This month, Telkom began implementing its AUP on its uncapped LTE accounts – which have otherwise been fantastic for those of us working in media-heavy jobs. Being able to have fast, high speed internet without having to worry about data usage is great.
That FUP was set at 200GB, showing that Telkom has no idea how uncapped products are meant to work. It effectively crippled us as a site, as many of us use it for our game downloads and for posting. Consumers became irate, as you’d imagine – as the uncapped they were sold was, essentially, a lie.
Telkom has now revised its AUP. In a press release Telkom has confirmed that its new FUP is set at a slightly more reasonable 300GB, with speed throttling in place after that. At 300GB of usage, the connection is throttled to 4Mb/s for 50GB. After that? It goes down to 2Mb/s – though the press release suggests it’ll only stay that way for a further 50GB. After 400GB? Who knows.
“We are confident that our revised Fair Use Policy offers greater value for our high data usage customers without compromising the connectivity experience of our other customers. In the few instances in which we are forced to apply the FUP, we have ensured that customers still have a fast enough connection to ensure that their service is still usable for the remainder of the month,” explained Telkom spokesperson, Ms Jacqui O’Sullivan.
“Our decision to implement the Fair Use Policy is premised on our commitment to deliver a quality connectivity to experience to all our customers. Even in instances where our FUP is applied the reduction in speed will still allow for content streaming.”
Telkom asserts that the 2Mb/s is sufficient for watching Netflix and Showmax in SD. Uncapped? Sure. If the new limits aren’t agreeable to you, Telkom says it’ll release contracts without penalty.
“We understand that quality data connectivity is in high demand our new FUP reflects our understanding of this. We have made every effort to ensure that customers receive a quality data experience. However, in instances where existing LTE Uncapped customers may have requirements beyond what we can cater for on this specific LTE product, we would like to engage these customers on alternate products better suited to their needs. We are also willing to release these customers impacted by the FUP from their existing contracts without any penalty,” said O’Sullivan.
Last Updated: September 20, 2016
Milesh Bhana
September 20, 2016 at 15:52
Honestly, for R599pm, i can live with this. I do still have to be mindful of my usage though, which is a schlep I was hoping to not have.
Dungeon of JJ
September 20, 2016 at 16:04
R599 is crazy cheap for that kind of internet.
Allykhat
September 21, 2016 at 08:47
What is gaming and pings like on the LTE?
Lu
September 21, 2016 at 11:41
What’s ping? XD In all seriousness though I get around 24ms latency on SA dota servers, 340 – 400 on EU West. Evolve stage 2 runs smoothly (dunno if they have SA servers or not). I can’t think of other online games that I’ve played recently. Hope it helps.
Guava_Eater
September 21, 2016 at 12:06
Generally good, I play a lot of Destiny and Battlefield 4.
It’s not always good, but then neither is anything else short of a Fiber connection.
Shane Jansen
September 21, 2016 at 08:50
Some of us are paying 799 pm
The Order of the Banana
September 20, 2016 at 15:53
Dear Telkom, the problem is, if your users wanted a 2Mb line, they wouldn’t pay extra for LTE, they would just get a 2Mb line and use it for facebook, twitter (spit) and porn.
Instead, these users are paying a premium. Do the right thing, stop being a dick. Let them download terrabytes of porn if they want to. Stop throttling your customers. This isn’t 2001.
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 20, 2016 at 15:55
Free the banana! 4K banana for everyone!
Dungeon of JJ
September 20, 2016 at 16:01
No, we don’t want that.
Original Heretic
September 20, 2016 at 16:00
I agree with everything the banana man says. Except for the Terabytes of porn thing.
People who claim to watch a lot of porn are lying. They watch 5 min, maybe 10 min, at most.
Dutch Matrix
September 20, 2016 at 16:03
People should not watch porn!
Original Heretic
September 20, 2016 at 16:03
People don’t, their evil twins do. The bastards.
Dutch Matrix
September 20, 2016 at 16:07
Death to the Evil Twins!
HvR
September 20, 2016 at 16:09
So you are suggestion that the Geoff should be watching the same 5min over and over 12 times a day?
Original Heretic
September 20, 2016 at 16:11
I suggest nothing. Don’t quote me, I’m generally full of hot air and shit up to my gills.
Gareth Runnalls
September 20, 2016 at 17:58
its Geoff, 30 seconds should be plenty. 😀
Gareth Runnalls
September 20, 2016 at 17:58
Why do they even download it when there are plenty of sites to just stream it from?… so I have heard *cough*
RinceThis
September 20, 2016 at 18:07
I will tweet at you!
