Why is everyone suddenly uncapped? Here is the answer:

[zombie]

I'm sure everyone's noticed that in December, it seemed like noone was being capped.
Well yesterday I discovered that the "Bandwidth Usage Report" I get from TelkomSA has changed suddenly. (You can opt to get an email with this report from them periodically, though it never comes on the same day of the week, and sometimes not at all ;P )

Here we go:

Please bear in mind that this is a usage-based service and as such is subject to a threshold.

TelkomInternet have opted to offer you an average usage option that will keep you online until such time that the average
usage for all subscribers reaches the service threshold.

This means that we are allowing unrestricted access beyond your threshold instead of simply curtailing the service.
However, your service may be discontinued once the average usage for all subscribers has been reached. You will then be
required to top-up your threshold to remain online.

Please comment on this or submit any extra information you might have.

 

[zombie]

Now I see there is an official statement at telkomsa.net on the home page.
So depending on who your ISP is you will either be on the usage based system or the hard capped system.
I wonder what it takes to drive the average usage over the 3GB mark. ;P

 

[Carlhead]

You didn't need to start a new thread regards this, there are already 3 discussing it...

Thanks for the effort though

 

[zombie]

Whoops overlooked those
Mods please delete this thread!

 

[qdada]

How exactly is this threshold calculated ?

Is it 300 TB (3GB X 100 000) ? so once the subscriber base use more than 300 TB then its hard cap?

 

[zombie]

I don't think it's the subscriber base that is capped. You as a single subscriber can use more than 3GB and remain uncapped as long as the average usage of the subscriber base which you are in is below 3GB.
If you have used more than 3GB and the average is above 3GB as well, then you are hard-capped. If you have used less than 3GB and the average is above 3GB, then you are not hard-capped until you exceed 3GB.

 

[pretdsl]

Really ridiculous capping method

The new average-based capping method is making some people happy because they can go well over the 3gb limit by the time they do get capped, but u never do know exactly what day u will be capped.
It could be on the 5th of the month or the 25th, depending on which way the bytes blow

As an aside thought:
If being capped meant u were limited to 56k modem speed, it wouldnt hurt as much. You can still get your email, do a google search etc.
Many coutries adopt this method, where being capped means down-grading your service to a lower speed, not being disconnected completly as done in the Telkomheid policy.

 

[Slooth]

The new average-based capping method is making some people happy because they can go well over the 3gb limit by the time they do get capped, but u never do know exactly what day u will be capped.
It could be on the 5th of the month or the 25th, depending on which way the bytes blow

As an aside thought:
If being capped meant u were limited to 56k modem speed, it wouldnt hurt as much. You can still get your email, do a google search etc.
Many coutries adopt this method, where being capped means down-grading your service to a lower speed, not being disconnected completly as done in the Telkomheid policy.

Many countries don't have a cap, lets not settle for second best

 

[CcD]

What really frustrates me is the fact that only TelkomInternet ADSL offers a relaxed capping system. No other ISP can offer the same service. There are months when I only use 2.5 GB's of my cap and the remaining 500 MB's gets lost in cyberspace. So the month when I need to go over my 3 GB limit I need to buy a booster pack. (Sorry if something similar was said elsewhere, but I need to say it as well)

The fact that we still have such a low cap even after an ICASA report and lots of complaints by users is beyond words. How does Telkom respond to complaints and criticism. By implementing a hard cap. Just to show that they can and Icasa can not do anything about it.