Icemanbrfc
Honorary Master
Thanks
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LTE sim
- Thread starter Icemanbrfc
- Start date
Well you have very limited choices for LTE on prepaid.....
Vodacom you just need to buy a prepaid sim and then put it in a LTE device to activate LTE. Works the best for me across all the networks but not the fastest....
MTN does not offer LTE to prepaid users so you will need to use the data only solution which is http://www.afrihost.com/site/product/mobile_data but noice voice on the sim.
Telkom Mobile does allow LTE on prepaid but their LTE is on a band not supported by phones so you will need a very specific router or modem to use it. Their coverage is also not that good compared to Vodacom and MTN.
I would suggest Afrihost with MTN but if you need voice on the same sim too the Vodacom is you only option but obviouslly more expensive, in fact they are the most expensive sadly.
Vodacom you just need to buy a prepaid sim and then put it in a LTE device to activate LTE. Works the best for me across all the networks but not the fastest....
MTN does not offer LTE to prepaid users so you will need to use the data only solution which is http://www.afrihost.com/site/product/mobile_data but noice voice on the sim.
Telkom Mobile does allow LTE on prepaid but their LTE is on a band not supported by phones so you will need a very specific router or modem to use it. Their coverage is also not that good compared to Vodacom and MTN.
I would suggest Afrihost with MTN but if you need voice on the same sim too the Vodacom is you only option but obviouslly more expensive, in fact they are the most expensive sadly.
Icemanbrfc
Honorary Master
Thanks cave, so my only option is Vodacom then. Do you know what the SIM costs?
Well you can buy it at ANY shop and it will work with LTE if its a 64k sim. The simcard usually costs like 20c to R1 and some shops even give them for free.
RichardG
Honorary Master
OP when you do go out and buy a starter pack make sure it says DUO sim card which is standard/micro sim card don't get confused with STANDARD. I have seen one retailer so far selling them at 99 cc
Icemanbrfc
Honorary Master
Thanks Richard, but it doesnt matter to me really, as I have a micro SIM cutter. 
but good heads up for everybody
but good heads up for everybody
Also remember to check your device. as was pointed out earlier, TM LTE wont work in any phone.
There are also other fun loopholes.
I have an S4 GT 19500, its not LTE, But it supports the 1900mh/z frequency that MTN uses.
I called MTN and made sure my SIM was LTE capable, and activated (loophole they don't tell you about in store) on the network for LTE. once I got all of that set up, I sat down with speedtest my phone and an MTN S4LTE Gt19505 that a friend in the office owns.
He also activated LTE on his sim and did everything correct, I did help him get it all sorted.
IN Sandton bot of us sitting next to one another got exactly the same speeds, if his phone shows LTE, and mine shows H+ we both get 18 to 22mb/s download and 6-8mb upload.
There were cases where the speed drops, I mean it is a mobile network, and we did run loads of tests to get it all averaged out. the best speed we saw was a 38mb/s download, that was on the LTE phone, while my phone timed out on that same test, so I am guessing he somehow got insane priority and just killed everyone's connection in the area.
the average we got was around 14mb/s download. and that is consistent on both devices, LTE and non LTE.
Why did I explain all of that? a non LTE phone is cheaper than an LTE phone, and MTN gives you access to Afrihost for data prices. Abuse the loops!
There are also other fun loopholes.
I have an S4 GT 19500, its not LTE, But it supports the 1900mh/z frequency that MTN uses.
I called MTN and made sure my SIM was LTE capable, and activated (loophole they don't tell you about in store) on the network for LTE. once I got all of that set up, I sat down with speedtest my phone and an MTN S4LTE Gt19505 that a friend in the office owns.
He also activated LTE on his sim and did everything correct, I did help him get it all sorted.
IN Sandton bot of us sitting next to one another got exactly the same speeds, if his phone shows LTE, and mine shows H+ we both get 18 to 22mb/s download and 6-8mb upload.
There were cases where the speed drops, I mean it is a mobile network, and we did run loads of tests to get it all averaged out. the best speed we saw was a 38mb/s download, that was on the LTE phone, while my phone timed out on that same test, so I am guessing he somehow got insane priority and just killed everyone's connection in the area.
the average we got was around 14mb/s download. and that is consistent on both devices, LTE and non LTE.
Why did I explain all of that? a non LTE phone is cheaper than an LTE phone, and MTN gives you access to Afrihost for data prices. Abuse the loops!
Icemanbrfc
Honorary Master
I have the Xperia Z so im fine in terms of LTE
Icemanbrfc
Honorary Master
I went and got a Vodacom SIM, but havent tested it yet. I want to 1st port my number over before I do anything.
RichardG
Honorary Master
Don't port your number over yet. Do testing before hand, purchase a data bundle you might be disappointed at the speeds afterwards and then you will have to wait 1 - 2months to port over to another network.
Icemanbrfc
Honorary Master
Yeh perhaps you are right. Ill have to buy a small bundle, but their data is expensive though which is crap.
Yeah it sucks.... Its so hard to decide actually.
Vodacom offers LTE for prepaid but expensive data prices.
MTN does not support LTE on prepaid but via afrihost they do but then no voice option unless you take a MTN contract for voice.
Telkom Mobile LTE does not work on phones so you stuck with 3G which has great speeds IF you have coverage. Not ideal if you don't cause you end off buying TM data bundle and All networks data bundle losing any possible savings....
Cell C just has 3G and they have the congestion to go with it so unless you stay in a remote area with a 3G tower close by you will have poor speeds.
Its almost a impossible decision to get the best voice and data offering on 1 sim!