Vodacom EDGE

[Neo]

Just sat listening to the Broadband Shootout video feeds and was listening to both Vodacom and MTN pitching EDGE. This caught my eye, or rather, ear.

MTN claims an EDGE coverage of 20-23%

Vodacom claims an EDGE coverage of 26%

 

[3g_rox]

Cannot undertsand all the hype over EDGE - it is nothing more than GPRS on steroids. EDGE is basically higher Coding Schemes (CS) with different modulation techniques for GPRS. In order to achieve throughputs in excess of GPRS, one needs high signal quality (C/I - carrier to interferer ratio). If you are currently not getting decent speeds on GPRS, then EDGE will do squat for you.

Quote from from http://www.umtsworld.com/technology/edge.htm

"The catch is that EDGE requires higher radio signal quality than that found in an average GSM network before higher data throughput can be reached. This means more base stations (especially indoor) and infrastructure build-out for established GSM operators that wish to migrate to EDGE".

Why don't the 2 networks rather spend their money on improving 3G coverage rather than farting about with EDGE?

 

[vodacom3g]

You've pretty much summed up the Vodacom policy towards EDGE.

If it makes more sense resources are actually spent on 3G, but often 3G is just not feasible in a certain area and then EDGE makes sense as it requires only a radio upgrade on the tower.

Vodacom decided to treat EDGE like a normal 'upgrade', i.e. where resources can be spared, the base stations are upgraded to EDGE. The 26% coverage shows how much the guys managed to achieved while focusing on rolling out 3G!

 

[jarr]

sorry to resurrect this thread, but i needed to ask a stupid question

is there any way of knowing when you are in an "edge enabled" area (with a non-symbian phone)? i know that with 3g, you will see "3g enabled" on the cell info display, but i was wondering if there is something like that for edge as well? or maybe a coverage map?

 

[3g_rox]

sorry to resurrect this thread, but i needed to ask a stupid question

is there any way of knowing when you are in an "edge enabled" area (with a non-symbian phone)? i know that with 3g, you will see "3g enabled" on the cell info display, but i was wondering if there is something like that for edge as well? or maybe a coverage map?

Maybe a 3rd cell info display message can be added to sites which are equipped with EDGE -V3g??

 

[adsl3g]

sorry to resurrect this thread, but i needed to ask a stupid question

is there any way of knowing when you are in an "edge enabled" area (with a non-symbian phone)? i know that with 3g, you will see "3g enabled" on the cell info display, but i was wondering if there is something like that for edge as well? or maybe a coverage map?

I have never seen the words '3g enabled' is it a message other than the cell ID? - I have a V800 SE and there is 3g at work.

 

[erike]

You won't see any Cell Info while logged onto the 3G Network. Cell Info is only availbale if you are logged onto the 2G network.

 

[ajax]

Maybe a 3rd cell info display message can be added to sites which are equipped with EDGE -V3g??

Good idea. I think this has been discussed before somewhere. Maybe something like Airport E for edge, Airport EG for edge and 3G and Airport G for 3G only.

The "3G enabled" is only shown while you are on GSM. The GSM coverage does not coincide exactly with 3G, so there are bound to be areas where it doesn't say "3G enabled" on GSM yet there is 3G reception.
At my friend's place, he gets full bars on 3G, but the GSM towers don't say "3G enabled".

It could also be a case of the GSM towers that have not been changed to say "3G enabled" yet.

 

[jarr]

so how about it, v3g - yea or nay?

 

[vodacom3g]

I've asked. Lets see what the guys say.

 

[jarr]

okay, thanks. just out of curiosity - do you guys currently have a coverage map for edge?