Luke7777
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Open Letter to Ed
- Thread starter antonc
- Start date
He quoted Gatecrasher's GavinMannion
Executive Member
I like the idea of the 128 after the cap but I really don't think it addresses the real current issue.
In my humble opinion the real issue is that whilst every single ISP and broadband provider has reduced prices in the last 2 years iBurst has not.
Yes they need more money to expand coverage and I do understand that however that does not help existing customers at all.
In my humble opinion the real issue is that whilst every single ISP and broadband provider has reduced prices in the last 2 years iBurst has not.
Yes they need more money to expand coverage and I do understand that however that does not help existing customers at all.
Mze
Well-Known Member
Focus - This is "Open Letter to ED"
It might be an idea to start a new thread - BEE Can of Worms?
I wish to address the bottom of the range iBurst offering.
The i-Go Lite package is R195 pm for 210MB.
"Additional data" - 512MB is R139 & 1024MB is R229
Users are required to top up before reaching the 210MB cap.
The package description on iBurst's website does not state what evils will befall the user if the cap is reached without "additional data" data being purchased.
Ed, what happens?
iBurst's prices for "additional data" on the i-Go packages are extortionist.
The 1 GB prices on iBurst packages are:
i-Go = R229
..G1 = R179
..G3 = R159
..G6 = R149
..G9 = R139
Please explain the rationale behind the R90 difference between i-Go and G9 for the same quantity of "additional data" which is purchased by the user in the same way for either package on the website either by credit card or on account.
Is it, "We'll catch the cheapskates when they run out of bandwidth!", or is it simply following the dictum, "It is morally indefensible not to part a fool from his money." ?
It might be an idea to start a new thread - BEE Can of Worms?
I wish to address the bottom of the range iBurst offering.
The i-Go Lite package is R195 pm for 210MB.
"Additional data" - 512MB is R139 & 1024MB is R229
Users are required to top up before reaching the 210MB cap.
The package description on iBurst's website does not state what evils will befall the user if the cap is reached without "additional data" data being purchased.
Ed, what happens?
iBurst's prices for "additional data" on the i-Go packages are extortionist.
The 1 GB prices on iBurst packages are:
i-Go = R229
..G1 = R179
..G3 = R159
..G6 = R149
..G9 = R139
Please explain the rationale behind the R90 difference between i-Go and G9 for the same quantity of "additional data" which is purchased by the user in the same way for either package on the website either by credit card or on account.
Is it, "We'll catch the cheapskates when they run out of bandwidth!", or is it simply following the dictum, "It is morally indefensible not to part a fool from his money." ?
I am moving off IBurst at the end of this month. ADSL has become much cheaper now, took 3 weeks to install and it has a whole bunch of ISP options.
IBurst is not consistent enough, last night the speed was terrible (overloaded tower) and the packages are not competitive. If I want the 64K after cap then I will just go and get an allyoucaneat ADSL account.
I have been hearing promises of IBurst's new packages for some time now with nothing to show for it. All I hear from them is complaints about Wisps, which is something I (and most IBursters) don't really care about.
IBurst is not consistent enough, last night the speed was terrible (overloaded tower) and the packages are not competitive. If I want the 64K after cap then I will just go and get an allyoucaneat ADSL account.
I have been hearing promises of IBurst's new packages for some time now with nothing to show for it. All I hear from them is complaints about Wisps, which is something I (and most IBursters) don't really care about.
In IBurst's defense, it does state what happens on the IBurst website:
Your point is valid though about how much you pay per gig. What IBurst is trying to do is nudge you into a higher cap account, it then has a guaranteed higher revenue. I think the per gig pricing is predatory and exploits those who are most vulnerable.
Gatecrasher
Executive Member
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Notwithstanding issues of speed and reliability, my main problem with iBurst's products and pricing is the cost of additional bandwidth. Just to show how ludicrous it is, on the G9 package I paid R1099 for 9Gigs. That's R122/Gig for the first 9 Gigs...
But then I had to pay R139 for each additional Gig. Crazy Looneytunes!
To show how further rediculous it is, compare G6 to G9, R899pm vs R1099pm. You pay an extra R200 for an additional 3Gigs. That's R66 per extra Gig...
But if you want more than that its back to R139 per Gig. Totally idiotic. What moron came up with this?
With half a pea brain, Iburst could have come up some exciting packages. Bulk bandwidth discounts, an uncapped option, packages that differentiate between bandwidth during business hours and after hours, packages that differentiate between local and international traffic, pre-paid options for casual/irregular use, an additional sub for faster after-cap throttles. etc etc. Instead of exciting, there is plain rigid, boring, stale, and expensive. And add to that the total "rip-off" charges for additional bandwdith.
