Uncapped local traffic

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mancombseepgood

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Can someone please clarify... with the new regulations...
What exactly does it mean for us, the consumer.

I am still purchasing a 1 gig, 5 gig, 10 gig local account...
Why is this necessary if local traffic is uncapped.
And is this "uncapped local traffic" billed for per meg - i.e. the only difference is that you could end up with a hefty monthly bill if you get the latest mass mailing worm?

Thanks!
 
In essence you have it right. According to the ICASA regs only specify that that local bandwidth "should not be part of the cap". I.e. you should not be cut off when you reach a certain usage amount, like a 3 gig cap.

This is exactly what Telkom is offering to their subscribers. Your local bandwidth is not cut at any point, however they will charge you if you use more bandwidth than a specified amount. Unfortunately the ICASA regs does not stipulate that local badwidth should be free, or even that it should be unmetered, i.e. pay reasonable fixed rate for unlimited use.

So therefore they are compliant with the ICASA regulations by not capping local bandwidth usage. Nothing to be done about it, unless ICASA get's a pair and changes the regs.
 
For the moment though it is 'free' and I may well be wrong but I dont see how you can get charged any extra untill you are informed directly by telkom about changes and charges.
 
Tommygun said:
For the moment though it is 'free' and I may well be wrong but I dont see how you can get charged any extra untill you are informed directly by telkom about changes and charges.
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I'd like to know how it is free, since I get capped every time on my local only account.

Or is it only Telkom that provides free local bandwidth...
seriously, we have been discussing this for some time - does anyone acutally know the answers to these questions?
Of course we know who is at fault, but it is really important that we are aware of what we are being charged for at the very least.

If all they have done is take away the 'cap' and still charge for extra useage, then they have simply gone backward and removed a safety net for consumers. I had clients of telkom who got R30 000 bills because of a faulty ISDN modem for example - telkom held them to it.
 
I am only using my SAIX account (telkom) and I have done 80gb (local) this month and previously, till about 3/4 days ago, I couldn't see any int sites, now i am able too. but i'm only killing my local part of my account. nothing int.
 
Bradbowlllama said:
I'd like to know how it is free, since I get capped every time on my local only account.

Or is it only Telkom that provides free local bandwidth...
seriously, we have been discussing this for some time - does anyone acutally know the answers to these questions?
Of course we know who is at fault, but it is really important that we are aware of what we are being charged for at the very least.
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Its only Telscum doing uncapped local, if you have a local IS or SAIX account then you are still being capped.

apparently and its not confirmed for sure Telscum SP is giving 10GB local for every 1GB international.
 
Rocket-Boy said:
Its only Telscum doing uncapped local, if you have a local IS or SAIX account then you are still being capped.

apparently and its not confirmed for sure Telscum SP is giving 10GB local for every 1GB international.
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Thanks for this - very interesting...
Why is that tho' is Telkom the only one who has to be 'compliant' with the new regs?
 
Scooby_Doo said:
well everyone buys from them so if they don't have the system in place to support uncapped then the other isps can't do much.
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I'm not sure I follow - if who doesn't have the 'system' in place - the resellers? Telkom offer uncapped afaik from the above... at least they offer 10 gigs per 1 gig international.
 
Hmmm...I have just been capped at 5.4 Gigs (ip address changed)....then I did what was suggested in another post....reset the router.:D

Well IP address has changed back to normal and I have good speed, international an 'ol.....I just love Telkom:D:D:D
 
Bradbowlllama said:
So why is Telkom the only one complying?
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They are the only ISP who can afford to comply. Other ISPs have to pay Telkom by the gig. Telkom charges ISP's R12/gig wholesale for local bandwdith, whereas it probably only costs them a few cents per gig.

TelkomInternet is trialing local bandwdith after capping. Effectively local bandwdith beyond the cap is free during the trial phase. It may be charged for at a later date.

Although there was a 10gb local per 1gb blended notice on the Telkomsa website, it was removed. But it may give a clue as to where things are heading.
 
Gatecrasher said:
They are the only ISP who can afford to comply. Other ISPs have to pay Telkom by the gig. Telkom charges ISP's R12/gig wholesale for local bandwdith, whereas it probably only costs them a few cents per gig.

TelkomInternet is trialing local bandwdith after capping. Effectively local bandwdith beyond the cap is free during the trial phase. It may be charged for at a later date.

Although there was a 10gb local per 1gb blended notice on the Telkomsa website, it was removed. But it may give a clue as to where things are heading.
Click to expand...

It gives us no clue whatsoever - the fact that there is a law and people aren't compliant...
Telkom is the wholesaler, so in effect they are charging per gig... so that's what this whole thing is about - charging per gig - not uncapped capped. All the ruling has done is effectively do away with prepaid AFAIK.

Sounds like no-one knows what's what in this lawless society of ours.
 
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The ADSL regulations were formulated with the assumption of a regimental capped account being sold by Telkom or resold by ISPs. Rather like IS still do.

But after the draft ADSL regulations were published, Telkom realised it could nullify much of the prospective laws by charging per gigabyte. This new pricing regime came into effect in Novemebr 2005. Caps effectively became optional, depending on how much consumers were prepared to pay.

ISPs have to pay Telkom for every gig consumed, "blended" or local. That is why they cannot offer uncapped.

First tier ISPs like IS, on the other hand, purchase fixed pipes (xxMbps) from Telkom, and thus have somewhat more flexibility on pricing. Uncapped is feesable because they are not subject to a per-gig cost. They buy a set amount of capacity, and from then on their costs are fixed.

The margin between what bandwidth actually costs Telkom and the amount they charge IPSs on a per-gig bais is phenomenally high. And this is the root of SA's overpriced broadband prices.

The secondary ISP industry in SA has flourished under the per-gig model. I don't think you will find anything quite like it in overseas markets, where most consumers buy complete ADSL solutions directly from first tier providers.

While the secondary ISP industry looks very competitive here, it is actually a bit of a sham. Telkom still effectively controls eveything. The only flexibity in pricing is the difference between Telkom's wholesale prices and what ISPs decide to charge their clients.
 
Thanks for that GC - makes alot more sense, I just wish this double speak would end - it's all such a load of twang. Thanks for your scripts though - awesome innovation in a tough situation!
 
well i got my telkom account and was charged for 2 3 gig accounts for the month, i "tried" taking advantage, trust me, ur paying for the local usage, some way or another.
 
InsaniacZA said:
well i got my telkom account and was charged for 2 3 gig accounts for the month, i "tried" taking advantage, trust me, ur paying for the local usage, some way or another.
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Why 2x3gb though? Why not 1x1Gb and 1x3Gb? Then routesentry or something such.
 
Iv already gotten Telkoms "you have exceeded this month threshhold bla bla bla" email that we all get once we go past our cap.
However i still have int? Will telkom still charge me for this even though its clearly a F*** up on their side?
 
Optimal01 said:
Iv already gotten Telkoms "you have exceeded this month threshhold bla bla bla" email that we all get once we go past our cap.
However i still have int? Will telkom still charge me for this even though its clearly a F*** up on their side?
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Yeah, I wouldn't trust telkom, but if you have ordered a service (i.e x gigs) they should either cap you or let you have the freebie imo unless there is this "automatic" topup advertised. You purchased a capped service, they should cap you.
 
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