Telkom has launched a pilot project in Randfontein to migrate its retail ADSL customers from a copper network to \u201cfixed-line-look-alike\u201d services.<\/p>\n
The project will test the viability of phasing out old and unsustainable infrastructure in areas with a digital exchange system that is nearing the end of its lifespan, said Telkom.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Randfontein project comes two years after the company first revealed plans to shut down exchanges<\/strong><\/a> that were losing money.<\/p>\n Telkom told MyBroadband in 2014 that of its 1,900 exchanges, about 600 were profitable.<\/p>\n The majority of Telkom\u2019s exchanges – around 1,000, which are not profitable but are also not losing money – will be maintained in their current state.<\/p>\n In the roughly 300 areas with exchanges that are making a loss, Telkom plans to replace its copper-based infrastructure with 3G or LTE.<\/p>\n \u201cTelkom has already decommissioned some active legacy equipment and exchanges in its network as a part of replacing manual exchange technology with technology that can support modern telecommunication needs,\u201d said Jacqui O\u2019Sullivan, Telkom\u2019s head of group communications.<\/p>\n Randfontein has been plagued by cable theft, resulting in poor service and a steady degradation of the copper infrastructure in the area.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is why we selected this area for migration to fixed-line-look-alike and other wireless access technologies,\u201d said O\u2019Sullivan.<\/p>\n It said Randfontein and several\u00a0of its surrounding exchanges have been identified as suitable for a pilot project to test new access technologies and products.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pilot project will also asses the implications of the migration on support systems and the migrating processes.”<\/p>\n \u201cThe current phase of the project is primarily focussed on the migration of Telkom retail\u2019s residential and single-line business customers who are located in the pilot area.\u201d<\/p>\n Affected subscribers will be offered a wireless service that is meant to be a drop-in replacement for Telkom\u2019s landline offering.<\/p>\n Customers will be given a new handset for free, will keep their existing Telkom number, and will be billed for calls as if they were being made from a landline.<\/p>\n However, a resident in the area contacted MyBroadband to raise concerns that he will not be able to keep his\u00a0uncapped broadband service after switching to Telkom\u2019s wireless access network.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are piloting this project with a view to provide quality, sustainable voice and data services and improve service levels to our customers in the area,\u201d said O\u2019Sullivan.<\/p>\n \u201cIn future, we will also be able to upgrade service offerings, particularly related to connectivity.\u201d<\/p>\n This will not be possible on the existing copper access technology in the area, said Telkom.<\/p>\n \u201cThe information obtained during this pilot project will be analysed and the results will form the basis of any further technology replacements that the company will embark upon in future.”<\/p>\n Former Telkom manager explains why an IPC price cut is urgently needed<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n How Telkom and Cell C crushed Vodacom on its home turf<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n MyBroadband War Drive: Vodacom vs MTN vs Cell C vs Telkom \u2013 the winner is clear<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Telkom launches carrier billing for Google Play content store<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nWhy Randfontein is being migrated away from copper<\/h3>\n
Fixed-line-look-alike and other wireless services in Randfontein<\/h3>\n
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