FTTH Rollout

[Stillie]

Hi all,

It might just be me but has the rollout to other areas either slowed or stopped totally? i pop onto the likes of vumatel etc and dont see much change there?

 

[MickeyD]

Hi all,

It might just be me but has the rollout to other areas either slowed or stopped totally? i pop onto the likes of vumatel etc and dont see much change there?

Maybe with the small operators as they need to consolidate and find funding for new areas but the big three are really racing to get fibre in the ground all over SA.

 

[Stillie]

Maybe with the small operators as they need to consolidate and find funding for new areas but the big three are really racing to get fibre in the ground all over SA.

maybe im just too impatient to get it in my area

 

[MickeyD]

maybe im just too impatient to get it in my area

What follows is my guess...

There are not many companies who can trench, lay pipes and install fibre in SA. It is a scarce resource.

Initially the small operators were lucky in that these companies were waiting for work and could execute their projects promptly.

When the big three came along, most of these companies were forced to give them preferential treatment due to existing contracts, tenders, etc. Hence the small operators start to suck the hind teat and need to either search for new installers or do it themselves. This brings a whole new set of risks into play: higher pricing, poor workmanship, struggles to get wayleaves, customer complaints where they rip up pavements, added costs when they hit water pipes, etc.

So the smaller operators might be keen to get into your area but simply cannot do anything about it.

 

[Milano]

It is a slow process. Rollout is burdened by rollout. Growing impatient too.

 

[DERoestorf]

Hi all,

It might just be me but has the rollout to other areas either slowed or stopped totally? i pop onto the likes of vumatel etc and dont see much change there?

Vuma is currently rolling out in 7 areas at once. But the holidays are just around the corner. Unfortunately, VUMA has to stop all construction from about the 18th December till January. As that has been specified in their wayleaves. Makes sense that they would start slowing down a bit. And start fresh in the new year.

But also, as another user stated, there are only so many people who can do all the digging. But Fibre is a great job creation tool, for now.

I can only imagine VUMA will be very busy next year, with 10 areas already passing the sign up number, and more on the way.