can add a "usage check" USSD command. It would be simple and elegant.

Or just add it into the USSD self-service menu (*147#).

--deckert

Not sure I understand you Deckert, there is already a check usage USSD command on the Cell C dashboard. The problem comes in for the guys that uses the dongle via a router. (No SMS or USSD, hence we need a web portal)

 

[Cost Conscious]

I was having this problem and after a major struggle and needing to be persistent, I finally made it past the Customer Contact centre, then the next level until finally, I was talking to real engineers.

I can confirm that at this level Cell C is very different from Vodacom (in a nice way).

I had a house visit from 2 Cell C gents & 1 Nokia Siemens guy. After some tests they were able to see that although I was 300m from a mast I was bouncing around to other more distant masts.

I'm still waiting for the denouement, (my mast requires abseiling!!) but live in hope. They seem very confident they have a handle on this!

 

[Decotey]

Still having problems in Brooklyn, PTA (just off lynwood road, close to Hatfield) as well as in Parkview JHB. I am between these two locations weekly and have always had great reception and speeds in the past. But the last few weeks both areas are terrible. 0 data transfer majority of the time, been on the phone numerous times to technical support but they just give empty promises about getting a technician to both locations.
I am fed up.

 

[Scoperzor]

This is great news, not only from a transparency/customer relations perspective, but also as I have been experiencing these very problems from day 1 (late November).

"problems" being the erratic nature of the connection when the download speed drops to 0kb/s and refused to get going again.

I really do hope these issues are resolved, as I would like to continue using my Cell C connections (using the black E1820 modem with both a 60gb and 24gb sim) as my primary connection. Keep it up, Cell C.

 

[neetz108]

midrand noordwyk area close to vodaworld also suffering from these problems. the usual disconnects and extermely slow speeds even though you are connected at HSPA+.....

 

[surfs-up]

Fantastic to see feedback by the CTO himself right here on mybb, well done Ron.

I have been extremely happy with my Cell C, R 3000.00 deal - I was very happy to dump Vodacom in early December, with their ridiculous pricing.

I live in Richards Bay, and we have up to now, had great connectivity and speeds, but as from yesterday....and more so today, we have been having regular disconnects. It happens every 10 minutes or so. My message says " You were disconnected from the PPP server. Try reconnecting". Signal strength into my suburb (Meerensee) is very good.

I trust this is just a temporary glitch, as I have convinced MANY friends and family members to switch to Cell C