New 3G / HSDPA Tariffs

V

vodacom3g

Vodacom Representative
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The following three letters would have gone out to the current VSP 3G and HSDPA users.

Depending on your current status, you'll receive one of them.

1) If you're currently on 3G
2) If you're currently on HSDPA
3) If you're currently using bolt-on's

THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO CLARIFY:

• What the impact of the reduction in the 3G / GPRS tariff will have on subscribers.
• How customers can migrate between the 3G / GPRS tariff and the HSDPA / EDGE tariff.
• How to assist customers to make a choice between the reduced 3G / GPRS and the HSDPA / EDGE tariff.
• The various data card stock items (including refurbished data cards).
• The data card swap-out process.
• Frequently asked questions you may expect from customers.
• The rate comparison between the 3G / GPRS tariff and the HSDPA / EDGE tariff.

SUMMARY

• Vodacom has decided to differentiate between its data products with regards to tariffs and speed (also sometimes referred to as throughput).
• Vodacom will continue to market both 3G / GPRS and HSDPA / EDGE data connect cards.
• The good news is that the rates of the existing 3G / GPRS data tariffs and bolt-on bundles will be reduced by 20% on 1 June 2006, while the rates for HSDPA / EDGE data tariffs and bolt-on bundles will remain at the current (old) 3G / GPRS rates. Out of bundle data rates will be the same for both tariffs (new HSDPA / EDGE rates).
• Customers will be able to choose / migrate between the premium service (HSDPA / EDGE) and 3G / GPRS, provided they obtain the appropriate data card with a swap
• The subscriber’s data speed will be limited based on his / her selected data tariff. For a detailed explanation of “Data Speed” / “Throughput” – please refer to the Addendum A – Frequently Asked Questions.
• The customer’s choice of tariff should primarily be based on his / her data card’s technical capability, and secondly on his / her preferred data speed.

COMMUNICATION

• A Trade Partner bulletin has been sent during the last week of May 2006 – containing similar information to THIS communication.
• Letters will be sent to all:
• Contract 3G / GPRS customers;
• Contract HSDPA / EDGE customers;
• Contract MyMeg0 customers spending more than R20.00 per month on data in their 3 June 2006 bills.

Examples of these letters are attached to this communication.


1. WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON 1 JUNE 2006 TO EXISTING DATA CUSTOMERS?
• The reduced 3G / GPRS data tariffs and bolt-on bundles will become effective on 1 June 2006.
• Existing data customers will automatically be migrated based on whether they are using an HSDPA / EDGE data card.
o Customers, who are NOT using an HSDPA / EDGE data card at the end of May 2006, will automatically receive the benefit of the reduced 3G / GPRS data tariffs and bolt-on bundles.
o Customers, who are using an HSDPA / EDGE data card at the end of May 2006, will automatically be migrated to the HSDPA / EDGE data tariffs and bolt-on bundles.
• Customers who were activated on the “3G Broadband HSDPA mobile connect card” dealsheet will automatically be migrated to the HSDPA / EDGE data tariffs and bolt-on bundles.

2. WHAT ABOUT NEW DATA CUSTOMERS?

• From 1 June 2006, all data tariff deals will differentiate between 3G / GPRS and HSDPA / EDGE deals.
• During the sales / upgrades interaction, customers will need to choose between 3G / GPRS and HSDPA / EDGE, considering their specific data speed requirements and the availability of HSDPA / EDGE in their usage vicinity. For a detailed explanation of how to choose between 3G / GPRS and HSDPA / EDGE – please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions addendum
• Based on the customer’s choice between 3G / GPRS or HSDPA / EDGE, you need to provide the new customer with the appropriate data card (3G / GPRS or HSDPA / EDGE).

