Fibre internet in Gauteng on Openserve (Telkom) network

[jcheek]

Thanks for sharing, Inertia !

My installation (part 2)
The router Telkom supplied that I didn't use:

Though it's true that pretty much any router with a WAN port will work, it's interesting that they supplied a re-branded Netgear VDSL2 router !
At least it has a 3G stick-friendly USB port and Gigabit switch ports ... makes it more saleable I guess!

However I'm now in the unenviable position of wanting to move my fibre installation to a new location in the house

Yes, there's a degree of permanence to this fibre stuff that we're not used to. No more moving a telephone socket at will and just patching in a piece of "any old" alarm cable or twinflex!

 

[jcheek]

Disconnections - anyone seeing the same ?

Hmm ... so I've just completed Month #1 on FTTH (WebAfrica over Telkom, Faerie Glen area), and for the most part I've found the connection to be very stable. For the first three weeks or so, I don't think I ever saw a disconnection. That's in stark contrast to ADSL where I often saw multiple disconnections during the day, especially in bad weather.

I run a hybrid setup using a dual-WAN router, with FTTH as my primary internet connection, and an LTE failover arrangement as a secondary connection. My downstream router tells me when either of the two connections goes down.

About 10 days ago, I believe we had our first 'scheduled reboot' of some of the FTTH terminal equipment (at the exchange side), apparently to solve an authentication problem that some users were experiencing. My downstream router reported on that disconnection, which happened at about 01:10 on 4 September 2015.

Since then I've started seeing the occasional disconnect-reconnect cycle, sometimes in the dead of night (which has a bit of 'deliberate' feel to it), but sometimes also in 'normal' time, like these ones earlier this morning :



While it's not a crisis (re-connection is usually immediate), it is a tad annoying.
Could be that there's just a lot of FTTH work happening in the area, or maybe something else is going on.

The issue could be happening at any one of the following places :

• "Last mile" connection (Telkom FTTH in my block)
• Area/exchange-related (Telkom FTTH, Faerie Glen area)
• A general Telkom FTTH issue
• A general Telkom IPC issue
• Something at WebAfrica's end

Is anyone else seeing the same thing ?

 

[biena]

/snip
Could be that there's just a lot of FTTH work happening in the area, or maybe something else is going on.

The issue could be happening at any one of the following places :

• "Last mile" connection (Telkom FTTH in my block)
• Area/exchange-related (Telkom FTTH, Faerie Glen area)
• A general Telkom FTTH issue
• A general Telkom IPC issue
• Something at WebAfrica's end

Is anyone else seeing the same thing ?

From - To
Fri Aug 14 23:01:01 2015 Sat Aug 15 03:05:47 2015
Sat Aug 15 03:05:47 2015 Sat Aug 15 07:10:00 2015
Sat Aug 15 07:10:00 2015 Sat Aug 15 18:15:49 2015
Sat Aug 15 23:01:00 2015 Sun Aug 16 03:01:40 2015
Sun Aug 16 03:01:40 2015 Sun Aug 16 07:10:00 2015
Sun Aug 16 23:01:00 2015 Mon Aug 17 03:02:28 2015
Mon Aug 17 03:02:28 2015 Mon Aug 17 07:10:00 2015

I have now changed my habits, reconnect at midnight + 5 min, reconnect at 6:55am and no more 3am disconnect. Does feel as if a session has a maximum liftetime. This was happening from the beginning so doubt it is any work happening.

What is really weird is that the reconnect at 3am only happens if a session was started before midnight. My guess at a maximum lifetime may be way off base.

 

[jcheek]

Does feel as if a session has a maximum liftetime. This was happening from the beginning so doubt it is any work happening.

