Fibre internet in Gauteng on Openserve (Telkom) network

[balrog]

Im currently using my Vox data on my Fibre line due to my ISP being so cr@p, so to answer your question.....yes, it does work

Awesome, thanks!

 

[ebendl]

We're in the same boat then. the red LOS LED on my ONT is going on and off. Apparently an issue at the "exchange". Still not resolved, "SIGH".

I'll send you a PM - not sure which area you are but perhaps we have the same exchange.

Phoned the Telkom techie again, he said my order is still open with the fibre testing guys but he can't reach them directly. The managers are apparently in meeting the whole day.

I call BS.

Two weeks since they did the installation and the LOS light just blinking red the whole time. WebAfrica pretty useless at this point, just "escalated it to Telkom" on Monday and then I got an automated email from them saying "since the ticket didn't have a response for 48 hours, it will be closed automatically" which I immediately responded to.

About to mail ISPAfrika to hear if they have some sort of magical ability to sort out things with OpenServe sooner.

 

[jcheek]

WebAfrica pretty useless at this point, just "escalated it to Telkom" on Monday and then I got an automated email from them saying "since the ticket didn't have a response for 48 hours, it will be closed automatically" which I immediately responded to.

While we're doing a bit of WebAfrica-bashing .... it really does seem as if WA have little useful influence over whatever contact person(s) they have in Telkom/Openserve. That was very evident during my own long-winded installation, and it seems other folks are having much the same experience (sorry, ebendl!).
If OpenServe spark, you're good. If they don't .. you're pretty much on your own.

Relating to this old series of posts about 50% upload speeds :

I can't see Openserve being able to get away with just increasing the speeds for Telkom ISP connections and not other ones. Maybe shoot WebAfrica a mail?

I did "shoot WebAfrica a mail" on the topic ... 7 weeks ago. The ticket's still open and going nowhere fast!
From their replies so far, it's painfully evident that they have no idea what I'm talking about, at least not at the customer service level. They seem unaware of what upload speeds exist in their own customer base, even though some of their own newly-connected customers have been provisioned with 50% uploads on Openserve !

To be fair, I have to say that apart from the disastrously long installation period, and being unable to answer any query that's even vaguely technical, the other aspects of their service have been just fine so far

 

[ebendl]

While we're doing a bit of WebAfrica-bashing ....

To be fair, I have to say that apart from the disastrously long installation period, and being unable to answer any query that's even vaguely technical, the other aspects of their service have just fine so far

I might actually just consider cancelling the order and moving to ISPAfrika. The ticket in their queue was handled much better:
* Send a message at 13:15, got a reply 13:34.
* Send a reply 14:40, got an answer 14:48.


WebAfrica:
* Send a message 10:31 PM, 6 Nov, got a reply 8:28 on 7 Nov, promising "we will escalate it to Telkom"
* Ticket is closed automatically on the 9th after "no reply within 48 hours"
* I reopen ticket at 8:41, ask for an update. No answer.
* I send another message at 12:22 PM, ask for another update. No answer.
* I gave them a call at 16:00. Got a friendly and apologetic guy, kept me on hold for 10 mins while checking something, come back and say "it was escalated". I inform him of the ticket. We'll see what happens next.

ISPAfrika's answer after I asked about their ability to get things done with OpenServe:

Hi Eben,

To be honest, its all about following up with Openserve constantly. I have received numerous complaints from customers about Webafrica's lack of support. Best to push them for answers.

Regards,
ISPAfrika

 

[ebendl]

So I mailed Webafrica again to complain about lack of updates and help with my fibre.

They replied and let me know that they spoke to Telkom and the order is "with networks. Estimated resolution time: 4 - 6 weeks".

The irritating thing is two guys who need this forum were helped in shorter times than I was after having similar problems. Can't help but think Webafrica is part of the problem here.

 

[jacosmit]

My address hasn't "turned dark yet"! This wait is getting to me!

 

[HartsockZA]

So I mailed Webafrica again to complain about lack of updates and help with my fibre.

They replied and let me know that they spoke to Telkom and the order is "with networks. Estimated resolution time: 4 - 6 weeks".

