Fusion Fibre

[jdido87]

I humbly request those that are making use of this service to post their experiences.

Sonic emailed me us to inform us that they intend rolling it out in our area. Only 16 sign ups are still required.

Should I go contract or month to month? The installation fees are cheaper by R1k or more if I go contract. Usually contract is bad but there is absolutely no prospect of my area getting anything faster than our current 4mb ADSL. I would like to get rid of Telkom urgently, we are sitting without internet for more than a week already with no action from their side.

The pricing are that same as Telkoms HomeUnlimited packages.

I have read that the last mile on these services are wireless (5G). Is this real 5G or just 4G 2.0 as I am surprised that at the fact that 5G is already in use by ISPs locally.

TIA

 

[EasyUp Web Hosting]

I think they are talking about 5Ghz, as in the specturm. In that case, and depending on your location, I can't think it will be good.

 

[jdido87]

I think they are talking about 5Ghz, as in the specturm. In that case, and depending on your location, I can't think it will be good.

“Deploying Mimosa’s world-first commercially viable 5G solution for broadband access has been a game changer for our business,” said James Wilkinson, CEO of Sonic Telecoms.

 

[jdido87]

I think they are talking about 5Ghz, as in the specturm. In that case, and depending on your location, I can't think it will be good.

Just received a response from them and you are correct they are talking about 5GHz. Can and are they even allowed to call it 5G since it is misleading. When you say it wont be good what are your reasons for saying that? Anything can be better than Telkom at this point.

 

[EasyUp Web Hosting]

Like I said, depending on your location... I have tested various WISPs here in Alberton and they all use 5Ghz equipment. The connections were never stable and I didn't always get the speeds I was paying for. I think there are way to many people in the 5Ghz spectrum and it's causing issues somehow. That is my 2c.

I went back to my 10mbps ADSL and am waiting for Fibre now. Will not waste my money on a WISP again.

 

[ghostR]

Like I said, depending on your location... I have tested various WISPs here in Alberton and they all use 5Ghz equipment. The connections were never stable and I didn't always get the speeds I was paying for. I think there are way to many people in the 5Ghz spectrum and it's causing issues somehow. That is my 2c.

I went back to my 10mbps ADSL and am waiting for Fibre now. Will not waste my money on a WISP again.

Depends a lot on what Kit the WISP is using, if it's carrier grade or not.

A lot of "cowboys" out there running Ubiquity etc.

Also Sonic Telecoms fusion fibre deployments are in the form of "micro pops" so the cell is a lot closer (within 500m or less) to the clients, which makes a difference.

 

[Mr Scratch]

Depends a lot on what Kit the WISP is using, if it's carrier grade or not.

A lot of "cowboys" out there running Ubiquity etc.

Also Sonic Telecoms fusion fibre deployments are in the form of "micro pops" so the cell is a lot closer (within 500m or less) to the clients, which makes a difference.

Some even piggyback off of other existing residential fibre sites, deploy Mimosa devices and call it a new disruptive product.

 

[belator]

It doesn't matter what you name it, or how clever the equipment is, the laws of physics are what they are.

You cannot create spectrum.

5Ghz is congested. It could work well for a couple of months until someone else comes along and puts something else on a roof next to, or near the site you connect to. Or, even worse, puts something on the building next door, and "crosses" links.

Mimosa's equipment is clever at the moment. Ignitenet have launched something that's cleverer. Once WISPs start rolling that out, it'll be "the thing" and Mimosa links will go the same way Ubiquiti links when Cambium came on the scene.

Meanwhile, Ubiquiti are preparing to launch a totally new system in the 5GHz band that will knock all the others out when it's launched.

You pays your moneys, you makes your choices...

Parts of the area covered by Fusion Fibre are also covered by real fibre from Frogfoot.

https://www.sonictelecoms.co.za/fusion-fibre/

https://www.frogfootfibre.com/frogfoot/myaccount/home/frogfoot/coverage.jsp

 

[RatX]

I was recently offered an upgrade from my original Sonic Wireless 8 Mbit/s package to Fusion Fibre 20 Mbit/s for the same monthly fee of R1099, which I accepted. There is no fibre in my area and the Telkom lines are vrot. I'm in a fairly low density residential area, so I'm hoping 5 GHz congestion won't be a problem. I have been extremely happy with my 8 Mbit/s service for the past 2 years - it has been rock solid and I would hate for the new service to be a downgrade in terms of stability. I'll post an update once I've had the new service for a little while and tried it out in different weather conditions.

