Telkom terminology.

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recre8

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I was hoping someone can get me up to speed with the latest Telkom lingo.

1. MSAN (also heard ISAN)
2. IMAX
3. DSLAM
4. Exchange
5. IP Connect
6. MetroEthernet

My understanding was that the IMAX units were replaced by MSAN units and that the DSLAM was a DSL access concentrator physically located in the IMAX/MSAN. Now I've heard that the DSLAM is actaully located at the exchange and not the IMAX's anymore. From what I've read so far:

SDC - green and blue telkom box that is just a patch panel for all the wires coming from each house. Runs to MSAN
MSAN - white box with three doors. Cables from SDC comes in and magic happens to connect you to internet. (How is the MSAN connected to the exchange?)


So if you could please define the words above, where each is located in relation to other, which are deprecated and which are new, and how they all fit together.
 
MSAN = Huawei Multi Service Access Node
ISAM = Alcatel-Lucent Intelligent Services Access Manager

These are being installed to replace:

DSLAM/IMAX = required to provide ADSL services

Exchange = Central Office. In SA it is normally where the switching unit is located. Telkom would classify it as where the numbering allocation happens, eg. 021-411, 021-421, 02-431 would be 3 different exchanges. It can happen that there are multiple switching units in one Central Office, eg. Charlo in PE has 041-367 and 041-368. There is also a hierarchy of exchanges. Local concentrator, digital secondary switching unit (DSSU), digital primary switching unit (DPSU). So a typical phone call would route from your house-local concentrator-DSSU-DPSU and then to the receiving DPSU-DSSU-LC-receiver.

Just to complicate things, you also get outdoor switching units...
 
This is a very basic ADSL layout:

adslpic.gif
 
recre8 said:
Thanks for the info!

Is IPConnect Telkom wholesale broadband?
Click to expand...

Very briefly: It is the gateway to enable access to Telkom's data network. See here for a basic presentation - http://www.vlocity.co.za/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=d9eHl7cuDao=&tabid=188&mid=616

Telkom-IPC-ADSL-traffic.jpg



And MetroEthernet is what connects the MSAN to the exchange?
Click to expand...

Yes and no. Yes it is used to connect the MSAN to the Central Office. No, it is also used for other products and services in the Telkom network.
 
Can you tell me the difference between MSAN and ISAM? Someone told me that one was rolled out in Cape Town and the other in Gauteng and that one of them gave more problems than the other. Is that correct?
 
recre8 said:
Can you tell me the difference between MSAN and ISAM? Someone told me that one was rolled out in Cape Town and the other in Gauteng and that one of them gave more problems than the other. Is that correct?
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Basically the same thing with slight design differences (MSAN = Chinese, ISAM = French). There have been issues with both regarding integration in the Telkom network, so one is not better than the other.

AFAIK the MSANs are in the inland regions and the ISAMs in the coastal regions.
 
When telkom employees say tomorrow - its not tomorrow or any time that you are hoping for.
 
ajan said:
When telkom employees say tomorrow - its not tomorrow or any time that you are hoping for.
Click to expand...
Haha I actually found that out today. I had to log a ticket for noise on our BUSINESS LINE and Telkom's turnaround time is
"24 to 48 hours and the availability of technician"
I used to be shorter for business lines if I remember correctly?
 
MickeyD said:
Basically the same thing with slight design differences (MSAN = Chinese, ISAM = French). There have been issues with both regarding integration in the Telkom network, so one is not better than the other.

AFAIK the MSANs are in the inland regions and the ISAMs in the coastal regions.
Click to expand...

Hi Mickey so is there any advantage of being on MSAN versus ISAM besides being able to get VDSL. And is that ASSIA system managing only the lines connected to MSANs? Reason why I'm asking is a Telkom technician has tried to trace my line problem he has changed my wall jack tested the line etc but still can't pick up anything, so he says the next thing he will try is move me from an MSAN to an ISAM port. Would that make any positive difference? My line used to be perfect earlier this year so he thinks there is a possibility that i was moved from ISAM & MSAN & that could have introduced the instability. It's been a pain
 
kianm said:
Hi Mickey so is there any advantage of being on MSAN versus ISAM besides being able to get VDSL. And is that ASSIA system managing only the lines connected to MSANs? Reason why I'm asking is a Telkom technician has tried to trace my line problem he has changed my wall jack tested the line etc but still can't pick up anything, so he says the next thing he will try is move me from an MSAN to an ISAM port. Would that make any positive difference? My line used to be perfect earlier this year so he thinks there is a possibility that i was moved from ISAM & MSAN & that could have introduced the instability. It's been a pain
Click to expand...

Either you misheard him or he's speaking rubbish....

If you misheard him, he could be referring to an IMAX port that is capable of speeds up to 24Mbps on ADSL2+. Note... not VDSL!!!

I have not heard of Telkom installing Alcatel-Lucent MSAN units together with Huawei ISAM units in the same exchange or even the same exchange area. It is either one or the other...

And they are basically the same thing, so there is no advantage...

PS. When Telkom made their decision to go with two suppliers for VDSL capable equipment, they planned to use the MSAN inland and the ISAM on the coast (based on an even split of the number of units to be installed per region). I don't know whether this has since changed.

ASSIA is on all DSL services.
 
MickeyD said:
Either you misheard him or he's speaking rubbish....

If you misheard him, he could be referring to an IMAX port that is capable of speeds up to 24Mbps on ADSL2+. Note... not VDSL!!!

I have not heard of Telkom installing Alcatel-Lucent MSAN units together with Huawei ISAM units in the same exchange or even the same exchange area. It is either one or the other...

And they are basically the same thing, so there is no advantage...

PS. When Telkom made their decision to go with two suppliers for VDSL capable equipment, they planned to use the MSAN inland and the ISAM on the coast (based on an even split of the number of units to be installed per region). I don't know whether this has since changed.

ASSIA is on all DSL services.
Click to expand...
I think i might have misheard him on the ISAM IMAX part he should have been referring to IMAX. But he did say he will try move me from MSAN so will see how it goes tomorrow. Wonder how things are setup in my area. Thanks for the info appreciate it
 
kianm said:
I think i might have misheard him on the ISAM IMAX part he should have been referring to IMAX. But he did say he will try move me from MSAN so will see how it goes tomorrow. Wonder how things are setup in my area. Thanks for the info appreciate it
Click to expand...
Very intriguing* case, please keep us updated.



*moving from MSAN to IMAX requires quite some configuration and physical work...
 
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