Promised broadband speed vs reality

The latest Ookla Net Index reveals that South Africans are only getting 74% of the broadband speed that is promised to them.
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I only use mobile connections, and I know service providers are not allowed to "promise" speeds, so what is referred to here? The modem's capability? The speedo on my son's 18-year old Landy goes up to 220km/h, but I doubt it will reach that in free fall from 10km.
 
ADSL will be closer to the advertised rate than mobile, however you still have to factor in some overheard for TCP/IP.
TCP/IP overhead - Every piece of info is transmitted over the internet in the form of a packet. In this packet is the requested data that you are downloading, eg. a jpeg picture. But part of that packet is the destination information on where the packet needs to go. PPP over ATM packet header information gets added by the upstream bandwidth provider, this adds about 10% overhead to each packet. PPP over Ethernet also adds a few bits of information, which is about 3% of total packet size. Considering packet overhead, the theoretical data transfer limit (without overhead information) is 87% of the purchased speed. Example - a 512k service actually only operates at 445kbps, the rest is TCP overhead.
 
thesuspect said:
ADSL will be closer to the advertised rate than mobile, however you still have to factor in some overheard for TCP/IP.
TCP/IP overhead - Every piece of info is transmitted over the internet in the form of a packet. In this packet is the requested data that you are downloading, eg. a jpeg picture. But part of that packet is the destination information on where the packet needs to go. PPP over ATM packet header information gets added by the upstream bandwidth provider, this adds about 10% overhead to each packet. PPP over Ethernet also adds a few bits of information, which is about 3% of total packet size. Considering packet overhead, the theoretical data transfer limit (without overhead information) is 87% of the purchased speed. Example - a 512k service actually only operates at 445kbps, the rest is TCP overhead.
Click to expand...

Well, what about all the other countries on the list that provide close to or above 100% of the stated speed? Seems like they offer exactly what they advertise and don't pass the burden of TCP/IP overhead onto the consumer. ISPs in SA are always trying to save themselves a buck at our expense.
 
thesuspect said:
ADSL will be closer to the advertised rate than mobile, however you still have to factor in some overheard for TCP/IP.
TCP/IP overhead - Every piece of info is transmitted over the internet in the form of a packet. In this packet is the requested data that you are downloading, eg. a jpeg picture. But part of that packet is the destination information on where the packet needs to go. PPP over ATM packet header information gets added by the upstream bandwidth provider, this adds about 10% overhead to each packet. PPP over Ethernet also adds a few bits of information, which is about 3% of total packet size. Considering packet overhead, the theoretical data transfer limit (without overhead information) is 87% of the purchased speed. Example - a 512k service actually only operates at 445kbps, the rest is TCP overhead.
Click to expand...

Doesnt look like we will ever get to 100%... at least not anytime soon

SaiyanZ said:
Well, what about all the other countries on the list that provide close to or above 100% of the stated speed? Seems like they offer exactly what they advertise and don't pass the burden of TCP/IP overhead onto the consumer. ISPs in SA are always trying to save themselves a buck at our expense.
Click to expand...

That is so true... is this part of the culture in SA?
 
Perhaps Telkom's lack of capacity to upgrade Back haul links,
Exchanges and DSLAM's and their "legal" 20:1 contention ratio
has something to do with with ZA ranking so low?
We should pay 20:1 since we only get 20:1 speed from ADSL.

I see that 3G/cell has nearly the same speed as 10Mbps ADSL on speedtest.mybroadband.co.za 4.57Mpbs vs 4.76Mpbs.
 
SaiyanZ said:
Well, what about all the other countries on the list that provide close to or above 100% of the stated speed? Seems like they offer exactly what they advertise and don't pass the burden of TCP/IP overhead onto the consumer. ISPs in SA are always trying to save themselves a buck at our expense.
Click to expand...

Maybe thats because they sell services different, under promise over deliver, ie. I sell you a 10Mbps line, but it really can do 12Mbps, rather is a 12Mbps line. That way you go like, oh look I download faster than my line can, wow this ISP must rock.

Where in SA, when they sell you a 4Mbps line, it really is 4Mbps.

At one point, it helps to learn how to manage expectations.
 
When will Vodacom, Cell C and MTN realise that Telkom will only look after their own clients so upgrading backhaul for these providers is not high on their agenda. Secondly, this survey is totally flawed. No doubt it only surveyed the really good spots in the major cities so Muller's idea of 3.29 Mbits/sec is only a reality for the absolute minimum of people. What about the smaller towns like Hermanus, Port Shepstone, Margate, where you are lucky to get 512 k/bit per second? Are they not included in Muller's assessment. No, 3.29 Mbit/s per second is to generous an assertion for any of these three providers. Muller, please wake up and smell the roses. Until providers install their own fibre backhaul or move data wirelessly between data centres and towers you can forget about 3.29Mbit/sec being the average. I would welcome that.
 
