WebAfrica : Kleinbron

[chrisparker]

Does anybody in Kleinbron estate plan on getting FTTH installed via Web Africa? First prize would be to hear if anyone in the estate has gone down that road yet. I have attempted to clarify certain info with them:

1) Where in the T&C's does it state that the line is not bonded to the ISP (there is a footnote on the website but that's not good enough - if you don't sign for it they can change their minds)
2) Lead times on getting the CPE installed - they cannot answer this
3) Will I get billed if the line is not installed. From what I have read here they do bill despite the line not having been installed. Again, they can't answer this simple question.

The Webafrica call centre staff (if you can get through) cannot answer any of the above questions which leads me to believe that the product has not been well thought through from a customer point of view. I am hesitant to dive in and go fibre if I cannot get solid answers for 1 and 3 at least.

Experience tells me that if the sales process is shoddy, the after-sales service is even worse.

Someone give me hope?

 

[Nagt]

Hi

I believe I am only person so far with FTTH in Kleinbron Estate. This was done via Webafrica and took about 3 weeks from time of order. They immediately started billing me, but without providing credit card details I lodged a dispute and the end result was that I would only pay the installation cost after the line went live, same being for the monthly rental of the line.

Hope that helps.

 

[chrisparker]

Thanks buddy. Indeed helpful. I've DMd you about coming to see your setup if you're willing

 

[nhanekom]

Hi Guys, Just curious, why did you go with WebAfrica and not directly with Telkom. I see they have a special now for the month of June @ R699 for 10meg fibre. Did you notice a huge improvement going from 4meg ADSL to fibre?

 

[chrisparker]

Hey,

I've decided to hold off for the rest of the year at least. I sat in on a meeting with Vodafone last week for the estate...watch this space. Vodacom (if they will provide what they claim) are going to dominate the FTTH market. Low contention ratios, reasonable soft cap and added extras for the estate as a whole.

From everything I've read the FTTH rollout is as successful as etolls. Nobody seems to know what's going to happen, downloads speeds on Telkom are erratic at best etc.

I'd recommend that those not in the mood to battle wait this out and let the early adopters that must download the net take the pain for us

 

[nhanekom]

Thanks Chris. I was also thinking about holding off for a while. It's a very new market and things seem to be moving quickly lately. No doubt we will see some interesting offers from other providers. Telkom's current offer might be the only one available in Kleinbron, but that doesn't mean we should jump. A 50GB cap on fibre is a joke.

 

[Orihalcon]

WA can either run on Vumatel or Telkom fibre depending on your area.

Kleinbron falls with Telkom's fibre ring. Telkom's network is open access and it still runs off of the IPC break outs. Therefor you can run any ISP account on fibre line.

Yes you can also order the fibre line without the data from WA and use any ISPs data account. I am going this route.

 

[chrisparker]

Yes you can also order the fibre line without the data from WA and use any ISPs data account. I am going this route.

This is the best option - just beware the R100 surcharge if you don't use their data.

I agree - 50GB is a joke and SoftCap can mean anything. If everyone waits they have to make it more marketable so recoup trenching costs.

 

[nhanekom]

2 Ladies from Helkom are walking the Kleinbron streets at the moment, trying to sell their fibre. They just knocked on my door and gave me the whole sales pitch. Told them I would think about it. If it wasn't for the 24 month contract I would sign up today though.

 

[chrisparker]

2 Ladies from Helkom are walking the Kleinbron streets at the moment, trying to sell their fibre. They just knocked on my door and gave me the whole sales pitch. Told them I would think about it. If it wasn't for the 24 month contract I would sign up today though.

Agreed - sit back and observe. Let's think numbers. The estate has about 550 families of which about 30% should be renting (assumption is that renters won't go for fixed lines) so fibre won't be an option given the contract. That leaves 385 families. If they get 40% to sign up that's 154 families or 28% of the estate. That's not a great conversion ratio. When the competition heats up those of us that have waited will have the best options. I know there is an argument to sign up asap to get the tech off the ground but I don't think Telkom have provided a customer-centric "deal" but rather a package typical of a telecoms parastatal.

Asking me to sign a 24 month contract and giving me a free "gift" that costs me a monthly subscription and then limiting my downloads to 100GB a month on the fastest line option is not what I would call a great deal. 100mb line = approx 3 hours and 100gb is gone, then what?

But...each man for himself I guess