Vodacom grows 43.2Mbps HSPA+ network

[Easter Bunny]

43Mbps should allow a better average speed per user compared to the current technology which is great as the current speeds are pretty sad. I am really hoping the replacement of radios in the Western Cape means I get some reliability when just trying to use the voice component as this is SO frustrating at the moment. Dropped calls, calls not going through and so on.

if you took the time to report these signal problems to vodacom, then waited a month and a half for a call center operator/radio planner to contact you, then you would have been told that you should switch your internet dependant smart phone to 2g so your call dropped call problems will disappear*.

you can mention the fact that 2g is terrible for internet, but the vodacom radio planner/call center operator appears to be unaware of the fact that phones these days do things other than call or sms.



*this only works for outgoing calls, as incoming callers will need to notify you of their intentions of having a conversation a minute or so before calling you.

 

[Ockie]

if you took the time to report these signal problems to vodacom, then waited a month and a half for a call center operator/radio planner to contact you, then you would have been told that you should switch your internet dependant smart phone to 2g so your call dropped call problems will disappear*.

you can mention the fact that 2g is terrible for internet, but the vodacom radio planner/call center operator appears to be unaware of the fact that phones these days do things other than call or sms.



*this only works for outgoing calls, as incoming callers will need to notify you of their intentions of having a conversation a minute or so before calling you.

I just keep my phone on 2G only mode. Conserves battery also and it really can help with reducing dropped calls. The reason for this is that when the 3G signal gets too weak and the phone makes the switch between the two networks (remember 3G operates on a diff freq compared to 2G) it in a lot of cases drops the call. When I want to browse the net for something or send a large file via whatsapp or email i switch to 3G mode and when done I switch back. Bit of a mish...but dont bother me that much.

 

[Bern]

if you took the time to report these signal problems to vodacom, then waited a month and a half for a call center operator/radio planner to contact you, then you would have been told that you should switch your internet dependant smart phone to 2g so your call dropped call problems will disappear*.

I am by no means the only person who experiences these problems all over CT, everyone I know conmplains endlessly about problems with the VC network - specifically dropped calls and calls not going through. I am fully aware that data services can have a major influence, but when I put my sim in an older Nokia which normally works evewhere and has only GPRS (which I turned off) I was still getting the same problems. I have noticed a steady decline over the last two or three years, I just don't understand why.

I have been a loyal VC customer for something like 12 years, but I will leave at the end of my current contract if they don't get their act together.

 

[parmalat]

move to LTE, and cut a deal to get these LTE modems cheap plus uncapped, unlimited at low cost

 

[jdkh]

Just got a reflector for my Cell C, it ROCKS!

Alberton, Jhb Southern suburbs , the East Rand and the West Rand still sucks on 7.2 Mbps.

+1

The tower and backhaul capacity of the tower you are connected to has nothing to do with BIS and its capacity. It is two different things. Vodacom has a pipe to the RIM server which has a certain capacity...and there are people that is ripping this pipe a new one. Your data that you are using on a Blackberry does not follow the same route as a Android phone or a 3G modem.

Really? They don't use the same tower? Or same basic backhaul from the tower?

 

[JoseP]

What is a reflector?

 

[jdkh]

A satellite dish is a reflector. The one I have is a bit different, just a curved aluminum plate.

 

[Deep78]

sigh ... they updating their network but the cost of bandwidth isnt dropping even though
they getting more efficiency out of all the upgrades .... :{ greedy!!!

 

[Ockie]

Just got a reflector for my Cell C, it ROCKS!


+1


Really? They don't use the same tower? Or same basic backhaul from the tower?

They do...but after that they follow different routes. Someone that uses a Droid will have his data handled directly by Vodacom. A BIS user will have his data routed through the pipe to the RIM server in France. It is this link to the RIM server that is being put under huge pressure now by these extreme abusers and therefore causing a less enjoyable experience for everone else.

 

[jdkh]

How on earth can 100MB/month qualify as an extreme abuser? Seems like Vodacom is doing their best to alienate customers while Cell C is doing their best to get people to use their network more.

 

[intel8080]

I agree. Since CellC got signal in our area, I never bothered with anything als. Needles to say,any customer in our shop gets "enlightened" at the advantages CellC offers. Mind you, I should become a sales man for them. Every time I run the internet demonstration the customer goes like WOW, I did'nt know about it. I want one