FTTX/FTTC in South Africa

[MisterV]

Good day!
I have done some asking around about the subject but i have not gotten a clear answer yet.
The area i live in is not planned on the Openserve website or any other fiber distributor's website. i have also called most of the distributors and have not gotten any indication that my area will receive FTTH

I want to know will a low income area receive FTTC/FTTX(fiber is pulled to the exchange, and existing copper cables are used to further carry the signal)rather than FTTH.

I am really interested in 100meg line, and in the future a gig connection, FTTC/FTTX can handle this only if you are close to the exchange.

Openserve have been placing down these new totally green in color exchanges that are somewhat larger than then previous telkom exchanges that are blou and green, I wonder what they are for?

Will everyone that has a house in SA receive FTTH? is it just a waiting game?

If someone could guide me in the right direction or, can shed some light on the subject it would be of great value!

Thanks

 

[RocketNet-Rep]

Good day!
I have done some asking around about the subject but i have not gotten a clear answer yet.
The area i live in is not planned on the Openserve website or any other fiber distributor's website. i have also called most of the distributors and have not gotten any indication that my area will receive FTTH

I want to know will a low income area receive FTTC/FTTX(fiber is pulled to the exchange, and existing copper cables are used to further carry the signal)rather than FTTH.

I am really interested in 100meg line, and in the future a gig connection, FTTC/FTTX can handle this only if you are close to the exchange.

Openserve have been placing down these new totally green in color exchanges that are somewhat larger than then previous telkom exchanges that are blou and green, I wonder what they are for?

Will everyone that has a house in SA receive FTTH? is it just a waiting game?

If someone could guide me in the right direction or, can shed some light on the subject it would be of great value!

Thanks

Great conversation, and much needed. Telkom are deploying GFast which essentially is fibre to the Street box and then from there copper.

Which area are you in?

 

[MisterV]

Great conversation, and much needed. Telkom are deploying GFast which essentially is fibre to the Street box and then from there copper.

Which area are you in?

Pretoria West, Danville

 

[RocketNet-Rep]

Pretoria West, Danville

Out of interest what connection do you currently have?

 

[MisterV]

Out of interest what connection do you currently have?

i have a 10meg connection ATM, but next week my line will be upgraded to a 20meg

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

Good day!
I have done some asking around about the subject but i have not gotten a clear answer yet.
The area i live in is not planned on the Openserve website or any other fiber distributor's website. i have also called most of the distributors and have not gotten any indication that my area will receive FTTH

I want to know will a low income area receive FTTC/FTTX(fiber is pulled to the exchange, and existing copper cables are used to further carry the signal)rather than FTTH.

I am really interested in 100meg line, and in the future a gig connection, FTTC/FTTX can handle this only if you are close to the exchange.

Openserve have been placing down these new totally green in color exchanges that are somewhat larger than then previous telkom exchanges that are blou and green, I wonder what they are for?

Will everyone that has a house in SA receive FTTH? is it just a waiting game?

If someone could guide me in the right direction or, can shed some light on the subject it would be of great value!

Thanks

Openserve is replacing the old DSLAMs at the exchange, with MSANs (multimedia service access nodes) which support DSL function. In some areas they are rolling out these MSANs at the curb and connecting them with fibre. You could see that happening if fibre was being installed. They said they have passed 2m homes in that way as at March, so number should be higher now.

From the MSANs on the curb you can (in theory) get better DSL performance if the MSAN is closer to your house than the DSLAM used to be. You can also be eligible for VDSL, at up to 40Mbps. I'm not sure what the max distance are for 40Mbps. My own calcs say you must be under 1km for 40Mbps, and under 1.6km for 20Mbps, but that is making assumptions about your line.

g.fast takes DSL to the next level by several factors, over copper. Openserve has done a successful trial of g.fast at a business park in Pinelands, but not yet communicated where they will extend that trial They announced 500Mbps over 150m. Openreach, in the UK, is providing a '330Mbps capable' service at up to 500m. I describe the possibilities a little further here: http://www.techknowledge.co.za/?ix=insights-stream-article&dcid=205778

So first check if there's fibre to MSANs in your area and then wait for Openserve to share their strategy. They are due for a mid-year trading update soon.