On ADSL, there are literally 1000's of different ISP options available that allow users to tailor thier bandwdith packages to their needs and budget. Iburst have seriously wasted a two year window of opportunity to keep their product flexible, and competitive.
The only zone in which iBurst remain modestly competitive is on the G3 package. Thanks to Telkom's rapacious "ADSL rental", a rental which shouldn't even exist. And thanks to the cellular operators exhorbitant and rigid R399 per additional Gig pricing model. And of course, thanks to Sentech's complete incompetence.
But watch this space, alarm bells should be ringing loudly in the iBurst offices.
Whoever at iBurst is responsible for product development... or should I say non-development... should have been fired long ago.
But then I had to pay R139 for each additional Gig. Crazy Looneytunes!
To show how further rediculous it is, compare G6 to G9, R899pm vs R1099pm. You pay an extra R200 for an additional 3Gigs. That's R66 per extra Gig...
But if you want more than that its back to R139 per Gig. Totally idiotic. What moron came up with this?
With half a pea brain, Iburst could have come up some exciting packages. Bulk bandwidth discounts, an uncapped option, packages that differentiate between bandwidth during business hours and after hours, packages that differentiate between local and international traffic, pre-paid options for casual/irregular use, an additional sub for faster after-cap throttles. etc etc. Instead of exciting, there is plain rigid, boring, stale, and expensive. And add to that the total "rip-off" charges for additional bandwdith.
On ADSL, there are literally 1000's of different ISP options available that allow users to tailor thier bandwdith packages to their needs and budget. Iburst have seriously wasted a two year window of opportunity to keep their product flexible, and competitive.
The only zone in which iBurst remain modestly competitive is on the G3 package. Thanks to Telkom's rapacious "ADSL rental", a rental which shouldn't even exist. And thanks to the cellular operators exhorbitant and rigid R399 per additional Gig pricing model. And of course, thanks to Sentech's complete incompetence.
But watch this space, alarm bells should be ringing loudly in the iBurst offices.
Whoever at iBurst is responsible for product development... or should I say non-development... should have been fired long ago.
Last edited:
Pilgrim
Wugger
Gatecrasher, what are the odds that they did fire their product development team/person a long time ago and forgot to hire a new one?
lol ed deleted my posts? no as luke777 said I quoted from gatecrasher's post and some odd reason it ddin't take those comments... sstrange i say strange
come on NEOTEL!
oh offtopic: I spoke to someone who works at the World Bank dealing with applications for new undersea cabelling... apprently there are Consortiums trying to build a second undersea cabelling to US, UK, etc. But unfortunately there is some issue about giving the continent better bandwidth... All they see is money money money instead of providing a service to the general population... what the world bank has set as a condition, is if they loan the money to build the new undersea cabelling the Consortium must provide more affordable rates, so far the negotiation has taken 4 years and still getting nowhere
Sorry if this sounds obscure but it's what I can recite from my conversation.
come on NEOTEL!
oh offtopic: I spoke to someone who works at the World Bank dealing with applications for new undersea cabelling... apprently there are Consortiums trying to build a second undersea cabelling to US, UK, etc. But unfortunately there is some issue about giving the continent better bandwidth... All they see is money money money instead of providing a service to the general population... what the world bank has set as a condition, is if they loan the money to build the new undersea cabelling the Consortium must provide more affordable rates, so far the negotiation has taken 4 years and still getting nowhere
Sorry if this sounds obscure but it's what I can recite from my conversation.
Last edited:
Mze
Well-Known Member
iBurst i-Go top up
In my posting, I did say that the user has to purchase "additional data" before the 210MB is reached.
My question was, "What happens if the 210MB is used before "additional data" is purchased. Is it the cap of death?
In my posting, I did say that the user has to purchase "additional data" before the 210MB is reached.
My question was, "What happens if the 210MB is used before "additional data" is purchased. Is it the cap of death?
Mze
Well-Known Member
iBurst i-Go top up
What happens if the 210MB is used before "additional data" is purchased. Is it the cap of death?
What happens if the 210MB is used before "additional data" is purchased. Is it the cap of death?
who.is.michael
Expert Member
It's complete death untill you purchase BW!
Gatecrasher
Executive Member
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Yes, throttled access only kicks in on the G1 product and upwards.
Another one bytes the dust ...
I too must put my 2c (about 9600000000000000000000 Zim $!!
). I am reasonabally new here, and have been on iBurst for almost 2 years (24 months is up end August '07).
Even before reading all 5 pages here (and I am dislyxic - so it took forever!!
) I was already thingking of cancelling out iBurst connection here at the office and installing ADSL. Mostly because of the cost, and cap!! 
Looks like I am not the only one!!
