Telkom Internet Uncapped User Feedback.

[killkom]

Please post a traceroute, to confirm which site you are going through. Cape Town is still running higher utilisation than we had planned for, and some physical work is required to increase capacity there.

(speed won't be affected by how long the download has been running, but by the utilisation on the network, and there are some variances by region. For example, in the Cape Town site, while utilisation is high during the day - as one would expect - it increases further from around 15h30 to peak at around 22h30, and only drops below the 09h00 utilisation after midnight)

I am based in Johannesburg have you got something you want me to tracert

 

[ranger]

I am based in Johannesburg have you got something you want me to tracert

No, all of Gauteng goes through our site in Centurion. We haven't specifically tested Netflix and Hulu (seeing as they aren't *really* supposed to be available), but Gauteng didn't have any problems with 1080p youtube and vimeo etc.

I will try and do some testing next week (once I am back).

(Of course, mainstream use of Netflix and Hulu have killed uncapped ADSL in the US and the UK ...).

 

[darkjak101]

@ranger Even though my current ISP isn't TI, I am planning to move over in May. My main concern is that I think I am experiencing bad exchange congestion, and am worried it will affect my overall TI experience. What can be done about this? And who do I contact? Please see traceroutes below:
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.2.9200]
(c) 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\XXXX>tracert telkom.co.za

Tracing route to telkom.co.za [196.43.22.222]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.1.254
2 259 ms 256 ms 251 ms 196-210-148-129.dynamic.isadsl.co.za [196.210.14
8.129]
3 260 ms 314 ms 342 ms cdsl1-ctn-vl2173.ip.isnet.net [196.38.72.113]
4 327 ms 392 ms * 196.35.115.128
5 335 ms 195 ms 157 ms core2a-ctn-gi0-1.ip.isnet.net [168.209.2.6]
6 182 ms 157 ms 143 ms 168.209.6.130
7 407 ms 187 ms 100 ms 196.25.247.25
8 405 ms 363 ms 318 ms 196.43.25.205
9 138 ms 197 ms 209 ms 196.43.39.162
10 285 ms 236 ms 274 ms rrba-ip-bssr-1-ge-2-48.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.4
3.23.6]
11 400 ms 330 ms 260 ms nbsc-ip-bssr-2-atm-5-0-0-1.telkom-ipnet.co.za [1
96.43.23.34]
12 288 ms 313 ms 279 ms nbsc-ip-rcache-1-vif0.telkom-ipnet.co.za [196.43
.22.222]

Trace complete.

C:\Users\XXXX>tracert openweb.co.za

Tracing route to openweb.co.za [41.72.150.7]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms 3 ms 1 ms 192.168.1.254
2 217 ms 226 ms 314 ms 196-210-148-129.dynamic.isadsl.co.za [196.210.14
8.129]
3 400 ms 408 ms 423 ms cdsl2-ctn-vl2276.ip.isnet.net [196.38.72.125]
4 202 ms 295 ms 324 ms 196.35.115.136
5 364 ms 402 ms 343 ms core2a-ctn-gi0-1.ip.isnet.net [168.209.2.6]
6 366 ms 227 ms 137 ms 168.209.2.130
7 408 ms 327 ms 381 ms 41-208-29-210.mtnns.net [41.208.29.210]
8 393 ms 394 ms 292 ms 196.44.0.75
9 317 ms 328 ms 378 ms rb-cr-1.za--ct-cr-1.za.mtnns.net [196.44.31.128]

10 308 ms 273 ms 174 ms jh-dca-2.za--jh-cr-1.za-a.mtnns.net [196.44.0.22
1]
11 379 ms 353 ms 364 ms ge4-0-0.gw17.jnb6.za.mtnbusiness.net [196.30.1.3
7]
12 319 ms 361 ms 402 ms vlan9.hr3.jnb6.za.mtnbusiness.net [196.30.156.13
6]
13 134 ms 102 ms 156 ms core-router1.jnb2.host-h.net [196.30.213.108]
14 260 ms 230 ms 209 ms core-access-switch1-vlan1001.jnb.host-h.net [41.
72.136.53]
15 290 ms 275 ms 366 ms mail.openweb.co.za [41.72.150.7]

Trace complete.

