Which DSL Complete package should I choose?

Sainet Offer

Sainet is offering ADSL 384Kb 2GB Cap on SAIX backbone for R219 a month, which is much cheaper than other ISPs- is that a good thing?
 
There is nothing wrong with Sainet that I know of they just coming in lower than the competition. When it comes to the actual accounts they will be the same as their rivals, but after sale service is something I have no idea about with Sainet.
 
Mr G

Hi Mr G

I think you probably the correct person to speak to. I want to know by you who would be the best option for me.

I want a 384kbps speed and will use about 3gigs per month. No contract, preferring month to month or prepaid. who should i choose?

MrG said:
INCOMPLETE - Work in Progress
Please assist by mentioning packages that should be listed below.​

Buying your bandwidth (ISP Portion) and DSL Line (Line Rental) at once in a bundle
Telkom has recently allowed other Internet Service Providers to resell the ADSL line portion above the SAIX bandwidth they originally provided them with. This new move on the wholesale side from Telkom SA allows various sets of benefits to be passed onto the consumer. Firstly you get one single invoice for your DSL portion of your service as well as what in many cases would be a slight decrease in your monthly broadband expenditure.

"DSL Complete" as I will refer to it varies in cost from provider to provider. I will attempt to list, in the same way I pointed out ISP choices in my previous thread, which ISP offers you the best service for your needs.

What do you need to know?
- You need to have a Telkom Voice line (rented from Telkom) in order to be able to apply for a DSL complete package from an ISP.
- ADSL line installation times are handled totally by Telkom, although the ISP will do their best to speed the process up as much as possible.
- DSL Complete includes your Telkom ADSL line rental and bandwidth charges. DSL Complete allows clients to order a Telkom ADSL line and user bandwidth accounts in a bundled package.
- Does NOT include the Telkom Voice line rental of R111.90 (Home) - R148.68 (Business)
- The total cost of your broadband connection will therefore be DSL Complete costs + Telkom Voice Line Rental.
- You are STILL ABLE to buy seperate ADSL accounts, prepaid, local only, unshaped etc and use it with your DSL Complete ADSL line.

Identify - similar to that of the ISP portion
- What line speed you need and the amount of monthly bandwidth you require.
- Identify what you are willing to spend before you look, then see what fits best into the category from various providers before jumping to the first one you see. Many times you can get a much better deal for your personal needs for less if you shop around.
- (Advanced Users) - If you require accounts that are not standard, e.g Unshaped, Local Only etc it might be best depending on your personal requirements to apply for a DSL Complete package that includes xGB of shaped then using another separate account for unshaped when needed to save on unnecessary expensive bandwidth usage and saving cash. Use your discretion based on personal needs.
- Make sure the backbone of the provider you are using, (IS, SAIX etc) will meet your requirements. Follow the link below regarding information about SAIX, IS etc.

Backbones:
Internet Solutions, Verizon Business, Telkom SAIX
Refer to the information regarding backbone providers from my previous post (near the top) on ISP choices. - http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=54472

Recommended DSL Complete Packages

WebAfrica​


Web Africa's DSL Complete package uses the SAIX backbone to deilver its clients high quality international and local bandwidth. WebAfrica are well known for their excellent quality of service.

Offerings:
384kbps Service with
- 1GB Shaped - R199
- 2GB Shaped - R279
- 3GB Shaped - R340

512kbps Service with
- 1GB Shaped - R370
- 3GB Shaped - R479

4Mbit Service with
- 3GB Shaped - R579
- 10GB Shaped - R890

* Other combinations of speed and bandwidth is available by following the link below.​

Direct Link: Click here to visit the WebAfica home page where you can order any of the above and view other available combinations of services.

Concurrent Connections:
DSL Complete SAIX: 4

Extra Information:

An ADSL modem/router either obtained from Web Africa or a retail outlet. Router included free upon signing a 24 month contract or supplied at R599 incl VAT out of contract when purchasing a DSL Complete package.

