Vodacom vs ADSL

[jammie]

Hi guys,

I have been an avid follower of this forum. I have read all the articles on broadband comparisons etc. My Telkom line went dead tonight due to some misterious reason and I decided to purchase some bandwidth on my cellphone.

Some articles claim Vodacom 3G is fairly priced - how then does one explain me paying R389 (VAT incl) for 1 (one) Gig of Vodacom data vs R69 and even R55 per Gig for ADSL?

That is at least a 500% mark-up on bandwidth pricing compared to fixed line prices? Is mobile bandwidth really that affordable in SA?

 

[Ekhaatvensters]

Is mobile bandwidth really that affordable in SA?

You mean unaffordable I'm sure.

And yes it is, people here still sing it's praises but if you actually want to use it as a fixed line alternative then it's crazy.

Although you must take into consideration the fact that you already pay an ADSL line rental specifically for ADSL, and the cell providers have extensive HSDPA networks to fund and grow. I suppose you pay for some of that with your contract, but not nearly all of the HSDPA network.

I still think they are charging you far more than they need too, especially seeing as they already make way too much money off their cellular networks. You'd think they could help SA internet develop seeing as they have by far the best solution for us. But hey, they can get more money.

The argument is that they need to use Telkom lines and bandwidth to provide HSDPA and this is the most expensive part.

 

[wheunis]

Hi Jammie

Firstly.
Compare apples to apples.

ADSL firstly has a telephone line subscription.
Furthermore, it has the DSL rental itself.
Then on top of that, is the ISP costs (bandwidth).

Now, when we compare apples to apples, we have to consider that HSDPA is fast. Equal to 4MB DSL, roughly. So we will use that.
To add to this, V3G is unshaped. You cannot get unshaped bandwidth anywhere but from SAIX. The cheapest and best re-seller of SAIX bandwidth, is Telkom. So we will use that.

Lets compare.

Vodacom 3GB, HSDPA Standard Package: R589, PrePaid Data Bundle

Telkom 4MB DSL Home 3GB: R554 per month, 24 month contract.
(http://www.do.co.za/broadband/index.html#/products/) DoBroadband Level 3.


Hmmmm... some more things to consider...
Contract VS. no Contract
Mobile VS. Fixed

I can blabber on forever, but thats not what im here for.

Point is, yes, Mobile bandwidth is VERY competitively priced in SA.
As much as everything allows us.

While we compare apples to apples.
Telkom is also launching 3G/HSDPA products, and their pricing is only VERY SLIGHTLY cheaper than Vodacom's.
The only reason for this is that SAIX bandwidth is sold by Telkom (even if it is indirectly), hence no matter what you do, Telkom will always be able to offer it cheaper anyway.

Once the SEACOM goes live, we will see this changing.
Then once EASSY goes live, the effect will pratically tripple.
I forget the third cable's name, but i think you get the idea.

 

[Sackboy]

Hi Jammie

Firstly.
Compare apples to apples.

ADSL firstly has a telephone line subscription.
Furthermore, it has the DSL rental itself.
Then on top of that, is the ISP costs (bandwidth).

Now, when we compare apples to apples, we have to consider that HSDPA is fast. Equal to 4MB DSL, roughly. So we will use that.
To add to this, V3G is unshaped. You cannot get unshaped bandwidth anywhere but from SAIX. The cheapest and best re-seller of SAIX bandwidth, is Telkom. So we will use that.

Lets compare.

Vodacom 3GB, HSDPA Standard Package: R589, PrePaid Data Bundle

Telkom 4MB DSL Home 3GB: R554 per month, 24 month contract.
(http://www.do.co.za/broadband/index.html#/products/) DoBroadband Level 3.


Hmmmm... some more things to consider...
Contract VS. no Contract
Mobile VS. Fixed

I can blabber on forever, but thats not what im here for.

Point is, yes, Mobile bandwidth is VERY competitively priced in SA.
As much as everything allows us.

While we compare apples to apples.
Telkom is also launching 3G/HSDPA products, and their pricing is only VERY SLIGHTLY cheaper than Vodacom's.
The only reason for this is that SAIX bandwidth is sold by Telkom (even if it is indirectly), hence no matter what you do, Telkom will always be able to offer it cheaper anyway.

Once the SEACOM goes live, we will see this changing.
Then once EASSY goes live, the effect will pratically tripple.
I forget the third cable's name, but i think you get the idea.

Most people have telephones at home, so that's a given. You are going to pay for that anyway. There is an ADSL rental, sure.

You don't have to have a contract - it's optional. Most people I know just self-installed, bought a modem and carry on without signing for 24 months, so let's not use scare stories.

Axxess has unshaped with their 626 account via SAT3.

One advantage with Telkom is that when you're capped, you can go and buy a semi-shaped voucher for 1Gig (R79 from AXXESS at an Engen garage)) and use it straight away or within 3 years. No messing around with carry over.

The reliability of home DSL is unsurpassed. No messing with twin USB cables to ensure power is enough. No expensive aerials from Poynting. I have never had a disconnect. Some people do, but it isn't common. On mobile I was never sure what speeds I would get or whether the weekend would pass with a connection at all (usually Sundays).

If you really need to be mobile, have a laptop and are always on the move, then go mobile. If not, there is no real equal to home DSL.

 

[wheunis]

Yay! Sat3!

SAT3 isnt worth the paper it was written on.
Seriously, you're going to compare SAT3 bandwidth to cable?
And to top it off, on a "off-peak" only unshaped account?

Apples to apples.
NOT apples to goats pls.

 

[robass]

In my personal opinion , Mobile broadband is cheaper ( maybe because of limited home usage) 1gig per month .
I have a (payed up) E220 modem , purchase a 2gig prepaid db on the 1st of the month let it roll for 60 days which equates to R194.50 per month .

Now as I dont have a landline at home, to me this is a cheaper option versus adsl .

Landline rental = R124.20
ADSL line rental 4mb = R359
1 Gig bandwidth = R59
Total = R542.20

 

[Sackboy]

In my personal opinion , Mobile broadband is cheaper ( maybe because of limited home usage) 1gig per month .
I have a (payed up) E220 modem , purchase a 2gig prepaid db on the 1st of the month let it roll for 60 days which equates to R194.50 per month .

Now as I dont have a landline at home, to me this is a cheaper option versus adsl .

Landline rental = R124.20
ADSL line rental 4mb = R359
1 Gig bandwidth = R59
Total = R542.20

2gig ADSL is R258 on doBroadband
For me this works out at:

R133 (DSL Fast)
R131 (T1 All Access 2G)

=========
R264
=========

and if you really want to include line rental and don't use a phone at home now.
R124 (Line)
==========
R388
==========

3 Gig is R554 (but the line speed is much higher @ 4Meg)

 

[RazedInBlack]

Hi guys,

I have been an avid follower of this forum. I have read all the articles on broadband comparisons etc. My Telkom line went dead tonight due to some misterious reason and I decided to purchase some bandwidth on my cellphone.

Some articles claim Vodacom 3G is fairly priced - how then does one explain me paying R389 (VAT incl) for 1 (one) Gig of Vodacom data vs R69 and even R55 per Gig for ADSL?

That is at least a 500% mark-up on bandwidth pricing compared to fixed line prices? Is mobile bandwidth really that affordable in SA?

Thats actually the advanced option with VC. 1GB is R289 which isn't too bad. on Telkom its R219 (Do3G).