FTTH Paulshof

[midnightcaller]

/posting this here from an email that I received.

Dear residents,

You may have heard about fibre to the home (FTTH) of late in the press. We have had a working group carry out a survey to discern interest in Paulshof, request proposals from potential service providers and evaluate them to decide the best fit for Paulshof.

At our last meeting, we received and approved a recommendation from the working group that we announce 123 Net as the preferred service provider for Paulshof. Their website is www.123net.co.za

The choice is obviously individual but numbers are going to be important to whoever rolls out the service, however it is in our interest to rally around one service provider.



Key value services

* UNCAPPED, high-speed internet

* Basic FREE internet solution - 5mbps (faster than what most of us are getting at home). The home owner pays an installation fee of only R1500 and can enjoy free internet from then on.

* Flexible paid packages - line speeds chosen as a "dial" from 10mbps to 100mbps ie. if you wanted 50mbps one month, and 30mbps the next, you could change it within your account and pay accordingly. These are priced from R799 to R1 999.

* Contract terms - 1 or 2 years but includes the above mentioned flexibility - no fixed amount every month.

* Open Access approach - 123NET offers a comprehensive solution but can facilitate the use of other ISPs if so desired.

* Free Internet Access to community institutions such as libraries, schools and non-profits.

* For security: ›The 123Net fibre plays an important role in the performance of video monitoring and capture quality by providing the connectivity, network bandwidth and optimisation for good quality video transmission. This is a free value-add.

* VOIP (Internet phone) solutions:

- Phonecalls to landlines to fixed lines (including Telkom) - R0.30 a minute
- Phonecalls to mobile operators R0.69 a minute

* Business packages available

* Laying fibre in a quick, efficient manner due to the acquisition of new directional drill machinery.



The evaluation process

- It was extremely important to the working group that all possibilities were explored and could be compared on an "apples with apples" basis. Proposals were requested from a great number of fibre service providers and a comparative table was put together in order to cross-reference these evaluation points.

* The user commitment requirement

* ISP partners (Open Access)?

* Capped Packages

* Uncapped Packages

* Router Costs

* VOIP offering

* Security Support

* Approach to Marketing

* and MOST IMPORTANTLY - how easy/difficult it was to extract a response/proposal/subsequent follow-up from each of them.

- It became apparent that 123Net's offering not only was the most cost-effective but also included many added benefits. 123Net have showed a careful consideration in how they would approach the suburb and were able to field questions on potential obstacles strategically and with ease.



Next steps:

- 123Net have applied for their ICASA license and should be receiving this within the next few weeks. Once this is received, applications with the municipality will commence.

- From a residents perspective, 123Net would like to get an indication of interest on their site. This is by no means a contractual undertaking, but a signal to 123net that your residence should be included in the strategic roll-out. Please put your details at this link: https://123net.co.za/en/front/forms/home/. We would need at least 350 respondents from Paulshof to submit their details, so please encourage your neighbours to join up.

- Every single inch of this ultra-fast new network has to be planned and mapped very carefully. We will use any existing underground or air infrastructure that we are allowed (such as existing ducts or utility manholes and poles).

- The PRRA site is being prepared to host all the information and a question section, where you can enter your queries.

- We will be planning several community discussions with the provider in order to field any questions and to make the impact of bringing fibre to Paulshof a little closer to home in the form of demos (Imagine NEVER seeing a buffering video again!)

- We, as the working team will be keeping you all abreast of the progress.



For your reading pleasure, we have collated the questions from the www.fibretopaulshof.co.za survey and categorised them so that 123Net's offering can be appreciated for those who are a little more technically minded. Please click this link to view: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yL24W8EXIz3d1CckFcHdVv8v6YO0zOOH4zTghK0nvaI/edit?usp=sharing




Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for your continued support!

We are really so excited about what this will mean for our neighbourhood.



Have a great week!



The PRRA team

 

[midnightcaller]

So today I receive an email from 123net indicating they were moving into the area soon to start their rollout.
There was a contract attached which asked for my signature with t&c.
The problem is that the contract doesn't have start dates or termination dates. It's open ended and could mean I would have to wait for years in a worst case scenario.

Any advice ?

 

[Swa]

Don't sign anything till they are rolling out and ready to install. There's still lots of questions being asked and a lot to work out with the contracts.

 

[midnightcaller]

This is the dilemma I have:

If i sign it, they will build it.
If they build it, then I will sign it.

I just think that asking for a commitment when they are not even giving an indication of when this will be built is out of tune.

If I misunderstand this, help me understand it better.

 

[Swa]

This is the dilemma I have:

If i sign it, they will build it.
If they build it, then I will sign it.

I just think that asking for a commitment when they are not even giving an indication of when this will be built is out of tune.

If I misunderstand this, help me understand it better.

They should build it once the demand is there. You shouldn't need to commit to anything before they are ready to roll out to you specifically.

 

[Swa]

So what's been happening? There's still 12 signups to go but they've reportedly been sending people contracts for months. Meanwhile the demand is there in Secunda but they want even more. Have they actually been picking lucrative areas to roll out to and that's why other areas have to wait?

 

[midnightcaller]

I didn't respond to their request for the "contract" they sent me.

Initially, I did signal my intention to "signup" if they were to deploy the network in paulshof.

