Problems with Data (GPRS / HSDPA) [from] 20:45, 19/07/2006

[vodacom3g]

Vodacom carries a lot of the Cell C traffic and Virgin runs across Cell C.

I think that was the point.

But in this case, it was not a contributing factor to the problem last night.

 

[Ian Nel]

Ian here

I am now connected in JHB on 3G, and GPRS is working too. I will check in Kempton Park tonight. I don't mind my thread being moved in here, but I do need Vodacom to be quick and honest about these service outages.

Thanks V3G for your reply, it is the closest we've come to an explanation, and it goes a long way to soothing us. However, the fact that I've had no 3G in Birch Acres for a week now, is almost certainly not related to the problem you've mentioned. But I'll test tonight.

Thanks, Ian

 

[vodacom3g]

v3g, does that include GPRS & EDGE as well as the normal CellC 2G calls that have for some years been using large parts of Vodacom's network?

On the radio links, it would. Not sure on the internet connectivity, I assume they'll break out from our network to their own internet links. Will check and revert if not the case.

 

[3g_rox]

Thanks V3g, working fine again on both internet and internetvpn.

Don't suppose the "New Products" have anything to do with a further price reduction to somewhere near VM's tariffs?

 

[lilDeath]

itsa mixed bag

Connected on GPRS @ 13:15. Will check HSDPA / 3G later tonight.

How long is it supposed to take to get a callback when pressing (#) on 155?
Not that it will help now anymore, V3G has helped us more than the actual helpdesk.
Thx V3G

I do however find it very concerning that the problems came about from rolling out new products / technologies onto the network.
Surely there must have been some testing beforehand or QA done? And if not possible, maybe rollout in a smaller framework, to ensure you dont impact all clients.
Even during the busiest time of the night?

Having worked, closer than most, with Vodacom, they are supposedly very procedurial (read RED TAPE), and will not allow actions like this....
Unless things have seriously changed for the worse in the last 1-2 years.

Bottomline, I expected more from such a professional company.
I will be on the lookout for more details regarding this issue.

 

[Rumpelstilzkin]

... so so lame

Glad to know I'm missed.

I'm currently in a meeting but at least can now test my new Vaio....

We're busy deploying new technology in the network, to provide some new products (hint) and it caused instabilty. They've now rolled back so everything should be stable again. Not sure why it took so long to roll back, will find out.

point 1
ever slick, ever fresh... with a hint of old spice - smells like cheap PR; what use to be tinkering with new toys when one's unable to keep the current base going?

would like to know how recklessly Vodacom deploys new technology ! glad you are not in banking, although from the rates it certainly appears so

Vodacom carries a lot of the Cell C traffic and Virgin runs across Cell C.

point 2
nice; can someone explain how Voda can come in at R2.00/Mb and V at 50c/Mb when both Voda & Cell C are both earning off evey V Mb download -

anywhere else in the world that kind of rinGsting would take down a company

point 3
anyone involved in networking knows that bandwidth is limited to protect the primary users; so what hope have our poor cousins from Cell C and V have for a reasonable service offering? when BigDaDa can't keep his own shi(p) going

anyone able to give input about availability of data services on Cell C and V networks?

 

[Skeptik]

That's a bit rough, don't you think?

Vodacom always strives to give quick and accurate info on the forum, without trying to BS anyone.

Trying to hide from a problem, ignoring it or pretending it does not exist is just plain silly and is not going to help anyone. So we don't do it, simple.

I was using MtN at the time so I was unaffected I have had NO network difficulties since I started using it. Maybe we should be hedging our bets by having multiple accounts? -- OK Voda doesn't work, so let me try MtN or VM.

You say Vodacom strives to give quick info on the forum. Look, many subscribers don't access this forum. If you're using data, how the heck do you get on the internet if the service is down?? In my experience when Vodacom had issues, their 155 operators did not have a clue what is was happening, despite a brief recorded message admitting as such while waiting for them to answer. When they do answer their phones they are usually unable to help. Supervisor is NEVER around either.

Other times there has been no message about the problem despite all your friends confirming that there is one, and the dopey operator is attempting to go through the "reboot your phone", "restart your PC" routine with you.

Just reading the comments and typical problems in this and other threads leads me to believe that Vodacom has not really acted on the complaints.

Definitely the issues I have raised have not been looked into since November 2005. I have no idea why or how they closed the tickets I raised. These days they don't always even give you a reference number anymore. I guess this would come under the "Vodacom ignores" category - or maybe the "Vodacom pretends the problem doesn't exist" one??

Some questions that crossed my mind:-

What happens if Vodacom doesn't provide a service - Do the regulators kick their arses? ANSWER=NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING!
Do Vodacom offer some sort of compensation to customers who experience a loss or degradation of data service? ANSWER= NOT A CHANCE!
Is there a big enquiry culminating in better service? ANSWER=NO!
Do the same sort of problems occur over and over? ANSWER=YES!
Do the operators apologise for bad service? ANSWER= NOT ALWAYS!

