Business and Technology

Telkom mobile network experiencing slow download speeds and higher latency

Telkom mobile network hit by lockdown usage

Telkom mobile network has taken a hit in recent weeks, with users experiencing slower download speeds and higher latency when compared to the period before the coronavirus lockdown started.

Over the last few weeks, Telkom customers have voiced their dissatisfaction regarding the performance of the operator’s fixed-LTE connectivity in particular.

According to MyBroadband’s speed test data, it appears the operator’s mobile network is also taking the strain.

With the coronavirus lockdown in effect, South Africans are spending more time on the Internet.

Given the fact that the majority of the country accesses the Internet over a cellphone, it makes sense that mobile operators have seen data traffic on their networks surge.

Impact on Telkom

MyBroadband analysed speed test results from users on Telkom’s mobile network over six weeks from 6 March to 16 April 2020.

During this period, over 23,000 tests were conducted on MyBroadband’s Android speed test app.

Using these tests, we observed an average download speed decline of over 30% when comparing the week before the lockdown to the first week after its implementation.

Telkom’s average download speed of 15.2Mbps dropped to 9.8Mbps during the first week of lockdown.

These speeds have hovered around the same rate for the duration of the lockdown.

Average latency on Telkom’s network initially doubled from 41.5ms to 79.1ms. This since recovered to an average of 55.8ms in the third week of the lockdown.

In Other News – Police Minister Bheki Cele urges religious leaders to follow lockdown rules

Police Minister Bheki Cele is urging religious leaders to discourage gatherings during the national lockdown. It comes after Muslim worshippers were arrested for breaking lockdown regulations. On Sunday, the minister apologised for a “blasphemous” remark made to praying Muslims by a policeman enforcing coronavirus rules, which was also condemned by a leading Muslim organisation after being caught on video.

Bheki Cele

AFP reported that an “urgent investigation” had been launched “to establish the identity of the person behind such sacrilege”. continue reading 

Source – MyBroadband