Based on my very limited understanding of FTTH, I have concluded that most FTTH providers would prefer to deliver their services to VHNWI in estates and upper market surburbs. I call it fiber to the super rich.

If the FTTH providers are going to make the investment to roll out the infrastructure , they want the guaranteed annuity income with opportunities to up sell.

 

[Archi3]

I see they are laying Fibre all the way up Witkoppen in the Paulshof area. I wonder if this is 123Net or another provider? The 123Net site says they require 12 more signups....Wonder how long it will take before we are connected? My complex does not have Telskum infrastructure...bleh

https://123net.co.za/en/front/areas/expansionplans

 

[midnightcaller]

I saw the teams trenching in the blistering heat between wroxham and Estelle on witkoppen

It didn't look like a FTTH provider. But I can't be sure.

 

[bradleyk]

I saw the teams trenching in the blistering heat between wroxham and Estelle on witkoppen

It didn't look like a FTTH provider. But I can't be sure.

It's Metrofibre

 

[bradleyk]

So today I receive an email from 123net indicating they were moving into the area soon to start their rollout.
There was a contract attached which asked for my signature with t&c.
The problem is that the contract doesn't have start dates or termination dates. It's open ended and could mean I would have to wait for years in a worst case scenario.

Any advice ?

Second page of the contract lets you nominate the length and type of contract you want. Try read it again

 

[midnightcaller]

I understand the contract length and type offered on page 2.
I have tried to make myself familiar with the t and c pages.

Comments on this scenario would be appreciated :
I sign the contract , dated 13nov15 and send it back (for ease let's label this date as customer commit date.

Commencement date is unknown because 123net needs 350 signed contracts before they make the investment. This may take 5 days, 5 weeks or 5 months. Who knows!!!

I interpret this as I am committed to 123net from the customer commit date while noting that payments start from commencement date.

While in the period between customer commit date and commencement date, I cannot terminate if there is an alternative that can deliver the service earlier or if I change my mind and want an alternate service.

Based on my interpretation , Clause 3.2 is contradictory to the concept of "month to month". I would expect month to month to commence from commencement date and termination to not be linked to the initial period.

 

[bradleyk]

Both good questions. I would venture to guess that a contract that is contradictory in nature would be easy to withdraw from if it comes to that ?

 

[Archi3]

It's Metrofibre

If it is then I do not know if 123net is falling behind the bandwagon here...AFAIK MetroFibre lay for other Fibre providers...so we shall see.

 

[midnightcaller]

Received this today from 123 on 13nov2015

Dear Mr./ Mrs.,

Following many questions asked, let us share with you our concerns about the situation at present.
We would like to kindly remind you, that the target for your region was 400 sign - ups. Before starting our promotion campaign on 1st of Oct 2015 we had 300 sign - ups from you and for this we are grateful. Despite of the fact that you did not cover the target with these sign - ups we decided to invest in your region and the only thing we request from you is to sign our contract.
By signing you are confirming only your commitment without further financial burden prior to be connected and you are taking advantage of our promotional plans. Unfortunately after a month of promotion we have only 66 contracts signed. As you can see from the numbers your signed contracts are around 20% of your initial sign - ups.
We find this fact very confusing and as far as the investment for your region is substantial, we strongly hope that very soon you will cover at least your target as per your sign - ups. We would like to reassure those of you who has signed, that you will be connected at the fiber plans you have chosen as soon as your region is covered.
To the rest of you, please be informed that the promotion period is over and now you are able to choose from our regular plans. We hope that you will do so very soon in order to reach the target for your region and get access to the best Internet service in South Africa.
Please support us for it is our aim to start construction in your region mid January 2016.
For any further questions you are welcome to visit FAQ on our webpage or to call us.

Yours sincerely,
123Internetworks

 

[Swa]

So what does that mean? They just waiting for you to sign and you'll be connected in January?

 

[midnightcaller]

I actually don't know what it means.

The way I am interpreting it:
If 123 get 400 residents to sign-ups then they will start construction of fiber and deliver to the home.
If they don't , then they may elect to wait until they get the 400 before construction starts.

Based on my knowledge of living in this area for many years:
The HOA couldn't convince residents to sign up to one security provider and get favorable pricing, dedicated vehicles , cameras, patrolling guards, etc.
As the result we have about 5 different security service providers servicing the suburb. Most residents just don't see the benefits.
So if the residents cannot group together and get one security provider , what's the chances of getting 400 residents to sign up with 123.

 

[Swa]

Well the first part seem to indicate they've decided to invest despite not getting the signups. They're hoping to still get the required signups.

 

[Swa]

Yeah I feel your pain. It's hard to convince people of the benefits and to support it. But this may not a bad thing. In the long term most areas will be covered by multiple providers to choose from.

 

[Drone 42]

I am starting to think 123net if a fly-by-night company. Can't say they are showing much interest in the area and they expect the residents to do all their marketing for them.
Companies like Vumatel at least show some support and provide free flyers.

Has anybody seen this site http://paulshoffibre.co.za/

This is greencom, they are busy in Sunninghill and they are actually busy installing fibre. Like people have stated before, 123net seems like a myth. There is almost no feedback from people that are actually using their services. Do they actually exist.