SmartVillage...omg

N

Nether

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Just moved into a new complex with some buddies of mine, after checking out this weird network RJ-45 plug into the wall I began asking around to what its purpose would be.

It would seem that the the entire complex is served by a service called www.smartvillage.co.za :sick: something the real estate agent "forgot" to inform about.

They have a contract with the investors / builders of the complex that they should be the only fixed line service provider (isn't that illegal?)

It all sounds rosy and wonderfull ( fiber intra-net, VoIP, DVB TV something, security), but they are connected directly to a Telkom Exchange outside the main complex...

Now, as you may be guessing by now, they offer Internet services as well, but checking out the packages they offer, it is on par with Telkom with regards to speeds.....actually, its very similar 384, 512, 4096. But they host their own data packages etc, so no ISP of your own choice...

These are the costs they ask for a 4mbps enabled wall socket RJ-45 service:

Monthly costs:
Basic Access Services : R228 (see this as line rental)
Speed access : R350 (4Mbps line speed)
10GB Data: R590
Total Costs: R1190

Once off fee:
Mandatory Installation R3990 (Not sure what this is for, you don't get a modem or anything, its a direct RJ-45)

In comparison,
Telkom DoBroadband Lvl 3 package : R554 + R130 Line rental,
Total Monthly Costs : R684 approximately

Once off fee: R380 (line already present) or R627.63 if not

These guys sure know how to ripoff an already off ripping service.

So my question is, anyone here also use their services, did you manage to bypass it somehow?
I cant use CellC in my area I live, they don't have proper reception....

Excuse the bad grammar.
 
a) Never trust a real-estate agent to tell the whole truth.
b) Start asking around if you can get Telkom lines. Blame bad service. Become part of the body corporate and then complain about the super high cost. Print flyers and show it to everybody in the complex. I have no idea regarding the legal complications (and whether www.smartvillage.co.za are allowed to provide the only service) but I would fight it all the way! You need the support of the other owners...
 
Nether said:
They have a contract with the investors / builders of the complex that they should be the only fixed line service provider (isn't that illegal?)
Click to expand...
The question is do *you* have a contract with them? Check the stuff you signed. If there is nothing in it about this then tell them to shove it.

Its unlikely that you can bypass it since the rj45 cable is probably going to a router & firewall under their control. If you've got a phone line too then you could try that, but if its in the contract then that would probably be breach of contract.

Otherwise you could use a WISP...though those are know for being sketchy too.
 
The contract doesn't state anything about telecommunications of any sort (I did read it thoroughly before signing), but I do know that there is no copper infrastructure from Telkom in the premises of the complex.
Which means I wont be getting a line bypassing the SmartVillage network.

The consultant told me that they have signed a contract with the complex itself to be the only supplier of Internet services.

I don't want to disclose the area, they do have strict contract stuff about verbal dishing about their services outside of management (the complex itself, not Smartvillage)
and I have given them my stand number etc (and a "down to earth" conversation about their monopoly on the complex and pricing :P)

I am thinking of talking directly to management about the contract identifying the rolls of their Internet service policies (ignorant I suppose) and minipulating it to accommodate me having a Telkom line ( if possible ).

I can probably to a degree understand higher rates to provide the service to my doorstep, but seriously, 2x as much ?:mad:
And it isn't as if the service is better or different logically from the source ( Telkom ), its all the same, so I'm paying them for a Telkom line on a RJ-45 socket.
 
Getting a Telkom line is gonna be an uphill battle & you'll probably end up paying an electrician to pull through the lines. Rather attack the pricing. One line of attack would be to point out that some people get 10mb for much less, so why can't you? Also tell them you want uncapped at least for that price.

Chances are though that the some fool signed off on the pricing etc on behalf of the body corp & they refuse to negotiate and you're screwed. Sorry.
 
Yeah I came to the same conclusion, it will be impossible to get a Telkom line in the complex, and I think their attitude will be "take it or leave it".

So...
almost no reception from around the house
no Telkom
expensive similar solution (exact solution)

Guess I must be living on a farm, yet in the center of a city :erm:
 
HavocXphere said:
The question is do *you* have a contract with them? Check the stuff you signed. If there is nothing in it about this then tell them to shove it.

Its unlikely that you can bypass it since the rj45 cable is probably going to a router & firewall under their control. If you've got a phone line too then you could try that, but if its in the contract then that would probably be breach of contract.

Otherwise you could use a WISP...though those are know for being sketchy too.
Click to expand...

Ask them nicely to review their pricing or do the following:

a) use their CAT5 cable as fishtape to draw your own Telkom wire into the premises.
b) Connect 220v to the RJ45 outlet and blow their routers ever so often...it's not your fault if they pull a line into your property.
 
haha, the retards forgot to change their router from the default passwords....

Still admin admin :whistle: :twisted:

Thanks for the replies everyone, gonna shake up the neighborhood informing the residents of the ripoff monopoly.
Hopefully it will get some attention then.

Amateurs, cant they learn from Telkom
 
This is unfortunately becoming a trend more and more. Telkom doesn't want to pull in any more lines (they've told my estate that they have no immediate plans to service the area). So the estate management (usually clueless) is approached by say SmartVillage or Vodacom.

These see an opportunity to provide sometimes decent, sometimes horrible services at an inflated price. Usually with the promise of Video on Demand or whatever. Their condition is that no other internet service providers are allowed. Estate managers / body corporates = clueless so they sign the contract.

Luckily they can't stop you from using wireless services - as long as you have coverage. But the problem that I saw in my body corporate is that they don't like antennas on everybody's houses, so they stop you from getting something such as WiMax. I'm guessing some estate where there are fulltitle places will have a similar problem - they disallow antennas or custom satellite dishes or whatever.

Luckily in my estate half of them already have Telkom lines, so I must only win the battle against Telkom (and get them to install more lines). Furthermore, my body corporate is at least open for the idea of getting a single WiMax connection point in the middle and having the ISP distribute a signal from there (although I am concerned about the contention on one wireless link).

I live in a sectional title complex (ruled by a body corp) inside a security estate (ruled by the HOA).
 
Garyvdh said:
Surely there is no way they can force you which ISP service you want to use?
Click to expand...

In a gated complex you are pretty much fooked as we have seen with other people here before. They essentially force you to use their service, very wrong but that's the way the boerie bends.
 
Voicy said:
Ask them nicely to review their pricing or do the following:

a) use their CAT5 cable as fishtape to draw your own Telkom wire into the premises.
b) Connect 220v to the RJ45 outlet and blow their routers ever so often...it's not your fault if they pull a line into your property.
Click to expand...

that's evil. i like.
 
Gotta love sectional titles :/
Luckily in full titles they cant pull that crap.
 
HavocXphere said:
Except they'll notice after the 5th time Nether's port blows & all the other are fine. 7th if they're thick.
Click to expand...

With 220vac into a port, there will be little left of any of the ports or router/switch. :p
 
Gary Waterworth said:
Gotta love sectional titles :/
Luckily in full titles they cant pull that crap.
Click to expand...

Sorry to be rude. Full title or not when you live under the control of a HOA you have to abbide by set rules. Trust me i am part of our HOA board :wtf:
But i feel for the OP we also got shown a toffee by Telkom and we have no other connection for data, so seeing there are no fixed lines avail we have to "bend" the rule on no external antennas for broadband purposes.

EDIT: Unless you are talking about a true free standing house facing a municipal road.
 
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