Multiple EDGE/GPRS 10 meg bundles?

[ash]

hi

when is MTN going to allow multiple 10 meg bundles. i know we have discussed this but havent received an answer proper yet. MTNBB?

It is pointless have a 10 meg and 100 meg system, wheres the middle ground?

 

[MTNBroadband]

I have passed on the requirement for multiple bundles and intermediate tariffs. We will combine this input with the research requirements that we are still following up on and with the actual usage picture which emerges in the next short while.

For the moment we will work with the new tariffs we have which represent a radical departure from the previous tariffs. The R1.25 per megabyte GSM tariff is the lowest in the world. I cannot at this stage indicate what we have planned for the next round or when but (as you may have read in the press) there will be further developments.

I agree that price is paramount in this discussion but MTN is also the only network to provide such extensive broadband coverage as is presently found and we are differentiating ourselves with out particular strategy of 3G in high density areas, Edge over very wide areas and GPRS on 100% of our network. There are many customers who also look at the value of this always best connected approach and move towards seamless connectivity. This obviously requires considerable planning and investment on our side to achieve this end-user experience and I hope you will add this as the flipside of any pricing discussion.

 

[Neo]

There seem to be a perception that MTN is leading Vodacom in terms of coverage.

EVERY single cell in Vodacom is GPRS enabled with a large number already on cs3/4 (MTN's GPRS+). I often get 60-70Kb/s on GPRS. So whomever has the largest network (I don't know) will have the biggest data coverage.

Furthermore EDGE is already widely deployed on the Vodacom network. This is probably one of the best kept secrets on the Vodacom network. I've asked Vodacom about this and their response was that EDGE is the end of an old technology while 3G is the future. So while they're rolling out EDGE, they prefer the market to move to 3G.

Then, of course, there's the 3G network that's rolling out rapidly. Read comments from V3G of more than 1500 base stations before year end. Vodacom also claimed in the press that HSDPA will begin testing this year. That will be Mb/s type of throughputs.

So while MTN is claiming a three-tier network strategy, it's already reality on Vodacom.

Without starting a war in this thread, I believe Vodacom currently has the better network. MTN should look at other ways to differentiate itself. I believe the forum's picked up on this and are looking at pricing as a potential differentiator.

 

[damian24]

I Agree with Neo, V/Com often get's me 6 to 7 KB/s in bandwidth, I also find it less bursty than I've seen over the past few days on MTN.

So even though I get 11KB/s on MTN, it's 11KB for downloading but not quite as responsive when on a Remote Desktop session as the V/Com 7KB/s which is quite stable.