Telkom ADSL vs LTE decision Nightmare

[stroes]

Ok so here is my dilemma.

Beginning november i signed up for a new 10mb Uncapped ADSL contract (renewed). And when doing so i mentioned to the lady in the telkom store that i will be moving in december to a new place. She checked and advised that 10mb is available at the new place. So i went ahead and got the 10mb Uncapped.

Fast forward to december after eventually getting them out to move the line the tech informs me that the most i will get is 4mb. This is where my problem comes in, i work for a large corporate as a DevOps engineer and work from home 4 days a week, on top of that i have a box full of tablets (exaggerating here) which my kids use to youtube and do kids stuff with, both our cellphones are on the Wifi 24/7 and i have a Lit_ Media box which i use for streaming.

Here is my question, would the 4mb be enough? or do i need to go the LTE route. Like i said i work from home so i have a constant VPN connection to our offices and need a line that is stable and fast enough to handle the to/fro traffic.

Or do i go LTE, i understand there is massive congestion on LTE towers lately and that will just screw with our streaming and and and. Normally i am quite clever with these kinds of things but i have had 10mb ADSL for the last 4 years, dont know if i am just spoiled.

NOTE: for those who ask, there is no FIBRE in the area, LTE-A is missing in action, my only options are LTE with 100GB Cap (50+50 promo) and the downgraded ADSL. i need to stay in that R799 per month bracket as that is all my budget allows.

Advice is much appreciated!

 

[system32]

Got similar decision here.
I'm outside of FTTH coverage - 1 block away in the neighboring suburb

ADSL
I'm on the "upto" 8Mbps ADSL which syncs at 5Mpbs.
With increased usage, 5Mbps just does not cut it anymore.
2 kids at home playing PS4, watching youtube, streaming ShowMax, etc, killing the line.
Telkom has no interest in installing an MSAN for VDSL or FTTH in my area.

Telkom LTE
Been testing Telkom LTE (no -A available) for the past few days and getting 15Mbps-20Mbps with 15ms ping.
So far Telkom LTE seems way better that 5Mbps ADSL.
Only problem is the CAPs - One PS4 game can be 50GB!!!!
The 100GB for R789 is on the limit of my spend.
Contract and prepaid available.
I'm hoping Telkom starts the SmartBroadband Uncapped Wireless again.

RAIN
I'm outside of the coverage area.
Similar prices to Telkom LTE Double Up Data Promo

WISP
I've not tested as most require an upfront Installation Fee and Activation Fee.
Similar price to ADSL.
Uncapped options available.

Cell-C Fixed LTE
https://www.cellc.co.za/cellc/lte-home
Not tested - only Contract options
Cell C is R919 for R100GB, more expensive that Telkom's R789.

Vodacom Broadband Connect Wireless Lite
http://www.vodacombusiness.co.za/business/solutions/internet/broadband-connect-wireless-lite
Not tested - only Contract options
VodaCom is R1069.11 for 100GB, more expensive that Telkom's R789.

MTN
Can't find any cost effective options

Sentech Wireless
WOAN - do they still offer a service?

 

[stroes]

My other option is now that SmartBroadband Wireless Uncapped option for R799 issue ism i am just outside of the coverage area, so i asked a friend working in the industry if i should sign up for that one and just get a decent signal booster.

 

[cavedog]

My other option is now that SmartBroadband Wireless Uncapped option for R799 issue ism i am just outside of the coverage area, so i asked a friend working in the industry if i should sign up for that one and just get a decent signal booster.

Well if you mean you are just outside of the coverage area I believe the R799 p/m uncapped still comes with an antenna so you have that. Signal for Telkom is generally good unless you stay in rural or small towns but I see you say PTA so I would think you would have more than one Telkom tower to choose from.

The uncapped LTE is a great option even @ R799 because it allows for unlimited usage with a fixed fee of R799 p/m There is fair usage limits of 350gb and 50gb p2p but still stays uncapped just a bit slower if you reach those limits.

 

[ripclaw]

Well if you mean you are just outside of the coverage area I believe the R799 p/m uncapped still comes with an antenna so you have that. Signal for Telkom is generally good unless you stay in rural or small towns but I see you say PTA so I would think you would have more than one Telkom tower to choose from.

The uncapped LTE is a great option even @ R799 because it allows for unlimited usage with a fixed fee of R799 p/m There is fair usage limits of 350gb and 50gb p2p but still stays uncapped just a bit slower if you reach those limits.

Serious question: are you sure about that fair usage limit of 350GB? I think that I saw on the Telkom website that the fair usage is 100GB...

 

[dotcat]

300GB - I get a sms each month but have only actually been throttled once may month ago. I have done well over that recently but no throttling. Not sure if its not working or only kicks in for certain towers if they are congested.

