My experience with Rocketnet

[SamaraWasTaken]

I signed up with Rocketnet (on the Openserve network) in September 2021 because of their FUP that stated that they had no bandwidth limitations (we'll get back to this). I have had no issues until this month (October 2024).

On the 29th of September, I paid in advance, but then on the 4th of October I received a message that my account is overdue, so I made an extra payment to not face any service interruptions, and opened a ticket about the first payment not being allocated. It has been 15 days since the ticket was opened and the payment is still not reflecting on my account (they do respond quickly, but if the responses are essentially empty then does it even count?).

Earlier today I got a message that I'm uploading a supposedly large amount of data (13TB in 2 weeks, while I normally average 10TB uploaded per month), which is above their Fair Usage Policy. So I did some digging and:

Back when I signed up in 2021, the page stated:

RocketNet does not have any bandwidth limitations on download/upload on the following networks at this time:
Boleng
Century City Connect
Converged Group
Evotel
FibreSuburb
FrogFoot
LinkLayer
MetroFibre Networks
MTN
Netstream
Octotel
OpenServe
Vumatel


Clients can use the bandwidth without the concern of being throttled, shaped, contended or capped in anyway. RocketNet reserves the right to limit customer’s usage or speed based on our Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) which can be found here https://www.rocketnet.co.za/acceptable-use-policy/

But it was later changed to:

Clients can use the bandwidth without the concern of being throttled, shaped or capped in any way if usage is within the normal averages of the RocketNet general network utilisation thresholds.

RocketNet reserves the right to limit customer’s usage or speed based on our Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) which can be found here

However, I did not receive any email about this, and if I did I would've cancelled immediately. Really scummy behaviour.

Humorously, the next update to the page removed the Hello Peter link from the footer.

Anyone have ISP recommendations without a FUP that won't rugpull me or eat my payments? Currently thinking about either Afrihost or Cool Ideas.

 

[PBCool]

We have AUPs in place for legal reasons but have never had to actually enforce anything, nor have the ability to limit customers unless done so manually.

Upload would be weird to limit customers on, though, considering we are always down heavy.

Has RN confirmed they are limiting your service?

 

[AfriNatic]

Upload would be weird to limit customers on, though, considering we are always down heavy.

Very weird. Upload is usually like less than 10% of network traffic so there are tonnes of free capacity on up even on the pon fibre networks.

 

[SamaraWasTaken]

@PBCool

The response in the ticket that they opened says

The utilization of your link is above the normal averages of our customers, and this has brought the issue to our attention.

For example, your usage is in the top 5 users on our network for OpenServe, and as the network is shared amoungst all users, it is unfair that 1 user uses the majority of the available resources.

The traffic patterns show that you are constantly seeding files to the internet, and ask that you stop doing this.


Kind Regards

RocketNet Support.

They never said what, if anything, they'll do if I don't stop/slow down my uploads. But also like, top 5? I wonder if they also harass the other 4 people.

 

[PBCool]

@PBCool

The response in the ticket that they opened says


They never said what, if anything, they'll do if I don't stop/slow down my uploads. But also like, top 5? I wonder if they also harass the other 4 people.

I personally wouldn't worry about it, and if they want to clamp down and it affects your service, then move. As mentioned, upload isn't even near radar worthy.

 

[Krypton Web - AQP]

Hi @SamaraWasTaken
if you are in the western cape we can set you up with a Openserve Test account

and if you switch to Krypton Web from your current ISP, you will only pay R399 per month for your first 3 months with us irrespective of your line speed
Drop me a DM or chat to our Support Team here: https://wa.me/+27875513456

 

[SamaraWasTaken]

@Krypton Web - AQP Thanks for the offer! Unfortunately I'm in Johannesburg.