Vodafone Sure Signal - Does Sure Signal Data Count Against My Allowance?

[mmillmor]

When my phone is connected via suresignal, and I use the data connection, e.g. to watch YouTube, does that count against my data limit on my phone? Obviously it's me actually already paying for the data over my home broadband connection, so I'd hope that vodafone aren't double dipping and charging me again for the same data.

Martin

[AnnS]

If you are connecting using the WiFi on your phone, Vodafone would be unable to charge for using your home broadband connection.

If you were connecting through contract internet, then it would be charged as you would then be making a connection through the network.

[Retired-Moderat]

Hi martin12345,

It's great to see that AnnS has provided the information you were seeking, thanks Ann .

Should you need any further assistance with your Sure Signal, don't forget to check out our Sure Signal help sticky or our troubleshooting guide.

Thanks

eForum Fast Response

[mmillmor]

If you are connecting using the WiFi on your phone, Vodafone would be unable to charge for using your home broadband connection.

If you were connecting through contract internet, then it would be charged as you would then be making a connection through the network.

Seriously? I buy the suresignal box, I pay for the network it is routed over, and I still get charged the same as if it was using the cellular network? I can understand that calls with the termination charges and so on can't suddenly drop to free, but it seems hard to justify charging for internet access when it's me providing the network.

Martin

[SynthFG]

Seriously? I buy the suresignal box, I pay for the network it is routed over, and I still get charged the same as if it was using the cellular network? I can understand that calls with the termination charges and so on can't suddenly drop to free, but it seems hard to justify charging for internet access when it's me providing the network.

Martin

VF are still providing the network if you are using 3G and the SS
The 3G signal is routed from your SS through a VPN tunnel to the Voda servers before being routed out to the internet

[mmillmor]

VF are still providing the network if you are using 3G and the SS
The 3G signal is routed from your SS through a VPN tunnel to the Voda servers before being routed out to the internet

Why on earth would I want Vodafone to route my traffic through a VPN tunnel to their servers before routing it out to the internet? That's an overhead that adds no value other than allowing Vodafone to bill me for that overhead.

Also, metered broadband from most ISPs costs about £6/month for 3GB data. Vodafone charge £5 a month for 500MB data, i.e. about 5 times as much as broadband. That cost difference is explained either by Vodafone grossly overcharging, or it costs much more to serve up internet access over 3G compared to broadband. I'm willing to believe the latter. Given that in the suresignal scenario Vodafone don't have the costs of the data over 3G, and given that they are an ISP already so have all of the back end infrastructure in place, it's pretty reasonable to assume that data over suresignal costs vodafone very little. The cell towers aren't being filled with data. The connection from my house to their servers is paid for by me. The cost of the remaining part of the journey for the data is pretty much zero. Yet I still get charged.

Look at it another way - Imagine if Vodafone decided that instead of expensive cell towers, they would save money and use a network of femtocells to expand their coverage, e.g. in a blackspot area, anyone can use your femtocell. It's be pretty reasonable to assume that if you are paying for the infrastructure (the femtocell box and the broadband connection), Vodafone would need to give you a cut of the call and data costs that you are hosting. Similar to the Fon wifi network where you get reciprocal access rights for offering others the ability to connect to your router. In such a scenario, you would either earn credit or money when others use your suresignal box - that'd only be fair wouldn't it? And how are you different from anyone else - i.e. you using your femtocell should also result in Vodafone sharing some of the cost savings.

Martin

[SynthFG]

Why on earth would I want Vodafone to route my traffic through a VPN tunnel to their servers before routing it out to the internet? That's an overhead that adds no value other than allowing Vodafone to bill me for that overhead.


Martin

Thats the way the SS works, it routes all 3G traffic to Voda servers it's a very simple device which is why it is so cheap

If you don't want to be charged for using the internet at home use your phones wi-fi function to connect to the internet through your router

[Retired-Reidar]

Hi martin
I can certainly see your point of view, connecting to data via your home wifi connection is free as you know, as such users often take advantage of this. In terms of the Sure Signal this does not nullify any data charges for traffic used while connected to it.

Thanks

Reidar

eForum Team

[mmillmor]

Hi martin



I can certainly see your point of view, connecting to data via your home wifi connection is free as you know, as such users often take advantage of this.

In terms of the Sure Signal this does not nullify any data charges for traffic used while connected to it.

Thanks



Reidar



eForum Team

Thanks. My particular issue is that in my house the Sure Signal 3G signal goes further than my wifi signal.

Plus if no-one mentions the oddity of this, nothing is ever going to change.

Martin

[stalks`]

Thanks. My particular issue is that in my house the Sure Signal 3G signal goes further than my wifi signal.

Plus if no-one mentions the oddity of this, nothing is ever going to change.

Martin

Martin has a valid point here. The whole point of data charges on mobiles is their usage on the cellular network. You pull this out the loop and the costs to Vodafone are much much smaller. Why is this cost not passed on to the customer? Greed I say.

I work for a popular B2B ISP. I am involved in pricing of infrastructure and deal with negotiating peering partners. The costs involved for bandwidth at a datacenter level are a meer micro-fraction of what Vodafone will be charging whilst using the SureSignal.

I understand that the SureSignal is a new product here in the UK, and Vodafone should be commended for bringing its service here. But why would you, as customers, come rushing to the defence of basically being ripped off?

Regards,
Steve.