Telkom fighting copper cable theft with LTE

Nothing new from Telkom then. Or is it new to OpenServe?

Telkom have been doing this for the last 10-15 years already. Yes, the wireless technology might change but it remains a wireless replacement for copper service.

What are OpenServe really doing to fight copper cable theft? Alarms on high risk routes? Armed response? Alarms at SDCs? Informant network? Lockable manhole covers? Etcetc...
 
MickeyD said:
Nothing new from Telkom then. Or is it new to OpenServe?

Telkom have been doing this for the last 10-15 years already. Yes, the wireless technology might change but it remains a wireless replacement for copper service.

What are OpenServe really doing to fight copper cable theft? Alarms on high risk routes? Armed response? Alarms at SDCs? Informant network? Lockable manhole covers? Etcetc...
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It’s a losing battle. Let the thieves steal the remaining copper and rather spend the money laying fiber or adding towers.
 
tRoN said:
It’s a losing battle. Let the thieves steal the remaining copper and rather spend the money laying fiber or adding towers.
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The wise guys like @dominic can help here, but I think there's a telecoms regulation somewhere that forces Telkom to provide an alternative means of service. Remember you have signed a contract with them for the service and they must provide it.
 
LTE is not a realistic replacement for Copper Cable, only fibre can realistically replace it. Apples and Oranges. A wireless solution is not the same as a fixed line solution.
 
At least 3 times a year they will steal our copper cables. There is 2 places where they steal it and they get away every time. And Telkom just replaces the cables everytime although they take their time to do it.

There is Telkom fiber cables going past the area where I stay.The fiber cables run past our box on the corner, 3 houses away from me. Why they haven't replaced our copper with fiber is a mystery. Seems like they prefer to just waste money to replace the copper every time
 
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adrianx said:
I live ±7km away from the centre of JHB and there is neither fibre nor LTE in my area. Just saying...
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Obviously not north of JHB CBD (for fibre). I'm sure they will go to the other areas when their manpower is freed up from the north.

And you really 7km from JHB CBD and don't fall in any of the blue areas?

telkom jhb.JPG
 
MickeyD said:
Nothing new from Telkom then. Or is it new to OpenServe?

Telkom have been doing this for the last 10-15 years already. Yes, the wireless technology might change but it remains a wireless replacement for copper service.

What are OpenServe really doing to fight copper cable theft? Alarms on high risk routes? Armed response? Alarms at SDCs? Informant network? Lockable manhole covers? Etcetc...
Click to expand...

They were certainly punting 3G as a replacement when they launched (2008 or so) - they even had the fixed-wireless handsets with the geographic telephone lines. That was part of the 3G business plan (I worked on their Version 2 with them). Copper theft has a massive cost in terms of customer satisfaction, support costs, replacement costs, low revenue etc, so the business case is easy
 
MickeyD said:
The wise guys like @dominic can help here, but I think there's a telecoms regulation somewhere that forces Telkom to provide an alternative means of service. Remember you have signed a contract with them for the service and they must provide it.
Click to expand...

I'd be interested to see that. Theireless ISPs are doing a roaring trade in areas where Telkom isn't providing. It's well recorded they are not providing service in many areas, and sometimes capitulate after copper theft (I think Malmesbury comes to mind and parts of KZN Midlands).
 
Chris.Geerdts said:
I'd be interested to see that. Theireless ISPs are doing a roaring trade in areas where Telkom isn't providing. It's well recorded they are not providing service in many areas, and sometimes capitulate after copper theft (I think Malmesbury comes to mind and parts of KZN Midlands).
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I can remember them making presentations regarding unsustainable services, typically where cables had been stolen a few times.
 
So it seems if I am a good boy and don't steal my copper cable I will have to put up with COPPER/ ASDL for ever. However, if I am like what seems to be like the majority of South Africans corrupt and dishonest I steal the copper from my road & I will be given a nice new Fibre line and then I can go and steal a PC to use on it,
 
Bogartxx said:
So it seems if I am a good boy and don't steal my copper cable I will have to put up with COPPER/ ASDL for ever. However, if I am like what seems to be like the majority of South Africans corrupt and dishonest I steal the copper from my road & I will be given a nice new Fibre line and then I can go and steal a PC to use on it,
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Not quite. If there’s a viable business case they might install Fibre, budget dependent. Else you will get a FLLA service.
 
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