3. HOW DO CUSTOMERS MIGRATE BETWEEN 3G / GPRS AND HSDPA / EDGE DATA TARIFFS / BOLT-ON BUNDLES?

• Customers will be allowed to migrate at no cost between the 3G / GPRS and HSDPA / EDGE data tariffs / bolt-on bundles until 30 September 2006
• Customers will be required to swap their data cards in order to migrate between 3G / GPRS and HSDPA / EDGE data tariffs / bolt-on bundles
• A data tariff migration also needs to be performed on the Vodacom SP billing system (available via DealerWeb V3 from 5 June 2006).
• Current business rules with regards to migrations between bundled tariffs / bolt-on services will remain unchanged, for example:
o Migrations from / to bundled tariffs / bolt-on services will pend to month-end;
o Customers will be limited to 1 migration per month; etc.
• Refurbished 3G / GPRS data cards will be available (from 5 June 2006) to subscribers who have previously swapped their 3G / GPRS data cards to HSDPA / EDGE data cards and want to swap back to 3G / GPRS in order to receive the benefit of the reduced data tariffs / bolt-on bundles.

4. ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE CURRENT DATA CARD SWAP-OUT PROCESS?

• The process followed to date remains basically unchanged:
o The customer returns the ‘old’ data card to the trade partner (accompanied by ID, original invoice, original packaging).
o The Trade Partner provides the customer with the appropriate new HSDPA / EDGE or refurbished 3G / GPRS data card.


5. WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACT ON DATA CARD STOCK?

• Vodacom will in future market both 3G / GPRS and HSDPA / EDGE data cards.
• Vodacom will refurbish previously swapped 3G / HSDPA data cards, and make them available to be ordered from Sales Order Processing.
• Trade Partners need to order refurbished 3G / HSDPA data cards – to be supplied to customers who want to migrate (swap) back to the 3G / HSDPA data tariffs / bolt-on bundles.
• Refurbished 3G / GPRS data cards will be identified by a special sticker.
 
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Vodacom misleading subscribers

Contract:
3G - 1GB = R 479 meaning R 0.48 p/mb
HSDPA - 1GB = R R 599 meaning R R0.60 p/mb

To download from International sites I will pay more per MB on HSDPA (not really 1.8MBit speed) than on 3G. It will take you longer to download the same information but at a much lower price.

Did Vodacom plan this when mislead the subscribers to take up there "FREE" 3G card swap to HSDPA, forcing everybody to the higher speed connection with a higher monthly premium and R/MB transfer ?

I see it this way!, and do not feel that the price change "Drop" are in fact a price drop to bring a cost effective broadband medium to the subscribers.

I for one make use of a Linksys router, There are NO setting to force my HSDPA connection down to 3G ?, So I'm FORCED to use HSDPA connection unless Vodacom throttle me to 3G connection speed ?, Now how are this a advantage to the client if the amount of data travelling on your backbone remain the same for HSDPA and 3G but I have to pay a premium to get the data faster, and if my tower are over subscribe I will still get my data maybe 3G speed at a cost of HSDPA R/MB ?

I for one think Vodacom should have reconsider this data structure a bit more.
 
wizard said:
Did Vodacom plan this when mislead the subscribers to take up there "FREE" 3G card swap to HSDPA, forcing everybody to the higher speed connection with a higher monthly premium and R/MB transfer ?
Click to expand...
Remember the free HSDPA swap-out and reduced tariffs were announced within two days of each other, the swap-out on a Friday (in a pretty low key format) and the new, reduced tariffs the Sunday in the national press.

Exactly so that no-one could claim being misled.
 
ic said:
http://www.mybroadband.co.za/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=23&d=1149090384Has there been a change in policy? - I was under the impression that Vodacom were going to shape the maximum speed of a customer's connection [on the reduced tariff]...?
Click to expand...

They're doing both, giving you a card that support the speed you buy AND throttling the max speed on the network.

Having two checks in place obviously helps, but I believe it's also a way to get more cards out in the field. We can now re-deploy the 30 000 or so 3G cards, doubling the number of cards to nearly 100 000.

Makes sense?
 
wizard said:
Did Vodacom plan this when mislead the subscribers to take up there "FREE" 3G card swap to HSDPA, forcing everybody to the higher speed connection with a higher monthly premium and R/MB transfer ?
Click to expand...