 

[ripclaw]

300GB - I get a sms each month but have only actually been throttled once may month ago. I have done well over that recently but no throttling. Not sure if its not working or only kicks in for certain towers if they are congested.

Thanks! Much appreciated.

 

[system32]

Well if you mean you are just outside of the coverage area I believe the R799 p/m uncapped still comes with an antenna so you have that. Signal for Telkom is generally good unless you stay in rural or small towns but I see you say PTA so I would think you would have more than one Telkom tower to choose from.

The uncapped LTE is a great option even @ R799 because it allows for unlimited usage with a fixed fee of R799 p/m There is fair usage limits of 350gb and 50gb p2p but still stays uncapped just a bit slower if you reach those limits.

300GB - I get a sms each month but have only actually been throttled once may month ago. I have done well over that recently but no throttling. Not sure if its not working or only kicks in for certain towers if they are congested.

AFAIK, the R799 SmartBroadband Wireless Uncapped is not available.
If it is, can you post a link to where I can apply now.

The following link shows details on the package:
https://secure.telkom.co.za/today/shop/home/plan/smartbroadband-uncapped-wireless-pv/
But no "APPLY NOW" button.

 

[cavedog]

AFAIK, the R799 SmartBroadband Wireless Uncapped is not available.
If it is, can you post a link to where I can apply now.

The following link shows details on the package:
https://secure.telkom.co.za/today/shop/home/plan/smartbroadband-uncapped-wireless-pv/
But no "APPLY NOW" button.

I can't confirm if it's still available but I'm a uncapped option now and they are bugging me to upgrade to the R799 per month with free lit and another router which I don't want to do but might suggest it's still available.

The website still shows rockets but does not work properly but other channels like call centre sales and telkom store might be able to advise you if it's still available.

I initially joined when I was still staying in Richards Bay but now I've been in Centurion a while now and still working but see my invoice still showing the old signup address....

 

[stroes]

AFAIK, the R799 SmartBroadband Wireless Uncapped is not available.
If it is, can you post a link to where I can apply now.

The following link shows details on the package:
https://secure.telkom.co.za/today/shop/home/plan/smartbroadband-uncapped-wireless-pv/
But no "APPLY NOW" button.

So after doing a lot of investigation, apparently the Uncapped LTE option is for LTE towers that are under utilized, so they are only giving Uncappted LTE to customers who falls in the range of one of these towers. My issue is, i am 200meters to far from the Tower apparently, hence my question above. If i am able to convince them to put me on this package and i get a proper LTE signal booster would that help my cause.

 

[cavedog]

So after doing a lot of investigation, apparently the Uncapped LTE option is for LTE towers that are under utilized, so they are only giving Uncappted LTE to customers who falls in the range of one of these towers. My issue is, i am 200meters to far from the Tower apparently, hence my question above. If i am able to convince them to put me on this package and i get a proper LTE signal booster would that help my cause.

It does not matter because the LTE Uncapped is not tower locked so you are not forced to use that tower it would connect to the strongest signal and with the antenna which is a directional antenna you can also connect to other towers further away by adjusting your antenna accordingly.

 

[ripclaw]

It does not matter because the LTE Uncapped is not tower locked so you are not forced to use that tower it would connect to the strongest signal and with the antenna which is a directional antenna you can also connect to other towers further away by adjusting your antenna accordingly.

Unfortunately, this isn't what the Telkom rep told me when I went in to a Telkom shop earlier this morning. I submitted my address and the rep checked the system and saw that, whilst I am in the LTE coverage area, my tower doesn't have any LTE Unlimited capability available, i.e. all the slots are taken up. He said that the uncapped package uses a specific port on the tower.

Last week, I tried applying via the LTE uncapped page (the one with the rockets) and I got an automated e-mail saying that all the spots on my tower have been taken up, but that I've been put on standby and if a slot opens up, they'll let me know. On that same mail is a ticket number. Is there some way that I could expedite this process?

 

[cavedog]

Unfortunately, this isn't what the Telkom rep told me when I went in to a Telkom shop earlier this morning. I submitted my address and the rep checked the system and saw that, whilst I am in the LTE coverage area, my tower doesn't have any LTE Unlimited capability available, i.e. all the slots are taken up. He said that the uncapped package uses a specific port on the tower.

Last week, I tried applying via the LTE uncapped page (the one with the rockets) and I got an automated e-mail saying that all the spots on my tower have been taken up, but that I've been put on standby and if a slot opens up, they'll let me know. On that same mail is a ticket number. Is there some way that I could expedite this process?

