MWEB ADSL AUP: Fair is fair

[MFour]

I too think MWEB gets nailed unfairly at times (even by myself). They have always maintained that all heavy download protocols will be shaped, the severity of which depends on their network load. This is exactly what they do. Obviously over the past couple of months their traffic has increased pushing the "heavy download" protocols even further back on the priority scale. I suppose the sad truth remains, true uncapped and download friendly products are simply still too expensive in SA.

MWEB's uncapped shaped accounts offer some form of freedom (although very restrictive) and good value to most users. For me it is simple, I am not prepared to pay more than R 300 / month (for the data portion) for internet. Internet access is simply not worth that much no matter how I try and justify it. Until the "web is really free" in SA, MWEB remains the best option for me.

 

[kaspaas]

Kaspaas, do you have all the facts right?

Here's an MWebBusiness contract for 12 months, 5 Fixed IP's (so you can do your own hosting and mail), UnShaped, but Capped

http://www.mweb.co.za/productspricing/InternetAccess/BusinessADSL/fixedip.aspx for R340 per month for 10 GB

which I thought was a "fair" option if you are a small business and like to manage everything yourself. The router even offers fail-over to 3G - because Telkom will let you down at some stage.

I don't know but I am convinced MWeb are playing very fair and that a lot of the complaints are related to small businesses owners who wanted to take advantage of the uncapped offerings and now seems surprised when they get reprimanded - or they misinterpreted what "shaped" meant. I was with WebAfrica for 7 years and am now seriously considering moving to MWebBusiness.

First of all: Don't even consider moving to M-Web business. Business Associates made the error a few years ago - M-Web "demands" with clever sales talk to run the IT section of your business. If you don't comply, you will be pestered by sales calls to upgrade the service wasting hours and hours of your time. Cancelling a service is an admin nightmare because of M-Web demanding admin procedures to make cancellation near to impossible.

This attitude of M-Web is reflected in their Uncapped ADSL offering for businesses at http://www.mweb.co.za/productspricing/InternetAccess/BusinessADSL/Uncapped.aspx

Setup fee of R900 - contract period of 12/24 months during which they can produce any excuse not to deliver after paying legal experts millions to create a "take-it or voertsek" contract enforced on clients. Clients have no rights, and if they insist on enforcing their rigths, M-Web can kill a business by simply digging R-millions from its pockets in legal fees, and wasting entrepreneurial time with piles of legalize.

You SHALL also use their router which only they can maintain at rates dezigned to bancrupt.

So: Avoid M-Web business at all costs.

Also the rates are quite different: R2000 data only for a 4Mb/s package - many times more expensive that for the real heavy surfers.

I had nasty experieces due to M-Web Business' ways of doing.

Many SMME's are less bandwidth hungry than a single Geek Gamer

Maybe ISP's should consider packages for SMME's with less that 10 employees

 

[Archer]

I think the FUP as stated in the article is perfectly fair. You buy a shaped uncapped account then you should get nailed for bypassing that. However there is also the uncapped part. So far that seems to be the case for me, having done 267GB so far this month.

/knocks on wood, hope I didnt jinx it!!

 

[zamicro]

I must defend MWEB here: I think MWEB’s FUP or the implementation thereof is not the main issue. There are numerous ISPs in South Africa, offering a variety of services. You are not forced to use MWEB – if you don’t like their service, move on.

People complain profusely about MWEB’s FUP and even service levels, but why not simply move to another ISP?

MWeb is doing a good job with freeing the web. But anyone who think that they can use their line 100% will be unwelcome at any ISP. With their current shaping policies, I have never had issues, and those with issues, seems to be a priority for MWeb to sort out.

I really like their FUP:
1. Go for it, download as much as you like, but
2. do not circumvent the shaping.

As easy as that. Last night I downloaded a 3.2GB file and it came down at an average of 405kb/s. I cannot complain at all.

I strongly suspect that this user who is complaining, was actually using a VPN to remote server for the purpose of bypassing the shaping protocols.

 

[joeymojo]

This is also my experience. They obviously face many challenges, and have to put measures in place to protect their network and service levels. Their FUP is one such measure - if you dont like it...simply find a better ISP.

Maybe a feather in the cap of MWEB that people will fight to try to stay with them?

I agree. I have had great service. I also dont run downloads 24/7 so thats ok with me.

 

[h0ll0w]

Who was it that said MWeb needs to put forth a clear FUP ?

I'm afraid they will have to draw you a picture then.

It is clear as daylight, and in the interest of sustaining their network and providing everybody with a reasonable internet connection in terms of speed, their policies are perfectly justified.

 

[Aces]

Agree.

The issue MWEB is facing more and more is they sold themselves as the consumer champion but at the end of the day need to run a business just like any other ISP.