 

[MisterV]

Openserve is replacing the old DSLAMs at the exchange, with MSANs (multimedia service access nodes) which support DSL function. In some areas they are rolling out these MSANs at the curb and connecting them with fibre. You could see that happening if fibre was being installed. They said they have passed 2m homes in that way as at March, so number should be higher now.

From the MSANs on the curb you can (in theory) get better DSL performance if the MSAN is closer to your house than the DSLAM used to be. You can also be eligible for VDSL, at up to 40Mbps. I'm not sure what the max distance are for 40Mbps. My own calcs say you must be under 1km for 40Mbps, and under 1.6km for 20Mbps, but that is making assumptions about your line.

g.fast takes DSL to the next level by several factors, over copper. Openserve has done a successful trial of g.fast at a business park in Pinelands, but not yet communicated where they will extend that trial They announced 500Mbps over 150m. Openreach, in the UK, is providing a '330Mbps capable' service at up to 500m. I describe the possibilities a little further here: http://www.techknowledge.co.za/?ix=insights-stream-article&dcid=205778

So first check if there's fibre to MSANs in your area and then wait for Openserve to share their strategy. They are due for a mid-year trading update soon.

This is not something I really wanted to hear, but thanks anyway.
I asked a techie from openserve to open the new exchange, only thing that's in it is a cable 1 inch in diameter. They have not been working on it at all, as I understand it I am still on the old exchange.

Damn I really want FTTH

 

[MisterV]

This is not something I really wanted to hear, but thanks anyway.
I asked a techie from openserve to open the new exchange, only thing that's in it is a cable 1 inch in diameter. They have not been working on it at all, as I understand it I am still on the old exchange.

Damn I really want FTTH

Where i said exchange I mean DSLAM

 

[Gordon_R]

Our complex in Kenilworth, CT has been slated for G.Fast by OpenServe (as well as FTTH by Octotel). They propose pushing fibre through the existing copper cable conduit, from the nearest junction box into a cabinet with equipment in our building (requires electric power). This would provide a very short hop (< 100m) along the existing copper into each apartment.

During a lengthy discussion with the technicians, I got the impression that they have only done a handful of installations, and the roll-out is still experimental. I was told that the modem is similar to the fibre model.

I did a search last week, and did not find a single reference to G.Fast in S.A. It seems to be the last kick of a dying infrastructure.

g.fast takes DSL to the next level by several factors, over copper. Openserve has done a successful trial of g.fast at a business park in Pinelands, but not yet communicated where they will extend that trial They announced 500Mbps over 150m. Openreach, in the UK, is providing a '330Mbps capable' service at up to 500m. I describe the possibilities a little further here: http://www.techknowledge.co.za/?ix=insights-stream-article&dcid=205778

Thanks, useful contribution! However, the site requires registration to read the full article.

 

[MisterV]

Our complex in Kenilworth, CT has been slated for G.Fast by OpenServe (as well as FTTH by Octotel). They propose pushing fibre through the existing copper cable conduit, from the nearest junction box into a cabinet with equipment in our building (requires electric power). This would provide a very short hop (< 100m) along the existing copper into each apartment.

During a lengthy discussion with the technicians, I got the impression that they have only done a handful of installations, and the roll-out is still experimental. I was told that the modem is similar to the fibre model.

I did a search last week, and did not find a single reference to G.Fast in S.A. It seems to be the last kick of a dying infrastructure.



Thanks, useful contribution! However, the site requires registration to read the full article.

I mean I will love to have FTTH,, because I have a home and it isn't difficult at all for them to install it,, it's just costly maybe.
Are these new green DSLAM's in joburg as well or is it just here in Pretoria West and North??

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

I mean I will love to have FTTH,, because I have a home and it isn't difficult at all for them to install it,, it's just costly maybe.
Are these new green DSLAM's in joburg as well or is it just here in Pretoria West and North??

