Why telcos prefer time-based charging on 3G?

If you survey various telcos around the globe, you will notice that all of them offer packet-based charging for 3G or Ev-DO. Only in the Philippines you’d get time-based charging. And the reason why?

A telco executive once told me most Filipinos do not understand packet charging or related terms such as bandwidth, KB, megabyte or gigabyte. Time-based charging is more understandable since it’s the same way as using net cafes or dial-up internet at home.

When GRPS and WAP services was first introduced years ago, they were offered at packet-based charging. People didn’t like it because they don’t want to be surprised how much their bill would end up after connecting to the net.

When I first tried GPRS back in 2003, I tried visiting my blog, left a comment and logged out. That 3 page visits I made cost me about Php100 on my prepaid account. I never tried it again.

The other week, when I went to an overnight trip to Singapore, I used my XPeria X1 tethered to my MSI Wind to go online. SingTel 3G charging was on per KB so I was careful not to visit heavy sites or download anything. Had they been doing time-based charging, I would have easily managed my connection time.

In hindsight, I thought we’re much fortunate to be able to choose between packet-based and time-based charging when running on 3G (at least for Globe Telecom). Besides, Smart Bro’s Php1,500 Unlimited offer is already a good bargain.

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

33 Comments

Nytrain says:

15 years ago

Your stupid dude edz. May problema nga ang mga network pero hindi hacker smacke slacker o whatever. Problema nila yung system nila. Hindi polido. Kaya yari na kayo nyan mga ungas.
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Tangnam0 says:

15 years ago

Hindi si akai yan. Ginamit lang ni boy sumbong pangalan nya. Tanga ba si akai para ilaglag sarili nya? Sarap ng free internet. Pustahan, nakiki ubt rin mga sumbungero dito. Pweh!
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Reborn says:

15 years ago

Gago..yan akai na yan moderator ka pa nman..cguro pnatalsik ka ng mga kagrupo mu kaya gumagawa ka ng ingay.. Gung2x.. Madame kaya yan namod na application 4 UFBT….gago
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Reborn says:

15 years ago

Gago..yan akai na yan moderator ka pa nman..cguro pnatalsik klang sa mga grupo mu kaya gumagawa ka ng ingay.. Gung2x.. Madame ka pa naman namod na application 4 UFBT
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AntiPEONS says:

16 years ago

Hindi ka lang kasi marunong. Turuan kita, gusto mo?
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Anonymous says:

16 years ago

freedom of speech ka diyan. ayan ang tinatawag na abuse ng freedom na iyan. remember even if you COULD doesn’t mean that you SHOULD!
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FBT says:

16 years ago

putang ina mo! Edzhstar
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R.I.P edhstar says:

16 years ago

hay! well kaya lang sinabi yan para gumawa ng pangalan. tang ina mo pagkatapos mong pinakinabangan magiingay k n?. isa kang walang kwentang bobong nilalang..sana nkapag-isip isip ka muna bago ka nagi-ingay kung meron ka mang ganun..
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Gag0 ka edhstar says:

16 years ago

Gago k@ edstar! Pasikat ka lang! Fbt me nw! Wala kang kwenta! Pg nawala ubt to all networks kaw lagut. May pic k p nmn. Pa hunt kita militar sa luisita.
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Anti edzhstar says:

16 years ago

Bubo ka b edzhstar? Free na kaya net ng globe sa phone.. Kupal nagpasabog ka pa d2 wala naman kwenta..
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Anti edzhstar says:

16 years ago

Gagew ka! Putang ina m0 ang ingay mo.. 3310 kC phone nya kaya d xa mkapasok sa fbt ng smart/globe..
Pobre wala pang pangrent ng computer kaya d mkareply.. Sa dec. 25 pa reply nyan pag nkahingi na ng aginaldo sa mga ninong/ninang nya. Nice pic ha? Kawawa hinahunting ka na ng mga fbt lover
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em0t says:

16 years ago

hindi.kaya nag-iingay yan kasi frustrated yan.alam nga niya di naman niya mapagana.tang-ina niyang edstar.puta ka.
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UBT.FBT addict says:

