Mate with ISDN is downloading a 340MB file for me.

BTTB · Mar 7, 2004

I thought I would share this with you guys as its the irony of the 3 gig cap placed on all users of Telkom's ADSL service.

One of the main reasons I bought ADSL was to be able to download service packs, drivers and other useful files at a decent speed saving myself time. I was a ISDN user who like everyone else had to wait for 7pm to use the R7 call plan.
Ok so last year I upgraded to ADSL and formed part of the thousands of users in SA that wanted broadband like our counterparts overseas. We heard all the stories about fast downloads etc. Perhaps we were all a bit "green" to the new "high speed" connection that telkom offered us. And like fools we accepted Telkoms offerings, but who were we to argue with telkom. They dont even answer their complaints page. Not even a auto response acknowledging your complaint.

Basically this weekend my friend who still has ISDN 64k, is downloading a 340MB service pack for me as if I download it, I will blow my 3 gig cap long before the months end. Although it will take my friend 2 nights to download the file and I have to go over to him and cut it to a CD so that I can be up to date with all the latest fixes etc.

So my R680 plus R299 per month which is more than I paid for my ISDN connection is useless. I cant even do the things I always dreamed of doing. Now I must go waste my time and petrol to go and fetch the service pack I need and impose on someone elses connection and his time and waste the cost of a cd.

I refuse to buy an extra 3 gigs of "internet time" from telkom. And I wont use proxies or log onto P2P to download what I want. I just want a decent service and no more bull**** stories about why they must impose such a low capping limit from Mr White and the likes of him. Telkom has seriously abused its monopolistic status in SA. Im just sad that I was one of the people that paid my telkom account so humbly like all others did to put this bunch of wicked business people on the map. They certainly know how to stick it to the people that made them. Their attitude and their questionable business ethics is lacking any thought for their customer base.

<hr noshade size="1">You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.

Brandon · Mar 7, 2004

I know what I will be doing as soon as Sentech plants a tower near my house.

microfast · Mar 7, 2004

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Brandon
I know what I will be doing as soon as Sentech plants a tower near my house.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hi BTTB,

My sit. is almost same as yours - I refuse to buy that 2nd account.

Instead of the 7am - 7pm curfew - we know have a usage curfew.
I am not sure which is worse.

Sentech say my area will be serviced in June 2004. Can't wait.

BTTB · Mar 7, 2004

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Instead of the 7am - 7pm curfew - we know have a usage curfew.
I am not sure which is worse.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You have the best way of describing things. I feel like a kid again with a curfew. Telkom always releases packages with "fine print" like best effort, always on, 3 gig cap and things that protect themselves, but I have yet to see a product that was 100% customer driven. A product that looks at what the customer wants and delivers it.
Their strategy is is aimed at protecting their rights and their back pocket. Once they have established what they need out of a product in financial terms they think of the customer as a afterthought and sell them a long yarn about being in touch with tomorrow.
Do they think we believe all this bull.

Actually I think usage curfew is worse at this stage as this is why many potential ADSL customers wont change their setups in the short term. It simply isnt worth it. The rest of the world has got rid of ISDN etc, but Telkom is still promoting it. I feel they couldnt be bothered if we use 33k,56k, ISDN or ADSL, it all adds up to that big profit they made last year. And the management sit back and profiteer on the very telecommunication network that you and I paid for over several decades.

And the fact that people like ourselves moan about the half hearted service we get wont worry telkom either. I reckon that behind the scenes they plan on losing a few customers to Sentech etc, by prearranged boardroom agreements. Its all been costed in. They have to let the opposition into the market. Its part of the agreement between them and the state. Once the other companies are setup, telkom will pretend to listen to the remaining 40 to 60% of the business thats left. IMO they are peeving off the public so as 40 to 60% of the market will go to the SNO and others. This will keep everyone in business, but wont bring any windfalls to the public that made telkom. We will lose out like we always have. But the Telkom Cake will be split up and the money distributed amongst the 3 to 5 partygoers. But our bills will remain the same.

<hr noshade size="1">You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.

TheRoDent · Mar 7, 2004

The issue is really: If ADSL, when capped, had at least the response of a normal 64K ISDN, then we could still get decent usage from the thing.

