MTN LTE project: vendor trial underway

[zeyad 001]

That's LTE-Advanced, aka 4G (or 12G if Lars launches it ) and still a few years away.

What MTN is trailing is 'normal' LTE, aka 3.9G, with a theoretical downlink speed of 150Mb/s.

I've managed to get close to this speed as in this screen shot.

Ah makes sense. So I guess Vodacom is also planning a LTE project then?

At 120meg download speed it stills a huge speed boost to us compared to ADSL , Though we need larger caps to use it and not be able to use up the monthly allowance in a minute.

 

[Netguy]

you guys keep forgetting that Wireless services are not really meant to eliminate wired access....

... yet Wireless services often remains the ONLY choice, often the only viable choice.

 

[jannievanzyl]

Ah makes sense. So I guess Vodacom is also planning a LTE project then?

At 120meg download speed it stills a huge speed boost to us compared to ADSL , Though we need larger caps to use it and not be able to use up the monthly allowance in a minute.

We've been having it! For a number of months now, first LTE towers went live about middle last year.

The problem is not the network technology but on what spectrum we can deploy it. All the networks have the same spectrum but the bigger the network (i.e. the more users on the network), the less spectrum is available to deploy LTE. Neither Vodacom nor MTN can really refarm the amount of spectrum needed for a decent LTE service. Deploying LTE on current 900, 1800 or even 2100 allocations will result in a crippled LTE service.

What everyone needs is new spectrum for LTE so additional capacity can be built. Thus the continuous requests to ICASA for 2.6 spectrum. First price would be to get the digital dividend sorted so LTE can be deployed on 800.

But then, I also believe in the Easter Bunny.

As I've stated many times before, deploying newer technolgies is not about outright speed but rather all about getting more capacity from a single tower so more people can get a decent speed.

 

[Quantum Theory]

Yes, that 800 MHz range would obviously suite you a lot better than 2.6 GHz. Would drastically increase the range, right? Pity...

 

[mister]

That's LTE-Advanced, aka 4G (or 12G if Lars launches it ) and still a few years away.

cheeky.

 

[TheRoDent]

LTE should be a Telkom ADSL killer, its going to be just as good as ADSL in terms of latency but a 100 times faster. Should be fun.

Errrr. No.

 

[DeathStrike]

hmm. i don't care about 150mbps when it costs R 200+ per gig. i get 40GBs off my uncapped for R219 + line rental.

five me 40Gigs at 7mbps for the same price my adsl costs and i will be a happy camper on your network any day.

 

[jmak]

It only makes sense that in the initial stages that MTN LTE would be expensive.

correct me if im wrong but AT&T/Verizon had unlimeted Data options for $60/pm in the usa thats really cheap. but we wont see that here anytime soon

You forgot to mention that most (if not all) of these plans did not allow tethering (i.e. you cannot download anything directly from your PC), and there are a couple of articles on the fact that their uncapped accounts are being phased out.

But for the sake of full disclosure, the capped accounts often have number of 100GB+ associated with them, so in SA today this can be seen as uncapped. However not sure if the new accounts allow tethering but there was another article end of last week from telcos in USA about locking down phones preventing rooting to stop things like tethering from happening unless the telco enabled it.

 

[RichardG]

I am going to have to get ready to sell my house,car, cell phone, underwear and everything I own in less than 1 day

Prices should come down not the speed go up

 

[MightyMuffinMan]

What a waste. Focus on giving us cheap mobile ffs.

 

[wiggwire]

I think its great that all the mobile providers are "trying" to better then networks and the product offering. But ironic in a sad sense, that they (Voda and MTN, i dont use Cell C) still cant provide a 1st class cellular service, yet they of the opinion they cant get more advanced technologies right. How often do you experience the so called "complimentary cut-offs"? No not per day, but per phone call?

The data from again both providers above is inconsistent and weak at the best of time.

Im not holding my breath this would be of any better service.

 

[Jacodb]

LTE sounds promising. Lets hope it will be affordable.

 

[Joe Average]

We've been having it! For a number of months now, first LTE towers went live about middle last year.

The problem is not the network technology but on what spectrum we can deploy it. All the networks have the same spectrum but the bigger the network (i.e. the more users on the network), the less spectrum is available to deploy LTE. Neither Vodacom nor MTN can really refarm the amount of spectrum needed for a decent LTE service. Deploying LTE on current 900, 1800 or even 2100 allocations will result in a crippled LTE service.

