When 8ta shocked the nation with its "Go Big" data promotion

[Daniel Puchert]

The mobile data product that shocked South African mobile operators

Thirteen years ago, almost to the day, Telkom’s upstart mobile operator 8ta launched a media blitz.

Barely eight months old, the young network operator had a point to prove — that Telkom’s decision to take on Vodacom and MTN wasn’t a mistake and that they were here to compete.

 

[Bliksis]

I had the 20gig per month for R199. Couldn't beat it at the time.

 

[supersunbird]

I got that R199 for 10GB deal, it was awesome. In fact, I still have that account, I am paying R63 pm for it currently.

I still have my 8ta USB 3G dongle.

 

[RazedInBlack]

Where others were still offering 5GB for R479. I think Cell C had a special, 5GB for R399 but absolute garbage reception.

 

[supersunbird]

I got that R199 for 10GB deal, it was awesome. In fact, I still have that account, I am paying R63 pm for it currently.

I still have my 8ta USB 3G dongle.

I remember now that I did pay more than R199, maybe R249, because I got some 7" Lenovo tablet with the deal, used it as a hotspot (which could last a whole day easily, compared to those silly mifi devices) with my Galaxy S2 and then my Galaxy S5 mini, since dual SIM was not as common back then. It eventually became my data SIM in my Cat S60 phone.

 

[Bliksis]

I got that R199 for 10GB deal, it was awesome. In fact, I still have that account, I am paying R63 pm for it currently.

I still have my 8ta USB 3G dongle.

Ah, yes, it was 10gig, not 20.

 

[3WA]

I started with this. It's the reason I got addicted to porn.

 

[Bliksis]

I started with this. It's the reason I got addicted to porn.

Except I saved the photos those days for offline perusal.

 

[Stokstert]

I am still using my 8ta pay as you go SIM and get 1 minute free airtime for every 3 minutes someone else phones me.
Some months I don't buy any airtime at all.

 

[Swa]

I got the 5GB x 12 from Cell C at the time. Can't remember the exact price but it worked out similar. They also had a 2GB x 6 I believe.

 

[cr@zydude]

I absolutely loved the 10GB deal. I moved from a 1GB ADSL line which I think also cost R199 per month.

 

[LoadShedder]

I remember going into a Telkom store in 2017 to get that 500GB for R50 night owl special. Telkom's service might not be the greatest but without them the big networks would definitely still be charging R199/GB

 

[RazedInBlack]

Ah, yes, it was 10gig, not 20.

It was 20, 10GB normal data and 10GB night data.

 

[leafhead]

That's around the time I switched to 8-ta, as it was then. I'm still with Telkom Mobile. I was on Cell-C before that, and it was pretty bad.

 

[bixt]

I got that R199 for 10GB deal, it was awesome. In fact, I still have that account, I am paying R63 pm for it currently.

I still have my 8ta USB 3G dongle.

R63 for 10gb? Please say how can I get this?

 

[supersunbird]

R63 for 10gb? Please say how can I get this?

That is what is was offered on contract expiry. On website it seems 12.5GB for R99 is the deal you should be able to get.

 

[dontcryforme]

Originally got mine in 2012, unfortunately lost all those emails. Where's the days when 20gbs could last a month. I use more in a day now

 

[Polymathic]

I started with this. It's the reason I got addicted to porn.

aah yes, you had the after-midnight data that couldn't go to waste

 

[Jam Sandwich]

aah yes, you had the after-midnight data that couldn't go to waste

Download Manager....

 

[UB40]

We were still on the R7 a deal special on weekends with Telkom dialing in all weekend baby uncapped on our US Robotics 56k Modem