Vodacom takes aim at BlackBerry ‘abuse’

Added by Editor on 12 September 2011.
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Andries Delport

Vodacom plans to throttle the connection speeds of the heaviest users of BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS), which offers unlimited on-device browsing and e-mail access on BlackBerry smartphones.

BIS has proved popular in the SA market, especially among youngsters, because it provides fixed-cost Internet access for a low monthly fee.

Vodacom says it “studied usage patterns to better understand the causes of congestion at peak times and one surprising finding was that more than 95% of BlackBerry data usage was attributable to less than 5% of users”.

Chief technology officer Andries Delport says Vodacom needs to “ensure that all BlackBerry users are able to enjoy the service that they pay for”.

“When we realised that such a small minority was using the bulk of the capacity, we decided to implement measures that will ensure that BlackBerry users will enjoy a better browsing experience overall,” Delport says.

Vodacom says “steps have been taken to ensure that the 95% of the BlackBerry users who are currently using the service fairly are not impacted by those who are abusing the service”.

“The 5% of the base who are not using the service for what it was intended will have their connection speed reduced from 3G to 2G levels.”

Only BIS users who have reached a 100MB threshold per month will have their connection speed reduced from 3G to 2G levels. Blackberry Enterprise Users will not be affected.  — Staff reporter, TechCentral

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  • Tomasvdb

    i wouldn’t call 100MB a month ‘abuse’ in this day and age…

  • http://twitter.com/The_Librarian2 The_Librarian2

    Those who abused the service only have themselves to blame. The T&C’s clearly state “unlimited browsing” and not downloading.

    But still 100Mb’s sound a bit piddly to me…

    BTW I’m not using Vodacom though.

  • Nicki

    100MB is nothing. If someone uses that on the road for his mail he’ll easily get to that in a month.

  • http://twitter.com/Arfness Andrew Fraser

    ““The 5% of the base who are not using the service for what it was intended will have their connection speed reduced from 3G to 2G levels.”
    Intended by whom? I’m fairly sure that these “abusers” intended to use their “unlimited” internet for a fixed fee exactly as they’ve used it.  How does Vodacom get to call this “abuse’?

    I think that there may be some CPA claims against Vodacom for ‘bait & switch’ marketing.

  • http://twitter.com/mobivangelist Peter Matthaei

    Suddenly this “unlimited browsing” sounds a bit meh.  You can buy a MyMeg 100 bundle (with additional 100MB night owl) for R49.  Just sayin.

  • Spencer Martin

    i dont think this is a bad thing, this will improve all round connectivity. 

  • Ham&Cheese

    Not a solution really as most “youngsters” who are said to be abusing the service are usign 2G BlackBerry phones like the Curve 8520

  • ThomasB

    100MB, seriously, 100MB is your threshold? You’re choosing this when 100Mb of data costs less that BIS. That’s nonsense.

  • http://twitter.com/thewomble_za Greg Mahlknecht

    Vodacom seems to be last with the price cuts and first with the restrictions.   And they’re small price cuts and big restrictions.  They’re really losing the plot.  Network abusers need be controlled, but this seems WAY over the top.

  • Interloper

    OMG are we still in the nineties???? Abuse? Andries Delport – you have NO freakin clue.

  • Interloper

    OMG are we still in the nineties???? Abuse? Andries Delport – you have NO freakin clue.

  • Jon

    In related news, Vodacom confirmed that 95% of its Blackberry customers are overpaying for their data.

  • Jon

    In related news, Vodacom confirmed that 95% of its Blackberry customers are overpaying for their data.

  • David….

    Target the abusers that routinely abuse the BIS service!!, come on I do not abuse my BIS service, but really 100mb a month, that’s a joke, I have been with Vodacom for many years and will move all three my contracts if I am unable to use my blackberry as I need to because of the restrictions put on me because of some other person.

  • Solaris

    It is high handedness , is this a forerunner to a new income stream as the loss from sms revenue stream must be hurting. The congestion has been a problem from prior the increase BB data usage .

  • Dovjay

    We are in a country that encourages competition. I have moved to MTN and will be happy if others move too. Vodacom can keep all the bandwidth and none of their customers.

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