Telkom mobile (8ta)

**ians** · 30-Jun-13, 09:44 PM

I have worked in some really remote areas like next to rivers miles away from anything, up in the mountains and I am yet to be the one without a signal. I have had the odd run in with them (MTN) but over minor issues, been on pay as go for as long as I can remember, tried the Virgin mobile contract, it sounded like a good deal at the time, it lost me a lot of money due to their little ooops which got them on consumer watch on East Radio, but still to this day never fixed the problem or lived up to their promises they made.

**ians** · 01-Jul-13, 08:29 AM

Seems this problem with the data is not only with Telkom mobile, chatting to a mate yesterday he told me he also got whacked with an insane bill last month.

It seems people take out contract with data packages, what you don't take note of is the small print or the finer details, like Telkom you get 350 meg free data, they just don't tell you that it is only Telkom data and not data to other networks, you have to actually buy data to other networks otherwise you get billed at R1.00 per meg. You can buy packages which will save you a little, but you don't get the bundles at the same rate as the Telkom mobile data bundle, you pay more for the data to other networks a lot more.

It also seems to be the case with airtime, MTN to MTN for example cost x amount but if you call another network form an MYN phone it cost you a different rate.

Just more scams the cellphone companies have managed to get away with, to rip off the public, and boy are we collecting, people are so dazzled by smart phones and what looks like a deal they are not reading the contracts properly and understanding what they are getting themselves in for.

SOMETHING YOU NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL OF...using data and airtime in "OPEN CONTRACTS" (for all networks)which is a method the cellphone companies use to rip a hole your backside, by the time you realise what happened you could be in for a whack of a bill. What I did to overcome this problem is I have limited the contract s to what ever they offered ie...if I am offered 350 meg then that is what my limit is, once I reach this limit they cannot just bill me R1.00 per meg I have to reload using a voucher, only then can I load more data then I don't buy Telkom data because it is useless, I buy Telkom to other network data, which is more expensive but seems to work a lot faster.

I have noticed up to 5 Mbps for other networks, but if I use Telkom data, I am lucky to get download speeds of over 0.7 Mbps download speed.

**ians** · 02-Jul-13, 07:48 PM

Today was the last straw, I tried to use the iphone5 to download a user manual for a customer, made a right arse of myself, couldn't get the phone to log onto the internet, this is now in Durban, full 8ta signal with 3G displayed on the screen.

So I go to the Telkom store,
while I am there ask about my R11 000 bill, which is being sorted,
I ask why I cant use the 8 sms which come with the Telkom mix bundle for the last 3 months, I am told that Telkom are busy trying to sort it out with Apple, it seems there is a problem with the iphone5 software will not work with the Telkom sms network, that 3 months of 8 free sms down the crapper, because it doesn't carry over.
Why I cannot connect to the internet with a full 8ta 3G signal displayed on the screen, checked the settings and it looks like I have to switch on data roaming haven't tried it yet but will tomorrow when I am back on site, when I put my MTN sim card it works like a charm without using data roaming, so I don't know.
Still trying to figue out how the Telkom data and data to other networks work and why when the data to other networks expires my data useage is paused even if I still have Telkom Data.

For f%^&* sakes there must be some sort of legal action I can take, they are in breach of contract, I have signed a 24 contract with Telkom to render a service, which means I should have a defect free working phone with at least coverage in the built up areas. It is not like I am complaining because I work in some remote location where is no available signal. You watch the ad on TV where one person goes into the meeting, what a load of crap.

I also believe they should have to explain the pros and cons to this Telkom mobile data useage and to other networks, when you sign up the contract.

**ians** · 05-Jul-13, 08:47 AM

Working in Davenport Rd Durban, no network coverage, full bars with 8 ta and 3G indicated on the screen, just keeps rolling when you try update or connect to the internet, the phones rings and I can make calls but thats it, which means I cant use the internet to download emails, cant sync evernote to work on site, cant use whatsapp to send messages to supplier to order material, I cant even sms even though Telkom offer me 8 free sms per month, which expire every month because you cant sms from an iphone5 using Telkom mobile network, so sad.

**ians** · 05-Jul-13, 08:53 AM

The other joke is I have just noticed Telkom mobile is offering LTE, they cant even get the internet right how on earth are they going to get 3 G never mind LTE. I can tell you that I am yet to see LTE on my iphone5 using the Telkom mobile (8ta) sim card, with my MTN sim in the iphone5 I get LTE and full signal.