MVNO priority/throttling

Gigabit · 12-04-2015, 17:58

The frequencies they use don't penetrate through buildings that well.

I know the argument about mast spacing, etc. but I can tell you in rural areas that is not the case. The EE masts are as far apart as others are.

clewsy · 12-04-2015, 18:01

I guess that means we neef ore masts still then? Are more being built though? We hear and see loads on existing shared sites being improved but not many mention new sites being installed.

wb9999 · 12-04-2015, 18:11

EE submitted a planning application for a brand new mast in the large town that I live in, about 18 months ago. Last week, they did some excavation work to examine the feasibility for laying new fibre to the proposed location. The area already has 4G from nearby masts - 2 masts within a mile.

clewsy · 12-04-2015, 18:15

Its like cornerstone. You get quick wins for both VF and o2 when they get access to a mast covering an area they dont.

BUT ...

I suspect there are not that many out and out sites, as probably a vast bulk are duplication where they are on or very near each other. So then you make a saving switching off the duplicates but if you dont build new sites your still left with gaps.

moox · 12-04-2015, 18:21

There are a lot of planning applications going in for sites that may/will be part of the mobile infrastructure project, at least there is down here

clewsy · 12-04-2015, 19:51

That is good then. It does make me question though what will be the real savings that will be achieved. I suspect not as great as some think. VF and O2 would really benefit if they both covered such different areas so switching on masts to share would really enable them to extend reach. However in the places where you have similar locations all you save is putting two sites into one and switching the other off. You are still then left with other areas that need a new mast and all the work that goes with the installs here.

ard100 · 12-04-2015, 20:00

I had sainsburys mobile about 6 months ago but i was getting missed calls etc so i left,

Today out and out in rural wales i was seeing both 40mb+ on vodafone and o2 (tesco) 4g

wb9999 · 12-04-2015, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by clewsy

VF and O2 would really benefit if they both covered such different areas so switching on masts to share would really enable them to extend reach.

I think that's what they are doing outside of the M25. Vodafone are doing the west of the UK, and O2 are doing the east. This allows them to upgrade masts twice as quick than going it alone. All of the upgraded masts in the town I live have O2 stickers on each mast and all of the cabinets, even though some of the sites were originally Vodafone.

lost boy · 13-04-2015, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

I'd be very surprised if Vodafone invested in MVNO prioritisation equiptment

Seems like everyone man for himself as it is

Not much to add to this other than I agree.

In answer to the OP's original question:

I've tested Sainsbury's in a 3G area (involved a specific trip out, as Vodafone 3G is like hen's teeth here) and other than a 10Mbps download cap (which IIRC Vodafone have done to their own customers before, on 3G plans) it does indeed seem like every man for himself, with performance similar to Vodafone itself. There's none of this O2 style prioritisation tiers business going on there, at least IME.

In fact, while I was trying out the Sainsbury's 3G data the overall performance was actually pretty good, providing decent pings (in the 50s) but somewhat erratic speeds (swinging from around 2Mbps to 10Mbps download). Just a shame mother Vodafone is blatantly disinterested in improving her 3G provision here.

moox · 13-04-2015, 16:40

The state of the local network must be a real shambles then, as in Cornwall's only city was the only time I could get anything over 1Mbit/s and even then it's normally EDGE or GPRS. Not surprising for Vodafone though. Latency on 3G was nothing amazing either. I have yet to try it in the likes of Plymouth or Exeter which must surely have had some money spent on the local networks

The coverage map shows that they've bathed Dorset/Hampshire in 4G, but that more or less stops at the Devon and Somerset border - and of course nothing in Cornwall too (only EE has bothered, and a pretty good job of it so far for 4 months). Not that this would matter for Sainsburys as they are currently 3G only, but presumably the backhaul would get upgraded for all services

So it looks like I'll be sticking to EE, 3 or one of their MVNOs

clewsy · 13-04-2015, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by wb9999

I think that's what they are doing outside of the M25. Vodafone are doing the west of the UK, and O2 are doing the east. This allows them to upgrade masts twice as quick than going it alone. All of the upgraded masts in the town I live have O2 stickers on each mast and all of the cabinets, even though some of the sites were originally Vodafone.

That makes some sense as the ones round here have the Vodafone sticker on them. Does this mean that East side o2 benefit most and west side voda do? Just wondering if their is any logic to it?

12-04-2015, 17:58	#26
Gigabit Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,887	The frequencies they use don't penetrate through buildings that well. I know the argument about mast spacing, etc. but I can tell you in rural areas that is not the case. The EE masts are as far apart as others are.