As additional accounts you can visit the Which ISP to Choose page - http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=54472 and make use of their Unshaped, IS Local Only and other wide range of offerings to compliment the shaped SAIX you already receive in the DSL Complete bundle.

--------------

Cybersmart DSL Complete

Cybersmart is a ISP that is offering extremely low cost packages for slower lines and people that use 3GB per month. Their 4Mbit DSL Complete bundle is also very competitive.

Offerings:
- 384kbps service with 1GB Shaped bandwidth - R169 per month
- 384kbps service with 3GB Shaped bandwidth - R259 per month
- 512kbps service with 3GB Shaped bandwidth - R429 per month
- 4Mbit service with 3GB Shaped bandwidth - R524 per month

Direct Link
http://www.cybersmart.co.za​

Concurrent Connections:
DSL Complete SAIX: 1

Extra Information:

Cybersmart have some terms and conditions that some people have not been very happy about in the past, however they have never enforced them its worth a read before making your final choice.
You can read them at: http://faq.cybersmart.co.za/index.php?action=artikel&cat=2&id=2&artlang=en

FREE 4 port ADSL router included
(R70 delivery charge)

All packages include a FREE 2048 mb mailbox ([email protected]), an option to freeze prices for 24 months and both price and GIGs bought are prorated after 20th of month.

Information from their homepage: http://www.cybersmart.co.za

--------------

TelkomInternet DoBroadband

TelkomInternet DSL Complete packages uses the SAIX backbone to deilver its clients their international and local bandwidth. However the ISP being TelkomInternet I guess we all knew that. :) If you choose TelkomInternet as your provider you truly will have a one bill broadband solution in terms of only one invoice including the voice segment.

Offerings:
- DoBroadband 1 - R199 per month
DSL 384kbps with 1GB TelkomInternet account

- DoBroadband 2 - R258 per month
DSL 384kbps with 2GB TelkomInternet account

- DoBroadband 3 - R554 per month
DSL 4Mbit with 3GB TelkomInternet account​

Direct Link
Click here to visit the Telkom DoBroadband home page where you can order the service online.

Concurrent Connections:
DSL Complete SAIX: 2 (Not verified)

Extra Information:

Any capping rules that have made headlines in the past on the TelkomInternet accounts apply to these packages as well. At the time of writing the 1GB accounts will get hard capped at 1GB, 2GB hard capped at 4GB and 3GB accounts hard capped at 6GB

I personally recommend this ISP for users that are looking to use more than 3GB and take advantage of the double bandwidth available, if you want to use 3GB only there are far cheaper offerings at the other ISP's mentioned.

--------------

SolConnect

SolConnect is another reseller using the SAIX backbone for their DSL Complete solutions and other related services.

Offerings:
DSLConnect Lite - up to 384 kpbs line with:
1 GB: R199
2 GB: R250
3 GB: R295

DSLConnect - up to 512 kbps line with:

1 GB: R350
2 GB: R399
3 GB: R450

DSLConnect Plus - up to 4096 kbps (4Mbit) line with:

3 GB: R499
5 GB: R575
10 GB: R775
20 GB: R1495
30 GB: R1995

Direct Link - Visit their website for other combinations of bandwidth and traffic speed and also separate DSL accounts.
www.solmatrix.co.za​

Concurrent Connections:
DSL Complete SAIX: 4

Extra Information:

Includes 2 optional e-mail boxes. No contracts or setup fees.
Data top-ups are available and any unused top-up data is carried over.

--------------

M-Web DSL Complete

This entry was designed to mostly show you how M-Web has been ripping their customers off in the past, and still continue to do so today.

Offerings:
- 384kbps service with 1GB Shaped bandwidth - R219 per month
- 384kbps service with 3GB Shaped bandwidth - R399 per month
- 512kbps service with 3GB Shaped bandwidth - R549 per month
- 4Mbit service with 3GB Shaped bandwidth - R579 per month
- 4Mbit service with 12GB Shaped bandwidth - R1249 per month

Direct Link
http://www.mweb.co.za/home/join/adsl_pricing.aspx​

Concurrent Connections:
DSL Complete SAIX: 4

Extra Information:

All I can say is dont go for this provider. If you know an M-Web provider, tell him/her about the other options. You may get a couple of extra gigabytes for the same price. Their prices are certainly not justified.