16 years ago

exactly! if i know nag FBT/UBT din yan
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bukoflavar says:

16 years ago

hahay! napakinbangan nio naman ung fbt bkt kelangan itopic pa d2.. hay!
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UBT.FBT addict says:

16 years ago

hoy edzshtar wag ka pasikat!
if i know gumamit kn dn ng FBT/UBT o UMMS

bakit mo alam kung di mo nasabukan :lol:
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pointclick says:

16 years ago

wala problema sa freedom of speech ang problem nasa sau mismo! d ka marunong, saan dapat lumugar… when & where mo iaapply ung freedom of speech mo… ganyan lng ka simple… pasikat!
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cub0ne says:

16 years ago

kupal..
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Edzhstar says:

16 years ago

bakit my written law ba na nagsasabing bawal magingay,,bakit pa my freedom of speech?
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ToinxBob says:

16 years ago

I mean @ edzhstar… inggay mo…
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ToinxBob says:

16 years ago

@akai ganyan ka ba talaga?!! ang inggay mo!! wait lang…
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Edzhstar says:

16 years ago

now those people in http://pinoyden.com/index.php?topic=2418.0 blaming for revealing UFBT

http://promditarlac.blogspot.com/

pls make a move
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anonymous says:

16 years ago

@isl30fvi3w

are you satisfied with packet charging?

if so, good for you, sobrang yaman mo naman.

Globe’s time based internet does not perform well anyway.

So what are you going to choose? a lousy packet charging or a lousy time based charging?
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isl30fvi3w says:

16 years ago

Those telcos must always make sure that the services they are providing will satisfy their subscribers. It’s NOT the price, it’s the QUALITY of services. We always choose cheaper rates but are we satisfied? Most of the time… NOT!
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deuts says:

16 years ago

I’m not sure if you answered your own question….
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cheftonio says:

16 years ago

sa totoo, ayaw ko ng packet based or time based charging. gusto ko use all you can. Right now, i still have the unlimited visibility plan and I can say that ok naman ako with it except dun sa image compression na inapply nila..
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nether says:

16 years ago

Akai wag ka nman maingay
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emben says:

16 years ago

oo nakita kita, sabi ko si yuga o..

ntry ko na rin dati yong /KB ang payment ng globe, inis di mo alam kung gano kalaki babayaran mo
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Lucien Dominick G. Tiojanco says:

16 years ago

No way I’m dealing with packet based charging again, LOL!

I’ll be trying out Sun’s unlimited broadband soon. :-D
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retz says:

16 years ago

lol wow tapang ah
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Tsong says:

16 years ago

@Retz

asshole!
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edzhstar says:

16 years ago

Hey Mr. Yuga isa pang problema ng globe un mga hacker,kasi nga diba pag sa globe you can able connect to GPRS(inside the globe wapsite) even ZERO balance.Pwede ka pa rin makaconnect outside globe wapsite for free even Zero balance.
Syempre nanjan na yung using 3rd party browser or kahit anung tricks man yan para makapagbrowse outside the globe wapsite(Friendster mobile,free downloads outside globe etc.)
we called it UFBT(Unlimited Free Browsing Technique)
And even UMMS(Unlimited MMS)pwede ka mkapagsend & retrieve ng MMS for free..
Unlike SMART kapag zero balance na hindi na makabrowse at send MMS..
although nagkaroon na din ng UFBT sa SMART..
kaya nga ako nakacreate ng Wapsite ko nun dahil sa UFBT.
try to Visit http://akai1987.wen.ru thru your phone
anjan yung mga ibat ibang tricks..

http://www.topblogs.com.ph/out/6820

http://promditarlac.blogspot.com/

http://humble-pride.blogspot.com/
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edzhstar says:

16 years ago

1st comment?
Yuga Nakita kita sa TV patrol I agree with yeah!

http://www.topblogs.com.ph/out/6820

http://promditarlac.blogspot.com/
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retz says:

16 years ago

wow, i just saw ur tips on buying a new mobile phone on TV Patrol, hehe sikat!
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