As they learn the lessons many other ISP's learned the hard way, and the financial realities kick in, we'll see them more often backtracking on the consumer-centric statements they made over the last few months.

I fully expect them to set a cap at some point on their uncapped product.

I agree fully, I think the same will happen to Cell C !!

 

[kaspaas]

Their product page clearly says "running a small office" . Then they say "“Section 13.4 of MWEB Connect's general terms and conditions states that unless you are subscribed to a business package, you may not use any services for anything other than your own personal use,”"

So which is it? More confusion - straight from MWEB.

Thanks for focusing on this!

To everyone: Save the product page at http://www.mweb.co.za/productspricing/Portals/19/Pdf/MWEB_Uncapped_ADSL.pdf for future reference!

 

[Tns]

unless you are intentionally bypassing shaping protocls then yeah they will nail you, but if not i for will use my line to it's fullest 24/7 uncapped is what it said. if they say uncapped has a limited then how can they sell it as uncapped?!

 

[xrapidx]

unless you are intentionally bypassing shaping protocls then yeah they will nail you, but if not i for will use my line to it's fullest 24/7 uncapped is what it said. if they say uncapped has a limited then how can they sell it as uncapped?!

But downloading 24/7 can also be considered abuse

 

[Tns]

It is clear as daylight, and in the interest of sustaining their network and providing everybody with a reasonable internet connection in terms of speed, their policies are perfectly justified.

so you not allowed to run your line at max 24/7 then with uncapped?

 

[hansotto]

Seems most people now complaining about mweb are people that's actually not using it. How rich. Fact is that mweb is wasting the competition.

I reckon some of them work for MWeb's competition! How can you moan about something you are not even using?

very happy MWeb user!

 

[kaspaas]

Ok, I've been harsh on M-Web in other postings.

But - I'm also one of the "small office" users to whom they are selling their uncapped "consumer" product (4Mbps)

Yes, a fair FUP is required, but then the FUP must be in line with marketing. M-Web sold me a product, and now nail me with a FUP for believing their lying sales talk!

We are doing around 40GB/month, and no complaints about M-Webs service. We regularly get 3.5Mbps and better downloads when testing with Speedtest.net.

We actually fled Axxess/IS 's uncapped service - where we seldom had better than 500kbps downloads.

I can recommend M-Web's consumer service! They just need to work on reducing the pile of paper that needs to be completed when applying for the service

 

[Jan]

Well, it seems as long as you play by the rules, it is quite all right to d/l 200gb a month!
I just want to know if http torrent downloaders(forgot the proper name) are allowed.

Seedboxes or torrent downloading services would probably get your account flagged if you max out the capacity on your line for extended periods.

 

[TwoCents1000]

That is incorrect, you misunderstood. What he meant was concurrent connections, more than 1 router connection per account

No, I'm 100% right. I asked him after his talk.

He specifically used an example of a dorm where a number of guys share one MWEB account by setting up a LAN behind the router.

MWEB automatically blocks multiple routers on one account. I know because I use it this way. I have 2 ADSL routers in 2 different locations where I work, but only 1 MWEB account. As soon as one router logs into MWEB, the other site gets a WEB page saying the login is in use and I cannot use it.

 

[Tns]

Seedboxes or torrent downloading services would probably get your account flagged if you max out the capacity on your line for extended periods.

been with mweb for three months 512 line and done 5gig per month, no complaints.

 

[Juice]

What would be fair is; if MWEB can provide clear and static rules on what type and volume of usage is acceptable and under which circumstances.

MWEB has had ample opportunity to review usage patterns and make decisions on what they deem to be fair.

It is time for transparency and a clear set of FUP's.

You're setting yourself up for a world of hurt. Rules like what you're asking for sound/feel/taste like laws to me and it's a bit of a double-edged sword. It leaves no room on MWEB's side for applying some common sense and subjective leniency and all you're really looking for is a loop-hole that you can drive your broadband-chugging barge through.

Juice

 

[gregmcc]

so you not allowed to run your line at max 24/7 then with uncapped?

Nope - I think this will be considered abuse as well. But since they don't state this clearly, run it for 23 and a half hours and then your not using it 24/7

 

[Juice]

As they learn the lessons many other ISP's learned the hard way, and the financial realities kick in, we'll see them more often backtracking on the consumer-centric statements they made over the last few months.

You reap what you sow, and I'm talking about you there, Mr Bandwidth Abuser. MWEB gives an inch and some people take a mile, and then proceeds to blame MWEB when they run out of road. Sorry, it doesn't work that way.

Juice

 

[bullzeye.za]

so you not allowed to run your line at max 24/7 then with uncapped?

.. Of course not. They cannot possibly provide every user with a 4mb link 24/7, unless you want to pay the price of wholesale bandwidth.