LTE and 4G in SA

[jannievanzyl]

In Dec 2010 the ITU made it known that they would change the official definition of 4G to include LTE, Wimax and HSDPA+.
This article, dated 18 Dec 2010, reflects such. Yes, the decision was only ratified at the start of 2012, but Vodacom knew very well that the change was imminent. They decided to continue with the case. Therefore the blame lies jointly with CellC for pushing the boundaries of the 4G definition, and Vodacom for continuing the ASA after the ITU said they would include HSDPA+ and LTE in the 4G definition. So LTE and HSPA+ are now officially classed as 4G networks by the ITU!

The official ITU press release of 6 Dec 2010 again... here

I know Jannie will argue that they consulted the ITU, fine, but it was a poor decision in my humble opinion.

If you look at it, that 6 December 2010 press release was poorly worded and is at the root of the problem. Especially the use of the word 'may'. The ITU admitted it was never an endorsement (the way most people read it) but rather an admission that they cannot control it.

 

[BGE]

If you look at it, that 6 December 2010 press release was poorly worded and is at the root of the problem. Especially the use of the word 'may'. The ITU admitted it was never an endorsement (the way most people read it) but rather an admission that they cannot control it.

You're right Jannie, in context "may" could have 2 meaning... could mean "might/could include" or "is allowed to include". But it certainly doesn't say/mean "will definitely include". I guess, at the time, in the heat of battle Vodacom would have pushed the interpretation that best suited the companies needs. Based on the fact the American networks were already coining the 4G term I would have thought Vodacom would have been a little less biased with the "literal" interpretation. Why didn't they err of the side of caution? Then again hindsights always 20/20.

 

[dabbler]

IMHO any mobile data package that includes 4GB data free can be called 4G

 

[jannievanzyl]

You're right Jannie, in context "may" could have 2 meaning... could mean "might/could include" or "is allowed to include". But it certainly doesn't say/mean "will definitely include". I guess, at the time, in the heat of battle Vodacom would have pushed the interpretation that best suited the companies needs. Based on the fact the American networks were already coining the 4G term I would have thought Vodacom would have been a little less biased with the "literal" interpretation. Why didn't they err of the side of caution? Then again hindsights always 20/20.

Next time I'm in Cpt, let's chat and I'll give you all the details of the case. Easier to chat about it than type it up (which I've done numerous times on this forum, btw.).

The main argument was not the (lack of a proper) ITU defintion, but rather how would the average consumer understand 4G if everything up to that point was called 2G or 3G, and especially would they believe they're getting something better than the current 3G offerings? I.e. would the consumer be misled? Remember the ASA looks at marketing claims from this perspective. The view was that you can't just call something that's well known by a name, something else that implies it provides a substantial benefit to the consumer, when in fact it's exactly the same thing offering no added benefits.

HSPA+ as 4G was only then introduced into the debate as an official ITU definition (with the Dec 2010 press release as the main exhibit) and that became the argument everyone now remembers.

 

[qwertydudeza]

And for Vodacom to claim "90% of the rest of the world is doing it, so it's OK for us" is really rich. I'm sure 90% of the rest of the world have reasonable data packages. Let's take the US for example (as some forum members like to do); pretty much all the operators has some kind of contract-less <$40 pm deal for unlimited. When my wife was in the UK, she bought a prepaid sim with unlimited data for something like 15 GBP. And she used it a lot without any apparent throttling.
Start copying them on that, then maybe you will woo enough people to oversee your apparent hypocritical 4G stance.

My wife was in the US, paid $60 for a prepaid Sim, something like $25 just for them SIM on T Mobile, got some airtime with it, unlimited was 1gb on 3G and thereafter on Edge. However even in New York and Dallas 3G coverage was bad and was mostly on Edge anyway.

Call drops were really bad too. Family in the US say standard for all US operators.

 

[Pienats]

My wife was in the US, paid $60 for a prepaid Sim, something like $25 just for them SIM on T Mobile, got some airtime with it, unlimited was 1gb on 3G and thereafter on Edge. However even in New York and Dallas 3G coverage was bad and was mostly on Edge anyway.

Call drops were really bad too. Family in the US say standard for all US operators.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying US operators are better than SA ones, far from it. In fact a lot of complaints on the this forum actually amuse me because I have experienced much worse in a variety of countries. But in SA there is no unlimited option really to speak of (with maybe the exception of MTN if that's still going, but the speeds there are slow to begin with), and certainly not at the cash amounts available in places like the US.
My argument is mostly against "90% of the rest of the world is doing it, so it's OK for us to do it" on this particular issue. VC seems to be blowing that pipe now through Jannie on this forum, but when people start comparing our operators to international operators on other aspects, we are told that the SA mobile landscape is unique in so many ways, and we can not possibly think of doing things like the rest of the world.
If you want to call LTE 4G because all the US operators are doing it, then go ahead, but give us the data at the same cost as those operators.

 

[BGE]

Next time I'm in Cpt, let's chat and I'll give you all the details of the case. Easier to chat about it than type it up (which I've done numerous times on this forum, btw.).

Sorry Jannie, missed that one. I don't have much time on forum, belong to another forum which steals most of my free time. Most of us forumites, if not all, are very quick on the draw when it comes to Vodacom. Bottom line, yourself and CellC will have to meet and discuss the possibility of re-introducing the 4G term to the market. Else we'll stay out of sync with the rest of the world until the introduction of 5G... what's the bet that'll get screwed up as well!

 

[jannievanzyl]

Sorry Jannie, missed that one. I don't have much time on forum, belong to another forum which steals most of my free time. Most of us forumites, if not all, are very quick on the draw when it comes to Vodacom. Bottom line, yourself and CellC will have to meet and discuss the possibility of re-introducing the 4G term to the market. Else we'll stay out of sync with the rest of the world until the introduction of 5G... what's the bet that'll get screwed up as well!

As long as marketing departments exists, you know the answer...

 

[NeonNinja]

How fast is 4G in S.A going to be? Theoretical speeds?