Fibre in Strand

What alternatives do we have? I am in the Goedehoop area. I have signed up with Sprintnet WISP for the past few months and I must say they are pathetic and service interruptions are frequent. Their support center is also non existent. Any other WISP'S that I can try in the interim?
 
I have a DFA manhole literally 3 meters from my boundary wall, but the chances of getting an ISP to install to my house is just about 0. There are 4 other houses in my street, and none of them are interested in fibre. Max ADSL is 4Mbps, so I guess I'm sticking to LTE for the next 2 years. Hopefully by then, I will have other options.
 
So the new year has started (happy new year to all), I will follow up with Octotel again to find out the progress of the rollout in the area. They will be able to acquire the wayleaves required for trenching now, which was not possible at the end of last year. Can we please try and get as many people to join the Facebook group that Octotel has created (Octotel - Strand Fibre) to indicate interest to them. So far the group only has 26 members (including the Octotel staff), which doesn't inspire a lot of confidence/incentive for them to invest in such a large capital venture. As far as I understand trenching should start in Beach road.
 
Octotel seems to finally have updated their website. I haven't received any feedback on email or Facebook as of yet. The last info I received was that Lochnerhof will be part of phase 6. Currently phase 1 is loaded on their site with the information that they are still waiting for wayleaves from the municipality. The ETA for starting the trenching is mid to end of April.

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Ah man, when will we in "Die Bos" area get ftth? anyone know about developments?
 
JouMaSe said:
Ah man, when will we in "Die Bos" area get ftth? anyone know about developments?
Click to expand...

Nope not sure. You can ask Octotel on the Facebook page they created (Octotel - Strand fibre). Just don't hold your breath for a answer, you will see that they have read your post, but they hardly ever reply. Updates on their website regarding Strand is also few and far between, and very outdated. I have given up trying.
 
Hello,

The DFA coverage map shows a completed fibre network in the Strand area. I contacted SADV (South African Digital Services), who I understand handles FTTH queries on behalf of DFA, and they are waiting for enough uptake before commencing.

I was asked to visit http://www.jointhefibrehood.co.za/ and enter my details to show my interest.
 
Hey guys

I contacted SADV, and received an email from them, below:

Thank you for your email below.

We are currently planning our roll-out for Strand. This process is at an advanced stage so I would appreciate it if you give me a couple of weeks to finalise before I revert with confirmation either way.

To answer your other questions:
SADV has historically focused on multi-dwelling unit (“MDU”) estates and gated communities but has recently started rolling out fibre on a suburb-wide basis too. So yes, we provide open access FTTH services to standalone dwelling units (“SDU”) too (in our selected areas).
Amongst many other factors, expected uptake is critical. That said, we have an aggressive roll-out strategy so we don’t necessarily need to wait for the uptake to come before we build; we just need to satisfy ourselves that certain levels are achievable in predetermined timeframes. Our specific uptake threshold/requirement varies from area to area depending on, inter alia, the cost of the build.
We tend to plan our roll-outs as close to the existing DFA fibre infrastructure as possible so the fact that your property is so close to it definitely counts in your favour! We do, however, still need to apply our other criteria to your micro location before we make a final decision.

I will let you know once we have finalised our roll-out plans for Strand.

This makes me feel all fuzzy. So come on, guys, go tto the website, register your interest. I realize that even if every single person signs up, it may be quite a while before rollout (if it happens), but if they don't see enough interest, there won't be any rollout from them.

I know a lot of people (myself included) find it irritating that the ISPs expect us to advertise for them, but for once, if it can increase our chances of a rollout happening sooner, I am willing to evangelize for them.
 
BetaProject said:
Hey guys

I contacted SADV, and received an email from them, below:

Thank you for your email below.

We are currently planning our roll-out for Strand. This process is at an advanced stage so I would appreciate it if you give me a couple of weeks to finalise before I revert with confirmation either way.

To answer your other questions:
SADV has historically focused on multi-dwelling unit (“MDU”) estates and gated communities but has recently started rolling out fibre on a suburb-wide basis too. So yes, we provide open access FTTH services to standalone dwelling units (“SDU”) too (in our selected areas).
Amongst many other factors, expected uptake is critical. That said, we have an aggressive roll-out strategy so we don’t necessarily need to wait for the uptake to come before we build; we just need to satisfy ourselves that certain levels are achievable in predetermined timeframes. Our specific uptake threshold/requirement varies from area to area depending on, inter alia, the cost of the build.
We tend to plan our roll-outs as close to the existing DFA fibre infrastructure as possible so the fact that your property is so close to it definitely counts in your favour! We do, however, still need to apply our other criteria to your micro location before we make a final decision.

