TelkomInternet's new Capping System ... I think

[Spindrift]

Roman6404:

If TelkomInternet (together with SAIX) have engineered a new 'post cap bandwidth pool' system by which they can allow users to continue using traffic, but can limit the cost impact by having finer management (e.g. can alter pool bw ceiling, contention etc.), then this is very anti-competative as they dont offer this system/tool to other ISPs.

I think the system changes so often that it almost seems like telkom is testing different options etc. I agree that if saix's system isnt flexible enough for other isp to implement the same system or if telkom dont give this to other isp, *that* would be anticompetitive. However, I hope that after this testing phase, it will become an option for isp to put their users onto the a different shaping pool etc.



Pupa & Roman4606:

I appreciate both your input. Like you said pupa, lets keep the eye on the ball and clear up all the confusion.



Pupa:

Can you refer me to the other countries ISP's that does this?

I have a friend in the US that once got himself, 'restricted to only 256kbps' on his 1mb line, together with a threating email to say that his bandwidth might be further restricted should his high usage continue for that month. At the time he already got more than 100gb so their target average must be huge. I will find out exactly his ISP for you if you want.

 

[pupa]

Yeah, but if you read in some other international forums that is exactly why a lot of ISP's doing this is dumped for the ones that do not do it. There is competition. The East model where they just speed the network to max and thats the end of it all, works better. There is a limit to what any one individual can really achieve and if the gigs start getting to 50+ like small bussiness, these individuals can be asked to move to a higher cost package which is still very cheapo compared to local

 

[Spindrift]

Pupa:

Could you describe this east model a bit more? Also the alternative system that do not attempt hard cap their user at all (the one you said users dumped the other one for). How does that one work?

Roman4604:

I've only been allocated 4 IP addresses this month. Not enough data to see if im in a different pool. Maybe we should start a new thread asking ppl with telkom internet for their previous ips so we can see if there's a pattern?

edited: add response to roman4604

 

[Roman4604]

I think the system changes so often that it almost seems like telkom is testing different options etc. .... However, I hope that after this testing phase, it will become an option for isp to put their users onto the a different shaping pool etc.

If they are experimenting with differing options, you would think a company with their resources & finances could be a bit more transparent about the process with its customers & resellers instead of tinckering in the dark like a bunch of amateurs.

Maybe we should start a new thread asking ppl with telkom internet for their previous ips so we can see if there's a pattern?

Yep that would give some interesting insight ... might as well keep it in this thread

@Pupa, I totally agree with play the ball not the man, it just gets tedious if ball not = to current thread. By now we all know Telkom's pricing/policies are not competitive vs. other countries.

 

[pupa]

Participation of posters re technical stuff, Ip's , speeds, etc do not seem to be to reliable or popular, but worth a try I guess. I myself would like to know exactly how this IP cr@p is used or abused as I could not yet determine a trend at my side.

By the East model I meant there is no model, no shape, no cap just raw speed a la Hong Kong.

IMHO If a network gets slow or contended then the issue is the network not the users. Like in a company when the month end payroll and other data processing begins. The IT do not just start limiting the people they improve the network.

I know it was in Brittain, will have to look back which forum I was on as visitor. I was looking for VoIP masking tools to bypass TELKOM shaping when I came across the forum.

 

[Dovi]

Isn't it wonderful how Telkom think everyone's to stupid to work things out

 

[Kryon_MC]

I can agree with Spindrift's theory. I have heard this from quite a few knowledgeable people. I think this new system is definately in the right direction. I think the majority stand to make significant gains from this. I consider myself to be a fairly heavy user and I exceeded my cap early on in the month and it's really nice to be still getting international. I have been using my connection more sparingly as I don't want to be in the top x%. I think is it reasonable for an ISP to start capping extreme users who are doing say 100+gigs in a month as that kind of usage does degrade the service for others. However, if the usage is for local, then there is not problem. One thing I wish is that Telkom should differentiate between local and international bandwith. That I think would solve alot of problems!

 

[sludge]

Hi!
TelkomInternet has put the info about their capping policy on their front page.

Remember those pics posted on the hellkom site with the new pricing? What happened to the 64k throttled option? I have as yet not seen 1 single isp offering a 64k throttled connection.

 

[wyldcyde]

I dont think this new possible model is a good thing per se... but in relation to the past it is a 'better' thing.
Comparing things to overseas is often a waste of time... why compare to the UK when SA is clearly behind in many respects, not just internet. SA is not first world... try comparing to australia maybe and you'll see that broadband over there isnt that great either. MUCH cheaper than here but no one offers 'true' uncapped broadband... most of the caps are between 15 and 60gb. OK, thats much better than SA but much worse than UK also.
It's better to compare local services to what they should be able to offer then we see we're clearly being ripped off. I dont want SA adsl to be the same as UK overnight... i just want it to be the best it can be which is heaps better than it is now because telkom is controlling things.

I've noticed no slow down on my 3gb account and its over 15gb. I haven't throttled p2p but several people use skype off this line and havent had any complaints.
I would agree that telkom is likely to change how they handle users who go over the cap/allocation. I would look at models in australia or new zealand for instance to get an idea of what they're probably planning. Setup peak and off-peak bandwidth allocations and switching users over to 'shaped' connections once they use up their limit... but then again telkom already shapes us! and i doubt they'll change that soon.

my advice is if you have extra money, its wise to have 1 of your adsl accounts with telkominternet so you can be on the blunt (cutting) edge of SA adsl speed/performance/etc.

wyldcyde

 

[Slooth]

Huh? The thread starts off with an assumption asking for some clarification from an employee. After heated debates it's simply accepted as is.

Hint: After 3gigs you're soft capped not allotted someone else's bandwidth.

I think the vail of mist regarding November will clear when the months come to an end.

 

[MrGray]

I think allowing users to effectively share underused bandwidth is an excellent idea as they were previously scoring unfairly from all those who were using less than 3GB.

Any move on Telkom's part which will effectively allow me to use more than 3GB is a positive thing, BUT, why does it have to be so mysterious, complicated and unpredictable? A reasonable level of predictability is as important to investors as having a stable infrastructure, so having a system where you never know how much bandwidth you can effectively use every month isn't so good for business. Can you imagine setting up an outsourced local call centre for a foreign business in SA and telling them you have no idea how much bandwidth you'll actually have from month to month?

 

[antowan]

I heard Telkom is going to impliment hardcap for its Telkom Internet users come 1st Jan 2006.

No way of knowing whether the contact who gave me the info is solid or not because it is the first time I got info from him...