number portability anyone?

[Dave A]

I have a CellC contract myself and I'm not all too happy with their data network. For voice and sms they're fine, but don't even try to browse the net on their network! Kinda like the early days of dial-up: watching those two little computers at the bottom right corner of the screen, hoping like hell they don't go 'dead' for too long.

Welcome Martin!!

I'm afraid Vodcom data can be a little shaky too. But then I think that the CellC signal is being carried by Vodacom...

[duncan drennan]

Interesting article on MyBroadband

In the first three days of number portability, Vodacom welcomed 60 new customers and lost 40 to the rival networks. But they are the most expensive customers it has ever won and lost, since Vodacom contributed R100m towards the system, meaning each person had cost the company R1m to handle, said CEO Alan Knott-Craig yesterday.

The effect was negligible given that Vodacom signed up an average of 29000 more subscribers every day � either first-time users or users defecting from another network without taking their number with them.

Full story on MyBroadband

[Marq]

The effect was negligible given that Vodacom signed up an average of 29000 more subscribers every day

I think that sums it up - this will be more a marketing and branding exercise rather than a wooing competition. I think most subscribers have tried at least two of the three and found them all to be wanting. There is no real benefit in the long run to change other than a really cheap deal - even then...are there any?

[duncan drennan]

I think the real effects are going to take a longer time to start to show. Lots of people are tied to contracts which means migrations will only occur later. Also big companies that want to move everyone will first take a while to see how well the system is working.

I say give it three to six months or so and then we'll start to see truer numbers

[Martin]

Welcome Martin!!

I'm afraid Vodcom data can be a little shaky too. But then I think that the CellC signal is being carried by Vodacom...

Thanks Dave.

True about the CellC signal being carried by Vodacom, but only about 20% of the time. As far as data is concerned, the towers only carry the signal. The operator has their own server(s) connecting to the net. This is where the actual problem comes in.

As a great example: I have a CellC contract - Data sucks and is expensive at R2 per MB. You can buy bundles, but why bother...

I have a second phone with a Virgin SIM. Data is excellent (only EDGE though, but still quite good). All of Virgin's traffic is carried by CellC towers or Voda towers, if CellC is not available.

ie. Same towers, WAAAY different experence.

Moral of the story: It's not so much the towers that are the problem, it's the operator's connection to the internet.

Oh yes, did I mention: Virgin charges 50c per MB straight up (prepaid or contract). No worrying about those stupid bundles.

I hope this makes sense.

[Dave A]

Oh yes it does. Thanks Martin.

I got a sense of the difference last night. Vodacom had issues connecting to USA based sites, no other network carriers were having the same problem.

[Dave A]

My son has just ported from Vodacom to Virgin. He's a pretty happy camper about it all.

It cost him R55, but he gets R50 in airtime, plus a whole bundle of Virgin goodies. The nearest thing to a hiccup is he did it on Friday evening. The actual switch only happens on Monday. Seems the porting only happens during working hours on weekdays.

And his real motivation - data at 50c per MB vs the R2 per MB he was paying at Vodacom.

[Dave A]

Just an update to say the porting went smooth as silk.

I only have one complaint - when you phone a ported number, while putting through the connection you get a rather shrill beep. Don't be in too much of a rush to get the phone to your ear.

[duncan drennan]

I only have one complaint - when you phone a ported number, while putting through the connection you get a rather shrill beep. Don't be in too much of a rush to get the phone to your ear.

I wonder if that is network dependant?

[Dave A]

Don't know. I was calling a Vodacom number that had ported to Cell C