Bloemfontein FTTH Thread

Pakka said:
Trenches were dug and i think it was fibre being laid right on our office's doorstep - but according to the Telkom map there is no availability currently or planned.

I did contact Lightspeed and they said they need R14k worth of contracts in Victoria Road to consider hooking us up
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Yeah, I remember now that Lightspeed needs a lot of interest or a certain number of signups before they'll do a roll out. The other option that you also can follow is perhaps to register interest for fibre / high speed connectivity via Openserve (Telkom's wholesale business division) over here:

http://openserve.co.za/interest-register/location

If you zoom in on Bloem, you'll see there is quite an extensive area which is covered by MSANs for VDSL. Victoria street doesn't necessarily fall in the "green area" but you it's possible that your exchange could support VDSL. I know it isn't fibre, but at least it will be faster than ADSL.

Punch in your business number on that page, it should say what type of connection you can get there for the business :)
 
Just a quick update.

My 40mb fibre line was installed last week and everything is up and running. I'm not happy with my upload speed, but I'm busy sorting it out and once that is done will post some speedtests here :D

Secondly, Telkom managed to make my life a living hell. I'm trying to sort out my setup that I have at the house and flat which has caused a great deal of inconvenience for myself and my family. In the future I'll share the whole ordeal, but will keep it to myself until it's sorted.

Is there anyone else here on MyBB from Bloem that also have fibre? Please share your experiences with installation, speedtests etc, would love to read your stories as well :)
 
Finally managed to get my upload speed sorted out on my 40mb line, some local speed tests:

http://netgauge.ookla.com/share/379302506.png

and

http://netgauge.ookla.com/share/379306248.png

Very happy with those results indeed :D

According to the techie, my upload speed was set only to 1mb like that of ADSL :erm:

One half of my problem sorted, I still need to:

a) Order a new analogue line
b) Order 2mb ADSL for that line
c) Cancel the broadband voice portion and get that number ported back to the analogue line for my parents.

Sadly, the above is easier said than done. It's been a week now since I've tried getting that sorted out, but I'm getting nowhere. Was at one of my local Telkom Shop's and the attitude I got from one of their staff members there 30 min ago was appalling to say the least. Luckily I kept my cool, otherwise I would've said something I shouldn't.

Will have some rest over the weekend and then start the process again on Monday :cry:
 
Chris.Geerdts said:
Is it correct that you only get 25% upload vs download speeds? Typical fibre offerings are 50% or 100% upload.
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Yip, that's about where Telkom seem to be running their FTTH links at the moment.

Depending on the technology used, the fibre operators seem to be able to "split" the fibre's total bandwidth between down- and upload links more or less at will, in the sense that it's a configurable parameter.
In my area (Pretoria), the Telkom FTTH circuits were initially configured to deliver about 10% upload speed, but a while later they moved to between 20 and 25%. My own 40Mbps (WebAfrica over Telkom) service delivers about 20% upload speed.
Out of interest, it's worth mentioning that Telkom's LTE product (SmartBroadband Wireless) currently also delivers about 10% upload speed, which is partly because of how Telkom has chosen to allocate bandwidth between the up- and downlinks on their TDD LTE system.

Other FTTH providers may offer more symmetrical link speeds (ie 1:1) and one says they'll even allow the user to choose the bandwidth split themselves.
 
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StoneCold said:
Finally managed to get my upload speed sorted out on my 40mb line, some local speed tests:

http://netgauge.ookla.com/share/379302506.png

and

http://netgauge.ookla.com/share/379306248.png

Very happy with those results indeed :D

According to the techie, my upload speed was set only to 1mb like that of ADSL :erm:

One half of my problem sorted, I still need to:

a) Order a new analogue line
b) Order 2mb ADSL for that line
c) Cancel the broadband voice portion and get that number ported back to the analogue line for my parents.

Sadly, the above is easier said than done. It's been a week now since I've tried getting that sorted out, but I'm getting nowhere. Was at one of my local Telkom Shop's and the attitude I got from one of their staff members there 30 min ago was appalling to say the least. Luckily I kept my cool, otherwise I would've said something I shouldn't.