C:\Users\XXXX>tracert mybroadband.co.za

Tracing route to mybroadband.co.za [41.203.21.137]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.1.254
2 332 ms 334 ms 349 ms 196-210-148-129.dynamic.isadsl.co.za [196.210.14
8.129]
3 431 ms 405 ms 363 ms cdsl2-ctn-vl2276.ip.isnet.net [196.38.72.125]
4 401 ms 489 ms 460 ms 196.35.115.136
5 377 ms 392 ms 387 ms core2a-ctn-gi0-2.ip.isnet.net [168.209.6.6]
6 360 ms 411 ms 399 ms 168.209.2.130
7 202 ms 215 ms 301 ms 41-208-29-210.mtnns.net [41.208.29.210]
8 * 319 ms 287 ms 196.44.0.75
9 411 ms 371 ms 387 ms rb-cr-1.za--ct-cr-1.za.mtnns.net [196.44.31.128]

10 254 ms 186 ms 163 ms jh-dca-2.za--jh-cr-1.za-a.mtnns.net [196.44.0.22
1]
11 212 ms 293 ms 292 ms ge4-0-0.gw17.jnb6.za.mtnbusiness.net [196.30.1.3
7]
12 433 ms 421 ms 416 ms vlan9.hr3.jnb6.za.mtnbusiness.net [196.30.156.13
6]
13 357 ms 182 ms 140 ms core-router1.jnb2.host-h.net [196.30.213.108]
14 * 178 ms 228 ms core-access-switch1-vlan1001.jnb.host-h.net [41.
72.136.53]
15 355 ms 347 ms 267 ms mybroadband.co.za [41.203.21.137]

Trace complete.

Thanks in advance

 

[Rickster]

Telkom is an awesome ISP!




Said no one ever......

 

[killkom]

No, all of Gauteng goes through our site in Centurion. We haven't specifically tested Netflix and Hulu (seeing as they aren't *really* supposed to be available), but Gauteng didn't have any problems with 1080p youtube and vimeo etc.

I will try and do some testing next week (once I am back).

(Of course, mainstream use of Netflix and Hulu have killed uncapped ADSL in the US and the UK ...).

Thanks for the reply any testing would be greatly appreciated

We can go back and forth on the morality of having netflix and hulu in this country. I also strongly disagree that these services are damaging broadband in the uk and us if anything they are driving higher speeds and lowering price in the services things that kill broadband is the thousands of gigs of illegal downloads that occur every day.

One thing about these services is that they are paid services and not something we pirate and it will eventually come here its inevatable I mean look at iTunes finally someone pulled finger and did something useful and I will support them so there content can grow.

I personally hate downloading illegal content and watching it this allows me to have a way of getting content without being ripped off like we are by minopolies in this country and still pay for it so the networks that make these shows can produce more.

I have read so many reports from the uk and the states that people are moving away from cable/satellite tv networks and opting for these services where they can have good value for money. DSTV is living in denial if they think that they can keeping bringing up prices for there service every year and people will keep swollowing it.

We need locally hosted services like netflix and hulu so we don't have to keep killing our international links with this data.

That's my 5 cents worth

 

[Hectic]

Telkom is an awesome ISP!




Said no one ever......

Hmmm.... Nope I would not say Telkom is an awesome ISP, but I do think they have a good uncapped and capped product.

However...
you name me an awesome ISP and I will either call you a liar, a fool, ignorant or all of them.
If not today, then tomorrow, if not tomorrow, then next week, if not next week, then next month, if not next month, next year, if not next year...

You are bound to be disappointed by an ISP at some stage, either because their service level will drop at some stage, your speed or connection would be pathetic and you will blame them, rightly or wrongly. They might throttle or shape your downloads or they might have cables or other hardware that would go down and you would go ape-**** because you can't access your email or dl that driver or stream a YouTube video at anything better than 240p. You will lash out and blame Telkom (rightly or wrongly) and other times you might find that you have to blame your ISP.

Then you will widely pronounce for all to see and hear how wise you are and what a useless ISP you have and that you are going to dump them and then make a new thread and ask which ISP should have the honor of accepting your money at the end of the month.

The fact is ISP's are there to make money. They do what they have to do to make money, while mostly trying to keep their customers happy, if they are a half decent ISP. Those ISP's have humans working for them. Some bright, some not so great. However, what they will do will reflect on that company. Also the ISP's, including TI, are depended on Telkom for infrastructure and there is very little they can do if something goes bust and there are so many things that can go wrong.

One thing is certain. There will always be complaining. There will always be something that goes wrong. ISP's will never be able to keep everybody happy. So many people here thinks that they are just oozing with knowledge and that they have the answer to everything.

