The Constantia FTTH Thread

[shadow_man]

Hi,

What's the timeline for rollout?

I've got clients in Alphen drive and they say they've been advised that this will only be active towards the end of the year? Any truth in that or can installation happen sooner?

Thanks!

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

Those aren't the Constantia prices. Mweb Guy has misdirected you to the Parkhurst page.

They have not officially revealed anything regarding packages over Frogfoot/Link Africa yet. It is likely they will be cheaper as our access fees are cheaper than Vumatels.

I personally am not involved in the ISP "courting" process, but the guys are on it.

Some MWEB discussion from here - http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...ack-Part-3?p=15224198&viewfull=1#post15224198.

Prices too high, may as well stick with my 10Mbps ADSL.

jackshiels, we both know that many people in Constantia use MWEB. Please do your best to get them to bring down prices and compete with the other providers. Otherwise MWEB will be losing clients.

I wonder how they will achieve this as the ISPs have to lodge their tariffs with ICASA, which is inclined to target the larger ISPs for scrutiny. They would need to justify tariff variations between suburbs. This can be done with some word play, but it pays to play open cards with the regulator. You can see that Telkom is (understandably) extremely cautious in that regard. They introduce competitive pricing per bearer (3G vs fibre vs copper) or based on volume or contract tenure, rather than geographically.

They could perhaps differentiate based on different, proven, underlying costs (ie the wholesale costs in the area). I am curious to see what transpires.

 

[PostmanPot]

Those aren't the Constantia prices. Mweb Guy has misdirected you to the Parkhurst page.

They have not officially revealed anything regarding packages over Frogfoot/Link Africa yet. It is likely they will be cheaper as our access fees are cheaper than Vumatels.

I personally am not involved in the ISP "courting" process, but the guys are on it.

Thought as much, I know Constantia prices haven't been revealed. Those Vumatel prices are on par with the other suburbs in SA covered by MWEB.

Thank you.

 

[PostmanPot]

I wonder how they will achieve this as the ISPs have to lodge their tariffs with ICASA, which is inclined to target the larger ISPs for scrutiny. They would need to justify tariff variations between suburbs. This can be done with some word play, but it pays to play open cards with the regulator. You can see that Telkom is (understandably) extremely cautious in that regard. They introduce competitive pricing per bearer (3G vs fibre vs copper) or based on volume or contract tenure, rather than geographically.

They could perhaps differentiate based on different, proven, underlying costs (ie the wholesale costs in the area). I am curious to see what transpires.

Agreed. I think the fact that so many people in Constantia will be moving over (like Bishopscourt) means that ISPs can bring down costs because more of the network is subsidised than in suburbs where there is less interest.

I doubt there is as much interest in Telkom's 'pilot' suburbs, than there is in Constantia/Bishopscourt.

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

Agreed. I think the fact that so many people in Constantia will be moving over (like Bishopscourt) means that ISPs can bring down costs because more of the network is subsidised than in suburbs where there is less interest.

I doubt there is as much interest in Telkom's 'pilot' suburbs, than there is in Constantia/Bishopscourt.

Yes, partly. The physical costs for the retail ISPs are largely fixed (see http://constantiafibre.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Link-Africa-ISP-pack.pdf), assuming they peer at Westerford. The ISP support systems are also de-localised anyway, so I'm seeing their pricing strategies as competition-driven, but fed with the hopes of larger average pipe-size/household and perhaps selling more value-adds

 

[PostmanPot]

Yes, partly. The physical costs for the retail ISPs are largely fixed (see http://constantiafibre.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Link-Africa-ISP-pack.pdf), assuming they peer at Westerford. The ISP support systems are also de-localised anyway, so I'm seeing their pricing strategies as competition-driven, but fed with the hopes of larger average pipe-size/household and perhaps selling more value-adds

Thanks for the info.

 

[jackshiels]

Agreed. I think the fact that so many people in Constantia will be moving over (like Bishopscourt) means that ISPs can bring down costs because more of the network is subsidised than in suburbs where there is less interest.

I doubt there is as much interest in Telkom's 'pilot' suburbs, than there is in Constantia/Bishopscourt.

Just spoke with one of the guys, it's looking like MWeb are coming on board - will confirm later.

Hi,

What's the timeline for rollout?

I've got clients in Alphen drive and they say they've been advised that this will only be active towards the end of the year? Any truth in that or can installation happen sooner?

Thanks!

Timeline is rollout from June-December. I personally have a rollout map, but I can't spread it...

 

[p51mustang]

I must say, I'm most impressed with the Constantia Fibre committee. The amount of info they're placing in the public domain/transparency, feedback, willingness to help other communities and the overall speed of the whole project is commendable.

Now they just they just need to add a map to their website to indicate the initial rollout area and possible Phase Two areas. (Deurdrif please!!!!)

 

[PostmanPot]

I must say, I'm most impressed with the Constantia Fibre committee. The amount of info they're placing in the public domain/transparency, feedback, willingness to help other communities and the overall speed of the whole project is commendable.

Now they just they just need to add a map to their website to indicate the initial rollout area and possible Phase Two areas. (Deurdrif please!!!!)

Hope you've applied for a quote on the site, with your address?

Definitely consider popping pamphlets in your neighbours' post boxes.

 

[p51mustang]

Hope you've applied for a quote on the site, with your address?

Yup, Vox have offered to keep me updated on progress of the rollout.

 

[jackshiels]

I must say, I'm most impressed with the Constantia Fibre committee. The amount of info they're placing in the public domain/transparency, feedback, willingness to help other communities and the overall speed of the whole project is commendable.

Now they just they just need to add a map to their website to indicate the initial rollout area and possible Phase Two areas. (Deurdrif please!!!!)

Rollout map should be online very soon...

 

[ajules]

I must say, I'm most impressed with the Constantia Fibre committee. The amount of info they're placing in the public domain/transparency, feedback, willingness to help other communities and the overall speed of the whole project is commendable.

Now they just they just need to add a map to their website to indicate the initial rollout area and possible Phase Two areas. (Deurdrif please!!!!)

Agreed.Fantastic to see what a community can do when they take ownership.The whole process seems to have been done so efficiently also.Any chance we can borrow you guys for Rondebosch

 

[jackshiels]

UPDATE: ROLLOUT MAP NOW LIVE!

Guys, you can now see when you will be getting fibre on the map here: https://maps.frogfoot.net/constantia/

Click on the "i" button to see connection dates, or use the search bar to find your address.

31st July for me

 

[TheBadMadMan]

Impressive.

 

[amabacha]

Hi. I heard a similar process has now commenced for Fibre to Meadowridge. What is the current status on that? New thread?

 

[jackshiels]

Hi. I heard a similar process has now commenced for Fibre to Meadowridge. What is the current status on that? New thread?

I'm not involved there at all. However, your best point of contact is the chairman of your homeowners association.

It would be great to see adjacent suburbs get this too.

 

[Woofda]

Anyone know if the Constantia FTTH network will keep functioning during a power outage (assuming the CPE is on UPS)?

 

[jackshiels]

Anyone know if the Constantia FTTH network will keep functioning during a power outage (assuming the CPE is on UPS)?

Yes, it will. The network is passive. You can get a built in UPS for your router and CPE for about R50/m extra.

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

Anyone know if the Constantia FTTH network will keep functioning during a power outage (assuming the CPE is on UPS)?

That would be rather cynical - selling you a UPS for R50pm on the CPE side if the network wasn't going to stay up anyway

 

[jackshiels]

Check out the Telkom checker map: http://www.telkom.co.za/coverage/index.html

Telkom have started FTTH deployment in Constantia too

Twice the FTTH can't be bad!