Telkom vs Vox vs Mweb vs ?

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funkychicken

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Telkom has just completed the fibre installation in our area in Welgelegen, Cape Town. I reluctantly placed my 24 month contract order with them as I thought that they would be the only isp on their own infrastructure. They are planning to install this coming week, but i am rethinking my choice. My choice to start was a 10mb line with 50gb data. Idea was then to add data through my afrihost data package (currently with them again for adsl).

However, towards the end of last week Vox sent an email and they are offering an uncapped 10mb line for R899 per month on a month to month basis with free modem and installation. Think one has to cough up if you cancel in the first 12 months. Seems like a very good option compared to Telkom. Was amazed to find that they can offer better deal than Telkom, if you consider that Telkom did all the infrastructure work. Seems to have a 4 to 6 week waiting period though.

Then I also received a pamphlet from Mweb in our postbox over the weekend. Seems that they also offer Ftth over Telkom infrastructure.

So my questions:
Are there other isp''s that also offer their packages on Telkom infrastructure?
Who would you recommend that I go with from experience?
Would a 10mb line be good enough for gaming and Web surfing etc at the same time? We have 3 or 4 members of the family on the Internet at any given time.
Are the fibre routers WiFi enabled and would it be necessary to also boost (EXTEND) their signals like I currently have to do with adsl?

Your comments will be highly appreciated.
 
Most ISP's that offers data over ADSL can supply data over Telkom fibre.

Get the cheapest line rental you can find(they will almost all come with a tiny data cap) and then get your main data from anyone. Afrihost, Vox and Crystal Web are in vogue at the moment.

10meg should be fine, easy to upgrade if it isn't.

Yes they're WiFi enabled, if you require boosting now then you will probably require boosting with fibre. A faster internet connection can't make your WiFi reach further.
 
ScottulusMaximus said:
Most ISP's that offers data over ADSL can supply data over Telkom fibre.

Get the cheapest line rental you can find(they will almost all come with a tiny data cap) and then get your main data from anyone. Afrihost, Vox and Crystal Web are in vogue at the moment.

10meg should be fine, easy to upgrade if it isn't.

Yes they're WiFi enabled, if you require boosting now then you will probably require boosting with fibre. A faster internet connection can't make your WiFi reach further.
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Thanks. I am looking for isp''s like Vox, that will do the installation as well.
 
Take a look at Crystal Web as well. Excellent on all protocols.

Vox should also be a decent option from what I've seen through other people's experience, but I'd steer clear of mweb or Afrihost - you'll be living with shaping.
 
Masataka said:
Take a look at Crystal Web as well. Excellent on all protocols.

Vox should also be a decent option from what I've seen through other people's experience, but I'd steer clear of mweb or Afrihost - you'll be living with shaping.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Telkom as installer and equipment provider with Crystalweb for data? Or do they come and do the entire installation?

I used Crystalweb as an ISP for a while with my ADSL while Afrihost was struggling with their network. Although Crystalweb promised that they would be able to sort out my line quality if I transferred the managing of my Telkom line to them, they were never able to get it sorted out. Communication with them via Podio was also frustrating. Maybe their fibre offering will be better...
 
So at the moment, from an installation point of view, I have Telkom vs Vox. All the other ISP's seem to only provide data on top of an existing installation.

Telkom R699 for a capped 10mb line with 50gb data, locked into 24 month contract. No installation or router cost up front.

Vox R739 for a capped 10mb line with 75gb data, on month to month basis. R1710 setup fee. But offer includes 1gb of mobile data per month as well as a Vox Supafone with unlimited local calls.
or
R899 for uncapped 10mb line. Month to month. R1710 setup fee.
or
R999 for uncapped 10mb line. month to month. No setup fee. Includes 1gb mobile data and Vox Supafone with unlimited local calls.

Although Vox cannot install as quickly as Telkom can, the Vox offer seems like a no brainer vs Telkom's.
 
I am just up the road, in Plattekloof. I have a 100Mb line since March 2015. At that time I didn't had much choice in terms of provider but didn't wanted to sign up with Telkom!

Fibre 100Mb link is with WebAfrica for R849/month no data. (for 24 months, will reasses in March 2017)
Data Vox Fat pipe 200gb R164/month - including roll-over of unused data!