It is normal for us humans to react that way and without complaining, a lot of things will stay unchanged, but really sometimes I just shake my head at the bull that are posted
That is the beauty of a forum though. You are allowed, in fact encouraged to post your opinion.


Also , lucky for stupid people like me, we have a lot of great guys here that actually do know a lot and always willing to help, without trying to prove how wise they are. Names that pop up are Ranger, the 2 Micks, MWEB guy, Afriman and a lot of other names that I can't recall now.

So in short...
Thx TI

At the moment I like your product.
I don't think you are awesome, in fact I think you service delivery can a bit ****ty at times, other times you just surprise the hell out of me and put a smile on my dial.



If not today, then tomorrow, if not tomorrow, then next week, if not next week, then next month, if not next month, next year, if not next year...

 

[Hectic]

@ranger Even though my current ISP isn't TI, I am planning to move over in May. My main concern is that I think I am experiencing bad exchange congestion, and am worried it will affect my overall TI experience. What can be done about this? And who do I contact? Please see traceroutes below:
Thanks in advance

Geez those routes look terrible.
Ranger is much better qualified to answer your questions, but I had a congested exchange as well up to very recently.

I logged faults from about June till about November last year.
Techies were sent out, without resolving anything. They did deliver good service.
Telkom however did close all those faults without actually restoring my service.

During November I started opening HelloPeter complaint, because they were closing my fault reports, without solving the problem.

That led to my initial fault report being reopened and my speed problems were put down to a general are fault and congestion.

Several Network specialists started contacting me, but could not resolve the problem.
I also posted my problem here omn MyBB and received some friendly advice.

Late February I decided I had enough and laid an ICASA complaint after I read a post of someone here on MYBB that went that route.
From there I was contacted by Telkom on a regular base, several times claiming or asking if the fault was restored.
At last on the 5th of March, my speed was back.

About 10 days ago Telkom phoned me at about 18:00, indicating that their technicians were on their way to my town and exchange and that my service would be possibly disrupted from 21:00 as they were going to upgrade my exchange, which were apparently 120% congested.(How is that for awesome service?)

I must add that I had a ****load of traceroutes, pings, speedtests and fault numbers that I attached to my ICASA complaint.

So my advise would be, keep record of fault numbers, stats and go HelloPeter route a couple of times and then ICASA.

It worked for me. I just took to long to really put pressure on them.
I can't guarantee that it will work and maybe Ranger will have better advice, but don't give up.

 

[LomWoss]

As in the PM I sent, you are on TIBasicUncapped as far back as I can see, so unless there is an inconsistency in your account between the last two systems (one that I don't have access to, one that I have very limited and inconvenient access to), you are on (and being billed for) 1Mbps. I logged a ticket for this to be resolved (probably by Tuesday, but maybe up to Wednesday), since I can't do anything about this myself.

Thanks for the help ranger, Sent you a PM with the details that you needed. So sad that I asked several times to make sure I was on the Advanced (2Meg) and was told repeatedly by them that I was only for you to tell me I'm not.

I would agree it would be nice to be able to see on the tracker what service you have (that's if the Tracker works as I am getting the same error as MickZA when ever I try and use it).

 

[MickZA]

If any one's having a problem with the speedtest.net site on firefox since Good Friday try disabling Adblock (for that site only obviously ) as a blocked ad for gconnect seems to be causing hassles.

 

[darkjak101]

Geez those routes look terrible.
Ranger is much better qualified to answer you questions, but I had a congested exchange as well up to very recently.

I logged faults from about June till about November last year.
Techies were sent out, without resolving anything. They did deliver good service.
Telkom however did close all those faults without actually restoring my service.

During November I started opening HelloPeter complaint, because they were closing my fault reports, without solving the problem.

That led to my initial fault report being reopened and my speed problems were put down to a general are fault and congestion.

Several Network specialists started contacting me, but could not resolve the problem.
I also posted my problem here omn MyBB and received some friendly advice.

Late February I decided I had enough and laid an ICASA complaint after I read a post of someone here on MYBB that went that route.
From there I was contacted by Telkom on a regular base, several times claiming or asking if the fault was restored.
At last on the 5th of March, my speed was back.

About 10 days ago Telkom phoned me at about 18:00, indicating that their technicians were on their way to my town and exchange and that my service would be possibly disrupted from 21:00 as they were going to upgrade my exchange, which were apparently 120% congested.(How is that for awesome service?)

