Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hostness]

I need to use skype quite often here and I've been using it on my iphone4 ever since it came out. But when it's on 3g the connection is very, very choppy and usually results in a drop call. Almost 90% of the time it's like this, so the app and service is essentially unusable.

Even if I'm on wifi for some reason the connection isn't smooth. I'm guessing the bandwidth will drop and so the calls will drop, although this doesn't happen as much as it does on 3g.

Can anyone tell me if this is the case with their skype/iphone and if there's any solutions to this? I'm on olleh/KT with a 55k/month plan. I've been so surprised at how slow 3g is in this country.

(Please, only comment if you've actually experienced this or know exactly what I'm talking about. I've read through all the posts about this topic but this exact question hasn't been asked. I know there's articles about skype being restricted but if you've used an iphone w/ skype you know it works fine. Also, vpn service isn't the issue, well maybe it might be but when I used my vpn the calls would still drop. I feel like it's just a terrible slow 3g issue that can't keep up with the bandwidth demands of having a skype call so I just want to know if anyone else is having the same problem or if it's only me with this problem).

[SeoulNate]

it is not the 3g or the wifi. It is the fact that the service provider is throttling the connection to skype.

I currently have the same problem and my ISP just keeps claiming damage to underwater lines. I call BS.

[Swampfox10mm]

I hear ya, and I am on SK. Only the 3g works faster than my home internet with overseas connections. But still not what it used to be. I have found that 3g speed is very area-dependant. If you are in a high-traffic area, like Dongdaemun station, forget it.

Oddly, my paid Skype calls have been fine. I totally know blaming Japan for the problem is BS because when I access via my VPN, I get speeds far higher - plenty for two-way video chat on Skype. I have to port-forward to another port to do this. The telecoms must be slowing communications over certain ports? My work connection is fine. I thInk Youtube has been throttled so content delivered much faster than 240 to 360p is extremely slow to useless. Google mail has also been throttled.

I believe the japan tsunami is the problem but they are throttling everyone who is not a premium customer so they can save bandwidth for more expensive connections. that is my theory, and I wouldn't be surprised if they continue to throttle connections after the problem is fixed. the telecoms are angry that they are losing money to skype and other similar services over cell phones, especially. the japan accident was a total lifesaver for them I think.

My VPN has smartphone servers, but cant get them to work. I have to email them to figure it out.

[Swampfox10mm]

by the way my torrents speeds are all but blocked to overseas connections. But if I use my VPN service and port forward, I can achieve up to around 700kps or more speeds.

[giraffe]

I have KT olleh.

I've used skype with wifi it works GREAT. Not choppy at all, works perfect.

I haven't tested skype with 3g yet. I plan to in the near future.

HOWEVER, I have noticed that 3g sucks/is really slow in this country ( Only tested it out in Daejeon and Seoul). I just arrived here from Toronto a few weeks ago and I have to say 3g in Toronto was much faster. I can barely browse internet or use any of my apps that are dependent on internet on this 3g network. Most of my apps end up jerky or crashing due to 3g being so slow or not being able to access the info fast enough. I'm very disappointed in 3g so far.

Wifi wise everything works great though.

[Swampfox10mm]

My friends have KT at home, and although there speeds are slower than before they useable. KT 3g phone speeds are slower than SK these days. SK home internet is terrible outside of Korea, but extremely fast to Korean sites.

By the way, I got my android phone to work with VPN.

If anyone wants 7 day free trial with Astrill Private VPN, PM me. I can set you up. No credit card needed for trial, only your phone number. Works at home too. A VPN will change your IP to a server in another country of your choice from a list of many. It also tunnels through throttling on certain connections, like Skype if you forward the port. You can toggle it on and off easily.

VPN allows me to use Netflix from here, too. There are servers in many countries, including the UK, for example. Cost varies for the service. It is about $60 for a year, but you can buy 3 or 6 months too.

[tehdee]

op: this is why
http://wirelessfederation.com/news/31481-korea-telecom-blocks-skype-on-3g-network/

and with all the posters above, i agree--- 3g speeds are abysmal in this country. barely worth it half the time. it seems as opposed to upgrading the networks to cope with the flux of smartphone users, kt and skt have thrown all their money at making the whole country a wifi hotspot.

[hanguker]

Nice to see this from an official-looking source. I'd only heard rumors about KT throttling before now. Why the throttling of youtube, though? I don't get it...

[SeoulNate]

[crossmr]

I had issues last night around midnight. For about an hour before that it was okay, but around 11:45 it started to break down. Both Nettalk and Skype were getting choppy. Skype was reporting a bad network. I have SK at home. The damage to the underseas cables around Japan is fairly significant and there is no other way to get over there now.

http://gigaom.com/broadband/in-japan-many-under-sea-cables-are-damaged/

Korea does not have it's own cable to the US

[thurst]

if i'm on 3G i only call landlines from skype and it seems to work fine. if i'm calling somebody on a cell, i generally just wait until i have wifi access.

it's BS, buti can't say that i'm surprised that they're trying to "crackdown" on VoIP connections.