I have never heard such rubbish in my life before. Yes all the spots might be taken on the specific tower you were giving but nothing stops you from actually using an address that still have spots available. When this launched I had to do this because the LTE tower close to me did not have a rocket so I had to use an address that does and just gave them my correct delivery address saying I won't be available at that address during delivery times.

Package delivered and using it all over. Signed up in Richards Bay KZN using it in a mifi all over Gauteng. Have you tried the sales contact number?

 

[ripclaw]

I have never heard such rubbish in my life before. Yes all the spots might be taken on the specific tower you were giving but nothing stops you from actually using an address that still have spots available. When this launched I had to do this because the LTE tower close to me did not have a rocket so I had to use an address that does and just gave them my correct delivery address saying I won't be available at that address during delivery times.

Package delivered and using it all over. Signed up in Richards Bay KZN using it in a mifi all over Gauteng. Have you tried the sales contact number?

Nope, haven't tried the sales contact number. Is it 10213?

 

[ripclaw]

I have never heard such rubbish in my life before. Yes all the spots might be taken on the specific tower you were giving but nothing stops you from actually using an address that still have spots available. When this launched I had to do this because the LTE tower close to me did not have a rocket so I had to use an address that does and just gave them my correct delivery address saying I won't be available at that address during delivery times.

Package delivered and using it all over. Signed up in Richards Bay KZN using it in a mifi all over Gauteng. Have you tried the sales contact number?

I called 10213 and went through to Sales. I enquired about the R799 SmartBroadband Uncapped option and the salesperson said that they had to first check if the tower serving my area had LTE Unlimited enabled. After a minute, she came back on the line and said that unfortunately, although my area is covered for LTE, it doesn't have LTE Unlimited. She then directed me to www.telkom.co.za/coverage to register my interest for LTE Unlimited, which doesn't exist as one of the options! There's only Fibre, VDSL, LTE-A, LTE, etc.

 

[cavedog]

I called 10213 and went through to Sales. I enquired about the R799 SmartBroadband Uncapped option and the salesperson said that they had to first check if the tower serving my area had LTE Unlimited enabled. After a minute, she came back on the line and said that unfortunately, although my area is covered for LTE, it doesn't have LTE Unlimited. She then directed me to www.telkom.co.za/coverage to register my interest for LTE Unlimited, which doesn't exist as one of the options! There's only Fibre, VDSL, LTE-A, LTE, etc.

Okay well if you really want the uncapped LTE you need to look at the map and see where the rockets are. Choose an address that fall inside of those rockets and the signup with that address. Once you have the package you can always update your details accordingly via the call centre again.

The fact that you have LTE-A is also nice because you can invest in a LTE-A router and get way more speed too than the normal B315 and would be uncapped too.

 

[Sumen]

Check the openserve map for VDSL

 

[BigAl-sa]

I have never heard such rubbish in my life before. Yes all the spots might be taken on the specific tower you were giving but nothing stops you from actually using an address that still have spots available. When this launched I had to do this because the LTE tower close to me did not have a rocket so I had to use an address that does and just gave them my correct delivery address saying I won't be available at that address during delivery times.

Package delivered and using it all over. Signed up in Richards Bay KZN using it in a mifi all over Gauteng. Have you tried the sales contact number?

I had exactly the same issue. I wanted uncapped lte (coming from lte 10+10+10), and was told it was not available in my area. Yet I know member Tcofran has uncapped off the same tower that I connect to. Lte, for the price is very much faster than the equivalent fibre option (on my lte connection I get an average of 25Mb/s - peak around 75, trough around 8).

I went over to uncapped fibre, but for the price, it's very much slower than lte. FWIW, streaming Netflix and Showmax do not blink on either connection. It's other downloads that are the issue.

 

[ripclaw]

I (finally!) have a happy ending to my story (epic?).

I stayed in JHB for almost 2 years, between 2011 and 2013. I checked on the SmartBroadband LTE Uncapped portal for coverage *and* availability, and there were 7 spots available! I called the Telkom call centre (10213) and they confirmed that I can apply for the package at a Telkom store (for some reason, they refused to process an application for me telephonically).

Armed with this knowledge, I went to another Telkom shop, this time with reputedly better staff. After waiting for approximately 30 minutes, my ticket was called and I spoke to a consultant. She'd never heard of the R799 package and thought that I was referring to their new LIT uncapped ADSL packages. This leads me to believe that somewhere up the chain, somebody at Telkom actively decided that their sales channels must push LIT and uncapped ADSL extremely aggressively. Needless to say, I left the Telkom shop even more frustrated, despite me showing them the website with the uncapped LTE offer.