Dungeon of JJ
September 20, 2016 at 16:00
That’s not really bad at all. Except if you’re using it for business, of course. 200GB is already quite decent.
Guild
September 20, 2016 at 16:33
I would have agreed with you but since I’ve changed our setup at home for just streaming. 200GB is far from enough. On a 4Mb DSL line I was doing around 250GB a month. Now on 20Mb fiber I’m close to 400GB. But that’s also because I’ve changed from buying physical games to downloading them.
Dutch Matrix
September 20, 2016 at 16:01
But surely if you use more than 300GB of data a month, maybe looking at another package is the better way to go?
Geoffrey Tim
September 20, 2016 at 16:03
As reminde rof why people are pissed – this is the product that was sold. http://i1.wp.com/www.lazygamer.net/images/2016/09/Telkom-LTE-Contract.jpg
Dungeon of JJ
September 20, 2016 at 16:05
They just HAD to put the word “almost” in there 😛 That’s where they’ve kept themselves safe.
Geoffrey Tim
September 20, 2016 at 16:05
“for these you will NEVER be capped or throttled…”
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 20, 2016 at 16:06
http://i.imgur.com/522rD5n.gif
RinceThis
September 20, 2016 at 18:09
You have no feelings!
Dungeon of JJ
September 20, 2016 at 16:07
Yea, I know, I’m just joking. There’s no doubt they’re in the wrong here.
I still think R599 is cheap for 200GB at those speeds.
Original Heretic
September 20, 2016 at 16:08
If you’re not hitting that cap, then yeah, it’s a good deal. But damn, being sold one thing and then getting another, that’s piss ANY consumer off.
Dungeon of JJ
September 20, 2016 at 16:10
For sure. And all ISPs do have some kind of cap in their “fair usage” range. Telkom just made the mistake of saying it’ll never be capped.
Dutch Matrix
September 20, 2016 at 16:08
Yeah, so Telkom coming out and saying “No no! You have 300GB still is a bit of a penis move right there!”
Dutch Matrix
September 20, 2016 at 16:06
No no. I get your frustration! Sorry, not meant to pick a fight or anything. It sucks what has happened, but as of now, not much can be done?
Original Heretic
September 20, 2016 at 16:07
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8ecdd25a82720d966c6892a1edb73978e2c76d9b176172e322297deeb9ffe8f1.jpg
Dungeon of JJ
September 20, 2016 at 16:08
I try to avoid anything Telkom as far as I can in general
Original Heretic
September 20, 2016 at 16:10
I’m looking to get a hard line installed now, so that I can get me some proper DSL and not some Cell C LTE thing, which goes up and down in speed all the time.
And here in PE, I am forced to use Helkom.
Dungeon of JJ
September 20, 2016 at 16:11
Ah. Yea, I’m obviously on a Telkom line, but my ISP is Afrihost. They’re just eons ahead when it comes to service delivery.
Original Heretic
September 20, 2016 at 16:12
That’s EXACTLY who I’m looking to go with. As soon as I can get my landline sorted out. Which might be round this year sometime, with the service Telkom gives.
R1ker
September 20, 2016 at 17:01
They really have good deals at the moment. I am on a 150gb + 150gb so essentially 300gb capped package at the moment. And the recently changed it so you have uncapped from midnight until 6pm – yes 6PM!!
HvR
September 20, 2016 at 16:12
Except for delivering anything faster than 512kbps to my house
Dungeon of JJ
September 20, 2016 at 16:15
Well, that should be the line that’s the problem, shouldn’t it?
HvR
September 20, 2016 at 16:29
Nope same as Mr Miaau, they blame the line but other ISP’s have no problem achieving line speed
miaau
September 20, 2016 at 16:17
yeah, they were not exactly great for me, but I know many people who are very happy there. They blamed the telkom line, but changing to other ISPs to test proved that a lie.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
September 20, 2016 at 16:41
Balls. I cancelled my uncapped three days after the start date. Three weeks later (last Friday) those utterly FANTASTIC geniuses still debited my account.
Telkom can suck it as far as I’m concerned. Don’t believe their parastatal bullshit
For the Emperor!
September 21, 2016 at 06:55
My existing contract was eligible for an upgrade to the uncapped contract. Guess who stuffed up (not me) and now I am stuck paying TWO contracts until the older one has run its course. Luckily I gave it to my parents to use until then so at least getting some value. And here like a fool I recommended them because the LTE was so great when it started.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
September 21, 2016 at 13:08
Are you even surprised?
