Service Threshold

KamikazeHamster

KamikazeHamster

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Service threshold: 3.00GB

Please bear in mind that this is a usage-based service and as such is subject to a threshold.

TelkomInternet have opted to offer you an average usage option that will keep you online until such time that the average usage for all subscribers reaches the service threshold.

This means that we are allowing unrestricted access beyond your threshold instead of simply curtailing the service. However, your service may be discontinued once the average usage for all subscribers has been reached. You will then be required to top-up your threshold to remain online.
Click to expand...

31st Dec 2005, I received my bandwidth tracker email and found this additional information in my email. I phoned "technical" support but they weren't sure about my question....

This threshold implies that we are entitled to a share of an average of 3 gigs. To make the maths a lot simpler, I will use the analogy of 10 users:

10 users with a 3 gig threshold means that there is 30 gigs available for all users. This means that those 10 users can each use 3 gigs (in a perfect world). In reality, 9 of those users will use 2 gigs and 1 will try use the remaining before being capped.

9 users x 2 gigs = 18 gigs
30 gigs (total average) - 18 gigs = 12 gigs for 1 lucky power user

So they all get capped and the power user decides to opt to increase the threshold. 6 gigs. 10 users x 6 gigs = 60 gigs. Suddenly the one user has another 30 gigs and uses it. What happens when one of those users decides he would like to download a large file and purchases a higher threshold?

Telkom are not providing the total threshold and the rate at which this threshold is being depleted. I think this choice is either very clever, or going to get them in trouble when they will be required to let their users know what other users are doing - thereby invading our privacy.
 
Mmm... If this is true, It's really scare! Will Telkom really go so low? Because aren't you paying for that 3 Gigs and now they are going to share it?
 
Let me play with numbers

http://www.mybroadband.co.za/nephp/?m=show&id=1466

"Telkom, South Africa’s only fixed-line provider, has announced that they expect the total ADSL subscribers to reach 120 000 before the start of the festive season."

...

“Recent analysis shows that 4% of ADSL customers are responsible for 50% of the traffic. The remaining 96% of customers use an average of 1.4 GB per month, yet are paying for double that.”
Click to expand...

Let me play with some maths with these figures:
120 000 users.
4% "Power Users" use 50% of the traffic.
96% use 1.4 gigs per month (remaining 50%)

120 000 x 0.96 = 115 200 users
120 000 x 0.04 = 4 800 Power users

115 200 users x 1.4 gig average usage = 161 280 gigs
161 280 gigs / 4 800 Power users = 33.6 gigs each

120 000 x 3 gig threshold = 360 000 gigs total usage
161 280 gigs x 2 = 322 560 gigs total usage

360 000 gigs available total usage - 322 560 gigs total usage = 37 440 gigs available

These figures are obviously approximates, so we can assume that maybe Telkom are being kind? On the other hand, the figures may be out and the power user may simply have to increase their threshold once ( to 6 gigs ) and would therefore have a playground of 360 000 gigs x 2 = 720 000 gigs, which equates to having 360 000 gigs available to 4 800 power users...
 
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From there... 360 000 / 4 800 users = 75 gigs
+ 33.6 gigs = 108.6 gigs.

In theory on a 512 k line, you can do 130 gigs.

Do 83% of the total traffic and you will score with only having to pay for 2 service thresholds... Plus the mandatory, unique to South Africa only, line costs.

SNO SNO SNO SNO SNO SNO SNO!!!!!!!!!
 
My problem is still that Telkom is playing God and deciding what average use is, what abuse is etc etc blah blah (we heard it all before)

What they should rather do is use those statistics to determine a bandwidth model which they can then use to create packages. The difference however should be that they carry the risk not us.

(this made perfect sense in my head....but I hope you get my drift)
 
Is the average user only using 1.4 GB for fear of not being able to get their email? If the limits were increased to 30 gigs, would the average user go up to 15 gigs? They would be able to download software and music etcetera and try out more things. Would there be more business opportunities if people were not afraid to say "Let's download this application - I know it's big but it might be useful" versus "I don't need that because I don't have the bandwidth".
 
KamikazeHamster said:
Is the average user only using 1.4 GB for fear of not being able to get their email? If the limits were increased to 30 gigs, would the average user go up to 15 gigs? They would be able to download software and music etcetera and try out more things. Would there be more business opportunities if people were not afraid to say "Let's download this application - I know it's big but it might be useful" versus "I don't need that because I don't have the bandwidth".
Click to expand...

That's the thing, ADSL is designed for high bandwidth users (hence the name broadband). It's also designed for multimedia; so for Telkom to say a user who uses it for this is "abusing" is absolutely ludicris!!!!!!!!! :mad:
 
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