Cellular20.03.2013

Free “unlimited” WiFi from Telkom Mobile

Telkom Mobile free WiFi

Telkom officially launched its rebranding of 8ta to Telkom Mobile today (20 March 2013), and along with it, free Wi-Fi access for its contract and pre-paid customers under certain conditions.

The Telkom Mobile website (at 8ta.com) explains that contract subscribers will only qualify for the free Wi-Fi service if it is specifically listed as a feature of the offer or deal.

Existing post-paid and hybrid plans launched before 20 March 2013 do not qualify for Free Unlimited Wi-Fi by default.

New post-paid and hybrid offers from the following list also do not qualify by default:

  • SmartPlan 50
  • SmartPlan 100
  • SmartSaver 50
  • SmartSaver 100
  • SmartInternet 250MB
  • SmartInternet 750MB Promo
  • SmartInternet Saver 250MB
  • SmartInternet Saver 750MB Promo
Telkom Mobile free Wi-Fi launch website banner

Telkom Mobile free Wi-Fi launch website banner

So who does qualify?

A quick look at the Telkom Mobile website showed that the BlackBerry Z10 on SmartPlan 100 includes Wi-Fi access, while the same phone on the more expensive Unlimited Voice contract does not get free Wi-Fi.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 on SmartPlan 100 also includes free Wi-Fi.

Many of the contract data packages include Wi-Fi access, though the “Internet 5” promotion that gives 10GB data for R199 per month is one of the few exclusions.

Non-qualifying hybrid subscribers and all pre-paid customers can get free access to Telkom Mobile’s Wi-Fi hotspots by recharging their accounts with a certain amount.

This is summarised in the table below:

Telkom Mobile pre-paid free Wi-Fi access
Recharge Value Usage window Fair use limit
R50-R99.99 7 days 2GB
R100+ 30 days 10GB

In its terms and conditions, Telkom Mobile explains that multiple recharges over R50 during a given window period will not qualify for an additional bundle or extend the window period.

“Subscribers shall be able to qualify for a new Promotional Wi-Fi Bundle when they recharge with R50 or more after the expiry of the 7 day or 30 day access window period,” Telkom said.

Telkom Mobile subscribers will also be able to buy ad-hoc bundles to access the network’s Wi-Fi hotspots. These are priced as follows:

  • Telkom Mobile Wi-Fi 30 minutes: R25
  • Telkom Mobile Wi-Fi 60 minutes: R40

Subscribers can buy Telkom Mobile Wi-Fi bundles through the network’s online self-service portal, or by dialling *180# from a mobile handset or Telkom Mobile dashboard.

Telkom Mobile Wi-Fi hotspot map

Telkom Mobile Wi-Fi hotspot map

Fair usage policy

Qualifying contract and hybrid deals have a fair usage cap of 10GB per month, after which Telkom said the speed will be throttled to 128kbps.

Pre-paid and hybrid customers that get access by recharging may have a lower cap, as shown in the previous table.

According to Telkom, the Wi-Fi service speed shall be reset to normal speed at the beginning of each month.

How to connect

For users to connect to Telkom Mobile’s Wi-Fi hotspots, the operator explained that subscribers will have to set their phones to connect using EAP-SIM authentication.

This will let the SIM cards for qualifying post-paid and hybrid subscribers automatically authenticate them when in a Telkom Mobile Wi-Fi hotpot, the operator said.

Telkom Mobile went on to explain in the FAQ that subscribers will also be able to connect a single extra device such as a notebook or tablet by linking its MAC address to the SIM card.

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