Why is Speedtest data metered?

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Why is Speedtest data metered?

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dickytim

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#1231468 5-Feb-2015 06:32

chevrolux: Are you having a laugh or actually serious?...

Saying speedtest.net should be zero rated because 'it would be nice to run a few tests' is like saying YouTube should be zero rated becaue 'it would be nice to watch a few 1080p videos'.

There is ZERO reason to run a speedtest.net test on 4G. Doing it on 4G is purely for use to show your mates and say how good yours is compared to theirs. I seriously can't think of I single reason why I would need to run a speedtest on a 4G connection in a business or personal enviroment.

I downloaded an app update on the way from the airport in Chch, it happened in about a second and was not small. I was curious so I ran a speed test to see what the actual speed was, it was blazing fast 115.15 down and 20.52 down. I didn't need to know this but it was cool to see.

johnr

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#1231486 5-Feb-2015 08:00

Give me one valid reason why it should be zero rated?

kiwitrc

4123 posts

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#1231497 5-Feb-2015 08:49

johnr: Give me one valid reason why it should be zero rated?

Data or beer?

Jase2985

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#1231505 5-Feb-2015 09:17

my question is, what can you do on your phone that could possibly need the 60/40 speed you might see on a speed test?

anything that would be able to use the speed would chew your data in matter of minutes so you wouldn't even bother doing it in the first place.

its w@nk factor thats all it is

one speed test to see what your phone is capiable of then there is no point in doing anymore as you already know.

Jaxar

383 posts

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#1231547 5-Feb-2015 10:00

Assuming VF has a limited budget I can think of a few other things I would rather they spend their money on.

Please note: I have a professional bias towards Vodafone.

johnr

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#1231578 5-Feb-2015 10:27

Jaxar: Assuming VF has a limited budget I can think of a few other things I would rather they spend their money on.

old3eyes

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#1231704 5-Feb-2015 12:36

johnr:
Jaxar: Assuming VF has a limited budget I can think of a few other things I would rather they spend their money on.

+1

Pay rise for John

Regards,

Old3eyes

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muppet

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#1231709 5-Feb-2015 12:45

In most businesses, and I'm sure VFNZ is the same, to do anything like this you'd submit a business case. It might be someone in marketing that writes it, or someone in the architecture team etc. But one of the things almost all businesses cases has is a section on what benefit it will bring the business. That benefit doesn't have to be financial, it might even be "it will stop the network falling over and all our customers leaving in droves".

I know I can't think of any major reason you'd want to do this, other than "goodwill". And really, you don't see too many businesses cases getting written where the proposed outcome is "customers might like us a bit more"

Then there's the technical aspect: How do you do it? Do you collect the IP address of every speedtest server? Do you only zero-rate the Vodafone speed test server? Are you going to have to update support documents, reimburse people who accidentally used the wrong speed test server? If all speed test servers are to be zero rated, who's keeping that database up to date?

roobarb

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#1231724 5-Feb-2015 13:31

We could also ask for free petrol to determine the fuel efficiency of our cars.

Dairyxox

1594 posts

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#1231727 5-Feb-2015 13:34

I wish these speed tests could reliably test the speed without sending so much data through tho.

I'm only on $19 prepay with 500MB. First time I saw 4G in Tauranga I had to give it a try (Got about 50Mb down / 20Mb up), got a bit of a shock when I checked my data usage later and found about 100MB gone.

No wonder johnr is the only one going around posting 4G speed tests. (well he was was months ago)

MileHighKiwi

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#1231730 5-Feb-2015 13:41

First world problems, lol...

chevrolux

4962 posts

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#1231772 5-Feb-2015 15:27

dickytim:
chevrolux: Are you having a laugh or actually serious?...

Saying speedtest.net should be zero rated because 'it would be nice to run a few tests' is like saying YouTube should be zero rated becaue 'it would be nice to watch a few 1080p videos'.

There is ZERO reason to run a speedtest.net test on 4G. Doing it on 4G is purely for use to show your mates and say how good yours is compared to theirs. I seriously can't think of I single reason why I would need to run a speedtest on a 4G connection in a business or personal enviroment.

I downloaded an app update on the way from the airport in Chch, it happened in about a second and was not small. I was curious so I ran a speed test to see what the actual speed was, it was blazing fast 115.15 down and 20.52 down. I didn't need to know this but it was cool to see.

Exactly. 'It was cool to see' is not a decent reason. As for letting apps update on mobile data... that's a bit silly.

The speed on 4G isn't what makes it awesome. It is the fact that it is fully IP rather than circuit switched so latency is waaaay lower. For most people who might see 10Mbps on HSDPA could also get 10Mbps on 4G but the 4G connection will seem much faster.
it's also much better for VoIP. That is why people would change providers - for a better experience. Not just for more speed.

dickytim

2514 posts

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Inactive user

#1231824 5-Feb-2015 16:44

chevrolux:
dickytim:
chevrolux: Are you having a laugh or actually serious?...

Saying speedtest.net should be zero rated because 'it would be nice to run a few tests' is like saying YouTube should be zero rated becaue 'it would be nice to watch a few 1080p videos'.

There is ZERO reason to run a speedtest.net test on 4G. Doing it on 4G is purely for use to show your mates and say how good yours is compared to theirs. I seriously can't think of I single reason why I would need to run a speedtest on a 4G connection in a business or personal enviroment.

I downloaded an app update on the way from the airport in Chch, it happened in about a second and was not small. I was curious so I ran a speed test to see what the actual speed was, it was blazing fast 115.15 down and 20.52 down. I didn't need to know this but it was cool to see.

Exactly. 'It was cool to see' is not a decent reason. As for letting apps update on mobile data... that's a bit silly.

The speed on 4G isn't what makes it awesome. It is the fact that it is fully IP rather than circuit switched so latency is waaaay lower. For most people who might see 10Mbps on HSDPA could also get 10Mbps on 4G but the 4G connection will seem much faster.
it's also much better for VoIP. That is why people would change providers - for a better experience. Not just for more speed.

Yeah but since i never get through my 1.5gb a month i let it update away!

coffeebaron

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#1231868 5-Feb-2015 19:30

Maybe Vodafone could make a fake speedtest app, that uses no data and just pretends to give you awesome speeds :)
Check out my 2G speeds, faster than TimA's VDSL!

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