Will have some rest over the weekend and then start the process again on Monday :cry:
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Awesome StoneCold! Some great speeds you getting there! :D Techies were pulling cables here today in Waverley so hopefully I'll join the elite few soon! ;)
 
luketang56 said:
Awesome StoneCold! Some great speeds you getting there! :D Techies were pulling cables here today in Waverley so hopefully I'll join the elite few soon! ;)
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Thanks luketang! :D

Congrats man, finally someone else here from Bloem on MyBB that can partake in fibre discussions. I've seen on the coverage map that there are a few spots in Waverley where it's active already :)

Yesterday while driving through LHP, I saw that there is also a contractor busy laying a crap load of fibre, so who knows, maybe LHP will next on the map in light purple for a future FTTH enabled area. I actually want to drive there some time over the weekend to have a look and see if it's also the GIO construction guys working there.

I still have a situation at my place where we have 2 buildings on the premises with fibre in one building with the telephone line (voice running on the fibre) and now no phone line in the other building. Wish the techies told me about that before hand. I will pretty much be forced eventually to get a 2nd fibre line installed now so that my folks can have access to the voice portion to make phone calls :wtf:
 
I live in Langenhoven Park and I got a note in my postal box the other day that says:

Project: Vodacom : Ducts and Fiber to ACC Langehoven Park West and South
Herby we would like to inform you of the trenching and construction of an optic fiber line in Du Plessis Avenue, Philip Fourie Street and John van der Riet as well as Peet van der Merwe and Hettie Smit Str on the sidewalk.
etc. etc.

Looks like Vodacom is laying fiber, but if it is for FTTH is anyone's guess.
 
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IAMUSER said:
I live in Langenhoven Park and I got a note in my postal box the other day that says:

Project: Vodacom : Ducts and Fiber to ACC Langehoven Park West and South
Herby we would like to inform you of the trenching and construction of an optic fiber line in Du Plessis Avenue, Philip Fourie Street and John van der Riet as well as Peet van der Merwe and Hettie Smit Str on the sidewalk.
etc. etc.

Looks like Vodacom is laying fiber, but if it is for FTTH is anyone's guess.
Click to expand...

Thanks for confirming my suspicions about all the digging in Langenhovenpark, I knew it had to be fibre, but no idea it would by Vodacom. Let's hope it's for FTTH, please keep me updated on this as chances are good I'll be moving to LHP in the next year or 2 :)

EDIT: Keep on checking here for availability from time to time:

http://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/services/internet/vodacom-fibre#/estatesearch
 
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Hi Guys,

I live in Pentagonpark. Telkom installed FTTH in my street. Who can I phone to find out when it will go live. Seems as if they're finished with the installation. They ran fibre from the Telkom box to the old Telkom telephone pole where my current ADSL is coming from. Main fiber lines was installed last year.

Telkom is of little use. Tried ISPAfrika but they did not even bother to reply to my mail.
 
Warmunger said:
Hi Guys,

I live in Pentagonpark. Telkom installed FTTH in my street. Who can I phone to find out when it will go live. Seems as if they're finished with the installation. They ran fibre from the Telkom box to the old Telkom telephone pole where my current ADSL is coming from. Main fiber lines was installed last year.

Telkom is of little use. Tried ISPAfrika but they did not even bother to reply to my mail.
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Just keep an eye on the Telkom FTTH coverage map and be patient.
(Yeah, we know it's tough to be patient when the FTTH stuff is visible in your street, but just hang in there - it's worth it !)

20160222 Bloemfontein FTTH coverage.jpg
As soon as your area goes "dark purple" (ie moves from "planned" to available") you can start making enquiries both direct with Telkom and with other ISPs who offer services over Telkom. Based on our early FTTH experience in Pretoria, it's not uncommon for FTTH infrastructure to be visible on the ground before the Telkom coverage map even shows it as "Planned".
Until the map shows dark purple, you're pretty much wasting your time and just putting dents in your head.
Hang in there!
 
Hi guys,

Earlier this afternoon a huge thunderstorm killed my power adapter of my ONT and subsequently killed the ONT itself. I tried another power adapter, which did power the device, but the optical light doesn't turn on and eventually the ONT restarts itself. This process (restarts) happens over and over. Can I simply take the ONT as is to my nearest Telkom direct store and have it replaced?