What everyone needs is new spectrum for LTE so additional capacity can be built. Thus the continuous requests to ICASA for 2.6 spectrum. First price would be to get the digital dividend sorted so LTE can be deployed on 800.

But then, I also believe in the Easter Bunny.

As I've stated many times before, deploying newer technolgies is not about outright speed but rather all about getting more capacity from a single tower so more people can get a decent speed.

Lets forget about LTE for a moment - since it won't be a reality for quite some time. According to what I understand VC has launched a 42Mbps 3G data network, is there anyway (on earth) I can find a coverage map that would show us which areas are covered by your 42 Mbps data network ???? Any possible way ? Maybe a link to a site ??? Your VC Web Coverage map only show areas covered by 3G, http://spatial.vodacom.co.za/coverage/ , how can I derive from that which areas are covered by the newly launched 42Mbps ???

 

[jannievanzyl]

Lets forget about LTE for a moment - since it won't be a reality for quite some time. According to what I understand VC has launched a 42Mbps 3G data network, is there anyway (on earth) I can find a coverage map that would show us which areas are covered by your 42 Mbps data network ???? Any possible way ? Maybe a link to a site ??? Your VC Web Coverage map only show areas covered by 3G, http://spatial.vodacom.co.za/coverage/ , how can I derive from that which areas are covered by the newly launched 42Mbps ???

Let me check what the status of the DC map is. Could be that they're publishing it at the end of phase-2 which is the 2000 mark targeted for end of this month.

PM me the addys you're interested in and I'll check for you.

 

[Joe Average]

Let me check what the status of the DC map is. Could be that they're publishing it at the end of phase-2 which is the 2000 mark targeted for end of this month.

PM me the addys you're interested in and I'll check for you.

Thanks, would appreciate it.
Don't have to PM, here's 2 addresses :

Houghton, next to the M1 highway, across from Killarney Mall (currently we only get EDGE in the office here)
West Rand, Fairland, close to your big rival MTN's Head Office

I'm willing to wait, end of the month not that far - I assume Joburg would be the focus area for the roll-out ?

 

[mfumbesi]

Kanagaratnam Lambotharan.

Quite a mouthful.

If you think thats a mouthful, then I shouldn't tell you my real names. It is more like a paragraph really.

 

[mfumbesi]

We've been having it! For a number of months now, first LTE towers went live about middle last year.

The problem is not the network technology but on what spectrum we can deploy it. All the networks have the same spectrum but the bigger the network (i.e. the more users on the network), the less spectrum is available to deploy LTE. Neither Vodacom nor MTN can really refarm the amount of spectrum needed for a decent LTE service. Deploying LTE on current 900, 1800 or even 2100 allocations will result in a crippled LTE service.

What everyone needs is new spectrum for LTE so additional capacity can be built. Thus the continuous requests to ICASA for 2.6 spectrum. First price would be to get the digital dividend sorted so LTE can be deployed on 800.

But then, I also believe in the Easter Bunny.

As I've stated many times before, deploying newer technolgies is not about outright speed but rather all about getting more capacity from a single tower so more people can get a decent speed.

Can't you guys BRIBE someone at ICASA, they are really holding us back.

 

[jannievanzyl]

Can't you guys BRIBE someone at ICASA, they are really holding us back.

According to many people on this forum (marine1 and his buddies) the mobile operators already have ICASA on the payroll.

Funny then that we've not 'sorted out' this problem a long time ago. MTN and Vodacom are spending big money on LTE all without any idea when the spectrum will be available.

But I'm sure our resident conspiracy theorists will be able to explain it. Maybe we were to busy creating a non-existent Bin-Laden to cover up the fact that Bush brought down the towers to pay attention to local spectrum allocation.

 

[Stevewarren]

Whats the point? I get on average 3 mbps with my dongle wich is perfect but at 19 c a meg Whats the point.

 

[RVQ]

Whats the point? I get on average 3 mbps with my dongle wich is perfect but at 19 c a meg Whats the point.

You may have missed the discussions regarding the reasons behind the 42/43Mbps upgrades, from what I understand it was done so you can get that 3Mbps on the 42/43Mbps networks. So LTE might get you a decent 10Mbps but like you said already we're screwed at 19c a meg.