I too must put my 2c (about 9600000000000000000000 Zim $!!
). I am reasonabally new here, and have been on iBurst for almost 2 years (24 months is up end August '07).Even before reading all 5 pages here (and I am dislyxic - so it took forever!!
) I was already thingking of cancelling out iBurst connection here at the office and installing ADSL. Mostly because of the cost, and cap!! Looks like I am not the only one!!
Heeeey All
My ADSL installation finally confirmed for tomorrow by Telkom. I like the ADSL pricing options from the various ISPS. I can get PLENTY more bandwidth for the same price as my current IBurst 3GB (+ - 2 x 1GB top ups) per month.
So, from me too, after 2 years, bye bye IBurst.
Any resale market for older desktop IBurst modems?
????
My ADSL installation finally confirmed for tomorrow by Telkom. I like the ADSL pricing options from the various ISPS. I can get PLENTY more bandwidth for the same price as my current IBurst 3GB (+ - 2 x 1GB top ups) per month.
So, from me too, after 2 years, bye bye IBurst.
Any resale market for older desktop IBurst modems?
????
marine1
Honorary Master
And when you reach your cap ? Then what?
Gatecrasher
Executive Member
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Then you can buy additional bandwdith at R60/Gig as opposed to R160/Gig.
You can get 30Gigs Local traffic for free on IS bandwidth.
You can get Openbrowse from Openweb for about R60 more than their regular accounts. That gives 192k throttled browsing speeds after you are capped.
Or you could just get uncapped bandwdith to start with...
Point is: You have many options to suit your requirements, and additional bandwdith does not cost you an arm and a leg.
The convenience of IBurst over DSL is that I can take it with me when I have to move to / rent a new house/apartment - I dont need a new DSL installation. But I must admit, I am limited to where I can move, even within Durban. It was much cheaper than 3G or HSDPA. However, these advantages have now totally evaporated. HSDPA has better coverage in SA and is now somewhat cheaper thanks to MTN, though there is probably more volatility in the QoS of HSDPA thanks to more BS and improved capacity at BS of iBurst. Also throw in the threat of GTS and municipal networks, whenever they start delivering their long anticipated services, and HSUPA.
I can't see iBurst increasing caps, as I suspect it is simply the result of Telkom's practices - maybe this will change in April 2007 when Telkom's rights to the SAT3 landing stations actually expire (cross my fingers). I also suspect, though I may be wrong, that most of iBurst modems currently in the market cannot handle bandwith higher than 1mb/s. I remember that together with their comment about the 2mb/s service was a comment about subscribers needing new modems. I doubt how many persons would fork out another R1500-R2000 for a new modem that will potentially be worthless in the next year or two. It would also be interesting to hear what is the maximum potential bandwith of the technology used by iBurst. I suspect the focus of iBurst is more on WiMax than their existing technology, so will only offer improved packages (at the same price) with the roll out of their WiMax services.
The only changes I feel iBurst could make in response to MTN and Sentech, in order to keep their existing clients and attract potential clients, is drastically reducing the prices of their current offerings. For example, the G1 package from R469 to R299, the G3 package froma R599 to R429, etc and also reduce the prices of the out of package bundles as other people have alluded to. But suprise the market and make the reductions even bigger, i.e. your prices even lower. I will give them 1 more month to come up with better priced packages, otherwise I will move to over to another service provider. Not promises of new packages, but actual offerings of new packages.
Is Ed's replacement listening???????
I can't see iBurst increasing caps, as I suspect it is simply the result of Telkom's practices - maybe this will change in April 2007 when Telkom's rights to the SAT3 landing stations actually expire (cross my fingers). I also suspect, though I may be wrong, that most of iBurst modems currently in the market cannot handle bandwith higher than 1mb/s. I remember that together with their comment about the 2mb/s service was a comment about subscribers needing new modems. I doubt how many persons would fork out another R1500-R2000 for a new modem that will potentially be worthless in the next year or two. It would also be interesting to hear what is the maximum potential bandwith of the technology used by iBurst. I suspect the focus of iBurst is more on WiMax than their existing technology, so will only offer improved packages (at the same price) with the roll out of their WiMax services.
The only changes I feel iBurst could make in response to MTN and Sentech, in order to keep their existing clients and attract potential clients, is drastically reducing the prices of their current offerings. For example, the G1 package from R469 to R299, the G3 package froma R599 to R429, etc and also reduce the prices of the out of package bundles as other people have alluded to. But suprise the market and make the reductions even bigger, i.e. your prices even lower. I will give them 1 more month to come up with better priced packages, otherwise I will move to over to another service provider. Not promises of new packages, but actual offerings of new packages.
Is Ed's replacement listening???????