Please advise :(

Thanks
 
StoneCold said:
Hi guys,

Earlier this afternoon a huge thunderstorm killed my power adapter of my ONT and subsequently killed the ONT itself. I tried another power adapter, which did power the device, but the optical light doesn't turn on and eventually the ONT restarts itself. This process (restarts) happens over and over. Can I simply take the ONT as is to my nearest Telkom direct store and have it replaced?

Please advise :(

Thanks
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I don't think there is a process to swap out an ONT at Telkom direct store.

You are probably going to need to log a fault.

Try the fibre help desk @ 0800 00 7268 .
 
th0rn said:
I don't think there is a process to swap out an ONT at Telkom direct store.

You are probably going to need to log a fault.

Try the fibre help desk @ 0800 00 7268 .
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Thanks, I did manage to contact one of the fibre techies who helped with my installation and he logged a fault for me. Hopefully they'll pitch up later today :)
 
Just a quick update.

Technician was at my house just a short while ago and replaced my ONT unit, I'm back online again \:D/

Asked him a few questions and he said that the entire Bloemfontein must be fibre enabled by 2020. According to him there 3 installations that have already taken place in Dan Pienaar, and on Telkom's coverage map, Dan Pienaar isn't even lit pink yet. Heuwelsig also has a few installations already, another non-lit pink area.

Other neighborhoods like LHP, Fichartpark etc are in the pipeline, it's just going to take some time till all the suburbs are covered, so just hang in there guys :)
 
Okay also live in Pentagon Park and the guys are busy installing Fiber from the pole into my house ! Couple of questions :

Im currently on a Callmore 3 package and a 4 mbit uncapped/unshapped line with Crystalweb

1) Will Telkom provide me with a new modem and telephone since i presume my old modem and telephone wont work ?
2) How will the rental work now ? Do i still pay for the ADSL per month and the line rental and can i still have the callmore package ?
3) I prefer to stay with Crystalweb since i dont have to sign any crappy contracts. What are the options ?

regards
Moonie
 
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moonglum32 said:
Okay also live in Pentagon Park and the guys are busy installing Fiber from the pole into my house ! Couple of questions :

Im currently on a Callmore 3 package and a 4 mbit uncapped/unshapped line with Crystalweb

1) Will Telkom provide me with a new modem and telephone since i presume my old modem and telephone wont work ?
2) How will the rental work now ? Do i still pay for the ADSL per month and the line rental and can i still have the callmore package ?
3) I prefer to stay with Crystalweb since i dont have to sign any crappy contracts. What are the options ?

regards
Moonie
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Hi Moonie,

If you didn't apply via Telkom for fibre, then you can do so via Crystalweb over here: http://fibrenetwork.co.za/ (the URL is linked on their site from www.crystalweb.co.za)

1) Crystalweb will most likely provide a modem from their side, however, you'll probably be responsible for installation costs of round about R1700, seeing that it is handled by the ISP and not via Telkom. Only Crystalweb can provide you here with the costs etc.

2) Chances are good that if Crystal web handles your line, they'll request Telkom to covert it to a fibre line, meaning that your number will be ported to work alongside the fibre line via the ONT (Optical Network Terminal) unit. In other words, your phone plugs into the ONT and via the fibre you'll be able to make and receive telephone calls.

Therefore, your ADSL will most likely be cancelled when they port your number over to the fibre line. Again, this is only something that Crystalweb can answer / confirm. This is how it worked for me when I went via Telkom for fibre as I didn't want to have an ISP managing anything on my behalf.

3) Contact Crystalweb, they're the only ones that can provide you here with different options. That's why I suggest you visit http://fibrenetwork.co.za/ to register your interest so that they can contact you.

Hope that helped :)
 
Things have gone really quiet here in this thread. Thought I'd ask if anyone from Bloem who browses MyBB (except me of course :p) please post in this thread if fibre has been installed in your neighborhood or if you received a notification that they will be deploying fibre soon.

One techie told me that Telkom has been installing fibre in Dan Pienaar and Heuwelsig as well, can anyone confirm this? Reason why I'm asking is because those areas aren't lit light purple yet on Telkom's coverage map. What was interesting is that the techie said they have to do like 3 fibre installations a day, so they're definitely deploying it in areas where it isn't planned yet :D

The digging that Vodacom did was for their towers in Langenhovenpark, and sadly not for FTTH.

Also, if you notice any digging in your neighborhood, please mention it here too, I'd like to go and investigate :)
 
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