Fibre provider question

[zeck]

Hi,

I hope some good people can help me out with choosing a fibre provider as there are many positive and bad experiences on the forum from many providers.

Our complex is now offered fibre from several companies.

Fibrehoods
Metrofibre (Greencom)
Netstream
SADV

From what I read Fibrehoods setup is fairly quick but the fact that all the cables are outside doesn't sit well with me. Also, some people seem to be having issues with connection stability.

SADV, a lot of negativity on the forums and articles puts me off the company.

Not much info about Netstream but the communication is excellent and the proposed infrastructure seems great.

Greencom installation seems to take quite a bit of time and requires a minimum uptake of 50% and up to 3 months to install.

If anyone is with the companies above please share any hidden costs such as installation fees or higher than usual ISP costs like with SADV.

Appreciate any responses

 

[chunk10]

From my experience try and go directly with Metrofibre not through greencom.

 

[zeck]

From my experience try and go directly with Metrofibre not through greencom.

I spoke to metrofibre but they forwarded me to greencom for some reason. Also, Metrofibre seems to need a uptake of at least 30%

 

[cyberbob1979]

I was on Vumatel but recently moved to a complex where Fibrehoods now are.

My installation is happening next week so will be in a better position to see what their aerial fibre really means... But, I will say this - their support desk and email responsiveness sucks monkey balls... Been struggling since 1st week of April to get things done with them...

 

[chunk10]

I spoke to metrofibre but they forwarded me to greencom for some reason. Also, Metrofibre seems to need a uptake of at least 30%

That sucks, Yeah they do require 30% uptake or confirmed sign ups but they will pull the fibre to every house.

 

[Kerrits]

I was on Vumatel but recently moved to a complex where Fibrehoods now are.

My installation is happening next week so will be in a better position to see what their aerial fibre really means... But, I will say this - their support desk and email responsiveness sucks monkey balls... Been struggling since 1st week of April to get things done with them...

I agree on Fibrehoods.
I registered last week Wednesday on their site, and have still not even gotten an email reply.
I even sent a follow up mail to make sure I don't need to do anything else. Still nothing.
Oh, and the code they need to send by SMS to finish registration never arrives.

 

[zeck]

I was on Vumatel but recently moved to a complex where Fibrehoods now are.

My installation is happening next week so will be in a better position to see what their aerial fibre really means... But, I will say this - their support desk and email responsiveness sucks monkey balls... Been struggling since 1st week of April to get things done with them...

That's exactly the same experience I've had. They are quick to write emails asking to sign up with them but barely any responses to my emails or phone calls. The slow response times makes me worried if I have any problems with the fibre in the future.

 

[stiller26]

I agree on Fibrehoods.
I registered last week Wednesday on their site, and have still not even gotten an email reply.
I even sent a follow up mail to make sure I don't need to do anything else. Still nothing.
Oh, and the code they need to send by SMS to finish registration never arrives.

Fibrehoods sucks. You only get those ref# and they take forever to respond. Registered with them on the 20th of February and not a single call from them.

 

[PBCool]

Fibrehoods (Now Vumatel are still going through the changeover, but generally network is stable and pricing is good, truly open access)
Metrofibre (Greencom) (They force people to go with Greencom as it's a resold MFN product, expensive as well)
Netstream (Don't know any ISPs on this network so not really open access)
SADV (Truly open access, good rates and backed by DFA)

 

[chunk10]

Fibrehoods (Now Vumatel are still going through the changeover, but generally network is stable and pricing is good, truly open access)
Metrofibre (Greencom) (They force people to go with Greencom as it's a resold MFN product, expensive as well)
Netstream (Don't know any ISPs on this network so not really open access)
SADV (Truly open access, good rates and backed by DFA)

I wonder how Metrofibre decides who to push to Greencom and who to keep for themselves, as all 4 complexes/Estates in my area are all on MetroFibre directly, Greencom was never even mentioned, i suspect it is a scale thing smaller complexes mite get pushed to Greencom.

 

[PBCool]

I wonder how Metrofibre decides who to push to Greencom and who to keep for themselves, as all 4 complexes/Estates in my area are all on MetroFibre directly, Greencom was never even mentioned, i suspect it is a scale thing smaller complexes mite get pushed to Greencom.

So MFN has the physical network and Greencom is just an ISP that resells MFNs IP service, so they punt them, and make the complex exclusive for 3 months to get most of the customers. Is basically unfair business at the end of the day.