Telkom claimed 1.8m homes served with the new MSANs on fibre in March. No updates since then.

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

Our complex in Kenilworth, CT has been slated for G.Fast by OpenServe (as well as FTTH by Octotel). They propose pushing fibre through the existing copper cable conduit, from the nearest junction box into a cabinet with equipment in our building (requires electric power). This would provide a very short hop (< 100m) along the existing copper into each apartment.

During a lengthy discussion with the technicians, I got the impression that they have only done a handful of installations, and the roll-out is still experimental. I was told that the modem is similar to the fibre model.

I did a search last week, and did not find a single reference to G.Fast in S.A. It seems to be the last kick of a dying infrastructure.



Thanks, useful contribution! However, the site requires registration to read the full article.

You can just google openreach 330 or g.fast. Or go to https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.p...st-broadband-pilot-1-million-uk-premises.html

g.fast is a bit of a 'last kick' as it's only applicable to incumbents, but I would say it's still going to happen - there's too much copper around for it not to. My predictions as an analyst is it will pick up next year (when latest chipsets currently being tested go live) and when combined units become available to install in big apartments and it may peak around 2019. They're playing around with xg.fast and even beyond that - longer distances and up to 10gpbs theoretical speeds so to give 100mbps should be manageable and I doubt a lot of the 'copper suburbs' will have FTTH by then so they'll be ripe picking for Openserve

Please let us know developments as you hear as there are no official openserve releases (pending their interim results)

No announcements from openserve here since they wrapped up their Pinelands trial a while ago. That was in a business park, so different strategy from Openreach in the UK.

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

Our complex in Kenilworth, CT has been slated for G.Fast by OpenServe (as well as FTTH by Octotel). They propose pushing fibre through the existing copper cable conduit, from the nearest junction box into a cabinet with equipment in our building (requires electric power). This would provide a very short hop (< 100m) along the existing copper into each apartment.

During a lengthy discussion with the technicians, I got the impression that they have only done a handful of installations, and the roll-out is still experimental. I was told that the modem is similar to the fibre model.

Here's one of the articles: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/broa...serve-get-900mbps-on-copper-using-g-fast.html

They mentioned in the trial links up to 150m.

I wonder if this is the device they will use: https://networks.nokia.com/products/7368-isam-ont

It's a normal fibre ONT (for home termination) but also has a dsl/g.fast port.

As you mentioned, there has to be power. They bring fibre into the building and then connect all the units via copper, but the Openserve device is sitting on fibre and needs to be powered up. One option is to reverse-power it from the modem of one of the end users.

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

This is not something I really wanted to hear, but thanks anyway.
I asked a techie from openserve to open the new exchange, only thing that's in it is a cable 1 inch in diameter. They have not been working on it at all, as I understand it I am still on the old exchange.

Damn I really want FTTH

What about canvassing your neighbourhood and drumming up demand. I'm not saying it's easy but you have to start somewhere.

The other option is to look at wireless ISPs in your area. They can deliver better performance than ADSL at good pricing and good service (just get the right one!). Go onto wapa.org.za and find the coverage option and register your request at http://www.wapa.org.za/coverage/request/ and you might be surprised.

 

[Gordon_R]

You can just google openreach 330 or g.fast. Or go to https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.p...st-broadband-pilot-1-million-uk-premises.html

g.fast is a bit of a 'last kick' as it's only applicable to incumbents, but I would say it's still going to happen - there's too much copper around for it not to. My predictions as an analyst is it will pick up next year (when latest chipsets currently being tested go live) and when combined units become available to install in big apartments and it may peak around 2019. They're playing around with xg.fast and even beyond that - longer distances and up to 10gpbs theoretical speeds so to give 100mbps should be manageable and I doubt a lot of the 'copper suburbs' will have FTTH by then so they'll be ripe picking for Openserve

Please let us know developments as you hear as there are no official openserve releases (pending their interim results)

No announcements from openserve here since they wrapped up their Pinelands trial a while ago. That was in a business park, so different strategy from Openreach in the UK.