The irritating thing is two guys who need this forum were helped in shorter times than I was after having similar problems. Can't help but think Webafrica is part of the problem here.

Still no luck even with that number I sent you? Ouch cancel dude and try ISPAFRICA. In all fairness a friend applied for fibre directly through Telkom and the install happened within 1 week of the order.

 

[jacosmit]

I sent OpenServe a Contact Me from their website and a tweet on their page for a followup on our installation in Laudium/Erasmia/Christoburg. Lets see if they respond.

 

[Nimz]

I placed an order with ispafrika after my whole debacle with Infinity Fibre. My installation was done in a week. Highly recommended as Garth keeps you up to date all the time. I currently have 2 fibre line now hahaha

 

[ebendl]

Just to set the record straight, Telkom via WebAfrica was quick with the initial install. It is the subsequent problems (LOS light keeps flashing red) and lack of support (from Webafrica and Openserve) that irritates me and I'm not sure if other ISPs can do better as the problem is Openserve's.

Although I do get the feeling that other ISPs tries harder to get openserve to assist.

I'm currently on leave, will make hell next week when I'm back.

 

[MrSmith]

I placed an order with ispafrika after my whole debacle with Infinity Fibre. My installation was done in a week. Highly recommended as Garth keeps you up to date all the time. I currently have 2 fibre line now hahaha

Are ISPAfrika still doing Telkom/OpenServe 100Mbps line with 10GB data for R729 pm?
Its not on their website.

Thanks

 

[Nimz]

Are ISPAfrika still doing Telkom/OpenServe 100Mbps line with 10GB data for R729 pm?
Its not on their website.

Thanks

Correct - Free installation & setup till March 2017

 

[MrSmith]

Correct - Free installation & setup till March 2017

Ah great thanks.

I have been on MTN from August but its been a bit underwhelming and the billing has had a few issues and data usage monitoring is a complete mess.

May move to Telkom/OpenServe in the future as they just installed fibre from pole to a "fibre box" on the house yesterday so should be live for orders soon.

 

[MrSmith]

@Nimz what model router did ISPAfrika give you?

 

[ebendl]

This is the bit of Telkom that really irritates me.

The installer phones me earlier today to ask if he and the "jointer" can come to fix my fibre installation. Basically that thing that I've been waiting for the last month.

Except that I'm out of town and only back tomorrow. But the guy is "only available now" and apparently can't make appointments.

So now I'm probably going to have to wait another month??

 

[HartsockZA]

This is the bit of Telkom that really irritates me.

The installer phones me earlier today to ask if he and the "jointer" can come to fix my fibre installation. Basically that thing that I've been waiting for the last month.

Except that I'm out of town and only back tomorrow. But the guy is "only available now" and apparently can't make appointments.

So now I'm probably going to have to wait another month??

would have helped a brother out, but... No keys... :/

 

[jcheek]

100k views!

Sometime over the weekend, this thread clocked up its 100 000th view :



Over the thread's 22-month lifetime so far, that's an average of about 150 views a day, which makes this one of the most viewed 'Fibre' threads on MyBB, second only to Fibre Secunda Community. (And as far as I can tell, Secunda has no fibre to speak of .. so how does that work ?! :wtf

Thanks to MyBB and to everyone who's supported this thread by reading, and - more especially - by contributing. You guys rock!

 

[ebendl]

Sometime over the weekend, this thread clocked up its 100 000th view :

Over the thread's 22-month lifetime so far, that's an average of about 150 views a day, which makes this one of the most viewed 'Fibre' threads on MyBB, second only to Fibre Secunda Community. (And as far as I can tell, Secunda has no fibre to speak of .. so how does that work ?! :wtf

Thanks to MyBB and to everyone who's supported this thread by reading, and - more especially - by contributing. You guys rock!

We should have made it "Telkom-based-FTTH-in-GAUTENG" for even more views

 

[ajules]

I have learned a heck of a lot from reading this thread.As I'm STILL waiting for FTTH I might as well read it again to kill the time!!
Thanks to all the contributors, especially jcheek.

 

[jacosmit]

Still not dark purple