List of congested exchanges?

The weirdest (but awesome) thing has happened to my internet line. Everyday last week, no matter the time I did pingtests, they would ALL be below 60ms (local). Now I know that's normal, but in my case, where for the last 8months local pings ranged between 500-1200ms, this is absolutely amazing.

Finally I can game online the way I used to long ago. I don't know what changed....it just hapenned. I'm not complaining, I hope it remains this way forever :)

My guess is perhaps telkom finally did something at the exchange? I'm in Rondebosch, Cape Town btw.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
 
abdul89 said:
The weirdest (but awesome) thing has happened to my internet line. Everyday last week, no matter the time I did pingtests, they would ALL be below 60ms (local). Now I know that's normal, but in my case, where for the last 8months local pings ranged between 500-1200ms, this is absolutely amazing.

Finally I can game online the way I used to long ago. I don't know what changed....it just hapenned. I'm not complaining, I hope it remains this way forever :)

My guess is perhaps telkom finally did something at the exchange? I'm in Rondebosch, Cape Town btw.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

they could have upgraded all the racks or dslams? who knows...

Or maybe cut off all the users downloading the internets
 
I spoke to early - Bothasig still fooked - +- 350ms responses.

I guess everyone was capped at the end of the month, from Thursday (the 3rd it started deteriorating again)
 
Is there anything we can do about getting Telkom to upgrade the exchanges so that we get the speeds that we are paying for?

On the exchange I am using, I never see anything even close to 50% of the speed of the 4Mb/s which I am forking out good cash for anymore.

Used to get a solid 3.2Mb/s and now at 01H25 I am only getting 1.58Mb/s.

Already eliminated all possibility of it being my line/modem/isp, so the exchange is the only culprit that is left.

Update: This is the abysmally slow daytime speed to a local server:

Your Latest Results

Test conducted on Fri Nov 11 2011 11:51:23 GMT+0200 (South Africa Standard Time)

  • Download Speed: 513 kbps (64.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
  • Upload Speed: 418 kbps (52.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
  • Latency: 81 ms
 
Last edited:
Exchange congested

Hi guys

Apparently this is happening all over as telkom secretly downgraded most exchanges to save on costs, I had the same problem and logged 6 fault reports and at first they kept on comming, did something and left and I got an sms later that it was fixed, but the thing is.. they never fixed it. So I kept on logging faults, eventually a supervisor came out to my house with his laptop, hooked up the internet cable to his laptop and saw the results I was getting and he told me that he wasnt supposed to tell me this, but telkom downgraded most exchanges that weren't being used as much, and they are still busy trying to sort it out as it is a big issue "upstairs".

I currently have a 1mg line and this is what I get, I cannot play games at all and due to my location, wireless is not an option. I stay in the northern side of Durbanville - one of the last exchanges as you are leaving durbanville.

I made sure, my lan cable was the only one connected to the router and turned off all programs that might download.

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\ariOn>time
The current time is: 21:53:26.19
Enter the new time:

C:\Users\ariOn>ping saix.co.za -t

Pinging saix.co.za [196.25.1.200] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=440ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=470ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=588ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=653ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=602ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=413ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=475ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=597ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=670ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=661ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=650ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=565ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=444ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=690ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=727ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=616ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=680ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=343ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=471ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=464ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=518ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=605ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=577ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=479ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=405ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=615ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=628ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=515ms TTL=245

After this, I tried again, literally 5 minutes later, and you can notice that I normally get 29ms ping, but as you can see it is too unstable and I cant play games online:
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\ariOn>ping saix.co.za -t

Pinging saix.co.za [196.25.1.200] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=44ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=57ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=56ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=74ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=53ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=194ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=184ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=104ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=214ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=441ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=616ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=637ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=486ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=315ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=165ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=44ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=245
Reply from 196.25.1.200: bytes=32 time=28ms TTL=245

here's a tracert to webafrica

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\ariOn>tracert webafrica.co.za

Tracing route to webafrica.co.za [196.220.58.66]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 10.0.0.2
2 591 ms 956 ms 947 ms wblv-ip-esr-3.ipnet.wa.co.za [41.185.83.1]
3 893 ms 665 ms 802 ms wnls-ipc1-vl-105.wa.co.za [196.220.59.250]
4 490 ms 503 ms 594 ms wnls-cr1-vl-801.wa.co.za [41.185.0.67]
5 578 ms 541 ms 378 ms wnls-hr1-gi-8-13.wa.co.za [41.185.1.18]
6 451 ms 404 ms 443 ms 196.220.58.66

Trace complete.

C:\Users\ariOn>


Here's a speedtest at speedtest.net
1588593651.png


Here's a pingtest at pingtest.net
 
Hi All,

I need all your help please.

Been seeing this for two weeks now. Have Logged a SI ( Special investigation) into this problem. Logged 5 cases already... I have a 4mb ADSL line.

Does any one else have the same issue? Please let me know as I am about to loose all my cool with Telkom .

I use http://speedtest-rba.isdsl.net/ to test my speed as they are my first hop.