Here's one of the articles: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/broa...serve-get-900mbps-on-copper-using-g-fast.html

They mentioned in the trial links up to 150m.

I wonder if this is the device they will use: https://networks.nokia.com/products/7368-isam-ont

It's a normal fibre ONT (for home termination) but also has a dsl/g.fast port.

As you mentioned, there has to be power. They bring fibre into the building and then connect all the units via copper, but the Openserve device is sitting on fibre and needs to be powered up. One option is to reverse-power it from the modem of one of the end users.

Thanks for your replies. I have read the press releases and the Wikipedia article on G.fast, and understand the technology perfectly: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.fast
What was not clear to me was how far the rollout had progressed in SA, or Cape Town in particular. Your response answered that question, very few actual installations in this country.

Update from our complex:
1. On Wed 1st technicians came looking for a conduit to push their fibre through into the premisis. They found only a buried copper cable bundle, that is covered by a "massive" tarred parking area (48 bays). I thought that was the end of the project!
2. On Thurs 2nd the supervisor came by, saying they are prepared to dig a conduit across our lawn (the junction box is 20m from the closest perimeter). He also said they could lay new copper in the same conduit, which would be a bonus, given the problematic quality of our fixed lines. I was pleasantly surprised that they would spend a cent on new copper!
3. Our trustees have to give permission for all of this, and the project is no longer quite as simple as originally proposed, but has positive benefits for copper quality (for those not upgrading).
4. Meanwhile Ocotel has already deployed fibre inside our complex, trenched in in our road and around our area, and will probably connect within a short time.

We are of of the few complexes (36 flats) that will have a choice of technology, so the take-up for each provider-type will be limited (minus some who will never connect to anything due to budget issues). The Body Corporate will not be involved with individual ISP-client contracts (and I can't afford it right now), so I may not be able to give direct feedback on the modems used (though I may be invited to observe). I would of course have a close look at any FTTC equipment, which will be exposed until an enclosure cabinet is built.

Edit: We are 2.5km from the Clareinch exchange, which is a bit far for VDSL, but does not justify an MSAN, so fibre/g.fast is the optimum next step.

Edit: Curious challenge question: Since the g.fast standard supports symmetrical down/upstream speeds (via time-division duplexing), has this ever been implemented, or is the default 90/10 ratio always used?

Correction: Was looking on wrong website (pretty useless anyway), but this is from e-mail we received:
http://www.openserve.co.za/fibre
http://openserve.co.za/open/products/openserve-fibre-broadband-openserve-connect/

2. All existing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) on the Openserve Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network are enabled to provide services on the new Openserve open access network, in other words, you can retain your current Retail ISP.

 

[Gordon_R]

Quick status report on our block in Kenilworth. Openserve have finally got fibre as far as our PON ONT. The next step is for Nokia to install the G.fast modulator (no details yet). I will update when there is further progress.

 

[Gordon_R]

Contractors finally arrived to install the G.fast modulator.

Nokia 7367 ISAM SX-16F

Vertically mounted on foyer wall:

 

[Gordon_R]

Stages of G.fast installation (still to be tested tomorrow).





Edit: Testing is taking a bit longer than expected. Profiles still need to be uploaded, and they may be ready in a week's time...

 

[Gordon_R]

Thread necro, nearly 18 months later.

As suspected, this installation was a test that went nowhere. The cabinet is still connected, but no activation ever took place, and there are no customers.

I hereby declare G.fast a "stillbirth", under Openserve. During the same time period, many FTTH connections have been activated.

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

Sounds like a waste of everyone's time.

It's amazing if they installed new copper to use a technology whose only purpose is to save by leveraging existing copper installations.

I haven't read any announcements by Telkom since their initial trial in Pinelands, but its good to have confirmation they are not proceeding.

Australia is doing quite a lot with G.Fast and in TB is deploying in the UK but the fibre industry has managed to market it as inferior.

BTW - I saw your earlier post from last year. If Openserve was 'planning' to give you G.Fast then they would have had to put fibre along the streets in any event. In that case, they would probably have also installed the smaller MSANs along the route - so closer to your house than 2.5Km.