Zero rated steam data: Possibility or pipe dream

[rustic]

Hi Guys,

i know this is probably a pipe dream, but i'd like to get vodacom's input on this.

I don't have access to copper lines in our area, and so am forced to choose between the various Cell providers for my internet needs.

Has the question of zero rated steam data been brought up recently by this community, and if not i think it should be.

I try to buy my games in DVD format for obvious reasons, but lately that doesn't seem to matter because of the very large patches that are so often released right after you buy the game, some of them in the region of 10 gigs now. With 20 gigs costing in the region of R1000 it costs you about what the game does just to patch it.

I am no tech guru, but could vodacom not get access to the server in jhb and put down a cable to thier own exchange or whatever. I would be willing to pay a monthly fee for this and would be happy with a throttled speed.

I'm not sure how active the vodacom rep is on this forum but any feedback from him would be great.

I think the gaming community is large enough to warrent some consideration in this matter.

 

[AlmightyBender]

LOL verdict = pipe dream

This is Vodacom after all who do things like make you pay R5 first before getting a discount on international call rates. Keep dreaming dude.

 

[Electric]

Please give me something for free, I spend R1000 for so little.

Vodacom, yes yes, we know.

 

[drs]

I am no tech guru, but could vodacom not get access to the server in jhb and put down a cable to thier own exchange or whatever.

That's not the expensive part for Vodacom. The biggest problem is that each base station only has so much capacity (limited fundamentally by the limited spectrum that they've been allocated by ICASA), which is shared amongst all of Vodacom's customers in that area. If gamers could download large downloads from Steam with no consequences to them, Vodacom's other customers in the area would suffer. ADSL is different in that the links from the DSLAM to each customer are dedicated to that customer.

In both cases, backhaul from the base station or DSLAM is expensive (and can become congested).

 

[rustic]

That's not the expensive part for Vodacom. The biggest problem is that each base station only has so much capacity (limited fundamentally by the limited spectrum that they've been allocated by ICASA), which is shared amongst all of Vodacom's customers in that area. If gamers could download large downloads from Steam with no consequences to them, Vodacom's other customers in the area would suffer. ADSL is different in that the links from the DSLAM to each customer are dedicated to that customer.

In both cases, backhaul from the base station or DSLAM is expensive (and can become congested).

Hi Drs,

Thank you for the answer, it certainly puts things into perspective. Appreciate it.