MTN vs Vodacom

Pitbull

Pitbull

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Hi Guys

I would like your input on this.
I might be wrong pls help but this is the info as I know it.

Vodacom

1. Gprs 84kb/s connection speed.
2. 3G 384kb/s Connection speed.

Now correct me if I’m wrong, so you’re guaranteed a connection speed of 84kb/s if you’re not in a 3G coverage zone. Now with 3G being in the roll out phase lets say you'll be covered at 15 % of SA. So let’s see if you’re in 3G you'll connect at 384 if not 64. Now that’s like telling a guy "you can drive a
Suzuki GSXR 1300 from Pretoria to Johannesburg on a trip to Cape town and then from Johannesburg to Cape town you'll have to make due with a Yamaha PW50.

MTN
1. GPRS + (115.2kb/s)
2. Edge 230 - 240kb/s
3. 3G 384kb/s

Now let’s use the same example as above: a Trip from Pretoria to Cape town.
Now MTN is saying. Pretoria to Johannesburg (GSXR 1300), Johannesburg to Bloemfontein (GSXR 1000) From Bloemfontein to Cape town (GSXR 600).

My point ?

I personally would go with MTN. They have a fall back connection infrastructure in place which means more stable connections.

Guys pls post your opinions. Once again I'm not against any network operators I just want to hear the general feel for whether or not you agree, if not why not. This is supposed to be an info session to all who part take.

Thanks
Pitbull
The Pitbull is a small creature with a small hart, but if provoked will pounce without warning and cause hideous damage”
 
well, i have both MTN and Vodacom contracts, i havnt done speed tests, why, because i am to lazy and dont mind the speed difference anyway.
With MTN i have GPRS connected and the reliability is really good, but... with mtn in durban there is almost no 3g coverage, there is a small piece of pavilion that is enabled, which conveniently is right by the MTN service provider shop.

Vodacom on the other hand in durban is quiet well covered, where i live, and almost everywhere i go (more well established areas)

Well, to compare them, honestly it doesnt phase me, yes i do get irritated that with my N70 i cant use 3g when my MTN sim is in the phone, but it doesnt bother me that much...

Bob out
 
A quick look at the coverage maps shows that Vodacom has greater 3G coverage as well as far greater EDGE coverage. GPRS is very similar although MTN might have slightly better coverage there. So as far as "fall back tech" goes I would say Vodacom is winning hands down but thats just my opinion.

Vodacom Coverage Screenshot
MTN Coverage Screenshot

I agree that MTN is sometimes faster but I do not really expect much speed from Cell based solutions, it is mobility that I am after.
 
Last edited:
Hi Alchamy

You stated a very good point. I really appreciate the input.

In general the Mobile industry is booming in SA. We're all looking forward
to better and greater things. Telkom must catch a wakeup !!!!!!!!!

Pitbull
The Pitbull is a small creature with a small hart, but if provoked will pounce without warning and cause hideous damage”
 
also remember that (with vodacom, at least) it is now 3g with hsdpa, and not just 3g, and, like alchamy said, vodacom have edge as well, which you don't have listed.

then again, mtn have pre-paid bundles *cough* ;)
 
Prepaid bundles are a really good point, definately something that Vodacom needs to get sorted out.
 
i'm in the same predicament. i have no 3g nor edge from MTN in my street (according to the map)

from vodacom i have 3G coverage.

but i use about 20MB /day - with MTN 350mB bundle at R220 (which i buy from shoprite for cheaper R200) it works out to 57c /MB * 20 = R. 11.43 /day

With vodacom it will be R40 a day! unless i take a contract and then i'm tied up for 24months!

if vodacom comes out with bundles on prepaid then they win outright!
 
abuusamah said:
MTN 350mB bundle at R220 (which i buy from shoprite for cheaper R200) it works out to 57c /MB * 20 = R. 11.43 /day
Click to expand...
thanks for the tip! :)
 
yeah Good tip abuusamah!

We'll
Vodacom has 3G+HSDPA in my area but no EDGE
whereas MTN has EDGE but no 3G... but should be here soon

I only have EDGE capapability anyway with my nokia 6230 and I use prepaid so MTN is my preference
prepaid bundles are the key factor for me anyway
l'll Stick with MTN even if I had 3G or HSDPA capability as long as vodacom does not offer PPDB

I've emailed vodacom many a time about prepaid bundles but never get a reply(Lets spam vodacom with requests for bundles, I dont think its a priority ATM and only we can make it one IMO)

So for me right now its MTN... but kudos for vodacom with there launch of HSDPA
 
Thanx guys.....

So your all saying that the biggest thing that is pulling you to MTN
is the PP bundles?