 

[chunk10]

So MFN has the physical network and Greencom is just an ISP that resells MFNs IP service, so they punt them, and make the complex exclusive for 3 months to get most of the customers. Is basically unfair business at the end of the day.

Yeah but that's where my confusion comes in, Since MFN acts as an ISP on their own network too, So in our Estate its MFN as line provider and ISP (we have gone open access about a month ago), so when do they decide to punt Greencom over themselves, its all over the place really and they are so much more expensive on their own network, which i get why people are not keen on the 3 months thing which they sell to you as having to "stabilize" the install.

Oh well im pretty happy with my 25/25 line which i get for the same price as your 10/10, but that's not going to last forever.

 

[PBCool]

Yeah but that's where my confusion comes in, Since MFN acts as an ISP on their own network too, So in our Estate its MFN as line provider and ISP (we have gone open access about a month ago), so when do they decide to punt Greencom over themselves, its all over the place really and they are so much more expensive on their own network, which i get why people are not keen on the 3 months thing which they sell to you as having to "stabilize" the install.

Oh well im pretty happy with my 25/25 line which i get for the same price as your 10/10, but that's not going to last forever.

Yeah I think they took a stab at doing it themselves and now just punt Greencom everywhere rather, so you are saying you pay R649 for your 25/25 to MFN?

 

[chunk10]

Yeah I think they took a stab at doing it themselves and now just punt Greencom everywhere rather, so you are saying you pay R649 for your 25/25 to MFN?

Oh right just glad dodged that bullet, more like 699, but its due to a loophole on their network its great for me. Not really on their network but them being an ISP.

 

[zeck]

Fibrehoods (Now Vumatel are still going through the changeover, but generally network is stable and pricing is good, truly open access)
Metrofibre (Greencom) (They force people to go with Greencom as it's a resold MFN product, expensive as well)
Netstream (Don't know any ISPs on this network so not really open access)
SADV (Truly open access, good rates and backed by DFA)

SADV might be open but there is a bit of negativity about them on this forum also the prices don't look very competitive, maybe they changed since I last checked (Jan 17)?
Netstream is offering a GOPT2 setup from the start while SADV will only upgrade in the future.
I pretty much crossed out Metrofibre as we need a minimum uptake of over 30% with 115 units.

 

[PBCool]

SADV might be open but there is a bit of negativity about them on this forum also the prices don't look very competitive, maybe they changed since I last checked (Jan 17)?
Netstream is offering a GOPT2 setup from the start while SADV will only upgrade in the future.
I pretty much crossed out Metrofibre as we need a minimum uptake of over 30% with 115 units.

The ONT doesn't really matter as you would then plug a router into it with other ISPs anyway, Netstream not open access either? Also the negativity about SADV is mostly around them as an ISP.

 

[zeck]

The ONT doesn't really matter as you would then plug a router into it with other ISPs anyway, Netstream not open access either? Also the negativity about SADV is mostly around them as an ISP.

Sorry, I meant NG-PON2 technology. While SADV installs NG-PON1. Netstream is open access and they offering to connect us to the DFA network as there is access point outside the property.

 

[PBCool]

Sorry, I meant NG-PON2 technology. While SADV installs NG-PON1. Netstream is open access and they offering to connect us to the DFA network as there is access point outside the property.

They may say they are open access, who else is on their network? How many deployments have they done etc. All things to consider when making decisions.

 

[zeck]

They may say they are open access, who else is on their network? How many deployments have they done etc. All things to consider when making decisions.

Absolutely, I also consider the establishment of a healthy competition in the market. So far they, Netstream, have been very knowledgeable and could answer many of my questions unlike Fibrehoods. My biggest gripe with Fibrehoods is how the fibre is exposed to the elements.

So far Netstream has Vox, mweb, iconnect, greencom and a few others on board soon. The prices are much more competitive to SADV.

I understand you represent Cool Ideas, maybe should get in touch with them?

 

[PBCool]

Absolutely, I also consider the establishment of a healthy competition in the market. So far they, Netstream, have been very knowledgeable and could answer many of my questions unlike Fibrehoods. My biggest gripe with Fibrehoods is how the fibre is exposed to the elements.

So far Netstream has Vox, mweb, iconnect, greencom and a few others on board soon. The prices are much more competitive to SADV.

I understand you represent Cool Ideas, maybe should get in touch with them?

I think we were one of the first to be in touch with them to be honest, even wrote some motivation emails. But we didn't get much further, so will touch base again.