For the past year I have been a ‘happy’ customer of FastTelco. I was subscribed to their 256kbps plan which they doubled to 512kbps. The download speed I was getting with the 512kbps connection was roughly 80kBps.
This year I decided to upgrade my connection to 1mb; which they would ‘double’ to 1.5mbps… Their promotion only doubles connections from 64k - 256k. From 512kbps onwards they only add 50% of the bandwidth.
Reason #1 why FT can’t multiply:
FastTelco ‘Double Bandwidth’ offers:
- 64kbps > 128kbps
- 128kbps > 256kbps
- 256kbps > 512kbps
- 512kbps > 768kbps
- 1mbps > 1.5mbps
- 1.5mbps > 2mbps
I was well aware of the ‘double bandwidth’ offers before I decided to upgrade my connection to 1mb (which becomes 1.5mb). I spoke to the technical staff before upgrading my connection; they told me I should expect a download speed of ~184-192kbps. I thought that number was fairly low; as I would be paying four times the amount of the 256kb (which becomes 512kb); I expected at least ~200kBps if not ~240kBps. Since I didn’t want to switch to another Internet Provider, I went along with their deal.
Yesterday I paid them roughly 120kd for 1 month of 1mbps (which becomes 1.5mbps) service. I reset my modem and began to do some download tests to check out the new speed. My highest download speed never went about 155kBps. I figured their systems were having issues; so I called their helpdesk to inquire about the slow download speeds.
This is where it gets interesting:
- I was told that my connection was limited to 1.5mbps and not a true 1.5mbps connection; whatever that is supposed to mean.
- I was told that I was actually given the speed (184kBps - 192kBps) as a reference to if I purchased their 1.5mbps (which becomes 2mbps) plan.
- I was told that they can charge these prices because they provide services to the banks and Kuwait Stock Exchange.
Which brings us to Reason #2 why FT can’t multiply:
My 256kbps (doubled to 512kbps) connection was giving me 80kBps.
512kbps multiplied by three is equal to 1.5mb.
Therefore 512kbps = 80kBps and 1.5mb = 240kBps
However in the world of FastTelco Math (according to the Technical person I spoke to):
- 256kbps x 2 = 512kbps = ~80kBps
- 1mbps x 2 = 1.5mb = ~160kBps
- 1.5mbps x 2 = 2mb = ~200kBps
Someone needs to give the people behind FastTelco a multiplication table. The more their subscribers pay, the less service they receive.
I am going to create a graph based on realistic speeds and cost with Kuwaiti ISPs; you can find the details here.
I got lost with all the numbers
They are idiots over at Fasttelco.. just give one connection and say this is how it is.. dont BS us thinking we wont figure out that their numbers are wrong, and their help desk are made up of a bunch of idiots!
Me too.
So i decided to stop trying.
But ill take ur word for it, Fastelco dont know how to multipy!
huh? :/
all I know is that my connection hasn’t worked for weeks… damn QualityNet!
you will go crazy when you talk with the support folks here…the other day i talked with qualitynet guy for some connection issues(line was disconnecting frequently) and he told me to clean the cookies!….Zajil has a better CS team compared to the rest…
Hey there,
It’s an old topic, I know, but I just saw it by mistake and would like to correct some of your mistakes here and I hope that you, at least, fix the broken image of the ISP. (btw, I’m a customer of QualityNet)
In the world of computing, not FT, bandwidth is measured in bits per second (bps). Your cute download bar shows you the rate in Bytes per second (Bps) — Notice the capitalization!!!
A byte is 8 bits, hence ::
- 64 kbps = 8 kBytes/s (kBps)
- 128 kbps = 16 kBps
- 256 kbps = 32 kBps
- 512 kbps = 64 kBps
- 1.0 Mbps = 128 kBps (Note :: 1 Mega = 1024, not 1000 — because it’s a power of 2, not 10)
- 1.5 Mbps = 192 kBps
- 2.0 Mbps = 256 kBps
I’m not sure how our ISPs in Kuwait allocate bandwidth to its low-end customers (home users) — is it an average rate? a minimum rate? a max rate? I have no idea.
Your low DL speed could be a result of a slow server or typical network congestion (congestion in path between you & the server: could be as much as 13 hops)
I hope this clarifies some of the ambiguity.
MBH:
Thanks for mentioning the mistakes I had listed; I fixed the differences between bits/Bytes. However, my view on the ISP still stands. I am aware of the difference with bit/bytes; you can check my results, I am not receiving the advertised speed.
FastTelco offered me a ‘double bandwidth’ for my 1024kbps, then only gave me 1536kbps. And then they capped my connection at 1240kbps, which they claim they give their customers ‘up to 1536kbps’ and not the full speed.
My issues with FastTelco
1. They do not give the customers the speed they pay for. My 1.5mbps connection was capped at 1240kbps (155kBps); this speed was a result from multiple downloads and multiple sites. As for the network congestion affecting the download speed; I have a 15ms ping between my home and the office server. And I have been experiencing similar speeds.
2. Their double-bandwidth offer is not fair; as connections from 512kbps only receive 50% more (instead of the advertised 100%).
As for the allocation of bandwidth in Kuwait; ISPs in Kuwait allocate a maximum rate for downloads; they give you a limit and set by it. Speeds are not dictated by use of network (common to cable-internet).
I prepared a graph based on cost/speed offered/speed given:
http://k.thekuwaiti.com/index.php/2006/11/14/kuwaiti-isp-comparison/
Well, another factor that I had forgot to mention is that DSL speeds vary, depending on your area and how far your house is from the PBX.
I called QualityNet & asked them about upgrading & speeds & whether I’d get the full speed or not, and their response was as described in the first paragraph.
So, you may have a 1.5 Mbps, but because of the distance between you and the PBX, you may experience lower speeds; This cannot be fixed even by uppipng the bandwidth to 2.0 Mbps. Which means, your physical link can handle upto to 1.0 Mbps only.
Now, if you’d like to test download speeds, you should assume ideal cases and ideal cases are when the files you’re downloading located on a local server. Go to www.tucows.com and select a 100MB file and then from the mirrors, choose to download from QualityNet.
Only then you can see the rate you’re paying for.
There is a new company in Kuwait that is offering 1Mbps for 420 / year! I forgot its name but I’ll check & post back.
FT sucks !!, FT -> fast thieves, I have exactly the same problem, I just upgraded my ADSL from 256 to 512 and I get a transfer rate of 40 kb/s, and now I just read the date of ur post and its 2006, look how they still have the same issues .. Oh, and the technician guys over there always treat u as a beginner ( always assuming u did something wrong ), I’m truely disappointed in FT, gonna change it ..
I agree. I think the same is happening with my ISP in in Mexicali, Mexico (Cablemas) .
I, not for a minute doubt that we are all bing scammed with false advertisement since most of us all don’t know jack about all the blah, blah, blah.