I jumped into my car and was about to exit the shopping mall, when I saw the traffic. It was peak hour traffic coupled to the festive season rush. ***** this, I thought. I'm not getting into that maelstrom of traffic; I'd rather brave Telkom's incompetant staff. There and then, I resolved to not leave the Telkom shop until I had received my uncapped LTE package.

I went back into the Telkom shop and deliberately chose to speak to the same consultant. She was friendly enough with me the first time around (and the second time as well). I asked her to please check on her system. She did and she also spoke to an elder colleague who told her that this package was being phased out. I told her colleague that this was not the case, and that Telkom were still actively advertising this package on their website. I showed him the webpage and he loaded it up on my consultant's system and applied on my behalf via the uncapped LTE portal. There were still 7 spots available! He then clicked the button and received a ticket number (and I received the corresponding e-mail confirmation). He then noted down my ticket number, went to another consultant's system, did some stuff there and came back with another reference number. Things were looking up!

My consultant then completed the remaining admin, but for whatever reason, couldn't save it on the system. I then manually filled in the form, she made photocopies of my documentation as well as the application form and gave me a copy. I didn't have to supply any bank statements, nor did I have to supply my payslip as I was already an existing Telkom customer, with an active package (I have the 10GB+10GB + 20GB NightSurfer package, and have been a customer from back in the 8ta days).

This second stint in the Telkom store cost me about 45 minutes, but I left with a new SIM card (already activated in-store) and a new Huawei B315 modem.

I tested out the SIM card in the B315 at home, and the whole time I had my fingers crossed! I got 35Mb/s down and 8Mb/s up. Christmas came early.

 

[cavedog]

I (finally!) have a happy ending to my story (epic?).

I stayed in JHB for almost 2 years, between 2011 and 2013. I checked on the SmartBroadband LTE Uncapped portal for coverage *and* availability, and there were 7 spots available! I called the Telkom call centre (10213) and they confirmed that I can apply for the package at a Telkom store (for some reason, they refused to process an application for me telephonically).

Armed with this knowledge, I went to another Telkom shop, this time with reputedly better staff. After waiting for approximately 30 minutes, my ticket was called and I spoke to a consultant. She'd never heard of the R799 package and thought that I was referring to their new LIT uncapped ADSL packages. This leads me to believe that somewhere up the chain, somebody at Telkom actively decided that their sales channels must push LIT and uncapped ADSL extremely aggressively. Needless to say, I left the Telkom shop even more frustrated, despite me showing them the website with the uncapped LTE offer.

I jumped into my car and was about to exit the shopping mall, when I saw the traffic. It was peak hour traffic coupled to the festive season rush. ***** this, I thought. I'm not getting into that maelstrom of traffic; I'd rather brave Telkom's incompetant staff. There and then, I resolved to not leave the Telkom shop until I had received my uncapped LTE package.

I went back into the Telkom shop and deliberately chose to speak to the same consultant. She was friendly enough with me the first time around (and the second time as well). I asked her to please check on her system. She did and she also spoke to an elder colleague who told her that this package was being phased out. I told her colleague that this was not the case, and that Telkom were still actively advertising this package on their website. I showed him the webpage and he loaded it up on my consultant's system and applied on my behalf via the uncapped LTE portal. There were still 7 spots available! He then clicked the button and received a ticket number (and I received the corresponding e-mail confirmation). He then noted down my ticket number, went to another consultant's system, did some stuff there and came back with another reference number. Things were looking up!

My consultant then completed the remaining admin, but for whatever reason, couldn't save it on the system. I then manually filled in the form, she made photocopies of my documentation as well as the application form and gave me a copy. I didn't have to supply any bank statements, nor did I have to supply my payslip as I was already an existing Telkom customer, with an active package (I have the 10GB+10GB + 20GB NightSurfer package, and have been a customer from back in the 8ta days).

This second stint in the Telkom store cost me about 45 minutes, but I left with a new SIM card (already activated in-store) and a new Huawei B315 modem.

I tested out the SIM card in the B315 at home, and the whole time I had my fingers crossed! I got 35Mb/s down and 8Mb/s up. Christmas came early.

So you are on the uncapped now? Good now your fight starts for the included poynting antenna which you are supposed to receive with the Uncapped sim and B315 router. :erm:

http://www.telkom.co.za/today/media/downloads/FAQs_SmartBroadband_Uncapped_Wireless__11112015v1.pdf

Also the uncapped simcard does work on Telkom LTE-A network so might be worth it to invest in a LTE-A router.

LTE uncapped is still available in selected areas and one can still join if you use the address at those selected areas. Does not look like they are adding new areas or adding more spots to those already sold and instead phasing it out slowly until all the spots are gone pushing capped LTE and LIT packages instead.