Has Vodafone’s network recovered from Vodafail yet?

[Renai LeMayKeymaster]

Hey everyone,

Every time I have spoken to friends using Vodafone on their mobile phone over the past several years, I have advised them to switch to Telstra, or at worst, Optus, as it has been my impression that Vodafone’s network has been pretty bad following the #vodafail episode — that is, it is more or less usable now, with the improvements that they have made recently, but not yet usable enough to rely on it, compared with Telstra and Optus.

So I wanted to post a quick question here: Does anyone out there still use Vodafone? And if so, how do you find their network speeds, coverage etc at the moment? Are they a viable mobile carrier again? Or do you recommend people avoid them?

Let me know your thoughts :)

Cheers,

Renai

[tomParticipant]

Still recommend people to avoid Vodafail…

Corporate account management could do with improvements, especially when your account manager leaves Vodafone and no one notifies you or tells you who your new account manager is :|

Network dropouts are still a big problem. No point trying to do a speed test if you don’t have a connection! It is better than previous, but still horrible. Was planning on upgrading to iPhone5, but what’s the point if there’s no 4G?

Better to pay a bit more for Telstra and get the network quality that comes with it.

[ausgnomeParticipant]

I am still on Vodafail , and I can’t complete a walk around the Yarra without the 3G dropping out at some stage streaming media. On a train it’s even worse

[Renai LeMayKeymaster]

Urgh … it sounds like it still has problems. I’m tempted to buy a cheap prepaid Voda SIM myself and do a comprehensive test around Sydney every 3 months or so, just to track whether it’s actually improving as much as Vodafone says it is. It would be interesting to track it over time.

I just don’t understand why people still choose Vodafone. I mean Telstra is like $10-20 per month more expensive, and has a massively improved network. Why woud you bother with something less? Are people really trying that hard to save money per month?

[seven_techParticipant]

Why woud you bother with something less? Are people really trying that hard to save money per month?

Yes. Quite simply. Also ignorance- I know many acquaintances who literally don’t care about their phone and assume when it gets bad reception, it must be the phone or just a general state of “bad coverage” regardless of the network. The price is ultimately the most important thing.

I call them acquaintances, because, as the saying goes:

Friends don’t let friends use Vodafone….

[tabmowParticipant]

I have been using Vodafone phone services for several years now without any failures. Similarly for friends across the Perth metro area. I did have slow speeds and dropouts with the Huawei USB stick (for data) but since acquiring a ‘pocket wifi’ speeds are excellent and without any dropout problems.
My first attempt for faster and better data was to use VividWireless – a very fast ’4G’ network. Three iterations of more and more expensive devices produced no connections at all. It turns out that, despite having a massive tower nearby, our tiny area behing a cliff is out of coverage. A friend a few streets away is very happy with the VividWireless service.
So, to reiterate, I am very happy with Vodafone. Incidentally their support service are noticeably improved.

[Michael WyresParticipant]

I’ve found that since they turned the 3G+ plus network on about 6 to 8 weeks ago, that things are *better*. To be honest, I never had significant Vodafail’s going on – (maybe I just frequent the less congested cells) – but improvement was noticeable from the moment they made the change.

4G will be their next test towards the end of Q1 2013…

[Renai LeMayKeymaster]

To be honest, Michael, I was very surprised to hear you were with Vodafone! I thought maybe Optus. I seem to remember you swearing off Telstra at one point due to their voluntary Internet filter system :)

With respect to the other posts here, it seems people’s experience of Vodafone is varying wildly right now. @tabmow writes, for example:

“I have been using Vodafone phone services for several years now without any failures.”

Whereas @ausgnome writes:

“I am still on Vodafail , and I can’t complete a walk around the Yarra without the 3G dropping out at some stage streaming media. On a train it’s even worse”

Very weird that people are having such divergent experiences.

[Master_TParticipant]

I dont know if many of you have heard of this – but as of October 1, Vodafone begun its ‘Project Phoenix’.

Project Phoenix was designed specifically to address the inconsistency issue you’re all talking about. The project addresses inadequecies in network signal, propagation of signal, congestion and stability. For the layperson, its basically another round of upgrades, however during the last 24 months we gathered a large amount of data which indicated which cells would benefit the most from radio transmission upgrades.

Basically – sites that are struggling to meet demand and are dropping calls, texts and data sessions.

While the rollout of Huawei equipment, 850mhz radio and 3G+ was important – they all didnt quite address issues with consistency. That was the most complained about thing of all.

The project will increase antenna per cell (for increased transmission), data backhaul per cell and look at issues around stability.

Hopefully the fruits of labour will begin to show brightly soon, I’m confident my counterparts can get this show back on track. Hell … noone likes a One-horse race.

[KarlParticipant]

I’m with vodafone, and there are some areas of poor coverage (like my living room, annoyingly) but I’ve never had a problem with dropouts and things as others seem to have.

“I just don’t understand why people still choose Vodafone. I mean Telstra is like $10-20 per month more expensive, and has a massively improved network. Why woud you bother with something less? Are people really trying that hard to save money per month?”
I barely use my phone at all, I don’t want to be charged per month. I find it ridiculous that other networks force you to pay every month or you get cut off, so I’m on voda’s 365 day option.

[pointzerooneParticipant]

I’m with Vodafone and so is the wife.

I noticed an improvement in signal strength when I upgraded from the Galaxy S2 to the S3.

I’ve not experienced drop outs when making phone calls or sms’ being delayed.

Speed wise for net. It works equitably for what I use it for. I’m using up to 2Gb every month on the connection as well so I’m not a light user.

The only issue the wife has had with the network is sometimes her phone losses service completely and the phone needs a restart. But this has only happened twice in the 6 months she’s had the phone.

Thing is though I am also using my phone in the same areas as Michael.

[ausgnomeParticipant]

In my case it’s mostly ideological after years of Telstra/Optus from Cable to Mobile I just refuse point blank to have anything to do with a product where I might have to deal with a Telstra person, Microsoft bring’s me out in the same rash and lately apple via my wife is having the same effect..

[Alje727Participant]

Our small business was with Telstra for over 14 years and unfortunately changed to Optus. Not only is Optus coverage inferior, but the Optus service is appaling. What was promised in writing before the “signup” has now been denied. We took most of the handsets from Telstra to optus with the proviso that we could upgrade any of the old handsets at anytime. However today my upgrade from an old handset was denied, because we had not been with Optus for long enough.

Of course we have appealed this decision and will waste a lot of time trying to convince a very inflexible burocracy that it should keep its promise.

Perhaps they are all as bad as one another?

[GoreshParticipant]

The simple fact of churning over a million customers to their competitors networks must relieve congestion and improve performance without actually spending anything.

I am sure thay have been spending money as well of course.

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