Is Mobile Data Deprioritised for MVNOs after All?

peterpeterpumpkin on 28/02/2019 - 09:59

I've recently become what's affectionately termed a SIMWhore. I get my data from whichever starter plan is best value on the day.

After munching on 5 consecutive Kogan Vodafone-network SIMs I switched (back) to Amaysim's paltry 10 GB Optus-network offering and was instantly amazed by the decreased latency. It felt like I had a new phone. I thought that maybe I did something to fix my budget 1 GB RAM phone that I forgot doing (like the time I replaced Messenger with Messenger Lite) but I can't recall anything in particular (maybe logged out of Hey You or MyMaccas?).

After championing the Vodafone network for so many months due to impressive speeds I now felt like I was spreading misinformation. Sure the Kogan download speed tests were on par but Amaysim was loading the same pages instantly in the same geographical regions.

As my Amaysim data provisions expired I looked forward to my Catch Connect SIM on the Optus network. But alas, I've had the worst experience yet. I'm no longer hitting 40 MB/s and the page load speeds are slower than ever.

So the question is, do Optus prioritise or provision data speeds after all among their resellers or am I just experiencing a co-incidence of circumstances. Unfortunately I don't have 2 SIMs to compare.

One major factor is that UNSW students went back this week and the area is probably suffering major congestion. This could explain the perceived inferiority of my Catch Connect SIM, but then it makes me ponder if Optus is still superior to Vodafone in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.

Mobile Prepaid Mobile Plan

Comments

  • JimmyF on 28/02/2019 - 10:32

    Is Mobile Data Deprioritised for MVNOs after All?

    MVNO get what they pay for on that network. Think of it like the NBN. It might be the same network, but there is a big differeance between NBN resellers.

    • Diji1 on 28/02/2019 - 10:43
      +1

      MVNO get what they pay for on that network.

      The private sector is an expensive ripoff with terrible service as per usual.

      Numerous example around the world shows State owned monopolies are better for customers but the ACCC keeps pretending that time only begins in 2007 because reality interrupts their shitty economic theory that predicts that the opposite is true.

      And the Australian economy is (profanity) because of it.

      • JimmyF on 28/02/2019 - 16:07

        Not sure how your comment relates to what I said… but sure ok.

  • Presence on 28/02/2019 - 10:34
    +2

    I've used Boost, Aldi, Belong and actual Telstra and I believe you. Very hard to test without two identical phones in the same place at the time though.

  • goosmurf on 28/02/2019 - 11:18

    I also regularly SIM swap and have recently been on Kogan, Vodafone, Amaysim, Catch, OVO and Woolworths (all in the last 3 months).

    I don't feel like there is deprioritisation of MVNOs vs MNOs. FWIW Amaysim's prospectus detailed the terms of their agreement with Optus and it was very specific that Amaysim's customers would not be treated any differently to Optus' in terms of network performance.

    The issues I've seen are, I think, mostly down to congestion or upgrades/maintenance, i.e. localised/temporal factors. On all networks I have experienced sub-par performance at various times. On all networks I have found instances where forcing the phone to 3G instead of 4G actually improves performance, either because 4G signal was poor, or 4G simply had no data flow for reasons unknown.

    My takeaway from all this is that it's very hard to make generalisations about what is going on inside any particular network. There's just too many localised and temporal factors.

    No network is consistently superior to any other network. It all boils down to where and when you actually use your phone.

  • stirlo on 28/02/2019 - 11:49

    I used Optus prepaid for a month before signing with Catch Connect for a year to make sure the services was alright and I've definitely experienced worse service with Catch.

    I wonder if there's any kind of band restriction for Optus resellers like Telstra not giving 4GX to MVNOs? Obviously its not in Catchs' interest to disclose any if they do exist.

    Unfortunately I doubt anyone who is not an insider would really know. Optus salespeople will obviously say "Optus network from Optus is better" to try to get a sale and Catch salespeople will say "we use Optus" without disclosing the actual terms of their agreement and any relevant restrictions.

  • kuikui on 28/02/2019 - 11:52

    Amaysim has owned by Optus and network traffic treated as Optus source.

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 28/02/2019 - 11:57

    Thanks for all the input everybody

    Interestingly, I've just left the Randwick-Kingsford-Kensington epicentre and I've just had responsive internet on Catch for the first time.

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 28/02/2019 - 13:20

    Another update: turns out Optus has been doing maintenance recently that might affect internet around UNSW. It still would have been interesting to test if there is a bias during maintenance periods, especially if Optus promises MVNOs they would be treated the same.

    https://www.optus.com.au/about/network/service-status

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