Again Challenging the average of 3.29Mbps quoted by Rudolph Muller in this areticle:

I travel a lot and let me give you some of my results between April and December this year:

MTN:
Isando – 3.2Mbps
Croydon – 1.2Mbps
Greenstone Mall Edenvale – 1.2Mbps
Uvongo KZN – 700Kbps
Margate – 700Kbps
Port Shepstone - 300 Kbps
Durban CBD – 1.2 Mbps
Cape Town – Sea Point 1.2Kbps
Cape Town N1 City - 700 Kbps
Cape Town International Airport - 1.7 Mbps
Port Elizabeth airport - 1.5MKbps
Nelspruit – Airport – 700 Kbps
Vermont / Onrus River - 700 Kbps
Hermanus CBD - 700 Kbps
Somerset West – Somerset Mall - 700 Kbps
Phalaborwa airport – 450 Kbps
Phalaborwa CBD – 700 Kbps

Vodacom:
Croydon – 2.1 Mbps
Greenstone Mall Edenvale – 2.1MKbps
Uvongo KZN – 1.2Mbps (pocket loss too great – rendered useless in the end)
Margate - 700 Kbps
Port Shepstone - 300 Kbps
Durban CBD – 1.4 Mbps
Botha’s Hill - 300 Kbps
Cape Town – Sea Point - 1.7 Mbps
Cape Town N1 City – 1.2 Mbps
Cape Town International Airport - 3.1 Mbps
Port Elizabeth airport - 1.2 Mbps
Nelspruit – Airport - 700 Kbps
Vermont / Onrus River – 1.2 Mbps
Hermanus CBD – 1.2 Mbps
Somerset West – Somerset Mall – 1.2 Mbps
Phalaborwa airport – 950 Kbps
Phalaborwa CBD –1.2
 
brentmin said:
Again Challenging the average of 3.29Mbps quoted by Rudolph Muller in this areticle:

I travel a lot and let me give you some of my results between April and December this year:

MTN:
Isando – 3.2Mbps
Croydon – 1.2Mbps
Greenstone Mall Edenvale – 1.2Mbps
Uvongo KZN – 700Kbps
Margate – 700Kbps
Port Shepstone - 300 Kbps
Durban CBD – 1.2 Mbps
Cape Town – Sea Point 1.2Kbps
Cape Town N1 City - 700 Kbps
Cape Town International Airport - 1.7 Mbps
Port Elizabeth airport - 1.5MKbps
Nelspruit – Airport – 700 Kbps
Vermont / Onrus River - 700 Kbps
Hermanus CBD - 700 Kbps
Somerset West – Somerset Mall - 700 Kbps
Phalaborwa airport – 450 Kbps
Phalaborwa CBD – 700 Kbps

Vodacom:
Croydon – 2.1 Mbps
Greenstone Mall Edenvale – 2.1MKbps
Uvongo KZN – 1.2Mbps (pocket loss too great – rendered useless in the end)
Margate - 700 Kbps
Port Shepstone - 300 Kbps
Durban CBD – 1.4 Mbps
Botha’s Hill - 300 Kbps
Cape Town – Sea Point - 1.7 Mbps
Cape Town N1 City – 1.2 Mbps
Cape Town International Airport - 3.1 Mbps
Port Elizabeth airport - 1.2 Mbps
Nelspruit – Airport - 700 Kbps
Vermont / Onrus River – 1.2 Mbps
Hermanus CBD – 1.2 Mbps
Somerset West – Somerset Mall – 1.2 Mbps
Phalaborwa airport – 950 Kbps
Phalaborwa CBD –1.2
Click to expand...

It seems Vodacom gives you better broadband speeds vs MTN on the above mentioned data
 
brentmin said:
Again Challenging the average of 3.29Mbps quoted by Rudolph Muller in this areticle:
Click to expand...
Take it up with Ookla, it's their stats quoted here.

But I'd like to see your rationale where and how their testing methodology is flawed.

brentmin said:
I travel a lot and let me give you some of my results between April and December this year:

MTN:
Isando – 3.2Mbps
Croydon – 1.2Mbps
Greenstone Mall Edenvale – 1.2Mbps
Uvongo KZN – 700Kbps
Margate – 700Kbps
Port Shepstone - 300 Kbps
Durban CBD – 1.2 Mbps
Cape Town – Sea Point 1.2Kbps
Cape Town N1 City - 700 Kbps
Cape Town International Airport - 1.7 Mbps
Port Elizabeth airport - 1.5MKbps
Nelspruit – Airport – 700 Kbps
Vermont / Onrus River - 700 Kbps
Hermanus CBD - 700 Kbps
Somerset West – Somerset Mall - 700 Kbps
Phalaborwa airport – 450 Kbps
Phalaborwa CBD – 700 Kbps

Vodacom:
Croydon – 2.1 Mbps
Greenstone Mall Edenvale – 2.1MKbps
Uvongo KZN – 1.2Mbps (pocket loss too great – rendered useless in the end)
Margate - 700 Kbps
Port Shepstone - 300 Kbps
Durban CBD – 1.4 Mbps
Botha’s Hill - 300 Kbps
Cape Town – Sea Point - 1.7 Mbps
Cape Town N1 City – 1.2 Mbps
Cape Town International Airport - 3.1 Mbps
Port Elizabeth airport - 1.2 Mbps
Nelspruit – Airport - 700 Kbps
Vermont / Onrus River – 1.2 Mbps
Hermanus CBD – 1.2 Mbps
Somerset West – Somerset Mall – 1.2 Mbps
Phalaborwa airport – 950 Kbps
Phalaborwa CBD –1.2
Click to expand...

Good to see Vodacom constantly performs better.
 
Tinuva said:
Maybe thats because they sell services different, under promise over deliver, ie. I sell you a 10Mbps line, but it really can do 12Mbps, rather is a 12Mbps line. That way you go like, oh look I download faster than my line can, wow this ISP must rock.

Where in SA, when they sell you a 4Mbps line, it really is 4Mbps.

At one point, it helps to learn how to manage expectations.
Click to expand...

Can you give some examples of ISP's who sell a '12Mb/s' line as '10Mb/s', please? Never heard of this before.
 
"With an average download speed of 3.29Mbps South Africa is also well below the global average of 9.65Mbps."

I dont believe SA's average speed is 3.29Mbps, what about 1Mbps....
 
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