Installing ADSL in an apartment complex

[HarryPhillips]

Hi guys,

So I'm about to move out of home :wtf: and am looking at a number of apartment blocks in the Gardens, Tamboerskloof, Vredehoek area of CT.

There's no way I'm living anywhere without a decent internet connection, I do quite a bit of online gaming and the usual downloading/streaming etc. The Afrihost 4gb uncapped looks to be pretty good to me.

My question is, can you install your own internet in an apartment block? Auxilliary questions include, do I need to pay line rental (how much?) and will the internet be slower because there are other people living in the same building.

I know, I sound supernoob, but your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Glingfram]

Complexes will have their own infrustructure of telephone lines, check your apartment to see if you have a phone connector.
If you don't have one, Telkom can install a line for you, an additional fee of about R1200 for that if needed.

If you have a line (most likely you will):

You'll most likely need to contact Telkom to instate the ADSL line.

You'll pay line rental for the voice (+-R170) and ADSL (+-R500, depending on the line speed you chose) connections.
You will also have to pay a once off connection fee of about R800 to get things started.

The internet won't be slower because there are other people connected in the building, but it might be slower if the exchange (big telkom box on the side of the road) is congested (too much internet traffic).

 

[Nether]

Adsl in apartments work the same way that a house line works. Meaning, you don't share the bandwidth with other people in the complex or apartment. But exchange congestion might still be an issue. ( Your Telkom line is separate from everyone else's)

There are a few exceptions though:

Very few complexes and apartment buildings house any access to Telkom lines, and even prevent Telkom from installing them. (no lines are accessible from the main building). Its imperative that you inquire if Telkom services are available in your new apartment.
There is no way to know for sure there is congestion on the exchange in that area without checking with current residents, and you will be surprised how few people have adsl in their apartments, or even know what you are talking about!

Assuming you do get adsl:

Like any dsl product, you don't know what line speed you will be getting once you move into the apartment, in my case, they installed a line, said my maximum speed was 4mbps, but because the apartment added additional length to the line, and connected to relatively poor copper, i could only get 2mbps max stable (1.8 later).

Other Internet services:

Yes you do get other tipes of internet services (fiber / ethernet connected to fiber). I have only seen this in estates though, an eg is midstream estates in midrand, the are operated by Smart Village and you will need to inquire about them separately for each estate (their prices differ slightly)


Hope this helps!

 

[deweyzeph]

In an established area like Vredehoek where the apartments are decades old it works exactly the same as if you moved into a normal house. Each flat has got it's own telephone line with Telkom. There is no sharing whatsoever. This means you will have to pay line rental (both voice and ADSL).

 

[drew137]

Hi guys,

So I'm about to move out of home :wtf: and am looking at a number of apartment blocks in the Gardens, Tamboerskloof, Vredehoek area of CT.

There's no way I'm living anywhere without a decent internet connection, I do quite a bit of online gaming and the usual downloading/streaming etc. The Afrihost 4gb uncapped looks to be pretty good to me.

My question is, can you install your own internet in an apartment block? Auxilliary questions include, do I need to pay line rental (how much?) and will the internet be slower because there are other people living in the same building.

I know, I sound supernoob, but your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

I'm up in Vredehoek and have been for 10 years, we were in a flat before and we had our own line, ADSL etc. The infrastructure is there. Keep in mind we've been in older blocks so I can't comment on the newer units. I am up now at the very top of Vredehoek and my line is perfect, I'm on a 2MB uncapped account.

If you want to apply I suggest going direct to Telkom either in Town or Canal Walk (We used Canal Walk) our line in our new house was installed in less than 7 days. Good luck!

 

[Keeper]

Very few complexes and apartment buildings house any access to Telkom lines, and even prevent Telkom from installing them. (no lines are accessible from the main building). Its imperative that you inquire if Telkom services are available in your new apartment.

isn't it illegal to prevent you from installing a Telkom Line though?

 

[Nether]

isn't it illegal to prevent you from installing a Telkom Line though?

Complex / apartment rules.

Basically the same rules preventing a lot of people from installing their own satellite / antennas. ( not talking about a shared satellite)

You have to adhere to the complex rules when you sign a lease or own the property.

 

[HarryPhillips]

Thanks for the response guys.

Didn't realise line rental was so expensive! From a total costs perspective that means I would be paying R399 for a 4GB DSL line (If I get it through Afrihost) and then R379 for the 4GB ADSL. Making it R768/month, right?

Another point, they also offer 100GB of capped ADSL for R299, I could probably get by on that. The appeal is that it's unshaped, any idea what the speeds are like though?

Thanks again!