What will be the price 8ta's LTE 50GB per month when launched in April 2013?

[MobileData]

Any news on pricing and modems? It seems that 8ta's LTE is live with 0 users and no announcements.

 

[RichardG]

Maybe they still at the drawn board and drafting a price model, has to approved first.

 

[Stochos]

Telkom Mobile Disappoints!...and losing goodwill generated by LTE trial

Today's announcement on data package prices is Telkom Mobile's way of kicking the can down the road. Many of us were expecting a commercial launch of LTE!

Instead we got the news that in effect the LTE launch that we were expecting was being delayed. And this was not explicitly stated, but hidden in marketing gobbledegook.

“Telkom Mobile will bring more new and different data products to the market over the next few weeks. We’re especially looking forward to offering products based on LTE and Wi-Fi technologies in an innovative way that solves real needs of customers,” said Vitai.[/QUOTE]

What is the use of using these small data packages at LTE speeds? To quote Telkom Mobile:

"Our biggest mobile data offering is 10GB; what size LTE packages do we need to launch with when you can download 23GB in 40 minutes?"
"There is a voracious appetite for Internet access driven by changing prepaid market demands, and as data becomes commoditised, users are staying on prepaid so they can take advantage of data promotions as they come along.”
Amith Maharaj, senior managing executive for Telkom Mobile

While an aggressive data focus was not part of its initial strategy, Maharaj says that, with the early successes it saw in the space, the company decided to pursue a stronger data focus.

Their LTE trial was exceptional and near flawless; their post LTE trial management has been very poor. Ideally the end of trial should have coincided with the commercial launch or at the very least a firm date for the LTE commercial launch. It is sad that Telkom Mobile is squandering the goodwill earned during the trial and the many positive messages of feedback by mismanaging the LTE launch. Part of the problem is poor communication too. Having promised on 20th March that the LTE launch was going to be 'within the next few weeks'; a month later they still cannot commit to a date!

We still await Telkom Mobile's mass-market, game changing, ultra-low priced LTE packages announcement then in the 'next few weeks'; which means anytime within the next three weeks, as a couple would mean two weeks and four would imply a month.

Their previous statements have all pointed towards game-changing utra-low prices for LTE, anything less would be retrogressive, a reminder that Telkom Mobile is still part of the dysfunctional, anticompetitive Telkom.

Telkom's anticompetitive conduct (for which they have been found guilty and paid R449m fine ) has resulted in reduced economic growth and increased unemployment.

All our problems of the lack of cheap broadband are due to Telkom. They owe the masses of this country cheap broadband access.

 

[Stochos]

Telkom Mobile (Sort of) Launches LTE

A case study on how not to launch an eagerly awaited product is the clandestine manner of Telkom Mobile's HomeOffice LTE.

Buried deep within their website we have the following:

HomeOffice LTE
Our HomeOffice LTE service is three times faster than any standard 3G service, accompanied by quality data as well as superior reliability. Telkom Mobile Homeoffice LTE is available on a month to month, 24 months and 36 months contract. In addition you get a router with 10GB, 20GB or 50GB data options.
We also offer multiple device connectivity at home and mobility for the consumer-on-the-move.
Want to know more?
Complete the online form and one of our agents will contact you shortly

This was not covered in MyBB's Friday afternoon's story. Was it because of Telkom Mobile or MyBB?


There is still no pricing guidance and nor any indication of prepaid options for SIM only packages, only a form to fill in because they seem determined to get a salesperson to talk to you!


The device or router would probably be the pricey Huawei CPE B593 which sells for a $280 on Amazon. Hence the lengthy contract terms of 24 and 36 months which may indicate a desire to reduce the monthly cost of the device included packages.

Is this 'stealth' launch clumsy and incompetent/poor communication or was it by design?

 

[sajunky]

There is still no pricing guidance and nor any indication of prepaid options for SIM only packages, only a form to fill in because they seem determined to get a salesperson to talk to you!

This is standard delaying tactic, as they didn't meet April 1st deadline. Salesperson will come after launch.

 

[MichaelMD]

I just spoke to an 8ta representative and he has told me that the commercial LTE is launching tomorrow. Has anyone else heard anything? I havent been able to confirm it anywhere else?

 

[whatwhat]

lol. It's Telkom. Their LTE will roll out in 2016.

 

[SAdata]

Well 8ta's LTE prices seem a bit steeper than everyone was hoping for... Per the little picture at the top of 8ta.com/lte, R499 p/m for 10gb including modem, R699 p/m for 20gb including modem. Definitely seems to be priced as a premium service as I was expecting (although it seems you can get LTE on the normal contracts, although this hasnt been made clear)

 

[redcliff]

Spoke to the call centre. The following are available:

Normal home users - any of the existing data plans (including the SmartInternet plans e.g 10+10 and 15gb plans with nightsurfer) are eligible for LTE. The only exclusion is the 60+60 plan which will not be able to access the LTE network.

Home Office plans (these are the plans they promote on the LTE banner) - three options, 10, 20 and 50gb over 24 and 36 months. The 24 month prices are 10@R649, 20@R849 and 50@R1,499 and all of them have an upfront R1,750 pay in for the device (Huawei b593 router). On 36 month contract the prices are 10@R499, 20@R699 and 50@R1,299 with no upfront pay in. Also to note these home office plans do not have any nightsurfer data.

Clearly the 10+10 and 15gb SmartInternet plans represent better value than the Home Office plans.

 

[RichardG]

Too overpriced.... A company would benefit due to tax write-off reasons, then it will be worth paying such prices, honest opinion.

 

[djp2k]

Agreed, the 15 and 10 gb smartinternet plans and buying modem upfront so you can pay month-to-month without a contract seems the way to go. The home office plan doesn't make sense unles you need a router and modem combo.

Just need to know if anyone started using lte on an existing smartinternet plan - does it work immediately or do you need to activate lte on the sim?

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

Well, the E3276 modem they selling does not appear to support their 2300MHz band, the E5776, router, does not have an ethernet port, so what else can one get to connect to their LTE network with?

 

[djp2k]

Anyone tried the E3276 on the 8ta LTE network successfully as they are selling this as their LTE modem....

 

[sajunky]

If elf_lord_ZC5 post results from modem commands (as described in other section), it could give some answers. Or - the esaier way - MDMA beta response to "Device Info" button and "Band Config" selection.

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

I don't have a modem yet, and due to the strange situation, that exists, i.e. the description, on their webpage, which does not include their current 2300MHz LTE frequency, I am rather hesitant to do so.

So, for now, I am hanging ten, while I try and make sense of the situation.

 

[whatwhat]

I have a E3276 and can't get on their LTE in Durban, as expected.