I don't know how to fix this apparent malaise. Maybe the more we raise it, the less chance there is of it being ignored.

 

[lin_ux]

Hey Ian Nel

Cellc can not be blamed for vodacoms ballsup.Cellc doesn`t roam on Vodacoms 3G or HSDPA network.

 

[Skeptik]

We're busy deploying new technology in the network, to provide some new products (hint)

FREE GPRS?

THE FASTER HSDPA?

Go on tell us, we won't repeat it.

 

[MainMeat]

Anyone else having some connection problems with 3G/HSDPA tonight in the PTA East area? I cannot stay connected for more than a few seconds at a time and then I either get 619 or it the connection simply drops.

So, hmm, after all the action this morning, it appears that 12 hours later and we are back to step 1...I guess Vodacom is still rolling new technology tonight to enhance their HSDPA/3G service ....I mean...that seems to be the new excuse anyway - soon we will all have value for our money (and I cannot wait!!!)

 

[CC3G]

Same

Here in durbs tonight also can't stay connected for very long and the net is very slow, on top of that also get error 619 every now and again when i try to reconnect. on both 2G & 3G, well lets all hope that VC are fixing there problems. All of them like Speed, The time you can stay connected & that dreaded error 619. If VC are sorting all that out, then i don't care if it takes a few days. THEY MUST JUST FIX IT. oh an i hope VC will bring there data prices down, lets say like to Virgin Mobiles price 50c a meg. Not gonna hold my breath on that one!!!

 

[Piesang]

Here in Cape Town, Brackenfell everything is running smooth tonight with my Vodacom sim in my MTN Data Card. Getting around 500kb/s max.

 

[vodacom3g]

FREE GPRS?

THE FASTER HSDPA?

Go on tell us, we won't repeat it.

You mean something like the "imminent launch of PPDB's"? Would never make that mistake again, but then I'm told in two weeks time....

 

[74466]

Two weeks, so lets say first weekend in august... I cant w8, but i do doubt that it will be anything near vm`s 50c/MB out of bundle rates

 

[RichardK]

Last time I called them I had to hold on for 1 hour before hanging up, pretty pathetic service they are giving.

Oh ya, that happens on a regular basis for me. I've ended up phoning them about 5 times this week alone already, and now I'm told that "You have exceeded your monthly call-centre access". To me, that is the epitome of bad customer service! How can a service provider even have the audacity to refuse a coverage enquiry! Vodacom's service has become nothing short of ridiculous of late, whereas MTN has become increasingly more efficient, and customer-service orientated. Vodacom has become a "quick-buck" service, where all that they focus on is bringing out the latest technology, getting customers to sign contracts binding them to what they make out to be nothing but the best service on the market, and then subjecting the customer to constant downtime because a bunch of Vodacom technicians are not qualified enough to resolve a problem in the shortest time-span possible. As for testing out new authentication methods and new services, and wotnot other rumours have been floating about - if this is true, then Vodacom should take a sit on their already money-loaded pockets, and discussed the implications of live testing of new services, which will inevitably lead to some of the greatest stuff-ups we've ever seen. Mark my words, Vodacom is to become synonymous with gluttony and bad service, just as Telkom has become.

Vodacom carries a lot of the Cell C traffic and Virgin runs across Cell C.

I think that was the point.

But in this case, it was not a contributing factor to the problem last night.

So would you care elaborating on exactly what the problem was? And if you tell me that Vodacom was testing new services, then again I ask you this: which company with engineers worth their 10c will do live, country-wide testing of a new service, potentially (and in this case actually) affecting thousands of customers? That isn't the business-model of a successful company if you ask me. Such testing should be done in a restricted environment and only be taken live once it is certain that the rubbish which has been happening lately won't happen.

You mean something like the "imminent launch of PPDB's"? Would never make that mistake again, but then I'm told in two weeks time....

Offering what, may I ask? Free internet? If so, I must say that for a Vodacom representative you don't know much about the services you're offering. If not, then my apologies - but what exactly are you alluding to?

 

[vodacom3g]

So would you care elaborating on exactly what the problem was? And if you tell me that Vodacom was testing new services, then again I ask you this: which company with engineers worth their 10c will do live, country-wide testing of a new service, potentially (and in this case actually) affecting thousands of customers? That isn't the business-model of a successful company if you ask me. Such testing should be done in a restricted environment and only be taken live once it is certain that the rubbish which has been happening lately won't happen.

Do you really think these roll-outs are just done nilly-willy? A few Engineers sitting around thinking "You know what, let's stuff up the service to 15 million customers! Should be fun!"

If you really believe this, you don't understand how engineering companies work. A statement like the one above is an insult to all engineers out there who work tirelessly to deliver systems, just to be called 10c engineers.

These systems are tested extensivly but sometimes capacity related problems come up that no amount of testing can show. How do you load a test system with millions of customers?