I must add that I had a ****load of traceroutes, pings, speedtests and fault numbers that I attached to my ICASA complaint.

So my advise would be, keep record of fault numbers, stats and go HelloPeter route a couple of times and then ICASA.

It worked for me. I just took to long to really put pressure on them.
I can't guarantee that it will work and maybe Ranger will have better advice, but don't give up.

Wow, sounds like a real mission to get anything done. Thanks for your help, I'll probably end up sitting for hours with the telkom call centre, trying to get this sorted out. Either that, or just go for a wireless option.

 

[MightyMuffinMan]

OOO

dunno if this should be mentioned here but...

Last month when I first got limited I went to nearest telkom shop. I have an old Billion 400G which sometimes gives problems. Told them at the shop I think it might be the router but wasn't sure and bob's ur uncle they gave me a free router. Absolutely fantastic.

I'm on a month-to-month uncapped account. I wasn't billed extra for the router.

Been a customer for over 5 years so I guess that counts for something with Telkom.

 

[wingnut771]

Hmmm.... Nope I would not say Telkom is an awesome ISP, but I do think they have a good uncapped and capped product.

However...
you name me an awesome ISP and I will either call you a liar, a fool, ignorant or all of them.
If not today, then tomorrow, if not tomorrow, then next week, if not next week, then next month, if not next month, next year, if not next year...

You are bound to be disappointed by an ISP at some stage, either because their service level will drop at some stage, your speed or connection would be pathetic and you will blame them, rightly or wrongly. They might throttle or shape your downloads or they might have cables or other hardware that would go down and you would go ape-**** because you can't access your email or dl that driver or stream a YouTube video at anything better than 240p. You will lash out and blame Telkom (rightly or wrongly) and other times you might find that you have to blame your ISP.

Then you will widely pronounce for all to see and hear how wise you are and what a useless ISP you have and that you are going to dump them and then make a new thread and ask which ISP should have the honor of accepting your money at the end of the month.

The fact is ISP's are there to make money. They do what they have to do to make money, while mostly trying to keep their customers happy, if they are a half decent ISP. Those ISP's have humans working for them. Some bright, some not so great. However, what they will do will reflect on that company. Also the ISP's, including TI, are depended on Telkom for infrastructure and there is very little they can do if something goes bust and there are so many things that can go wrong.

One thing is certain. There will always be complaining. There will always be something that goes wrong. ISP's will never be able to keep everybody happy. So many people here thinks that they are just oozing with knowledge and that they have the answer to everything.

It is normal for us humans to react that way and without complaining, a lot of things will stay unchanged, but really sometimes I just shake my head at the bull that are posted
That is the beauty of a forum though. You are allowed, in fact encouraged to post your opinion.


Also , lucky for stupid people like me, we have a lot of great guys here that actually do know a lot and always willing to help, without trying to prove how wise they are. Names that pop up are Ranger, the 2 Micks, MWEB guy, Afriman and a lot of other names that I can't recall now.

So in short...
Thx TI

At the moment I like your product.
I don't think you are awesome, in fact I think you service delivery can a bit ****ty at times, other times you just surprise the hell out of me and put a smile on my dial.



If not today, then tomorrow, if not tomorrow, then next week, if not next week, then next month, if not next month, next year, if not next year...

+1

But,

I will have to disagree with all ISP's are *****.

I've tried them all except TI, only because I refuse to give more money to a company that is stifling out internet growth and refuses to upgrade exchanges etc - I know TI is separate from Telkom but that's not the point. I have found IS is the way to go and if you follow the rules and not rape the connection 24/7 then they give u pretty much unshaped internet (I'm talking uncapped here - 4Mb (only because I can't get 10Mb)) if you keep your downloads to off-peak times then all is well, and they are stable with good pings. So, I'm with PluGG since Afrihost's FUBAR (beginning Nov) and all is well.

EDIT: Congested exchanges a whole other issue - just wish people would stop blaming ISP when that's the issue, try with another ISP account before you make a fool of yourself.

 

[Subways81]

Switched over to "Do" on thursday, what a MISSION, after a long convo with the salesman about getting 10mb uncapped (problem was trying to convince him that my line was syncing at 10mb and I was getting 8mbps speedtest with my FNB Connect account) he finally tells me its all sorted and sends my a username and password.

