MTN GPRS - International Roaming

[dbnnet]

MTN certainly are at a major disadvantage to Vodacom
if their customers intend using GPRS for International roaming.
MTN limits it's customers to only a small handful of countries (about 5).
Even in the UK .... one has to manually change to the
Orange Network to get any results. Even in the most "advanced"
cities in the world ...... it simply does not work at all.
(I presume that they lack GPRS roaming agreements)???

Whilst I will accept that in SA, MTN's GPRS solution is
more robust than the Vodacom one, Vodacom users can access
GPRS in over 33 countries.
MTN will soon realise that this is a major disadvantage for any business traveler.

 

[MTN SP (CIC)]

MTN certainly are at a major disadvantage to Vodacom
if their customers intend using GPRS for International roaming.
MTN limits it's customers to only a small handful of countries (about 5).
Even in the UK .... one has to manually change to the
Orange Network to get any results. Even in the most "advanced"
cities in the world ...... it simply does not work at all.
(I presume that they lack GPRS roaming agreements)???

Whilst I will accept that in SA, MTN's GPRS solution is
more robust than the Vodacom one, Vodacom users can access
GPRS in over 33 countries.
MTN will soon realise that this is a major disadvantage for any business traveler.

Good Morning

dbnnet

I've escalated your query to our international roaming guy Sidney Arnold and I'll get back to you with an answer ASAP.

Thanks allot
Clive

 

[mancombseepgood]

Where

are these 5 countries? Any in Africa? Can I get GPRS in Zambia? What are the costs involved with intl roaming? (voice / data). Thks!

 

[dbnnet]

I've escalated your query to our international roaming guy Sidney Arnold and I'll get back to you with an answer ASAP.

Clive, thanks for that.
I would be keen to hear what MTN's plans for this are.
GPRS is key, not only for current data users (I use Layer-One),
but also for those who plan to use MTN's new Blackberry solution (GPRS)
and intend using it for international roaming.

EdRobinson, I know that currently in Zimbabwe there is no GPRS.
When I was in Zambia last year, there was no GPRS either.

 

[MTN SP (CIC)]

are these 5 countries? Any in Africa? Can I get GPRS in Zambia? What are the costs involved with intl roaming? (voice / data). Thks!

Good Morning.

In terms with the 5 countries I'll find out and get back to you on Tuesday as well as with your question regarding Zambia.

Well if you want to use Roaming in Zambia for example then will approximately cost


Zambia

Two networks there @the moment.

Celtel

Local call per min R8.00 , Call to SA per min R19.35 Send SMS R1.60 To Receive a call R3.94 per min and as far as I can see GPRS is not available in Zambia but will get a confirmation from Sidney Arnold and get back to you.

The other network in Zambia is Telecel.

Approximate rates as follows.

Local call per min R5.02, Call to SA per min R10.19, Send a SMS R0.44 Receive a call R394.

But please note that these charges change on a daily basis due to the money exchange rate changing on a daily basis.

I hope I've assisted in some way.

Regards Clive

 

[Pata]

Can you tell me wether I will be able to use GPRS in The Nederlands. If so what will it cost. Im taking a short trip to The Nederlands soon, and I would like to use GPRS while abroad

 

[MTNBroadband]

MTN certainly are at a major disadvantage to Vodacom
if their customers intend using GPRS for International roaming.
MTN limits it's customers to only a small handful of countries (about 5).
Even in the UK .... one has to manually change to the
Orange Network to get any results. Even in the most "advanced"
cities in the world ...... it simply does not work at all.
(I presume that they lack GPRS roaming agreements)???

Whilst I will accept that in SA, MTN's GPRS solution is
more robust than the Vodacom one, Vodacom users can access
GPRS in over 33 countries.
MTN will soon realise that this is a major disadvantage for any business traveler.

We did have a gap in signing up countries whilst we underwent a major change in our roaming intermediary arrangements (voice and data) last year which was designed to give a better overall service. This is all well past and bedded down and we're going full steam ahead. We have long led the way with overall roaming agreements so it's just a case of doing the data testing for each network.

It is quite common to have to select specific networks now for data roaming and this applies here and elsewhere. The trend started when we launched higher circuit switched speeds in 2000 and both inbound and outbound customers wanted to get our 28.8 kbps (or more) for the same price per minute that other networks were offering 9.6 kbps! Some countries have as many as five operators.