As per the hsdpa letter:

4. How can I change from the HSDPA / EDGE data tariffs / bolt-on bundles to the reduced 3G / GPRS data tariffs?
Simply take your HSDPA / EDGE data card to a Vodacom Approved Dealer (including original packaging, proof of ID and invoice) – and they will swap your HSDPA / EDGE data card for a 3G / GPRS data card at NO COST, and migrate you to the reduced 3G / GPRS data tariff!

If you don't like paying more, change back!
 
Yes that is true, "20% lower in-bundle tariff, pay as little as 39c per MB" BUT nowhere did they post the price breakdown between HSDPA, 3G, edge, gprs and R/MB pricing structure.

And nowhere did they post that your account will automatically be upgrade to HSDPA tariff IF you swap your 3G card.
 
vodacom3g said:
Remember the free HSDPA swap-out and reduced tariffs were announced within two days of each other, the swap-out on a Friday (in a pretty low key format) and the new, reduced tariffs the Sunday in the national press.

Exactly so that no-one could claim being misled.
Click to expand...


wizard said:
Yes that is true, "20% lower in-bundle tariff, pay as little as 39c per MB" BUT nowhere did they post the price breakdown between HSDPA, 3G, edge, gprs and R/MB pricing structure.

And nowhere did they post that your account will automatically be upgrade to HSDPA tariff IF you swap your 3G card.
Click to expand...

But as from date of letter they only inform the subscribers of the package breakdown
 
I think Wizard means initially when the new tariffs were announced.

We probably did not publish any tables but the statement was very clear that it was a blanket 20% reduction.

Take one standard tariff table, apply one standard calculator and Bob's your uncle....

PS. Brownie points to whomever can explain where that saying originated.....
 
Small blanket :(

Does not cover out of bundle rates.

PS, How's them prepaid bundles coming?
 
nicovdw said:
Small blanket :(

Does not cover out of bundle rates.

PS, How's them prepaid bundles coming?
Click to expand...

I'm going to say "imminent' just to get ic going....;)

The systems that will give us billable pre-paid (the original problem) is due in July.
 
Not that any of this affects me ... seeing as I'm on prepaid ...

But if I understood it right if a current HSDPA user wants to drop back to 3G he needs to get his card swopped back for a 3G card? :confused:
That seems like an awfully complicated way of doing it... :rolleyes:

Or did I misread something somewhere?


Also can't wait for those PPDB's :D
 
eagle-slayor said:
I have an HSDPA/3G/EDGE/GPRS datacard
do i have to choose HSDPA and EDGE or 3G and GPRS?
I have a 3G 500 contract
please explain
Click to expand...

If you decide to stick with your HSDPA card, you will be charged the higher (or current) rates.

If you want the reduced rates, you must swap back to the old 3G/GPRS card, which limits you to 3G (384kbps) speed on 3G, and you will not get edge speds (where there is coverage), you will be limited to GPRS speeds.
 
is it not possible to use the hsdpa card, but bolt on a 3G bundle and pay the lower rate?
then there is no need to swap back the card itself.
or do I have it wrong?
 
vodacom3g said:
• How customers can migrate between the 3G / GPRS tariff and the HSDPA / EDGE tariff.
• How to assist customers to make a choice between the reduced 3G / GPRS and the HSDPA / EDGE tariff.
• The rate comparison between the 3G / GPRS tariff and the HSDPA / EDGE tariff.
Click to expand...
Am I reading this right? Is there a tariff for 3G and GPRS and one for HSDPA and EDGE? That doesn't sound right. EDGE is not only slower than HSDPA but also slower than 3G. Is it now going to cost the same as HSDPA or did someone somewhere make a boo-boo? Please explain this. :confused:
vodacom3g said:
Remember the free HSDPA swap-out and reduced tariffs were announced within two days of each other, the swap-out on a Friday (in a pretty low key format) and the new, reduced tariffs the Sunday in the national press.

Exactly so that no-one could claim being misled.
Click to expand...
I still think it's misleading. People upgrade to HSDPA cards, vodacom announces new tariffs, puts new data card owners on the higher tariffs. Now you have to swop cards again to get the lower tariffs? :confused: And no one has explained what happens when you only get 3G coverage when you paid for HSDPA.

:confused: :confused:
 
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