ISP Comparison... WebAfrica vs OpenWeb vs Axxess

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LancelotSA

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Hi guys....

A discussion on another thread, and indeed a number of threads, resulted in the names OpenWeb, Axxess and WebAfrica coming up as the most cost effective ISPs.

In fact I keep seeing comparisons made between Axxess, OpenWeb and WebAfrica but I myself am always unable to see how the other two even come close to OpenWeb on cost alone! I use the IS 3GB international and then 30GB local account with OpenBrowse on a 384k line. The local 30GB is mainly used for downloading from local hubs and "NSs" (won't use the full word for fear of being shouted at... ha ha) and I usually manage to use my 30GB every month even though I only download in the evenings. I don't play games so IS is fine for me.

If someone could please tell me if I am missing something but where else would I get 30GB of international browsing and downloads for only R299 per month? In fact I am now looking at "downgrading" to the 1GB account and that will only cost R229 per month.

I have looked at Axxess and Webafrica and they don't come near.... Axxess 30GB local only is R450, no Openbrowse included
Webafrica 30GB local only at R19 per GB is R570, no Openbrowse

Please someone set me straight...... am i missing something or are other people using different criteria? Perhaps tell me why you made your decision and why you are with whoever you are.
 
For me it's about a couple of things.
Firstly online gaming is part of what I do with my DSL line, therefore latency is important. Unfortunately time has proven that IS is not much of an option in this department, not that SAIX shaped accounts are much better, but it is at least a touch better.

Ease of use is also important for me. WebAfrica has certainly made the purchase of pre-paid gigs a pleasure and a breeze to use. I don't like running round buying vouchers, or faxing forms, etc. Adding to that, downloading in the past I kept to a minimum, and tried my best not to get bitten by the DL bug, so I convinced myself that I don't need a large local BW cap, although recently I think a bug got me whilst I was not looking:p WebAfrica's carry over on their pre-paid made this a viable option, especially with unshaped accounts for international gaming. When I compared cost to BW used in a month, it works out very similar in the end when taking the "roll-over" BW into account.

As far as local NS's are concerned, unfortunately the IS NS is not the best out, there are alternatives which run at full speed most of the time.

For me the above makes it almost worth paying a few rand extra, however this might change in future;)
 
LancelotSA said:
am i missing something or are other people using different criteria? Perhaps tell me why you made your decision and why you are with whoever you are.
Click to expand...

You are perhaps missing two facts with regard to SAIX local bandwidth. Firstly. it gives access to the SAIX ns. It is somewhat better than the IS ns on u/c. Whether that is worth the extra is questionable. Secondly, you can get free SAIX local bandwdith (for a limited time, perhaps) once you have been capped with TelkomInternet, in a similar way to the regualr IS accounts.

I currently use:

2 x 2/28 IS accounts (OpenWeb) R318pm
10GB SAIX account (OpenWeb) R459pm
3Gb SAIX (TelkomInternet) R204pm
Prepaid SAIX (for backup, WebAfrica)

I used to have a 20Gb Local account with Axxess, but the 3gb TI is currently a much cheaper solution than buying SAIX local.

I can split traffic 3 ways at router level (Intl, IS Local, SAIX Local). So my strategy for the months is:

1) Use 1st 2/28 IS as Intl until capped, then
2) Use 3gb TI as Intl until capped and 1st 2/28 as IS Local, then
3) Use 2nd 2/28 IS as Intl until capped, 1st 2/28 as IS Local, 3Gb TI as SAIX Local, then
4) Use 10gb SAIX as Intl, 1st or 2nd 2/28 as IS Local, 3Gb TI as SAIX Local... for the rest of the month.
5) If 10gb SAIX gets capped, use prepaid for backup.

This solution gives me about 100Gb, split 20 Intl/80 Local for under R1000pm. Compared to "uncapped" accounts I get the benefit of minimal shaping, and full use of my 4mbps connection.

The 2/28 IS accounts are good value for money. If you use them early enough in the month, you can usually get far more than 2gb Intl from them.
 
Myself, I prefer to buy Axxess prepaid vouchers at Engen filling stations - so there is no need to put my CC details online (I don't have one) or have a debit order go off every month.
 
Thanks guys. I suppose what we see from this is that it all boils down to your internet use and needs. Your line speed also comes into play - there is no way I could use 100Gb in a month on my 384kb line.

Yeah it does bug me a little when I have small things to download after my international cap (remember OpenBrowse allows you to browse but not download) is used up and they are not available on the hubs, NS or local sites but then I just wait until the beginning of the next month....
 
Talking of cost effectiveness, I've got 6GB SAIX from Sainet for R249 per month, which is cheaper than Webafrica and Axxess's 5GB accounts, and only R10 more than Openweb's. :)
 
WebAfrica, simply because of good customer service and ease of use. like the other poster said, no need to run around faxing stuff. you signup online, instantly. i don't mind paying R10 or R20 more, when i have the benefit of signing up and cancelling my accounts instantly.
 
Support

Openweb has no support structure it stopps dead at 17h00 Mondays to Fridays, so if you get home after work getting ready for some serious gaming and you can't connect youre so screwed it's just not funny and if this happens on a Friday wow double screwed.

Webafrica provides there customers with a 24/7 customer support line.


Anyway my personal expereince with adsl tells me you need a support structure because there's always something that goes horribly wrong.
 
hey guys

i know this is a little OT but i really am hating telkom now with their new capping restrictions.. and i was wondering if anybody knew of any good deals for an uncapped account.

thanks guys
 
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