NoWire - Your value added partner in the ICT sector
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between iBurst, HSDPA and ADSL.
| Broadband Internet Service | iBurst | HSDPA | ADSL |
| Need Telkom telephone line | Х | Х | √ |
| Data Carryover | √ | Х | √ |
| Can add VAS | √ | All except Static IP | All except Static IP |
| Mobile | Limited | √ | Х |
| Throttling | √ | Х | Х |
| Static IP | √ | Х | Х |
| Unshaped Option | Х | Х | √ |
| Option to be capped | √ | Х | √ |
| Free e-mail | √ | √ | √ |
| Ability to top up Bandwidth | √ | √ | √ |
| Coverage | Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities | Nationwire - Speeds do vary | Where there’s an ADSL local telephone exchange |
| International Roaming | Х | √ | Х |
| Backup eg. when out of coverage area | Х | EDGE & GPRS | Х |
2. What does HSDPA stand for?
High Speed Downlink Packet Access
3. What is HSDPA?
HSDPA is a technology used by cell-phone network operators to provide data access for their subscribers. At the time of launch of iBurst HSDPA, subscribers were able to experience speeds of up to 1.8Mbps. This is however dependant on network coverage and utilization. On average, users experience speeds between 400kbps and 800kbps.
4. What happens when a subscriber is out of HSDPA coverage?
Subscribers out of HSDPA coverage will have the ability to utilize the 3G, EDGE and GPRS networks to access the internet. Cell-phone networks have evolved to HSDPA from a data perspective in the following order:
• GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) - the first implementation of true
data on a GSM (cell-phone) network. GPRS provides speeds of up to
56kbps. All Vodacom base stations support GPRS.
• EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) – the second
installment of data on GSM and provides speeds of up to 112kbps.
Supported by all Vodacom base stations
• 3G - Allowed for greater efficiencies on GSM networks and
provides speeds of up to 384kbps. Coverage here is however not
widespread.
Speeds experienced on all of these are dependant on coverage and network utilization.
5. Where can one view coverage for HSDPA?
www.iburst.co.za or www.vodacom.co.za or www.mtn.co.za
6. Where can I purchase HSPDA?
HSDPA can be purchased directly from NoWire.
7. What modem will I receive on my 24 month contract?
NoWire will provide a HSDPA USB modem as standard on any 24 month contract that is signed. As the technology evolves, the type of modem will change as well.
8. What operating systems does the modem support?
The USB Modem will support Microsoft Windows XP and Vista (32bit) as well as MAC OSX tiger 10.4.x or above. MAC OSX leopard 10.5.x or above.
9. How can I network my HSDPA connection to allow colleagues and family to share the experience?
The NoWire team is sourcing an effective router solution to facilitate this. We will release this information shortly.
10. Why are the SIM Cards not activated prior to dispatch to subscriber?
An active SIM card in the wrong hands can be quiet costly and dangerous. In order to limit this risk industry practice requires that a subscriber calls in once (s)he receives the SIM card to activate it – NoWire will then authenticate the credentials of the subscriber prior to activation. Activation of SIM card will be completed on the network between 2 and 24 hours.
11. How do I activate International Roaming?
International Roaming allows you use your HSDPA modem whilst travelling overseas to connect to the internet. Please however note the following
• The country you are travelling to may not have 3G HSDPA implemented and you may thus have a much slower experience.
• The applicable tariff varies from country to country and is also dependant on the exchange rate. This affects your costs. Per MB price can be as much as R100.
• Records of usage may be delayed by up to 3 months and will therefore only be billed once the records are received from the foreign network.
• iBurst will at its discretion approve your requests and may also request a deposit to cover these costs.
• Flat rates have however been negotiated with 27 participating Vodafone networks across the globe. The rate per MB is R17.50. This list can be viewed at
www.iburst.co.za.
• NoWire will require a deposit of R12 000 in order to activate international roaming.