Help - What internet package to use in Cape Town?

[Mike Voden (RIP)]

Since Shannon introduced Jen & myself to "O'mundonline" and the bug has bitten, we will need to get connected to some sort of internet service when we return to Gordon's Bay. Do any of you know the best and most reliable way to get connected and what are the best packages available..........?????????

Mike told me that Telkom is a big ripoff, so hence the request

[Clive Symes]

Hi Mike,

Agree that Telkom is a rip off. Check out if you have coverage for I-Burst as they do allow ( according to their flyer) for unused data to be carried over. All the others, if you dont use it you lose it.

[Bertie Horak]

I agree with Clive.  Yes, Telkom is a rip-off.
The first thing to find out is what your reception is like for the different companies in your area (probably from other users or computer companies).

My M-Web account (and Vodafone 3G) works very well, I seldom have any problems, but I can not carry my unused Gigs over to the next month.  So if Clive is correct and their flyer is trustworthy, I-Burst might be a good option. 

Anybody using I-burst to give some more info please?

[Clive Symes]

Hi Bertie,
Ja I just use the Vodacom 3G card, it does however pee me off that on occassion I lose the unused portion of what I have pais for.
Only reason I am still with Vodacom is the coverage around the country, being able to connect while I am away on business.

Would like to hear from any one using I-Burst

[Mike Voden (RIP)]

Hi Clive / Bertie,

Thanks for your valuable input. Mike is going to find out more for me tomorrow but it looks as if I-Burst is looking good.

Will keep you posted..

[sigmund storm]

Mike and Jenny
If you are looking at I-burst wireless in Gordon's Bay, I am afraid it won't be much use.
Look here http://coverage.iburst.co.za/coverage.html for I-burst coverage in Gordons Bay.

From friends in the peninsula, I understand that if you don't fall in the dark orange area, you are going to have more
frustrations than on-line time.

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

Sigmund is quite right... we wanted I-burst but doesn't work in our area. Telkom ...yes I haven't heard one good report.
Like Bertie I am using Vodacom 3g. Found it a bit frustrating at first..kept disconnecting. Now I use the double headed lead that plugs the modum into 2 ports and Voila. Also I have discovered that the modum must be placed just in the right spot. (Well in my house anyway) I moved my desk 2meters across the room and could only pick up 2g, when I moved it back it worked. On occasion when I have a problem connecting I move the modum across a few inches and its fine. I don't know if what I do is relevent but works for me. I have a 2g contract that costs R499.99 a month and I probably use 80% of it. Oh yes had a problem connecting last week and phoned them,they were having problems with their throughput which affected the e220 modum. I've now set my setting to manual and all is fine.
Good L*rd I'm nearly a computer boffin.   

[Gregg]

I don't know if this will be of any use to you, but here is an article published on mybroadband.co.za.

The full link is: http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Broadband/7219.html


The best broadband deals
Staff Writer, MyBroadband
09 March, 2009 02:29:00

Many new ADSL and 3G/HSDPA products were launched recently. We look for the best new deals in town

2009 has not yet produced a broadband price war amoung operators, as was predicted by many observers.  Telkom’s ADSL pricing has remained unchanged since August 2007 and apart from a few small adjustments the mobile providers have not made any significant price cuts since the early-2007 mobile price war.

Price cuts are however still likely to happen before mid-2009 with the promise of higher usage limits and more innovative offerings.  It is well known that both Vodacom and MTN are working on new pricing structures, and it may be a bit of a cat and mouse game on who will launch their new pricing first.

Best mobile broadband deals around

While the operators are considering their options, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have been launching innovative new services in the ADSL and wireless broadband space.

Maybe the most innovative is Sainet’s SMART Access and 3G/HSDPA services, offering ADSL and 3G access combined into one account using a single username and password.