From - To
Fri Aug 14 23:01:01 2015 Sat Aug 15 03:05:47 2015
Sat Aug 15 03:05:47 2015 Sat Aug 15 07:10:00 2015
Sat Aug 15 07:10:00 2015 Sat Aug 15 18:15:49 2015

Sat Aug 15 23:01:00 2015 Sun Aug 16 03:01:40 2015
Sun Aug 16 03:01:40 2015 Sun Aug 16 07:10:00 2015

Sun Aug 16 23:01:00 2015 Mon Aug 17 03:02:28 2015
Mon Aug 17 03:02:28 2015 Mon Aug 17 07:10:00 2015

So those disconnects were being initiated from Telkom's side, not yours ?

 

[biena]

So those disconnects were being initiated from Telkom's side, not yours ?

Yup from Telkom's side.

Sat Aug 15 23:01:00 2015 -- Sun Aug 16 03:01:40 2015
Sun Aug 16 03:01:40 2015 -- Sun Aug 16 07:10:00 2015

23:01:00 and 07:10:00 was initiated by me
Telkom disconnected me at 03:01:40 reconnect at 03:01:40

New connection times and no more 3am disconnects
Mon Sep 14 00:05:00 -- 2015 Mon Sep 14 06:55:00 2015

 

[Bursty-dude]

I hope this FTTH goes live soon in our area.
This "10Mb and no network problems, Hellsum techs have fixed the issue" ADSL is driving me insane.....

 

[Bursty-dude]

Still no luck yet in getting info regarding when the fibre will go live.
Our area is still light purple/pink on the Telkom map.

 

[Bursty-dude]

Telkom tech is here fixing the ADSL line. Finally.......after 6+ years of hassles, there is finally someone that knows what they are doing.

Anyhow, he say I should just apply and Telkom will come do the installation. The fibre is apparently live in this area already, but no one around here has applied yet.
Let me go apply then!

 

[jcheek]

Still no luck yet in getting info regarding when the fibre will go live.
Our area is still light purple/pink on the Telkom map.

Anyhow, he say I should just apply and Telkom will come do the installation. The fibre is apparently live in this area already, but no one around here has applied yet.
Let me go apply then!

Go for it!

Even if you are going to be ordering from Telkom (not one of the other "piggyback" ISPs), remember to speak only with someone at the Fibre Help Desk. See details here.
When you get through, ask if you are at the "real" Fibre Help Desk (and not a "normal" Telkom sales operator or "overflow" help desk). Anything else will just take you round in circles and make you tear your hair out!.

Good luck!

 

[Fintan]

Hi Guys

So the planned roll-out areas in Pretoria have been updated again, now including a significant portion in the Equestria area(the whole estate is now planned by the looks of things) as well as some additions to the Bronberg close area (I am now in the planned roll-out).



I have had some interactions with the Telkom technicians that have been resolving ADSL issues for me and they have indicated that the roll-out in my are should be done by the end of the year. One of the technicians also indicated, that the link from the exchange in Petrick ave to the Telkom box just outside our estate is fibre already (this is confirmed by better than expected line stats given the distance to the exchange). All of our existing Telkom infrastructure is below ground already making it difficult to spot the fibre infrastructure, does anyone have a similar installation that can provide some advise on what to look out for in the area to confirm that the installation is in fact in progress?

Thanks,
Fintan

 

[Inertia]

Just an indication of how clueless Telkom is. Two salesmen rocked up to my house yesterday trying to sell me a FTTH product (the same thing happened a few months ago). The look on their faces when I pointed out my existing fibre set up was quite priceless. I think they were more surprised that I actually managed to get a Telkom fibre install than I was.

 

[jcheek]

So the planned roll-out areas in Pretoria have been updated again, now including a significant portion in the Equestria area(the whole estate is now planned by the looks of things) as well as some additions to the Bronberg close area (I am now in the planned roll-out).

Congrats, Fintan!
Thanks also for the heads-up. I see that there's now also a big chunk of FTTH planned in Garsfontein, which I know will make a lot of folks happy!

I have had some interactions with the Telkom technicians that have been resolving ADSL issues for me and they have indicated that the roll-out in my are should be done by the end of the year. One of the technicians also indicated, that the link from the exchange in Petrick ave to the Telkom box just outside our estate is fibre already (this is confirmed by better than expected line stats given the distance to the exchange).