Start Time: 16:02:09
End time: 16:02:42
IP Address: 196.210.143.208
Download Size: 409600 bytes
Time Delta: 32.085813045502 seconds
Download Speed: 12 KBytes/s
Line Speed: 96 kbits/s

It goes up and down.. when all is ok I see line speed of 3000 kbits/s. I strongly suggest we start a revolution and place our unhappiness with telkom here:

Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)
Tel: (011) 566 3000
Fax: (011) 444 1919
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.icasa.org.za


I went to the office of Telkom Bellville the other day and this is the email they send internally

"Hi Guys

Sorry to jump the queue on this one.
We had a very irrate , despondent customer come to the Bellville IT Complex Security with documents in hand complaining about his line speed.
As usual because I lend an ear to all and sundary’s complaints I decided to do the following :

I have logged and SI for the customer : 26BWK111111 / 0219100396
I have scanned in all the documentation which according to him proved that something is definitely happening on his line from about 19:00 till 22:30.
He says that this has only been happening for the last 2-3 weeks or so.
I have attached the document to the SI. So that whoever calls the customer will be on the same page as he.

Please lets see what we can do for this customer.
He now knows me. If he comes back to me … what could I do next.

Nuraan Ally"


Why should be take this crap? We pay our bills every month, we get exposed to their propaganda by their world class serfice.. we get phones put down in our ears... I personally had enough. Go look at Helopeter on the amount of complain Telkom has. I have even send Carte Blanche an email to get them to look into this. But I am not holding my breath... So let all start applying some pressure.
 
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Could Telkom be intentionally limiting the speed of the exchanges to cater for the oversubscribed capacity?

I am seeing 1.8Mb/s about 90% of the time I do a speed test to local servers these days on my 4Mb/s line, and that looks very suspicious. Normal speed in the past was always in the region of 3.2Mb/s.

Conspiracy theory:

They are intentionally frustrating their ADSL users to get them to move over to 8ta, as that is where the money is at these days.
 
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Very Interesting theory RoadRunner. I won't be surprised. I have been looking around on the web and the sort of speeds other are complaining about are almost a mirror to mine. Make me think you might be onto something.

over the weekend I have send 17 screen shots to the guys I mentioned in my post. Latest I got 56k download speed. Hell where is my duxbury modem?
 
I'm experiencing the same. Lately (during the few times my adsl actually works) I'm getting speeds of around 2Mb - it use to be around 3.5Mb.

Then again it usually bombs out and I get almost nothing so I shouldn't complain when I get 2Mb...
 
Just spoke to a very helpful Indian chap at the Telkom call centre. Apparently Bothasig is still suffering from a network failure...which was apparently resolved for a few days. This does add up as the connection was a bit better for a few days but last night it was ridiculous again.
 
Ok this Morning I logged a Complaint ICASA.. not sure if they will do anything.. but I've had it.. I received an email back from Telkom asking me not to spam them with my line speeds... SPAM???? 17 mails in 2 days.. that is not SPAM I am only warming up.


Please all it takes 5min to complete a complain on ICASA....

A
 
@ BrendanMC - Bothasig

So you guys want to know what's going on. Telkom is having MAJOR problems with their infrastructure in Bothasig and the surrounding areas. If your lucky and you dont have problems then you are on the DSLAMS from 1-4. I've heard many stories from them and at the moment, my call is sitting at the CEO's office. BTW you can dial (0123115252) to get through to them and lay out your complaint. Emailing and trying to escalate through the call centre is useless. It's shocking that the CEO's office is aware of the problem and people have been suffering for over 2 months with no end in sight. Apparently the NIP (National Infrastructure Provisioning) department of Telkom has taken bandwidth from the area because they could and now it's taking the CEO months to decide on a reversal? I've managed to aquire this information through various pipelines and have written confirmation, so what's the hold up? Why has this not been reversed already?

I've got through to the CEO's office and I have lodged a complaint with ICASA, we just need people to keep putting the pressure on.
 
Thanks Shaun.

I've been mailing them constantly as well.

Ridiculous that we pay all this money and can't get what we pay for. But then they have the balls to say that uncapped is no sustainable? what a joke.

The latency and speeds have been fluctuating on a daily basis. I know Pietmuis also has issues as he resides in that area too.

But thanks for the feedback.
 
This is the response ICASA got back from Telkom today. To which I promptly responded and informed them that I received this feedback 2 months ago. The fact that they are waiting on feedback from top management for 2 months is actually not acceptable.

I've asked ICASA to escalate further because I want a date confirming when this will be resolved.

ICASA

Consumer Complaints

Obakeng Tlhabi
Portia Mkhwanazi

Telkom Regulatory Affairs

15 November 2011

WCP2441/11 – SHAUN

Dear Sir/Madam

We refer to your complaint letter dated 19 October 2011 and just for the records that this
complaint was send to ICASA on 12 October 2011 and Telkom responds as follows to the
complaint in the interim:

The upgrade for the Bothasig exchange is being handled at Top Management and a
decision in this regard is being awaited. The client was informed and as soon as a
decision is made he will be contacted again.

Case is on pending

Kind regards

Telkom Regulatory Affairs
 
Do anybody know if Century City is also affected by the Bothasig issue? Exchange 021 551 XXXX
 
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