I will let you know once we have finalised our roll-out plans for Strand.

This makes me feel all fuzzy. So come on, guys, go tto the website, register your interest. I realize that even if every single person signs up, it may be quite a while before rollout (if it happens), but if they don't see enough interest, there won't be any rollout from them.

I know a lot of people (myself included) find it irritating that the ISPs expect us to advertise for them, but for once, if it can increase our chances of a rollout happening sooner, I am willing to evangelize for them.
Click to expand...

I have had some similar responses before, but nothing came of it. My house is literally 70m from the closest DFA manhole. I am honestly starting to consider having pamphlets printed and dropped into postboxes to get people to register interest.
 
Stratt said:
I have had some similar responses before, but nothing came of it. My house is literally 70m from the closest DFA manhole. I am honestly starting to consider having pamphlets printed and dropped into postboxes to get people to register interest.
Click to expand...

I'm right next to a DFA manhole; it's 3 meters from my boundary wall..

I think we should wait and see whether they do come back, and if they do, have pamphlets printed and distributed. Heck, I would use my LTE router as a portable hotspot for people to use to register if it means we can have fibre!
 
I wouldn't hold my breath.

The companies that dig have all learned a valuable lesson from what happened with Frogfoot and LinkAfrica in Constantia.

As soon as one company applies for wayleaves to dig in an area, suddenly Openserve roll out fibre in that area.

LinkAfrica have pulled out of Cape Town.

SADV cancelled a project in Benoni.

Octotel aren't even going one block beyond Beach Rd.
 
belator said:
I wouldn't hold my breath.

The companies that dig have all learned a valuable lesson from what happened with Frogfoot and LinkAfrica in Constantia.

As soon as one company applies for wayleaves to dig in an area, suddenly Openserve roll out fibre in that area.

LinkAfrica have pulled out of Cape Town.

SADV cancelled a project in Benoni.

Octotel aren't even going one block beyond Beach Rd.
Click to expand...

According to the feedback I got from Octotel last year is that is phase one of the project. Up to Broadway is supposed to be part of phase six. I have absolutely no idea what Octotel's hold up is with starting to trench, as trying to get any info out of them fails miserably (they don't even respond to my messages). I cant imagine they are still struggling with wayleaves from the council, but I suppose anything is possible. It might have something to do with the sea wall being redone, even though the fibre will run on the opposite side of the road.

Openserve is welcome to roll out fibre, if there is another option though they wont be getting my business as they are way more expensive than the other providers.
 
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I spoke to an OpenServe technician a couple of weeks back. According to him, the chances of OpenServe expanding its FTTH footprint in Strand is slim. He lives in the area, and says he also tried to find out whether there are plans for a fibre rollout from OS, and was told there are none.

I hope that is just typical bureaucracy, with the left hand not even knowing there is a right hand, but I'm not counting on them providing services anytime in the foreseeable future.
 
I think the chances of SADV rolling out is much greater than OpenServe coming to the party, since SADV depends on DFA infrastructure, which is already in place.
 
belator said:
As soon as one company applies for wayleaves to dig in an area, suddenly Openserve roll out fibre in that area.
Click to expand...

Yes. It's a HUGE PITA that you need to go to your competition (i.e. openserve) to get approval from them to dig, considering their cables (copper) is in the area. Essentially, you hand your plans to your competition on a golden platter. OpenServe's not the only one you basically hand your plans to, but it seems they are the only ones that actually come and try to push you around.

The playing field is definitely not fair.
 
I really hope someone is thinking ahead, and laying fibre while all the annoying construction is currently happening in Broadway.
 
So WebAfrica sends me an email to let me know that I am now on their Fibre map, and I can place my order. Yay. I figure, although there's been no digging anywhere in the area, there is live DFA fibre already, and they will likely use that, through SADV as the lastmile provider.

I go to check the WA website, and I am told I can't get fibre, since I don't fall into any WA fibre coverage area. :mad:

Great way to start the day.
 
Nice. Good to see progress. Unfortunately, it will be a while, if ever, before they get to me here on the outskirts.
 
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