Offering what, may I ask? Free internet? If so, I must say that for a Vodacom representative you don't know much about the services you're offering. If not, then my apologies - but what exactly are you alluding to?

You're right, I don't know much about these services and should not allude to anything. Won't do it again, apologies. From now on we'll only discuss new services once they're announced in the press.

 

[RichardK]

Do you really think these roll-outs are just done nilly-willy? A few Engineers sitting around thinking "You know what, let's stuff up the service to 15 million customers! Should be fun!"

If you really believe this, you don't understand how engineering companies work. A statement like the one above is an insult to all engineers out there who work tirelessly to deliver systems, just to be called 10c engineers.

These systems are tested extensivly but sometimes capacity related problems come up that no amount of testing can show. How do you load a test system with millions of customers?

I'm currently studying computer engineering, and have quite a good idea of how the testing and discussions of the implementation of a new system are paramount to the success of said development, which is exactly why I was criticising Vodacom for their apparent lack of skills in the pre-implementation anaylsis department. But you raised a very valid point - thank you. It anwered my question perfectly.

You're right, I don't know much about these services and should not allude to anything. Won't do it again, apologies. From now on we'll only discuss new services once they're announced in the press.

Well, giving us information about upcoming services is no problem - it would be great in fact! I was just a bit curious as to what you meant by "would not make that mistake again"? Were you talking of the free internet that some customers had access to, or the downtime experienced this week?

 

[TowerGuru]

wow creator were you having a bad day? you were sounding like me there...and yeah i think V3G is talking about the data bundle pakages that he announced were "imminent" but never arrived... and Vodacoms service has been up to s*** lately i agree. dont pick on V3G like that...only im aloud to. see you later

 

[Skeptik]

Do you really think these roll-outs are just done nilly-willy? A few Engineers sitting around thinking "You know what, let's stuff up the service to 15 million customers! Should be fun!"

If you really believe this, you don't understand how engineering companies work. A statement like the one above is an insult to all engineers out there who work tirelessly to deliver systems, just to be called 10c engineers.

These systems are tested extensivly but sometimes capacity related problems come up that no amount of testing can show. How do you load a test system with millions of customers?...

Clearly Vodacom stuffed up again.

There was a time when it appeared Vodacom had a loss of data service of some description every other weekend - mainly Sundays. They also blamed that on upgrades.

I've been involved in many technical rollouts (mainly software) and we have always taken the utmost caution. Whenever there was even the slightest hint of customers being affected, the rollout was either reversed immediately, or other severe remedial action taken to limit exposure. Rollout steps were also planned in minute detail.

Didn't we have loss of service the other day with Cell-C getting the blame?

Before that there was another calamity with noone getting a signal?

I guess we will never know what really happened. Life just goes on in this dozey country.

 

[Rumpelstilzkin]

bandwidth hoover... for more lekker profits

Do you really think these roll-outs are just done nilly-willy? A few Engineers sitting around thinking "You know what, let's stuff up the service to 15 million customers! Should be fun!"

Yello! to our <deleted by="ic" reason="personal insult"/>! Please do not feel hurt when someone calls you out on your hint... wink! there are better days in the making... strategies - for who Voda bottom line? or user reliability?

like i say... don't believe any of it!

• i do not believe that you have 15 million data subscribers
• the dude is right: maybe not "willi-nilly" but any team that takes over a week to wake up and fall back once the wheels come off isn't exactly Jack-the-Knife in IT
• (sorry we can't say that about your accounts! they always cut sharply with world class rates!
• there must be a way to test on limited numbers
• Voda is known to have milked its CLOSED BUSINESS opportunity to the hilt: both in cell-service costs and in stamping out the opposition (remember that sour grapes response to "The Better Connection" (turns out it may be true in the data area!)
• have sold on capacity to both Cell C and now through them to V - good revenues, i'm sure (V @50c/Mb / Voda @R2.00/Mb) but where does that leave existing Voda user base?

care to tell us what the reason was for the outage? that <deleted by="ic" reason="personal insult"/> statement of open-book plicy does really not hold

...an insult to all engineers out there who work tirelessly to deliver systems, just to be called 10c engineers

hi, compadres, we empathise with you... we know you're working like the rest of us tirelesslyfor the frugal pay-packet that puts the bacon on the table, so thanks guys, i appreciate it - rather this is a strategy issue: what is Voda's strategy? is it max gain for min cost? try that in IT and the wheels will always come off, sooner or later... has Voda played a gamble with its spare capacity? in the light of a docile ZA user ? - too much tinkering with money-spin new technology while forgetting the loyal Pay-As-U-Can masses that keep big DaDa in the high life

<deleted by="ic" reason="personal insult"/> is Voda-Yoda doing Frankenstein experiments to improve the OVERALL reliability of the service, or are they innovating another hungry bandwith monster? another differentiator, another marketing hint scoop, with more milk/cream potential - the select few that afford it need to feed the bottom line of greed - you guys just don't get it, do you?

how 'bout changing the KPI's to stability, reliability, community affordability

... now get real !