I think 10Mb is too low, might want to consider splitting the line and data (or take minimum data) so you have freedom to move around if you are not happy with your ISP and benefit from a nice promo. Like the one from VOX at the time!
 
I agree with psudan, 10mb is too low for 3-4 people, especially if someone starts starts streaming, Youtubing etc. If no members of your family do any streaming then 10mb should be fine if you're just browsing and gaming. Remember to keep the upload speed in mind. Judging by Telkom's 25% upload vs download speed ratio, you're looking at an upload rate of 2.5mb. If you take 2.5 / 4, you each get above 0.5mb which I suppose is fine, but for me personally that would be borderline before your experience will deteriorate.

If you can afford it, rather look at a 20mb line, where you'll get about 5mb upload. Then each family member will get at least 1.25mb which I'd say will be more than sufficient. If not all 4 family members will be using the line at the same time, then 10mb would suffice, but I'd pay just that little bit extra and get 20mb. Then you'll have peace of mind knowing that when someone streams something, or use youtube, their experience will be unaffected :)
 
Thanks for the info. Vox says they have 50% of download as upload speed which is double that of Telkom.

20mb was my initial choice and then I thought, why not start at 10mb and then go 20mb if I am not happy. Always easier to upgrade than downgrade. The uncapped line is attractive, but jumps to R1499 for 20mb. That is just a tad too much too justify for Internet for me.
 
ISPAfrika can do 10mb uncapped on month to month basis for R799 per month on Telkom/Openserve. No other charges. R499 once off for wifi range extender. Have only seen good reviews on them on this forum?

This now seems like the best option. 20mb uncapped for R1099 per month.
 
Hi
Been going through different sites
Has anyone researched who will be most
Competitive isp via telkom
Possible 40mbps or 100mbps
200,400 or uncapped
 
Safrica said:
Hi
Been going through different sites
Has anyone researched who will be most
Competitive isp via telkom
Possible 40mbps or 100mbps
200,400 or uncapped
Click to expand...

Telkom only offers 24 month contracts. I still find it strange that other ISP's can offer month to month contracts over the same infrastructure. Vox Telecom and ISPAfrika offer month to month contracts. ISPAfrika uses Openserve (Telkom) for installation. Not sure if Vox does their own installations or also uses Openserve.

Vox R899 for 10mb uncapped and ISPAfrika R799 for same. Vox has R1710 installation fee and ISPAfrika has free setup and installation from 1 Aug 16 to 1 March 17. Signed up with ISPAfrika today.
 
I have looked at telkom, vox, ISP afrika, Mweb, WebAfrica. I have sent contact requests to all of them saying I am interested - please contact me - not one has got back to me. Am i wrong in thinking that is poor?
 
marvinFM said:
I have looked at telkom, vox, ISP afrika, Mweb, WebAfrica. I have sent contact requests to all of them saying I am interested - please contact me - not one has got back to me. Am i wrong in thinking that is poor?
Click to expand...

I lied....ISP Afrika got back to me almost immediately...is that an indication of their service? if so they will be my preferred provider
 
marvinFM said:
I lied....ISP Afrika got back to me almost immediately...is that an indication of their service? if so they will be my preferred provider
Click to expand...

Applied with ISPAfrika for 10mb uncapped on 4 August. Telkom/Openserve installed on 11 August from 11h00 until about 13h30. ISPAfrika tach came out and set up router etc after 15h00. 10mb uncapped line running at approx 9.8mbps down and just under and sometimes over 5mbps. 4ms ping to local servers and 20ms ping to Jhb game servers. Little bit of a teething issue with line dropping a few times, BUT - hats off to ISPAfrika - great service so far!
 
funkychicken said:
Applied with ISPAfrika for 10mb uncapped on 4 August. Telkom/Openserve installed on 11 August from 11h00 until about 13h30. ISPAfrika tach came out and set up router etc after 15h00. 10mb uncapped line running at approx 9.8mbps down and just under and sometimes over 5mbps. 4ms ping to local servers and 20ms ping to Jhb game servers. Little bit of a teething issue with line dropping a few times, BUT - hats off to ISPAfrika - great service so far!
Click to expand...
Ordered the same through them.. Will wait and see and report back
 
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