--------------​

As per the previous threads please advise if you are aware of any offerings that should be listed. Also alert me of any mistakes or corrections that need to be made.

Regards,
MrG

PLEASE NOTE: The information available from myself (MrG) anywhere on this forum is designed for assistance only, I do NOT in anyway guarantee the prices to be reflected accurately, although I do attempt to keep them as accurate as possible. The information regarding prices for these ADSL offerings and/or other mentioned products are subject to change and are dependent on the pricing structure employed by Telkom/SAIX/IS/Verizon, the internet service provider of choice and any other entity involved in providing the final service.
Click to expand...
 
Stevie G said:
Hi Mr G

I think you probably the correct person to speak to. I want to know by you who would be the best option for me.

I want a 384kbps speed and will use about 3gigs per month. No contract, preferring month to month or prepaid. who should i choose?
Click to expand...

That one!

:D
 
Azgard said:
Can someone confirm how many concurrent connections Telkom allows?
Click to expand...

Per their website for the 1 & 2 GB packages only 1 concurrent and for the 3 GB package 2 or 4 depending on if you subscribe to the Advanced or Premium product. I am on the advanced package and am able to connect on at least 4 connections concurrently:).
 
Hmm.. that's quite bad!

I just signed up for the 2GB package as it works out less than I'm currently paying, but I need at least two concurrent connections.. :/

I guess I'll have to make a plan.
 
Azgard said:
Hmm.. that's quite bad!

I just signed up for the 2GB package as it works out less than I'm currently paying, but I need at least two concurrent connections.. :/

I guess I'll have to make a plan.
Click to expand...

Well, i had the same problem when i WAS a telkom customer. After about an hour on the phone i managed to get the consultant to increase the concurrent connection limit on my adsl. THEY CAN CHANGE IT. But be sure to throw the term "concurrent connections" at them. He did`nt have the slightest idea what i was talking about until i mentioned that. He was like "ohhh i see something like that on my screen".

Best of luck, never nice calling telkom

On a side note, i had a Do Broadband 2 package (just in case you where wondering)
 
Last edited:
Why not include Sainet?

They have the cheapest complete packages, especially with higher usage. Their prices are actually very impressive for how long they've been around.
 
I'm on MWEB's 384 all inclusive 2GB at the moment and the contract is coming to an end.
But now i don't know what to do, if i should stay with them or go to another ISP, where i know i can get more gigs for less price... but maybe more hassles?
I was thinking about cybersmarts 384 3GB package, which seems good value, and they are unshaped.
I dont have a problem with mweb and the free unlimited local is nice, but no idea how long thats gonna last.
I do need local as we need access to varsity sites at home, and after cap has been reached it is nice to still have access to that
Anyone able to shed some light?

Thanks
 
Mweb seems to offer the best deal at the mo - prices about the same as Telkom's DoBB offering, 10GB local b/width p/m, 5 hours free wi-fi hotspot access p/m & free broadband modem. For instance the 1GB package costs R199 p/m (adsl line rental included) with the above thrown in. No contracts, better service than Telkom (though that's not saying much). Altogether a pretty good deal IMO.
 
Solmatrix is VERY ubreliable at the moment!!

Try phone them for support or account query and they don’t answer EVER. There phone has not worked for weeks.
Internet connection fails daily, and because you can’t speak to them on the phone for support, you have to email and pray. Usually the next day Solmatrix replies that all is fine on their side and suddenly you can connect. If you download more than about 500MB in a session you loose connectivity again until you send another email.
 
If you are into gaming, stay very far away from Telkom's Do packages. They promise great speed and reliability, but if it is a shaped account you are going to struggle and be frustrated. They drop your line for 10 to 30 seconds quite frequently during bussiness hours and regularly during evening hours. I'm stuck with a two year(Do3) contract for which I pay approx. R550 and I have to wait untill close to midnight before I can play EVE online without being dropped.
 
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