The company launched a R99 account which allows a user to use either 1.5GB of ADSL bandwidth, 250MB of HSDPA bandwidth or a combination of the two.  The ISP also launched its 3G/HSDPA offering which, apart from being well priced, allows for bandwidth rollover.

While bandwidth rollover is nothing new in the ADSL market, Sainet’s SMART Access and 3G/HSDPA services are the first to allow unlimited bandwidth rollover in the mobile broadband market.  Its 50c per MB out of bundle rate is another added bonus which makes it an attractive alternative to Vodacom and MTN’s offerings.

On a per-MB level Telkom’s Do Mobile service is the most affordable mobile broadband service in South Africa.  Telkom undercut Vodacom, MTN and Cell C on data bundles, and reduced the out-of-bundle rate to 30c per MB. 

Telkom’s HSDPA offering is also the fastest broadband service currently available in South Africa, making it a very attractive option for consumers who are in Telkom’s 3G coverage area.

New ADSL Deals

ADSL users have also been given a variety of new choices over the last few weeks, including cheaper rates for after hours Internet usage.

Axxess launched its ADSL 626 account in March, offering its subscribers unshaped ADSL bandwidth at R45 per GB for after-hours usage.  During the week from 6 pm to 6 am, and weekends from Friday 6 pm to Monday 6 am, users will get full unshaped Internet access suitable for services such as online gaming and P2P programs.

Cybersmart’s Night Rider product, which allows for five times the normal cap for usage between 1 am and 7 am in the morning, remains popular amoung tech-savvy users looking for cheaper, higher usage limit accounts.

The company’s Grow for Life product, where subscribers grow their cap by 3 MB per day, and its soon-to-be-launched freeUp service, allowing for unlimited uplink bandwidth, only serves to entrench customer loyalty amoung Cybersmart users.

Old favourites

Apart from the newly launched broadband ISP offerings there are a few old favourites which continue to offer good value for money.

MWEB’s unlimited local bandwidth, which accompanies the ISP’s standard ADSL accounts, remains popular while Telkom Internet’s soft-cap and extra local bandwidth after being capped adds value to its subscribers.

For high end users Neotel’s NeoConnect and NeoFlex services, offering monthly usage limits from 10 GB to uncapped from R 599.00 to R 999.00 per month, remains unrivalled in the current broadband environment.  The company’s out-of-bundle rate of 8c per MB is also numerous times lower than what mobile users have grown accustomed to.

And then there is the ever popular Blackberry service, offering subscribers’ unlimited device based data usage for R 59.00 per month.  This offering also includes a free GPS Navigation service.

Vodacom recently launched a prepaid Blackberry service, priced at R 59.00 per month, and reduced its contract rate for the service from R 69.00 per month to R 59.00 per month, a move which is sure to attract more users to the service.

Hope this is of some help.

[SandyB]

For me  the  MTN 3 G  -- got laptop .. so totally portable ... one pays for what one wants .. but yes  await next price war  .. only prob is the 2 Yr  contract .. 

[Gregg]

For what it's worth...

In Napier we have the following available...

Vodacom Tower - However no bells and whistles. When Autopage came and did some tests about 2 years ago they found only the very basis services were available. Connections were slow.

Wireless - Unreliable. Speeds are more-or-less good but the ISP servicing the area has frequent downtimes. Set-up costs are about R2000. No Cap. Monthly costs start off at about R250.

Telkom Dial-up - Slow. Expensive. Unreliable. Avoid.

Telkom ISDN - Not investigated by me. Didn't feel this was a worthwhile option.

Telkom DSL - Speeds are good. Only available in Napier recently (about a year now). This is what I have and, believe it or not as I am not a Telkom fan, I am happy with the service. The out-of-bundle costs are high (R80.00 per GB) but basic packages seem okay. On-line support is useless but phone-in support is good (must be the only Telekom service that is!). If you want the 'free' router/modem you have to sign a 2 year contract. Monthly costs start off at about R300.

Again, hope this is of some help in making your choice.