macnn/electronista

08/26/2008, 1:05pm, EDT

Tuesday, August 26th

Orange confesses to low caps on 3G network

French cellphone carrier Orange has admitted to imposing artificial limits on its 3G broadband network, reports say. The confession comes after complaints from a number of iPhone 3G owners, who in testing their download capacity discovered that they were limited to a maximum of 400Kbps, as compared to the 1.8Mbps possible on T-Mobile's German network. Most 3G networks are limited to a peak speed of 3.2Mbps, although some may support 7.2Mbps.

Some upset Orange subscribers have been able to get their speeds raised by technicians, who have altered individual accounts to push speeds as high as 3Mbps. Customers have further alleged that the cap may be a violation of Orange's service agreements, and a petition for proper 3G access has been formed online.

An Orange representative contacted by FranceInfo has stated that the cap is actually pegged at 384Kbps, and applies not just to iPhones but all devices on its 3G network. The limit was aimed at "preserving the stability of the network," according to the representative, but Orange has since decided it will raise download speeds slightly; by September 15th, the cap should be 1Mbps.


Filed under: iPhone, industry, networking, mobile phones
Other story tags: iPhone 3G, T-Mobile, Orange, France, Germany

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No NO!

1
08/26, 1:33pm, EDT

It's ALL Apple's fault. The iPhone is a complete, abject failure! Forget these reports because they don't fit into the "always blame Apple first" philosophy. How can third party networks be the cause of slow iPhones when it just HAS to be Apple's fault. I read this on the internet so it MUST be true.

Apple is now finding out what it's like to be Microsoft and have "partners".

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined May 2001
User is offline

yes Yes !

5
08/26, 1:38pm, EDT

I'm part of the lucky ones : my account has been granted for 3G and on the same iphone I'm now able to reach 2500 kbps.
It's not apple fault at all. Everything is Orange's (French carrier) fault !

receptions issues are another problem that apple should. I instist : there are two distinct problems !

yes Yes !

2
08/26, 1:38pm, EDT

I'm part of the lucky ones : my account has been granted for 3G and on the same iphone I'm now able to reach 2500 kbps.
It's not apple fault at all. Everything is Orange's (French carrier) fault !

receptions issues are another problem that apple should. I instist : there are two distinct problems !

More infos

4
08/26, 1:41pm, EDT

It's not Apple fault, I'm a french customer of an HTC Touch Dual and I use the Orange network.My Orange contract say that I can access the 3g (HSDPA) network with a max bandwidth of 3.6 mbits but my download bandwidth is no more than 384kbits...
Currently, all people who have subscribed an "Origami Star" contract with a 3G/HSDPA compatible mobile phone are limited to 384kbits!

nat

doesn't matter

4
08/26, 2:13pm, EDT

no matter where you are, companies will try to mess with you.

and people oppose government regulations.

Junior Member
Joined Mar 2002
User is offline

sigh

3
08/26, 2:33pm, EDT

For those of you new to the internet, lkrupp's post was SARCASM. He's not saying it's Apple's fault. He's saying the opposite.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jun 2007
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