Openserve Installation

[Kyoto]

In this country were people are screaming for fibre connectivity, how many times do OPENSERVE have to install in an area were there is already fibre?

I got an E-mail overnight from the Estate manager telling us that OPENSERVE will be starting install from next Monday.

Fantastic you think, but I have had Fibre for 12 months, :crylaugh:.

 

[Dlamaqhinga]

In this country were people are screaming for fibre connectivity, how many times do OPENSERVE have to install in an area were there is already fibre?

I got an E-mail overnight from the Estate manager telling us that OPENSERVE will be starting install from next Monday.

Fantastic you think, but I have had Fibre for 12 months, :crylaugh:.

I have seen a duplication of Fibre network, deing installed by the service providers, both Openserve and Vumatel are guilty of this / having their networks in one area.

 

[LazyLion]

It's important that these companies actually compete with each other so that we can see some price reductions.
Right now, fibre is flipping expensive.

 

[Sumen]

It's important that these companies actually compete with each other so that we can see some price reductions.
Right now, fibre is flipping expensive.

Fibre is not that expensive if you compare it to ADSL prices.

 

[Geoff.D]

Can't believe this! Competition is important. In the mean time there are some of us sitting with no fibre and no prospects.

 

[chunk10]

It's important that these companies actually compete with each other so that we can see some price reductions.
Right now, fibre is flipping expensive.

Except Openserve is not coming with a competitive product they going to lay fibre for no one to use.

 

[Kyoto]

Of course competition is important, but so is getting connectivity to everyone, and as mentioned above to get the same service as I currently have would be twice as expensive using a Openserve line due to IPC costs. Oh and they don't do symmetrical.

 

[hunter30]

I know of a certain road in Umhlanga that have 5 providers to choose from. Openserve, MTN, Vodacom, Link Africa, 123NET, and have seen on the weekend, some other company, think it might be Vumatel, doing a survey on the weekend, for the same street. Then just one street away, nothing. Its crazy, to think how they duplicate in some areas.
My opinion, is, that they should get together, discuss which street they planning and don't duplicate. Rather share cost etc. This will allow for better coverage to more areas quicker. My two cents.

 

[blowdart18]

My opinion, is, that they should get together, discuss which street they planning and don't duplicate. Rather share cost etc. This will allow for better coverage to more areas quicker. My two cents.

It could work where you have various providers charging "inter-connect fees", nothing major, just something to cover the costs.

However I think everyone is / was tired of Openserve shafting them all these years they have decided to rather do it themselves, less headache, more freedom.

 

[hunter30]

It could work where you have various providers charging "inter-connect fees", nothing major, just something to cover the costs.

However I think everyone is / was tired of Openserve shafting them all these years they have decided to rather do it themselves, less headache, more freedom.

I would agree, Openserve is a serious pain for everyone, but surely, the other providers can get together and plan areas together. Instead of duplicating. they can even share the cost of the civils, eg one trench, multiple ducts, it would minimize cost for all concerned, and also less digging up your pavement for every provider that will come.

 

[LazyLion]

Except Openserve is not coming with a competitive product they going to lay fibre for no one to use.

The point is... we want the average fibre bundle price to come down to around $30 or about R400.
Currently the average SA price is sitting around R800 to R1000.
(And the speeds are ludicrous - $30 in the US will get you 50 to 100Mbit speeds).

 

[savage]

I would agree, Openserve is a serious pain for everyone, but surely, the other providers can get together and plan areas together. Instead of duplicating. they can even share the cost of the civils, eg one trench, multiple ducts, it would minimize cost for all concerned, and also less digging up your pavement for every provider that will come.

That's the ideal situation yes, even for municipalities. The reality unfortunately, is far, far from it. Not even CoCT will allow their own ducts to be shared, yet, they want others to share. That's perhaps the first hurdle in the equation.

 

[Geoff.D]

I would agree, Openserve is a serious pain for everyone, but surely, the other providers can get together and plan areas together. Instead of duplicating. they can even share the cost of the civils, eg one trench, multiple ducts, it would minimize cost for all concerned, and also less digging up your pavement for every provider that will come.

It all makes plenty of sense. Except for this: When does co-operation of this sort become "collusion" in the eyes of the Competition Commission?

 

[savage]

It all makes plenty of sense. Except for this: When does co-operation of this sort become "collusion" in the eyes of the Competition Commission?

Which is precisely why regulation is required. Not only in terms of "open access," but "open infrastructure". Said it many times before, and I'll say it again.

 

[Geoff.D]

Which is precisely why regulation is required. Not only in terms of "open access," but "open infrastructure". Said it many times before, and I'll say it again.

Yes that is the way to do it. Ensure that there are regulations in place, that ensure we meet the coverage goals after which competition can once again be allowed to take over.