MTN VS Vodacom See the Tests.

[!!DV!!]

Test preformed with two Novatel Merlin U630 pcmcia cards:

Vodacom 3G signal 3 Bars

Telkom Speed Test:
19:47 2005/08/31
Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

* Download time: 13.48 seconds
* Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
* Estimated line speed: 302.7 (kilobits/second)
* Estimated line speed: 37.1 (kiloBytes/second)

19:59 2005/08/31
Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

* Download time: 22.373 seconds
* Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
* Estimated line speed: 182.4 (kilobits/second)
* Estimated line speed: 22.3 (kiloBytes/second)

International Speed Testbandwidthplace.com - 3G Test)

Communications 117.4 kilobits per second
Storage 14.3 kilobytes per second
1MB file download 1.2 minutes
Subjective rating Mediocre

Pinging ns1.zoneedit.com [207.234.248.200] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 207.234.248.200: bytes=32 time=688ms TTL=50
Reply from 207.234.248.200: bytes=32 time=1294ms TTL=50
Reply from 207.234.248.200: bytes=32 time=559ms TTL=50
Reply from 207.234.248.200: bytes=32 time=531ms TTL=50

Ping statistics for 207.234.248.200:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 531ms, Maximum = 1294ms, Average = 768ms

Pinging www.bluewire.co.uk [217.8.240.39] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 217.8.240.39: bytes=32 time=438ms TTL=56
Reply from 217.8.240.39: bytes=32 time=394ms TTL=56
Reply from 217.8.240.39: bytes=32 time=412ms TTL=56
Reply from 217.8.240.39: bytes=32 time=411ms TTL=56

Ping statistics for 217.8.240.39:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 394ms, Maximum = 438ms, Average = 413ms


MTN 3G Signal 1 Bar

Telkom Speed Test
20:04 2005/08/31
Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

* Download time: 16.493 seconds
* Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
* Estimated line speed: 247.4 (kilobits/second)
* Estimated line speed: 30.3 (kiloBytes/second)

20:08 2005/08/31
Below is the data used to calculate your download speed:

* Download time: 16.123 seconds
* Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
* Estimated line speed: 253.1 (kilobits/second)
* Estimated line speed: 31 (kiloBytes/second)

International Speed Testbandwidthplace.com - 3G Test)

Communications 192.8 kilobits per second
Storage 23.5 kilobytes per second
1MB file download 43.5 seconds
Subjective rating Mediocre

Pinging ns1.zoneedit.com [207.234.248.200] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 207.234.248.200: bytes=32 time=605ms TTL=43
Reply from 207.234.248.200: bytes=32 time=561ms TTL=43
Reply from 207.234.248.200: bytes=32 time=549ms TTL=43
Reply from 207.234.248.200: bytes=32 time=558ms TTL=43

Ping statistics for 207.234.248.200:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 549ms, Maximum = 605ms, Average = 568ms

Pinging www.bluewire.co.uk [217.8.240.39] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 217.8.240.39: bytes=32 time=495ms TTL=45
Reply from 217.8.240.39: bytes=32 time=421ms TTL=45
Reply from 217.8.240.39: bytes=32 time=419ms TTL=45
Reply from 217.8.240.39: bytes=32 time=448ms TTL=45

Ping statistics for 217.8.240.39:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 419ms, Maximum = 495ms, Average = 445ms

Let me know if you would like to see any specific tests:

 

[3g_rox]

Below results from tests conducted between 15h00 and 16h00 today in Durban CBD using same Novatel datacard and pc on both networks. Tests conducted using Telkom local speed test website using http transfer mode.

5 Consecutive tests were done for each network on each data mode.

MTN 3G:
309.7 / 261.4 / 268.9 / 312.4 / 215.3 - Average 273.54kbits/s
MTN GPRS:
63.1 / 55.4 / 48.8 / 76.3 / 57.3 - Average 60.14kbits/s

Vodacom 3G:
398.1 / 417.8 / 409.9 / 444.8 / 340.4 - Average 402.2kbits/s
Vodacom GPRS:
69.6 / 78.6 / 70.5 / 73.5 / 70.7 - Average - 72.58kbits/s

It appears that Vodacom must have enabled some form of compression which is resulting in regular speeds of above the theoretical maximum of 384kbits/s - V3g any comments?

What a pity - I had a bet on MTN and was trying to prove a point with a colleague! Suppose I better start considering my options?

