Sat3 lifespan?

[Surv0]

So apparently the SAT3 cable has a limited lifetime, that would be granted as everything degrades after time. But does anyone actually know how long weve been using the SAT3 and what happens after the so-called 25yr lifespan? They just gonna forget about it or dredge it up to lay a new one?

 

[Kasyx]

I would assume that it is constantly maintained and upgraded as the years go by so as to prevent that.

Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[MrSmith]

No i think you just have to build SAT4

 

[Surv0]

Yeah they definitely maintain it but not sure if they actually upgrade it...I would imagine that if they had to upgrade it they would have to upgrade the whole thing at once because it would be pretty pointless having only a certain portion of the line working faster than the rest...

 

[linkinpark]

The life span of almost all cables are around 25 years. Ongoing maintenance is just there to ensure it reaches its lifetime of 25 years, after that another cable has to be built.

 

[bullfrog]

I'm not exactly sure how the whole think works, but AFAIK it's a fibre optic cable and those can't be joined. So if it degrades it will have to be replaced some time.

 

[SuperAntMD]

It can be upgraded to handle more capacity and I believe SAT3 already has been, but thats more a matter of the technology on either side of the cable then the cable itself.

The cable is merely maintained, if memory serves there is a dedicated boat for just this purpose.

After 25 years new cable needs to be laid but Telkom (or whoever) will probably continue using it until it actually stops working. Its not like they just forget about it after the lifespan is up.

 

[64bit]

F/O cables can definately be joined. Only question is how they would do that under water... ?

 

[krycor]

doesn't a ship pull it up? or is that just when it gets laid?

 

[bullfrog]

I'm talking from the greatest experience here as I've never worked with fibre ofptic cables. Just talking from what I've read out of a text book.

 

[Surv0]

Yeah Telkom has an entire ship dedicated to maintaining the line. Afaik they do use joiners that are located on the ocean floor which can be lifted for repairs. They actually lift the cable out of the water and then work on it...

 

[Kasyx]

They have a ship dedicated to maintaining a cable, and they can't provide us with decent broadband prices?

Oh wait, sorry. I mean "won't".

 

[rsachoc]

Interesting dicussion, what I dont understand is this: if the cable has a limited lifespan, why not open up all the available bandwidth for us to use, they'll probably make more money in the long run - seems such a waste to use a smaller portion of the total bandwidth when the cable is going to be decommisioned in the future anyways.

 

[Kasyx]

Because Telkom only understand the "Make Money Now" approach. Delayed gratification is not in their collective vocabulary.

 

[bwana]

Interesting dicussion, what I dont understand is this: if the cable has a limited lifespan, why not open up all the available bandwidth for us to use, they'll probably make more money in the long run - seems such a waste to use a smaller portion of the total bandwidth when the cable is going to be decommisioned in the future anyways.

It is an utter waste but you can see why they do it.

In normal society I'd question why they're allowed to get away from it but I've been around here not to have.

 

[derekc]

Interesting dicussion, what I dont understand is this: if the cable has a limited lifespan, why not open up all the available bandwidth for us to use, they'll probably make more money in the long run - seems such a waste to use a smaller portion of the total bandwidth when the cable is going to be decommisioned in the future anyways.

because Telkom's the equipment in South Africa is not capable and they want to squeeze every cent out of their old equipment rather than upgrade them.

 

[Surv0]

Well as the review on Myadsl says, the SAT3 cable is highly underutilised. But why would Telkom actually open the whole line up for use when it doesnt need to. Its getting all the money it needs from all the companies registered them using only a small portion of the line...

 

[Pilgrim]

I just read this on the official sat-3 website (www.safe-sat3.co.za)

September 2000 Press release:

Telkom spearheads $630 million dollar telecommunications project to fuel African Renaissance.

No, that is not what they did. They took the spear and shafted it up our South African behinds...