Insanely slow 2Degree data speeds when roaming onto the Vodafone cell site on Great Barrier Island

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#2292299 8-Aug-2019 13:56

I have always been aware that 2DM's network was under construction and incomplete, therefore like any building site, not fully functional yet. I am also aware that due to previous (and ongoing) regulatory blunders, a competitor to the incumbents would be on the bandwidth-back-foot.

Unlike many people who seem blind to the value of competition, or the building process, I can appreciate a work in progress, and value the benefits competition brings. I'm happy to put up with the occasional data slow-down and support the competition to bring better prices to all (V.F. and Spark customers can thank me later). Their network has proven to be better designed in some cases, such as after the S.I. earth quakes when other networks Auckland segments crumbled under S.I. overloading or when Telecom had its RSM(?) failure that repetitively took out 2/3 of the country.

I'm a firm believer that if 2DM went bust, Skinny would be folded up the very next day (with some flaky excuse), and prices would spike up.

KiwiSurfer

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#2292618 8-Aug-2019 21:29

I feel it is a shame 2degrees has made this decision. I do occasionally go into areas where I have to roam on Vodafone. This includes areas where I suspect a reasonable person would expect 2degrees to have already built out their own network e.g. Waiheke away from the main tourists spots. Even parts of SH 1 between Auckland and Hamilton has gaps whereas Vodafone/Spark has full coverage the whole way.

In the past roaming has been at (for lack of a better phrase) "best available" 3G speeds. Previously I didn't mind dropping down from 2degrees native 4G to roaming on Vodafone 3G as generally the roaming service was still fairly usable. This decision to cap the speeds at levels that provides a significantly degraded experience doesn't sit well with me.

We are in the interesting situation where previously 2degrees offered very good service—either you got their own 3G/4G signal or you fell back on to Vodafone's excellent 3G network which was usually dual-carrier 900MHz so offered better speeds than 2degrees native 3G. Either way the QOS was very good. This made it a no brainier for me to recommend 2degrees to all and sundry as I was able to assure them that should 2degrees have no coverage where they are, they will fall back to Vodafone's network.

Now 2degrees offers a weird mix of very good service where they have their own network, and very slow service where they roam on Vodafone. This will make me less likely to recommend 2degrees without doing a comprehensive check all the places a person might go, to ensure they don't end up needing good data service in an area where they would be roaming on Vodafone.

2degrees is (from my reading between the lines) using the cost as a reason for limiting data speeds on Vodafone. This makes me wonder why they've allowed unlimited speeds all those years. They now have a big enough customer base as well as a declining number of customers roaming on Vodafone. Which makes me wonder why they're only doing this now. It's hardly going to save them a lot of money if it is true that they are making good progress building out their own network.

I recently ported away from 2degrees with an intention to port back after I return from an overseas trip. Now that I have a explanation for why I've been experiencing poor speeds roaming on Vodafone I am now reluctant to go back to 2degrees. I had thought all this time that Vodafone's network was sub-par but I'm now wondering if this is not the case. Definitely will be staying with Vodafone for the time being and using this opportunity to test their network in the areas I go to to verify that it was 2degrees at fault and not Vodafone...

tripper1000

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#2292794 9-Aug-2019 09:54

I wonder if this is related to V.F. re-framing 3G frequencies to 4G - shrinking 3G becoming a premium that has to be rationed, and no 4G roaming agreement.

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#2292795 9-Aug-2019 09:55

tripper1000:

I wonder if this is related to V.F. re-framing 3G frequencies to 4G - shrinking 3G becoming a premium that has to be rationed, and no 4G roaming agreement.

@tripper1000 No way not at all

Here is the NZ Herald article

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12256739

KiwiSurfer

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#2292989 9-Aug-2019 15:27

tripper1000:

I wonder if this is related to V.F. re-framing 3G frequencies to 4G - shrinking 3G becoming a premium that has to be rationed, and no 4G roaming agreement.

Refarming of 3G to 4G has all been in the 2100 MHz band so far—the band which is not usually used in rural areas. I don't expect Vodafone to refarm their 900 MHz anytime soon. Given that 2degrees roaming is in areas where 900 MHz carries most (and in fact I would say nearly if not all) of the roaming traffic, I don't think refarming plans was a factor in 2degrees' decision.

In any case the amount of Vodafone own-customer traffic going over 3G has been declining for years so I would wager Vodafone has enough excess 3G capacity to offload to 2degrees. It seems to be 2degrees has made their own decision not to take advantage of this.

hio77

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#2293038 9-Aug-2019 15:51

KiwiSurfer:

In any case the amount of Vodafone own-customer traffic going over 3G has been declining for years so I would wager Vodafone has enough excess 3G capacity to offload to 2degrees. It seems to be 2degrees has made their own decision not to take advantage of this.

and would decline far better if their handover selection to LTE was far better.

Still to this day it's very easy to drop to 3G and be stuck there until a reboot or change of region.

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Rangus

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#2294180 11-Aug-2019 15:27

Very interesting indeed. After reading all of this I have made the wrong move to 2degrees from Vodafone especially if your job is involved driving all day and I want to stream the Rova app that's why the Rova app stops and goes or cut in and out continuously which drives me nuts.

Can't trust anyone. Certainly VF has gone down hill this year the reason why I left them and certainly don't like spark but may have to go back to Vodafone.
Thanks guys Rangus.

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#2477614 6-May-2020 10:01

@Spong Looks like 2d has made a good change to the D/L speed when roaming onto Vodafone anyone able to test? I can tonight when driving home

SaltyNZ

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#2477621 6-May-2020 10:08

Linux:

@Spong Looks like 2d has made a goof change to the D/L speed when roaming onto Vodafone anyone able to test? I can tonight when driving home

Correct. All restrictions have been removed.

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These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

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#2477628 6-May-2020 10:15

Confirmed - roaming on Vodafone using 2 Degrees in Auckland.

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KiwiSurfer

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#2477629 6-May-2020 10:15

SaltyNZ:

Linux:

@Spong Looks like 2d has made a goof change to the D/L speed when roaming onto Vodafone anyone able to test? I can tonight when driving home

Correct. All restrictions have been removed.

Is it only for the duration of the lockdown or is this a more permanent move?