12-04-2015, 18:01	#27
clewsy Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Midlands Posts: 2,860	I guess that means we neef ore masts still then? Are more being built though? We hear and see loads on existing shared sites being improved but not many mention new sites being installed.

12-04-2015, 18:11	#28
wb9999 Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 139	EE submitted a planning application for a brand new mast in the large town that I live in, about 18 months ago. Last week, they did some excavation work to examine the feasibility for laying new fibre to the proposed location. The area already has 4G from nearby masts - 2 masts within a mile.

12-04-2015, 18:15	#29
clewsy Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Midlands Posts: 2,860	Its like cornerstone. You get quick wins for both VF and o2 when they get access to a mast covering an area they dont. BUT ... I suspect there are not that many out and out sites, as probably a vast bulk are duplication where they are on or very near each other. So then you make a saving switching off the duplicates but if you dont build new sites your still left with gaps.

12-04-2015, 18:21	#30
moox Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 14,645	There are a lot of planning applications going in for sites that may/will be part of the mobile infrastructure project, at least there is down here

12-04-2015, 19:51	#31
clewsy Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Midlands Posts: 2,860	That is good then. It does make me question though what will be the real savings that will be achieved. I suspect not as great as some think. VF and O2 would really benefit if they both covered such different areas so switching on masts to share would really enable them to extend reach. However in the places where you have similar locations all you save is putting two sites into one and switching the other off. You are still then left with other areas that need a new mast and all the work that goes with the installs here.

12-04-2015, 20:00	#32
ard100 Inactive Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 239	I had sainsburys mobile about 6 months ago but i was getting missed calls etc so i left, Today out and out in rural wales i was seeing both 40mb+ on vodafone and o2 (tesco) 4g

12-04-2015, 21:22	#33
wb9999 Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 139	Quote: Originally Posted by clewsy VF and O2 would really benefit if they both covered such different areas so switching on masts to share would really enable them to extend reach. I think that's what they are doing outside of the M25. Vodafone are doing the west of the UK, and O2 are doing the east. This allows them to upgrade masts twice as quick than going it alone. All of the upgraded masts in the town I live have O2 stickers on each mast and all of the cabinets, even though some of the sites were originally Vodafone.

13-04-2015, 16:36	#34
lost boy Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Norfolkland Posts: 1,787	Quote: Originally Posted by GreenLantern I'd be very surprised if Vodafone invested in MVNO prioritisation equiptment Seems like everyone man for himself as it is Not much to add to this other than I agree. In answer to the OP's original question: I've tested Sainsbury's in a 3G area (involved a specific trip out, as Vodafone 3G is like hen's teeth here) and other than a 10Mbps download cap (which IIRC Vodafone have done to their own customers before, on 3G plans) it does indeed seem like every man for himself, with performance similar to Vodafone itself. There's none of this O2 style prioritisation tiers business going on there, at least IME. In fact, while I was trying out the Sainsbury's 3G data the overall performance was actually pretty good, providing decent pings (in the 50s) but somewhat erratic speeds (swinging from around 2Mbps to 10Mbps download). Just a shame mother Vodafone is blatantly disinterested in improving her 3G provision here.

13-04-2015, 16:40	#35
moox Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 14,645	The state of the local network must be a real shambles then, as in Cornwall's only city was the only time I could get anything over 1Mbit/s and even then it's normally EDGE or GPRS. Not surprising for Vodafone though. Latency on 3G was nothing amazing either. I have yet to try it in the likes of Plymouth or Exeter which must surely have had some money spent on the local networks The coverage map shows that they've bathed Dorset/Hampshire in 4G, but that more or less stops at the Devon and Somerset border - and of course nothing in Cornwall too (only EE has bothered, and a pretty good job of it so far for 4 months). Not that this would matter for Sainsburys as they are currently 3G only, but presumably the backhaul would get upgraded for all services So it looks like I'll be sticking to EE, 3 or one of their MVNOs

13-04-2015, 17:56	#36
clewsy Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Midlands Posts: 2,860	Quote: Originally Posted by wb9999 I think that's what they are doing outside of the M25. Vodafone are doing the west of the UK, and O2 are doing the east. This allows them to upgrade masts twice as quick than going it alone. All of the upgraded masts in the town I live have O2 stickers on each mast and all of the cabinets, even though some of the sites were originally Vodafone. That makes some sense as the ones round here have the Vodafone sticker on them. Does this mean that East side o2 benefit most and west side voda do? Just wondering if their is any logic to it?

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MVNO priority/throttling