 

[asmith]

or Vodacom has better peering with Telkom than MTN?

 

[Unchained]

or Vodacom has better peering with Telkom than MTN?

Since Telkom basically owns Vodacom...

 

[Silent_Bob]

sounds very possible

 

[murray654]

today in Durban CBD using same Novatel datacard and pc on both networks

Wouldnt it be more relevant to run tests from different locations, rather than on one pc which is likely to be closer to one network tower than it is to another?

IE drive around with a laptop, and do tests all around the cbd.

 

[Tahir Ally]

These GREAT speeds from Vodacom only happend after the UPGRADE of its network was done.Can't wait for HSDPA which is around the corner

 

[ScrnScrm]

These GREAT speeds from Vodacom only happend after the UPGRADE of its network was done.Can't wait for HSDPA which is around the corner

Pity Vodacom have to go back and upgrade all their UMTS base stations to HSDPA - something MTN have completed already. Also pity that Vodacom's backhaul network is supplied by Telkom.

 

[Tahir Ally]

Pity Vodacom have to go back and upgrade all their UMTS base stations to HSDPA - something MTN have completed already. Also pity that Vodacom's backhaul network is supplied by Telkom.

If MTN had HSDPA from the begining,why is Vodacom speeds faster and How come Vodacom promises us HSDPA by December and MTN keeps quiet about it.Any network that starts 3G has to upgrade to 3.5G(HSDPA). You trying to tell me that Cell C had 2.5g(GPRS) when they launched.Cell C had to upgrade to 2.5g.Cell C only has GPRS for 1 year now.GOT THE PICTURE....By the way Telkom also does work for MTN and Cell C

 

[ScrnScrm]

If MTN had HSDPA from the begining,why is Vodacom speeds faster and How come Vodacom promises us HSDPA by December and MTN keeps quiet about it.Any network that starts 3G has to upgrade to 3.5G(HSDPA). You trying to tell me that Cell C had 2.5g(GPRS) when they launched.Cell C had to upgrade to 2.5g.Cell C only has GPRS for 1 year now.GOT THE PICTURE....By the way Telkom also does work for MTN and Cell C

Tahir - its not ethical for a Vodacom representative to punt Vodacom in this forum, nor criticise the competition. Read the top of the screen - "MTN Broadband (EDGE,3G)". GOT THE PICTURE?

 

[ScrnScrm]

As I understand it, the HSDPA data card and/or cellery phone manufacturer(s), will only make the consumer equipment available around December [2005]...

Correct.... And initial speeds will be nowhere near the theoretical 14Mbps maximum. In all likelihood, we will see the networks offering speeds in the 1 - 2Mbps range, at least initially.
Cheers ~
ScrnScrm

 

[3g_rox]

Pity Vodacom have to go back and upgrade all their UMTS base stations to HSDPA - something MTN have completed already. Also pity that Vodacom's backhaul network is supplied by Telkom.

ScrnScrm, not sure where you got the idea that MTN has HSDPA (are you not confusing it with HSCSD?). Unfortunately, MTN and Cell-C also use Telkom for their backhaul network - until recently, it was illegal to do anything other than use Telkom.

I was informed that the Vodacom network hardware can support HSDPA currently, they are just waiting for a software upgrade and additional Telkom backhaul to implement.

Why does that Telkom name keep cropping up as a stumbling block?

 

[ScrnScrm]

ScrnScrm, not sure where you got the idea that MTN has HSDPA (are you not confusing it with HSCSD?). Unfortunately, MTN and Cell-C also use Telkom for their backhaul netwrok - until recently, it was illegal to do anything other than use Telkom.

I was informed that the Vodacom network hardware can support HSDPA currently, they are just waiting for a software upgrade and additional Telkom backhaul to implement.

Why does that Telkom name keep cropping up as a stumbling block?

Hi
Maybe I should clarify - MTN and Voda both have HSDPA or HSPDA ready kit throughout their respective UMTS networks. The only advatage either one has is around timing. By the end of the year, timing advantages will be equalised, so there is no point debating which network is better in that respect. The software upgrade to HSDPA on the Vodacom network is currently being implemented by Siemens - it was part of the original UMTS rollout "package", and was paid for upfront. Same at MTN.
My PERSONAL preference is Vodacom, for reasons I do not wish to go into on the MTN forum. And I guess that was what my point was with Tahir - this forum is not the appropriate place for discussing Vodacom issues.
Cheers ~