Sounds like one of the newer MSANs (Multi-Service Access Nodes), which would make sense - is it a cream-coloured pavement kiosk ?

All of our existing Telkom infrastructure is below ground already making it difficult to spot the fibre infrastructure, does anyone have a similar installation that can provide some advise on what to look out for in the area to confirm that the installation is in fact in progress?

I would say the most tell-tale sign is generally the massive rolls of sub-duct, usually in brightly-coloured plastic like the red ones in my OP or this one for DFA. If you see those, stop and chat to the leader of the team - they usually know who they're ducting for, ie DFA, Telkom or whoever.

 

[Bursty-dude]

Still no luck with getting anyone at Telkom to help me get connected to fibre....

Telkom fibre help line (as per details given by jcheek on the previous page) know sweet f-all and keep telling me there is no fibre planned for our area, even after I told the people there is in fact fibre here, and that they should check on their own map and see that I am not talking rubbish.

But then again, I am so used to getting the run-around from Telkom here.....it only took them 6+ years to finally fix an ADSL fault that turned out to be a simple connection issue on the one pole here.

 

[jcheek]

Still no luck with getting anyone at Telkom to help me get connected to fibre....

Telkom fibre help line (as per details given by jcheek on the previous page) know sweet f-all and keep telling me there is no fibre planned for our area, even after I told the people there is in fact fibre here, and that they should check on their own map and see that I am not talking rubbish.

But then again, I am so used to getting the run-around from Telkom here.....it only took them 6+ years to finally fix an ADSL fault that turned out to be a simple connection issue on the one pole here.

I so feel your pain, 'dude !
Hang in there, just keep trying and keep calling. Did you ask to speak to the lady called Dineo ? She seems more clued-up than most.

 

[Fintan]

Sounds like one of the newer MSANs (Multi-Service Access Nodes), which would make sense - is it a cream-coloured pavement kiosk ?

Hi jcheek

This is a photo of the telkom setup outside of the complex, it meets the description you provided in the quote above.



Do you know if the fibre installation between the exchange and the MSAN is adequate to be extended to FTTH without additional upgrades?

Thanks
Fintan

 

[jcheek]

Hi jcheek
This is a photo of the telkom setup outside of the complex, it meets the description you provided in the quote above.

Hi Fintan
It's hard to be sure, but that does look like an MSAN node, yes.

Do you know if the fibre installation between the exchange and the MSAN is adequate to be extended to FTTH without additional upgrades?

The roll-out of these MSAN nodes actually started quite some years ago, and I think the main intention at the time was to be able to offer ADSL2 and VDSL services (ie >10Mbps service) to customers who were too far from the primary exchange.

While this article implies that the same node can also be used to provide FTTH services directly, in practise I've not heard of that being done anywhere - FTTH infrastructure seems to be quite separate. But that's just my opinion - perhaps someone with more direct Telkom insight could also comment (MickeyD ?) ?

 

[Inertia]

I believe jcheek is correct. My understanding is that MSAN rollout does not equate to FTTH. In fact my experience is that MSAN rollout usually negates the rollout of fibre as they tend to be competing services in Telkom's eyes.

However that's not an MSAN in the photo you posted, and I believe is either a DLU or DSLAM

 

[MickeyD]

Hi Fintan
It's hard to be sure, but that does look like an MSAN node, yes.



The roll-out of these MSAN nodes actually started quite some years ago, and I think the main intention at the time was to be able to offer ADSL2 and VDSL services (ie >10Mbps service) to customers who were too far from the primary exchange.

While this article implies that the same node can also be used to provide FTTH services directly, in practise I've not heard of that being done anywhere - FTTH infrastructure seems to be quite separate. But that's just my opinion - perhaps someone with more direct Telkom insight could also comment (MickeyD ?) ?

You are spot on. At this stage Telkom are not using the remote MSANs for FTTH.

 

[ghostR]

You are spot on. At this stage Telkom are not using the remote MSANs for FTTH.

At this stage...

 

[MickeyD]

At this stage...

As I said...