I get home, set the account details on my router and fire it up. Max speedtest 4mbps??!? Eventually, after about 2 hours on the phone, I get someone at telkom who knows what they are talking about and he says im on a 4mb uncapped package and he can make it 10mb in 30 days, :twisted:, now im getting pissed off, so he creates a brand new 10mb account and sends through the account details.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/2612783339.png BETTTER!!!

Now I just need to cancel the 4mb uncapped, tried on Thursday night but Telkom wasnt answering. Once thats done I think it will be all good.

 

[cavedog]

Switched over to "Do" on thursday, what a MISSION, after a long convo with the salesman about getting 10mb uncapped (problem was trying to convince him that my line was syncing at 10mb and I was getting 8mbps speedtest with my FNB Connect account) he finally tells me its all sorted and sends my a username and password.

I get home, set the account details on my router and fire it up. Max speedtest 4mbps??!? Eventually, after about 2 hours on the phone, I get someone at telkom who knows what they are talking about and he says im on a 4mb uncapped package and he can make it 10mb in 30 days, :twisted:, now im getting pissed off, so he creates a brand new 10mb account and sends through the account details.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/2612783339.png BETTTER!!!

Now I just need to cancel the 4mb uncapped, tried on Thursday night but Telkom wasnt answering. Once thats done I think it will be all good.

Yup that should be simple enough. They will create a quary to billing to cancel and remove the charges. Make sure to mention you were allocated the WRONG speed and HAS been allocated the right account now so you need the fisrt one cancelled.

Telkom is very kind in these situations. They remove extra fees and billing errors prompty even if its not their mistake at least for me.

 

[Zambo001]

Is it just me?? daf^q

 

[ranger]

Thanks for the reply any testing would be greatly appreciated

We can go back and forth on the morality of having netflix and hulu in this country.

You will note I was careful to stay away from the topic ...

I also strongly disagree that these services are damaging broadband in the uk and us if anything they are driving higher speeds and lowering price in the services things that kill broadband is the thousands of gigs of illegal downloads that occur every day.

Agreed, Netflix or Hulu would be better than torrents from a moral/royalties perspective, but the point isn't about which technology, it is about bandwidth-intensive real-time internet entertainment becoming mainstream, which will bring an end to the current the-95%-subsidise-the-5% rule that allows the 'abusers'/'power users' to do > 100GB on a R199 account (with ISP costs far exceeding the revenue for such customers). While greater volumes will reduce prices to some extent, the reduction (e.g. 20% for a doubling in capacity) is no where near to enough when average users who have never done more than 10GB a month start averaging > 50GB/month. You will see all the major ISPs have ended uncapped as we currently know it (e.g. soft-caps at 200GB on a 10Mbps ADSL, with a fee required to go full-speed, or time-limited streaming, or 'tiered data plans' - aka large cap products).

We need locally hosted services like netflix and hulu so we don't have to keep killing our international links with this data.

Agreed, unfortunately, from what I have seen, we are too small a market for the big players to worry about, and DSTVs current behaviour regarding licensing of content makes it more effort than is justifiable for them to justify the effort to access our market.

 

[ranger]

Wow, sounds like a real mission to get anything done. Thanks for your help, I'll probably end up sitting for hours with the telkom call centre, trying to get this sorted out. Either that, or just go for a wireless option.

Yep, it looks like your exchange is quite severely congested.

You may have some success via the ADSL support (not Telkom Internet) options when phoning, but it may just be more efficient (for the end goal) to log faults online, wait for one to be closed, log a new one etc. until you have sufficient for a complaint.

In the mean time, please PM me your ADSL phone line number, and I will see if we can use this example from our side to find the best way to get these issues resolved (something that is only possible now after the changes we made in Feb and can be supported by data from new tools we will be getting into place soon if they weren't commissioned while I was on leave).

 

[Nicci]

Ranger, I am going with TI as of tomorrow. My router is like 6 or so years old, and it keeps disconnecting. It is a telkom router that I got when I signed up for my line. Will they exchange it for a better working one? Thank you.

 

[whatwhat]

ranger, is it good to have you back again.

Just wanted to ask, a lot of us are over the amount we were "throttled" at in Feb with our March accounts without any throttling this month, was there a change made to allow higher "caps"? If you aren't allowed to comment that is fine too

 

[cavedog]

ranger, is it good to have you back again.

Just wanted to ask, a lot of us are over the amount we were "throttled" at in Feb with our March accounts without any throttling this month, was there a change made to allow higher "caps"? If you aren't allowed to comment that is fine too

+1 very interesting question