There are many reason why you won’t get 384kbps on 3G. 384kps is the overall (possible) data rate. There are other information sent in parallel that speedtest will not see. Information between the modem and the network.

You also have the priority tasks within the network allocating these data rates (in case of congestion or more goldstar users around) + also (the most important) the quality and level of the radio signal.

As for HSDPA, you will get the best if you are closer to the cell and not moving. There is a degradation when you are travelling (by car or train that is) but it still will be better that 3G. In some countries you can get far more that what Emtel is providing.

Comment by Faisal... — Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:22 GMT #

thnks for the info :)

Comment by Yashvin — Thursday, 29 November 2007 15:16 GMT #

I’m a satisfied customer of the HSDPA service. Service has been good, so no complaints for now.

Comment by Stephen Naicken — Friday, 30 November 2007 12:21 GMT #

Emtel hspda service is imho the best internet connection ever available in mauritius as low as Rs458 per month.
But you have to bear some things in mind:
The device doesn’t support extension usb cables(in case you want to put it where the signal is stronger… near the window)
Use a usb power hub or connect it to a usb power adaptor(using the dual cable provided). 1st cable goes to the pc, 2nd cable(power assistant goes to your power adapter).
Result: 1.2mb peak from Phoenix.
Many towers haven’t been yet upgraded to hsdpa. Shyam Roy himself says that those regions don’t need hsdpa. Who is he to decide wether I need or not high speed internet??
Discuss

Comment by pascal — Tuesday, 18 March 2008 19:06 GMT #

I’ve had excellent speed with the USB cable alone and has never bothered with a power hub — I don’t even know what one looks like!

I also find that Emtel lacks in terms of coverage. In Sainte-Croix, at one end of the house I get good HSDPA signal and at the other end not even a signal strong enough for a phone call. I’d hate to think that the house is located right at the intersection of two cells :-)

I use a Mac and so can’t enjoy the free Emtel byte-counter, but based on my previous usage, I downgraded to the smallest package from the 5GB one. Which one are you on?

— Eddy

Comment by Eddy — Thursday, 20 March 2008 11:57 GMT #

If, like me, you are wondering what’s the use of a powered hub, here is the answer.

— Eddy

Comment by Eddy — Saturday, 22 March 2008 11:46 GMT #

Someone in a showroom told me that the network is being upgraded, by the end of the year it will be ok.

I’m actually 1gb… just to test the quality of service before moving to another package. It might seem stupid, but I’ve chosen the 1gb to make the modem ‘profitable’, as compared to other market deals.(As you have to buy the modem to use the service).

Well, if I exeed the 1gb package, makes Rs2.55(vat inclusive) per mb. Making over Rs2000 the gigabyte. That’s relatively huge isn’t it?

Comment by pascal — Saturday, 22 March 2008 13:00 GMT #

Huge, indeed, but not as bad as the £1.00/MB that I would pay in England. The 1GB is suitable for people who do not download a lot.

— Eddy

Comment by Eddy — Tuesday, 25 March 2008 11:49 GMT #

Hello guys! I wanted to know how you can monitor your download limit on the 3.5G service. Since Emtel hasn’t provided me with a byte counter, I would really appreciate your help.

Comment by Vinoba — Friday, 11 April 2008 21:05 GMT #

I’m actually curious and would like to get some more info concerning unlocking of the Modem SIM. U think a cellphone technician could do the job?

Comment by Bin — Sunday, 11 May 2008 05:12 GMT #

Yes, it’s very likely.

Eddy.

Comment by Eddy — Sunday, 11 May 2008 08:00 GMT #

[...] Mauritius again in February, I was reassured of my earlier decision whenever Emtel’s affordable mobile Internet service made it possible for me to continue working remotely when the expensive and unreliable ADSL [...]

Pingback by e.young » The whole nine yards — Friday, 23 May 2008 10:43 GMT #

I have purchased the emtel hsdda about 1 year ago but i have not been able to use it at all on my desktop computers. It cannot connect: A connection to the remote computers cannot be establishe…
When i bring it to the showroom for testing, it works perfectly in their laptops.
Emtel has refused to refund me.

Anyone got the same problem?

Comment by ashraf — Tuesday, 29 July 2008 14:11 GMT #

I’ll in Mauritius next week for some days of leisure and sport !! But unfortunetly I’ll have to maintain contact with my french clients …

Is there any prepaid solution for Emtel 3G network ’cause I won’t subscribe a plan. I’ll be back in France at the end of this month.

No clear information on this kind of offer on Emtel’website ?

Thanks a lot for some more informations and C.U. soon on your fantastic beaches.

Comment by Fred Aznar — Tuesday, 5 August 2008 20:52 GMT #

Hi
I am coming to Mauritius as a tourist for 10 days in early November 2008
will be staying in Casuarina Hotel, i travel will my laptop and will need Internet connectivity
I have read in forums, that Internet access at hotels can be quite costly
whats the best way of concecting my laptop to internet – i hate using internet cafes
Is it OK if i purchase Emtel SIM card when i arrive in Mauritius, install it in my Nokia GSM mobile, and enabled GPRS on it
how much kbps internet speed can i expect on my laptop using such a setup
and how much it will cost totally?
emtel SIM card (or any other company) + GPRS activation for Internet , and internet access cost per minute/hour?
and where is the nearest spot near Casuariana Hotel where i can buy that
thanks in advance
vivsam

Comment by Vivsam — Monday, 13 October 2008 13:08 GMT #

Hi Vivsam,

I doubt that Emtel provide GPRS/3G service to pre-paid customers, but I have read that Orange do. Pre-paid cards for both Orange and Emtel are readily available, but to activate the GPRS/3G service you may have to visit their sales offices.

Good luck!

Eddy.

Comment by Eddy — Wednesday, 15 October 2008 20:22 GMT #

I have HSDPA on my mobile phone W595. What does this mean? Can i get 3.6 mbps with it ?

Comment by Avish — Sunday, 8 March 2009 13:07 GMT #

Yes, you can, in principle.

Eddy.

Comment by Eddy — Sunday, 8 March 2009 16:19 GMT #

I think HSDPA CANT get you 3.6 mbps, either way you can test it yourself by using the following Adsl Speed Test

Comment by Mak Mour — Tuesday, 17 March 2009 07:26 GMT #

Je suis tres me content de votre emtel usb stick!! car je vien de le prendre avant hier et la depuis hier sa marche plus et sa me dis qu`il ya un problem , qu`il y a un file attacher au program qui marche pas, mais a m`enerve car je vien de payer enviton Rs4900 et c`est absolument inacceptable que je n`ai pas ma connection??!!!!!! vos bureau sont fermer aujourdui ce samedi et aussi dimanche et aussi lundi!!! alor moi comment je fai alor ???? grace a cela vous donnez une mauvaise image de votre emtel internet… et je compte bien me faire rembourser!!!

Comment by Didier Desvaux de marig — Saturday, 30 January 2010 12:17 GMT #