The problem is, that the "capped" service is essentially nonexistent. It's unusable. So, instead of trying to lobby Telkom to increase the cap, let's try to lobby them to get a decent service durring those capped times at least.

It's stupid. Why should a capped connection be completely _unusable_ ?

VQuest · Mar 7, 2004

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TheRoDent
 The issue is really: If ADSL, when capped, had at least the response of a normal 64K ISDN, then we could still get decent usage from the thing.

The problem is, that the "capped" service is essentially nonexistent. It's unusable. So, instead of trying to lobby Telkom to increase the cap, let's try to lobby them to get a decent service durring those capped times at least.

It's stupid. Why should a capped connection be completely _unusable_ ?

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You actually make a good point. I still believe the 3GB cap is absolutely ridiculous. If Telkom insists on capping their uses, it should be something more acceptable, like 10GB.

But no matter what the cap is, once it is reached, we should not have our international usage cut off like it is. 64K is the absolute least they should offer us once capped.

It infuriates me to be treated like a school child by Telkom.

I agree with you BTTB, I refuse to buy a second account, as I would then be paying more for what should already be included in our already ridiculously high monthly subs.

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United we stand!
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BTTB · Mar 7, 2004

And add this to the pile.

I went to collect the 340Mb service pack from my friend earlier tonight(sunday). He has been connected since 7pm on friday and has downloaded 700Mb in total so far and counting. This 700Mb does not include his browsing or gaming. I would calculate that at roughly 100 to 150 per day for 2 says. So he has downloaded 700 plus 300 and he still has the whole of sunday night until tomorrow morning at 7am and all this for R7. He is connected every night and I saw his phone bill for last month. It was R200 odd for rental and about R200 odd for Data. A total of R400 for the month and he downloads 1 gig on a weekend. This is one third of my ADSL 3 gigs for 2 days of the month for which I pay R680 plus R299, which is roughly R1000.

How can one compare ISDN to ADSL. Ummmm, wait yes we can. We are in South Africa and dictated to by Telkom for an expensive lousy service where an ADSL user must ask an ISDN user to download a large file as he is limited by telkoms 3 gig cap. The logic of this scenario just phases me. I would be too ashamed to be a manager of a business that offers this level of service. And Im sure Im not the only one moaning.

<hr noshade size="1">You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.

Perdition · Mar 7, 2004

What phases me is why people use ADSL (in SA) in the first place given the totally absurd structure and pricing. As it currently stands the only people who benefit are those running a SOHO that requires 24/7 access to browsing and e-mail, for all other consumers it is a total joke.

Those people who have bought into ADSL believing that 3 gigs is enough are absolutely retarded, I have no sympathy for you. The only way Telkom will take notice is either with competition (which thankfully they have now) or if nobody buys the product. If you bought ADSL before researching the consequences well then you're a lemming, no use getting pissed off about it now [

]

Given this we still need to actively voice our disgust at the situation. Times are changing and those players in a position to offer competing services to Telkom will listen and slowly Telkom will need to change their practices if they wish to remain in the game. The government cannot save them from market forces forever.

BTTB · Mar 8, 2004

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Those people who have bought into ADSL believing that 3 gigs is enough are absolutely retarded, I have no sympathy for you.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I think you have lost the plot.
Telkom is retarded. Not the members of MyADSL or anyone else for that matter.

As I said before we were all "green" to this new technology. Knowing what I know now, I would of stayed with ISDN until things improved.
People here are merely venting their feelings as telkom apparently isnt listening.

<hr noshade size="1">You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.

celeborn · Mar 8, 2004

You see, this is what I find amusing. Let me just say, that knowing what I knew I still decided to go with ADSL.

I've said this quit a few times now. Telkom ADSL is quite a cool product. It does what they say it will do - provide fast internet access within the bounds laid out in the contract. The biggest issue that exists with the product is the lack of flexibility - in terms of price as well. Im not going to harp on about how irritating I find their metering system, as I've done that many times before. Ill just leave it at that.