For the Emperor!
September 21, 2016 at 13:47
Lol no, not at all. That is the worst part of it – that this does not surprise anymore!
Guava_Eater
September 21, 2016 at 12:01
Banks can usually reverse debit orders if you dispute them.
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
September 21, 2016 at 13:06
Done already but that shouldn’t have been necessary in the first place. What’s the purpose of a cool-off period if they do nothing about it?
Guava_Eater
September 21, 2016 at 15:05
Cool of period is for you to change your mind. Unfortunately their “Reaction Period” is much much longer….
I Love Telkom
September 20, 2016 at 16:54
Just a note – Telkom is technically not capping anything. They are throttling to the extreme, but capping implies you reach a limit and you are cut off completely.
Anyway – I’m happy with the compromise if I look at what is available elsewhere.
Raptor Rants
September 20, 2016 at 16:59
throttling a product they promised never to throttle*
Fixed that for you.
I Love Telkom
September 20, 2016 at 17:17
Yes, I agree and I’m still not 100% happy. But happy with the compromise.
For the Emperor!
September 21, 2016 at 06:58
Another problem is that their site does not allow a way to monitor. On my other account, when I hit the page (if it even works), it shows my usage and cap left. When I hit it with this one, all it says is ‘uncapped’ or ‘unlimited’. So no way to know you are close other than checking the device which explicitly says it may not be accurate you have to look at your data provider. Unless someone can point me to a proper usage monitor on their site?
HairyEwok
September 20, 2016 at 16:54
Theres people who actually use more than 300GB a month O.o im struggling to just hit 200GB usage a month with a 10 meg line.
Gavin Mannion
September 20, 2016 at 16:56
I use over 500gb a month on a 4mb line… 100% no torrents.. it’s just streaming, gaming and work
HairyEwok
September 20, 2016 at 16:59
Holy balls, and here I thought I was a hardcore internet user. :/
I’m not worthy to be in your presence oh mighty internet user.
Gareth Runnalls
September 20, 2016 at 17:55
Yeah, we were doing over 250gb a month and were regularly capped on our 4mb uncapped Telkom line. Its actually an 8mb line, but Telkom could never get it to stay synced at 8mb. We moved to crystalweb for their delicious 600gb FUP, and now we have a steady 8mb and we havent given our cap a second thought in a couple of months, its the BOMB.
Lu
September 21, 2016 at 07:42
In August, I had 3 weekends of Netflix marathons, and downloaded a few games. My router’s monitor (which restarts every month) was on 857gb by the end of the month. Literally only Steam and Netflix.
geel slang
September 21, 2016 at 09:54
HD Video streaming, 300GB is nothing.
Deceased
September 21, 2016 at 09:55
O.o
What are you doing with your line?!
As Gavin pointed out – 500GB a month is nothing ( even without torrenting ) … Good lord, that’s like 5 modern games :O
Raptor Rants
September 20, 2016 at 16:57
They had to. They didn’t have a choice. Not releasing customers with no penalty would have meant class-action law suits
For the Emperor!
September 21, 2016 at 06:53
Quick question for others on Scumkom LTE – where does one properly monitor ones usage? I found NOTHING on their site (all it says is ‘unlimited’ or ‘uncapped’), plus they don’t send usage reports.
They are also obliged to NOTIFY us when their terms are changed – I received no notification! Only saw this in the press AFTER they had started their crap. And they will let me out of the contract – what does THAT help? They have refused to give me a damn line at home after it was stolen in 2011 so I have no alternative!
Geoffrey Tim
September 21, 2016 at 06:54
Send an SMS from your router’s interface to 188. It can be blank, though some have better luck sending one saying “BAL”
For the Emperor!
September 21, 2016 at 07:00
Thanks will give it a try when I get home.
Lu
September 21, 2016 at 10:39
Also there’s a “Statistics” tab on your router’s interface that on default is set to clear on the first of each month.
For the Emperor!
September 21, 2016 at 10:43
True, but it says on that page that it might be inaccurate and that one should still refer to the data plan. Since I am the only user with access to the router, nobody else can check that while I am away. On the normal LTE plan they can hit the Telkom page and see the data remaining.
Lu
September 21, 2016 at 11:33
Yeah I saw that when I switched from ADSL to LTE. The interface itself also isn’t the most user friendly.