The day TEAMS and local ISPs offer the realistic rates of dedicated 1Mbps (125KBp/s duplex dedciated ) @100/125USD is the day I stop using 3g networks except for mobility. I agree that the 21Mbps network is really good as I've measured upto 9Mbps on Orange. I've not gone deeper into the new generation HSXXX networks, but I believe there are significantly new changes in managing services which affect the overall network performance. At the same time, I don't rule out Safcom on the regular 3g but it will find itself having to make a jump to upgrading the technologies in due course. Rgds. On Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 12:29 PM, Bernard Mwagiru <bmwagiru@gmail.com>wrote:
TEAMS being cheaper could be the reason Safcom(and everyone else) has 70% of its traffic on it.
Again, I don't think anyone routes internet traffic via satellite, the latencies notwithstanding.Since you mentioned unlimited internet, that could point to b/w hoggers. 20% of users on unlimited plan offerings can bring a n/w to its knees, and serious users like you and I suffer terrible latency in the process.
Looking at major ISP traffic usage, there's more DL than UL traffic. That could be the reason most mobile telcos would rather concentrate their energies (and money) on HSDPA rather than HSUPA. Also, remember the days when safcom launched 3G? Those good old days when 3g modems were in the hands of the rich few, browsing felt like (heaven?). For those who are lucky enough to fall within safcom's or Orange's HSPA+ 21Mbps areas, they can attest to the wonder. But as experience shows, those 10k/- modems contest with the rest of us outside the HSPA+ areas. Still boils down to what's customer's need Vs. what's business sense. For those with own fiber backhaul (e.g. orange) rolling a 21Mbps site may feel less painful. I still feel reliability tops the priority list, followed by coverage then speed.
./bernard