Telkom are in this game to get rich, and they are going to abuse whats left of their dying monopoly in any way they can. If this means inflexible pricing structures and overpriced solutions, they'll sure as hell do it, and have!

Many people walked into this with open eyes. I can totally understand what perdition is getting at, as well as BTTB. However to say that someone should stay with ISDN or dialup is silly. People need to evaluate their needs and look at what is available. What is great about this forum - and why I continue reading/submitting - is that someone considering ADSL (MyWireless too) can join, browse the archives and make their own decision!

Monday bloody Monday.

Celerystick

BTTB · Mar 8, 2004

Hi celeborn,

I hardly think I will change back to ISDN either. And yes perdition has got a point in the matter.Its just his choice of words.
One should take this forum in context aswell. Where else can one vent ones thoughts other than on these pages.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">However to say that someone should stay with ISDN or dialup is silly.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Unless the cost is the factor. Not everyone has R1000 plus calls to give telkom every month.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">What is great about this forum - and why I continue reading/submitting - is that someone considering ADSL (MyWireless too) can join, browse the archives and make their own decision!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yes I see most of the postings is on the MyWireless section at the moment. Seems quite a few people are going over.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">The government cannot save them from market forces forever.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Good point.

<hr noshade size="1">You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.

Billy · Mar 8, 2004

I am sure that to the vast majority of "Home Surfers" the 3 gig cap is a problem. Cetainly I would not entertain ADSL at home to replace my Tiscalli Sat link. However. for most businesses, wanting to engage in Ecommerce, 3 of our customers use it, the cap is no problem.
I signed up for My Wirelesss not because of the cap, but because after 3 months Telkom couldn't tell me when I would get the service, after telling me 3 weeks when I applied.
MyWireless is great. I can only hope that the service area is extended to cover my home address, then its "Bye Bye" Telkom.

No wonder there is such activity on the MyWireless side of the site.

To paraphrase Karl Marks, "Surfers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your wires"

Perdition · Mar 8, 2004

Ok I retract the retardation statement... I shouldn't be venting AT those who are on my side but rather WITH them [:I] I can't actually blame most people who blindly purchase ADSL given how Telkom advertises how wonderful and magical it is. I believe most people who visit this forum and inform themselves of the situation will happily go with Sentech over ADSL or stick with whatever solution they have. There will also be those (few) who jump on the ADSL wagon knowing all the flaws and that's their choice.

At the end of the day, as celeborn stated, Telkom are in this to make money. They will only change when they are absolutely forced to and even then their PR department will work overtime and make it appear they are doing us a huge favour. It is our duty as informed citizens to educate as many people as possible about the reality of our telecommunications industry. I applaud RPM for his huge contribution to the cause.

BTTB · Mar 8, 2004

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Ok I retract the retardation statement... I shouldn't be venting AT those who are on my side but rather WITH them <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
[

][

]
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">They will only change when they are absolutely forced to and even then their PR department will work overtime and make it appear they are doing us a huge favour. It is our duty as informed citizens to educate as many people as possible about the reality of our telecommunications industry. I applaud RPM for his huge contribution to the cause.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yes RPM is doing a sterling job. One can only admire his dedication to a cause he or us dont get a penny for.
And I inform people I know everyday. Also as the representative of the Ratepayers Associaion in our area I feel it part of my duty to make the public aware of the big ripoff. I also will be passing this info up the channels I know to a higher political level as I go on. Im just waiting for the next meeting and the opportunity and Im going to speak to our member of parliament. They are always very sympathetic to our organisations as they know we form the backbone of the voting public and we command the peoples respect which I doubt very few politicians can say.
Even if telkom is out to make money, IMO they have flaunted the faithful customers that made what telkom is today. Telkom has robbed this country of a chance to really flourish in the telecommunication industry. We just dont know how many years the setback is yet. I just feel cheated by them. They have abused their standing in the community and dont deserve any elevated status like PSA.(Proudly South African) After years of ripoff telephone accounts and pathetic 33k and 56k internet we are no better off now than we were before. And unless something drastic happens, I cannot see any change in the short term.

Another 2c.

<hr noshade size="1">You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.

Mate with ISDN is downloading a 340MB file for me.

BTTB

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TheRoDent

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