Three mobile data speeds dispear

topcat007

Hi all

i have had a contract with three mobile for just over a month now. Since the first week i reported a problem with diabolic data speeds in the evenings at my home postcode 512kps max in a full dc-hsdpa area. Asked if it was congestion on the mast "no no no definitely not"

After a month of the muppets sending engineers to the mast they have confirmed it is congestion on the mast at peak times.

They said this would take 6-9 months to fix and are not giving me any form of discount on a full £37 a month one plan contract

i find this completely frustrating i went with them due to them being "built for the internet" and "ultra fast speeds". The website states 12mps is around what you should expect im not even a 10th of this speed fuming :mad::mad: it is important to note first thing in the morning i can get 15mps+ easily

where do i stand with my rights ?

Thank you

Frozen_up_north

Three (like every other provider) have only a certain amount of capacity and at peak times in popular areas their throughput will drop significantly. Their web site states peak times are between 3pm and midnight.

If you think Three are bad, then try another mobile operator... Three are probably better than most for data overall, or were in an OFCOM survey some time ago and claim to carry 40% of all the UK mobile data.

Here in East Yorkshire their speed drops quite a bit during the evenings, but off peak it's OK. As I type this (lunch time) I have 6 Mb/s download and 1.7 Mb/s upload. I've had 18.2 Mb/s down and 3.7 Mb/s upload near here at tea time a month ago.

Bottom line, I don't think you have a case as they clearly state conjestion takes place at peak times, look up "TrafficSense" under Three Support on their web site.

topcat007

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

Three (like every other provider) have only a certain amount of capacity and at peak times in popular areas their throughput will drop significantly. Their web site states peak times are between 3pm and midnight.

If you think Three are bad, then try another mobile operator... Three are probably better than most for data overall, or were in an OFCOM survey some time ago and claim to carry 40% of all the UK mobile data.

Here in East Yorkshire their speed drops quite a bit during the evenings, but off peak it's OK. As I type this (lunch time) I have 6 Mb/s download and 1.7 Mb/s upload. I've had 18.2 Mb/s down and 3.7 Mb/s upload near here at tea time a month ago.

Bottom line, I don't think you have a case as they clearly state conjestion takes place at peak times, look up "TrafficSense" under Three Support on their web site.

Thanks for getting back to me

i am using this as my only broadband connection and was hoping bbc iplayer would work but it doesnt without buffering every minutes

just had a read of this http://support.three.co.uk/mobiledocs/Support/Signal_and_coverage/our_network/TrafficSense_facts_document.pdf

and it says only peer to peer is slowed down

"We don’t constrain the amount of data you can use (subject to your data allowances, of course). But, for example, between 3pm and 12 midnight, we dedicate a certain amount of bandwidth to file sharing and to tethering, so that all other types of traffic can make the most of the rest of it."

understand peak times would be a bit slower due to congestion but not to even get 1-2mb is appalling when advertising as "ultrafast" in my opinion

Frozen_up_north

Unfortunately Three have no control over who is doing what in an area, so the data throughput is hard to control. Compared to some providers (7.2 Mb/s and 4 Mb/s max, Vodafone and T-Mobile respectively) Three do have a very fast 3G network, but when dozens of customers are all trying to download/browse on a mast it's going to be slow going.

diamonds

Ask them to pay for broadband/line rental and provide a Signalbox (via providing service/signal in your T&C) or allow you to leave penalty free, register your complaint and request such via Ofcom

Buzby

They never guaranteed a minimum rate. Therefore like all other BB providers if you access a peak times (like motorways) things will be a lot slower. Your rights are to pay what you agreed to for the service 'up to'. If not they will fry your credit file. There is no reason for a penalty-free exit, and no network will offer this unless there is a long-term infrastructure failure.

On the plus side, they offer the most cost-effective price per GB. On the minus, you should experimented with PAYG first and with no commitment you would have had first hand experience.

Mobile BB has never been an adequate replacement for a fixed connection and when you factor in cost per Gb and contention rates, and until all the backhaul circuits are upgraded to handle all this new traffic at peak times, users will always have to put up with buffering until the issue is resolved.

topcat007

can i report them to ASA or will it do no good ?

diamonds

ASA would like Ofcom only do a % of the service tests, its not per base station.

Three can provide the services by someone else its in the terms, no way can they give you unlimited data as a like for like service with another operator as its not cost effective, why I said thee above^ call Ofcom and regizter the complaint and request, 3 have already admitted the breach but wont move.

Techhead_2

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

Unfortunately Three have no control over who is doing what in an area, so the data throughput is hard to control. Compared to some providers (7.2 Mb/s and 4 Mb/s max, Vodafone and T-Mobile respectively) Three do have a very fast 3G network, but when dozens of customers are all trying to download/browse on a mast it's going to be slow going.

That's an odd way of looking at it. It's the customers fault for using the service as described.

If Three are going to advertise an ultra-fast service on a network built for the Internet, then they need to provide that.

If they won't invest in improving the network, to cope with customer numbers, then they need to slow the growth in customers or be more realistic in their advertising.

You cannot expect someone to pay for an ultra fast service when they are in fact receiving a slow service due to poor planning on the network's part.

Edit: I see Three are now acknowledging that 'some areas have limited connectivity' , it will be interesting to see how they resolve this congestion issue.

topcat007

Techhead wrote: »

That's an odd way of looking at it. It's the customers fault for using the service as described.

If Three are going to advertise an ultra-fast service on a network built for the Internet, then they need to provide that.

If they won't invest in improving the network, to cope with customer numbers, then they need to slow the growth in customers or be more realistic in their advertising.

You cannot expect someone to pay for an ultra fast service when they are in fact receiving a slow service due to poor planning on the network's part.

Edit: I see Three are now acknowledging that 'some areas have limited connectivity' , it will be interesting to see how they resolve this congestion issue.

Hi there

could you link me to this bit please "I see Three are now acknowledging that 'some areas have limited connectivity"

not been lazy had a google can not find anything

thank you:beer:

topcat007

Thank you all very much for your help so far some VERY valuable information and knowledge which i appreciate you for taking the time to share

Your all very nice people on here