EDIT: I opted for the 24-month option with installation included, the R3500 once-off was just a little bit too much for to spend for the convenience of a month-to-month agreement, as I'm also not likely to get any alternatives in my area in the near future (slightly poorer neighbourhood so very low on the fibre installation priority list). They also assure me that if I move and they can't provide service in my new area, the contract becomes void.

 

[RatX]

UPDATE: ok, after a bumpy start, everything is running fine with the new service. For whatever reason, the new Mimosa CPE was much more sensitive to cable quality than the previous Cambium unit - once all indoor and outdoor cables were replaced and Sonic put me on the correct 20 Mbps package everything settled down. PPPoE connection is now steady and speed tests consistently in the 20 Mbps region - downloads blast along at a cracking pace (2MB+/s). So yeah, happy again.

 

[RatX]

See previous edit.

 

[EasyUp Web Hosting]

Still not sure why this thread is under the Fibre Networks sub forum.

 

[shadow_man]

Thinking of giving these guys a go.

I'm in Tijgerhof (Milnerton) and there's no fibre and my Telkom uncapped LTE is horrible (can't get more than 3mbps)...

Has the experience been a good one?

 

[shadow_man]

Signed up for 20/5mbps package.

I've had it about a week - so far so good. In fact i'm getting more than I'm paying for (which I assume is because they give a slightly bigger allocation due to overhead).

No packet loss and about 21-22mbps down and 6-7mbps up.

All in all it seems like a decent product - even if the pricing a bit higher than fibre.

 

[jdido87]

Hows things going?

 

[Diego_1za]

UPDATE: ok, after a bumpy start, everything is running fine with the new service. For whatever reason, the new Mimosa CPE was much more sensitive to cable quality than the previous Cambium unit - once all indoor and outdoor cables were replaced and Sonic put me on the correct 20 Mbps package everything settled down. PPPoE connection is now steady and speed tests consistently in the 20 Mbps region - downloads blast along at a cracking pace (2MB+/s). So yeah, happy again.

Hi, is your service still doing ok?

Signed up for 20/5mbps package.

I've had it about a week - so far so good. In fact i'm getting more than I'm paying for (which I assume is because they give a slightly bigger allocation due to overhead).

No packet loss and about 21-22mbps down and 6-7mbps up.

All in all it seems like a decent product - even if the pricing a bit higher than fibre.

Same, any changes in quality?

I'm thinking of using a company called Fibre2Air... need to know if its worth it though.

 

[belator]

I'm thinking of using a company called Fibre2Air... need to know if its worth it though.

There is no such thing as fibre over wireless. It's marketing hype.

You may want to wait a month or two before signing up with that company. Just to ensure they are still around...

Caveat emptor...

 

[shadow_man]

Hi, is your service still doing ok?

Same, any changes in quality?

I'm thinking of using a company called Fibre2Air... need to know if its worth it though.

I'm still with Sonic Telecoms and Fusion Fibre.

For the most part I've been pretty happy with the service (other than price).

 

[ld13]

There is no such thing as fibre over wireless. It's marketing hype. You may want to wait a month or two before signing up with that company. Just to ensure they are still around...

Seems to be a product "created" by HX Systems. They have been around for a 10 odd years, so there is that. Personally I am not too fond of them (don't know why) - on a professional level I have had dealings with them and they have been quite helpful in those instances.

The terms and conditions of this product is something to look at though. I do not know what to make of this:
VPNs are supported by the HX.Systems network, but the distribution of illegal content and the application of bit torrent is considered a crime and is not supported by HX.Systems

 

[belator]

Seems to be a product "created" by HX Systems.

https://www.herotel.com/alliance-members/

https://bgp.he.net/AS328232

Their network is already integrated into Snowball and Sonic's networks.

I would not be surprised if their staff were moved over to one of those companies in the coming month or two...