@watchman,

The questions you've raised are valid. Allow me to contribute(I believe Safaricom has an official response somewhere)

1. What are the expected data connection speeds for the bundle? 
This is dependent uponthe bundle type.Safcom launched data bundles to suit the different categories of users.Choose the data plan the suits you here: http://www.safaricom.co.ke/mydataplan/. Unlimited plans are throttled. As to the actual throttled speed, you are better off tweeting @bobcollymore : http://www.kachwanya.com/2011/07/28/safaricom-unlimited-data-bundle-speed-at-256kbps-not-baaad-but/
In addition, the time-based bundle 2/- per min is also capped/throttled.
 My understanding and experience is that the throttled bandwidth has been adjusted with time in accordance with customer demands, many times via the power of Skunkworks :-). 


2. What are the expected data connection speeds on 3G with Safaricom?
For the limited bundles and out bundle usage, I have managed an average of 800Kbps and a peak of 2Mbps on ftp and heavily seeded torrents.This is on the HSDPA(3.5G). For HSPA+, speed test shows a peak of about 5Mbps DL http://db.tt/EYcCIe0N.In other words, no fair usage policy applied. A disclaimer though is the prevailing environment conditions that are known to affect the quality of radio signal covering your area e.g. hilly terrain, diffraction due to forest cover, power lines/equipment that may cause frequency interference, etc.


3. Is there a limitation if i use a tethered device or a modem?
This is again dependent on the device and tethering mechanism. Tethering using bluetooth maxes out at 500Kbps -1Mbps. Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR should max out at about 3Mbps, which would practically give you a peak of about 2Mbps. While using a Nokia 5230 tethered via USB, and using Nokia Ovi Suite, the task panel indicated 460.8Kbps. This I believe is the max possible bandwidth, even though the 3G backhaul can offer me a lot more. The speed is affected by the USB standard for the cable/interface:1.0, 2.0,etc. The latest the USB, the better the experience.

4. Do i need specialized equipment with Safaricom sim's to get better bandwidth?
Any modem that conforms to 3Gpp standard is sufficient.The SIM is very generic. The actual policies reside logically per subscriber/number, again depending on the service subscribed as mentioned above.
However, there are modems that offer better experience than others. Some are 3.6Mbps(Huawei E160), 7.2Mbps(Huawei E1750), 14.4Mbps(Huawei E1820),etc. Most are available in the retail shops. I suggest you visit and check out the actual specifications per modem.The range is 2k to 10k.

Again, if the service subscribed will ultimately determine whether the speed is capped or not.

Check out modem specs:
Huawei 3G modems: http://www.3gmodem.com.hk/Huawei.html
ZTE 3G modems: http://www.3gmodem.com.hk/ZTE.html



regards,
bernard

Using the new Gmail look: http://youtu.be/vfW5e6jVsMs


On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 9:18 PM, Watchman <skunkingrahim@gmail.com> wrote:
@John doe.
I think what i'm considering here is not to do with protocols. If you start stating protocols, we should also consider contentions and other factors.

The question here is, what is the bandwidth being provided by a 3G network? is it being provided by Safaricom when they say 3G Network unlimited data.

I rec'd a mail from someone on-list working for Saf Com yesterday incognito asking me what my data number was and he wanted to check on it. I haven't provided any details to him waiting for a reply to my questions to him being:

Mind if i put this conversation back on-list?

Before we move on to the tech diagnosis.

Let's get clarification since we've got you on-list.

1. What are the expected data connection speeds for the bundle?
2. What are the expected data connection speeds on 3G with Safaricom?
3. Is there a limitation if i use a tethered device or a modem?
4. Do i need specialized equipment with Safaricom sim's to get better bandwidth?

W.

There has been no further communication from him. I also have it from a source that Safaricom was testing the B/width usage and this i believe is more plausible because when it was first announced, i hit speeds of 1.3MB/s on a torrent. and now it's capped at 50KB/s. Not exactly a truthful venture if you ask me, but in any case, thing here is.

is 50KB/s Maxing out the 3G limit?

W.


On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 5:02 PM, John Doe <fivepings@gmail.com> wrote:
The Elephant in the room that we all ignore when discussing speeds. If my office has a 2Mbps link and I am all alone at 1.00 a.m in the morning downloading a single 10 GB file from a server in Newzealand, will I get a download speed of 2Mbps?
 
@ Watchie,There are many more factors to speed than what the Service provider sells you e.g
 
Protocol used (say HTTP vs FTP, TCP vs UDP), Window size, MTU, Round trip time, application e.g (peer to peer ) etc.
So I guess the correct answer is, it depends :-)


 
On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 12:12 PM, Bernard Mwagiru <bmwagiru@gmail.com> wrote:
File sharing mongers can bring mobile ops to their knees...hence the need for fair usage.

bernard
On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 12:05 PM, ndungu stephen <ndungustephen@gmail.com> wrote:
A little secret - even if you are on the unlimited monthly bundle - the moment you cross the 5GB download line - you are automatically capped to 128 kbps or 512 kbps... I know one or two networks that do this.

It is a term called "Fair Usage Policy"  - meant to keep file-sharing mongers in check

Such are the workings of capitalist minds

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