Very interresting..........
 
Pitbull said:
Thanx guys.....

So your all saying that the biggest thing that is pulling you to MTN
is the PP bundles?

Very interresting..........
Click to expand...

Something like that, I mostly have Vodacom sims but I keep an MTN sim purely for the prepaid databundle.
 
Pitbull said:
Thanx guys.....

So your all saying that the biggest thing that is pulling you to MTN
is the PP bundles?

Very interresting..........
Click to expand...

yes... as a prepaid user

If I where a contract subscriber on the other hand Vodacom would be the best option... better 3G + HSDPA coverage etc.
 
Pitbull said:
Thanx guys.....

So your all saying that the biggest thing that is pulling you to MTN
is the PP bundles?

Very interresting..........
Click to expand...

Of course, especially when it's almost a quarter of the price. You're paying R200 for 350MB instead of R700.
 
I think there is also less subscribers on mtn than vodacom

which makes a difference in speed connections
 
Mtn Hsdpa Arriving Soon

As per IT WEB 12Apr06:

"Shipments of MTN high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) data cards are expected to arrive in SA by the weekend, and should be available through retail channels before the end of the month.

This is according to Brian Seligmann, MTN's senior manager for data and messaging, who says more than 10 000 cards will arrive in the first shipment, followed by more cards that will be ordered according to demand.

The initial, corporate-focused HSDPA cards from MTN (the Sierra Wireless AC 850) have been available through MTN's corporate channel since the beginning of the year and usable since 23 March, when MTN launched HSDPA. Several thousand of these have been sold, he notes.

“The new MTN data card [for private users] will be significantly cheaper than any MTN data card in the past,” promises Seligmann. He adds that they will be compatible with any laptop or desktop with a PC card adaptor.

Coverage

Seligmann outlines MTN's HSDPA strategy: “Whereas our competitor [Vodacom] has chosen full deployment, we've chosen to provide HSDPA to our high traffic sites initially, to be followed by all sites over a period of time.”

Interesting to see that MTN say "we've chosen to provide HSDPA to our high traffic sites"!! Incorrect strategy I think...
 
Hi Hoodwink

I think MTN is making an awesome strategy.

Think about it logically.

The upgrade of towers to have HSDPA costs money. Now that money is going to hinder the deployment of further 3G rollout in arreas which is not covered. So now What MTN is saying .....Their roll-out is going ahead as promised. They're not steping back on the 3G roll-out as that would limmit their roll-out off 3G. As the Traffic increase in a given 3G arrea then the demand is there for HSDPA...doesn't it make sence ?
 
Hmm, difficult one.

Well the opposite side if the coin is Vodacom, they have upgraded all their 3G sites to HSDPA which means that its over and done with. They can now focus on rolling out new towers.

AFAIK 3G - HSDPA is just a software upgrade on the tower.

Besides, I would hate to be sitting without HSDPA in a built up area just because there is not enough demand.

IMO network operators should be pushing to upgrade all their sites regardless of demand. This is the next phase of cellular comms. Its not just some value add.

Whats the point of having a 3G phone with Video calls if you cannot use it when you are in Durban because "their was not enough demand". Same goes for HSDPA, why pay for the card if your going to sit on 3G or GPRS.

Ultimately the existing 2G network will be shut down so the sooner the MTN & Vodacom have SA covered the sooner they can push demand for 3G+ and the sooner they can turn off 2G. (which means less overheads for them)

Well atleast thats my opinion.

Pitbull said:
Hi Hoodwink

I think MTN is making an awesome strategy.

Think about it logically.

The upgrade of towers to have HSDPA costs money. Now that money is going to hinder the deployment of further 3G rollout in arreas which is not covered. So now What MTN is saying .....Their roll-out is going ahead as promised. They're not steping back on the 3G roll-out as that would limmit their roll-out off 3G. As the Traffic increase in a given 3G arrea then the demand is there for HSDPA...doesn't it make sence ?
Click to expand...
 
Service providers can't just roll out where there is a demand. They must roll out everywhere.

If 50 people work at a company that uses 3G/HSDPA every day of their life and they have 3G/HSDPA coverage at the office then it is good because there is a demand. Now, the 50 people go for a bussiness meeting 10km away from the office. Now they don't have 3G/HSDPA coverage because there is not a demand at that certain place.

The problem is, there is actually a demand for 3G/HSDPA coverage everywhere, but we don't get it.

Why do they sell 3G phones at stores where there is no 3G coverage?? It's useless.
 
amen :o

we're probably all at different levels of understanding about how mobile communication actually works, but one thing i don't understand is, if it's just a software upgrade, what's stopping them from upgrading all the towers to HSDPA today?
 
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