Eir rural FTTH thread

Gonzo

we won't see the fruits of the momentum shown over past 6 weeks till February or March at least. Very little happened between September and November, compared to what should have happened, that's why there is only a handful of places going live with small rollouts. I've a feeling January will only have 2 or 3 exchanges going live, the open Eir map hasn't been updated in a month now, hopefully we will find out more soon.

damienirel

Gonzo wrote: »

we won't see the fruits of the momentum shown over past 6 weeks till February or March at least. Very little happened between September and November, compared to what should have happened, that's why there is only a handful of places going live with small rollouts. I've a feeling January will only have 2 or 3 exchanges going live, the open Eir map hasn't been updated in a month now, hopefully we will find out more soon.

300k by end of 2018 and they've done 351 :eek::eek:
Meanwhile those connected directly to exchanges since cabinets close-by went live 3 years ago are left to rot on substandard connections.
Hard to have any time for these bunch of wasters.

BuzzG

From driving around there is an awful lot of preparation work going on, doubt FTTH is gone on the back burner. If Open eir control the next generation fibre network going to people's homes that secures eir for the next wave of development, they cannot risk loosing control of this strategic infrastructure to another operator like SIRO. It's in eir's long term interest to push forward with FTTH!

Gonzo

BuzzG wrote: »

From driving around there is an awful lot of preparation work going on, doubt FTTH is gone on the back burner. If Open eir control the next generation fibre network going to people's homes that secures eir for the next wave of development, they cannot risk loosing control of this strategic infrastructure to another operator like SIRO. It's in eir's long term interest to push forward with FTTH!

FTTH is definitely not on the back burner, the past 6 weeks big progress is starting to be made but as I said we won't see the results of this till about March when a whole bunch of exchanges should go live. At the moment the amount of premises being passed is poor due to the very slow start during autumn when everything kept getting pushed back and back. Hopefully end of March will be the 1st sign that things are finally moving.

Gonzo

damienirel wrote: »

300k by end of 2018 and they've done 351 :eek::eek:
Meanwhile those connected directly to exchanges since cabinets close-by went live 3 years ago are left to rot on substandard connections.
Hard to have any time for these bunch of wasters.

they must have close to 3,000 completed out of 302,000 now. They are expecting to pass 34,000 premises per quarter during 2017. (roughly 11,000 per month)

damienirel

Gonzo wrote: »

they must have close to 3,000 completed out of 302,000 now. They are expecting to pass 34,000 premises per quarter during 2017. (roughly 11,000 per month)

Time will tell.

Gonzo

damienirel wrote: »

Time will tell.

If there is still less than 10,000 premises passed by end of April then it would be time to get worried! The first 4 months of this rollout has seen around 3,000 premises passed, that's a rate of 9,000 per year! They basically need 11,000-12,000 per month from February/March onwards to finish by end of December 2018.

damienirel

Gonzo wrote: »

If there is still less than 10,000 premises passed by end of April then it would be time to get worried! The first 4 months of this rollout has seen around 3,000 premises passed, that's a rate of 9,000 per year! They basically need 11,000-12,000 per month from February/March onwards to finish by end of December 2018.

Anyway you look at those numbers they don't add up - they never did.

MBSnr

^^^
What happens to the rollout once they cannot cut back hedgerows from March 1st until August 31st...?

ED E

MBSnr wrote: »

^^^
What happens to the rollout once they cannot cut back hedgerows from March 1st until August 31st...?

Same as before, done in a February blitz then on to pole work during the ban.

MBSnr

ED E wrote: »

Same as before, done in a February blitz then on to pole work during the ban.

Let's hope they manage to get all their planned areas done by Feb. I'd be gutted if my area didn't get done and was held up for 6 months before cutting could start again...

rob808

damienirel wrote: »

That techbytes update is dreadful, if that's all they have to show for the last few months, with no updates only dates getting pushed out.
There seems to have been a major slowdown on the surface - one can only hope they are slowed down by winter weather and re-training of staff to deal with the new network - otherwise it's brutal progress or lack of.

On the other hand this looks positive:
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/eir-beefs-up-board-ahead-of-possible-flotation-in-2018-1.2912663

They haven't even finish FTTC rollout is it really that surprising at the slow FTTH rollout.

Gonzo

rob808 wrote: »

Then haven't even finish FTTC rollout is it really that surprising at the slow FTTH rollout.

there looks to be well over 50 cabinets still to be done in Dublin city alone.

damienirel

Valid points made here about the nonsense announcements made by Eir.

MBSnr

damienirel wrote: »

Valid points made here about the nonsense announcements made by Eir.

I'd agree that with this

And with no neutral oversight, the potential for lobbying by those with star-power or influence will inevitably become a factor in the private roll-out schedule. To date both siro and eir have shown that they are amenable to this kind of influence and not all communities are equally blessed with high profile individuals to do a bit of lobbying.

https://www.fiannafail.ie/fibre-is-the-only-option-for-rural-customers-o-cuiv/

By a 'complete coincidence', Cornamona (where he has strong ties) is getting FTTH by Winter 2016/Spring 2017, ahead of many other more populated residential locations with a larger amount of local businesses in the area....

Johnboy1951

Areas coming within the scope of providers’ plans may potentially be removed from the NBP intervention area. Their place in the broadband queue will then be at the sole discretion of the providers. And with no neutral oversight, the potential for lobbying by those with star-power or influence will inevitably become a factor in the private roll-out schedule.

If the 'powers that be' remove those from the NBP one would hope that they get some guarantee and plan for connections first. Hopefully with some threat, such as NBP funding for an opposing entity to roll out fibre to those areas in the event of failure to comply.

If they don't do something like this it could be disastrous.

long_b

damienirel wrote: »

Valid points made here about the nonsense announcements made by Eir.

Speaking truth to infrastructure!

Current situation is like... "how big of a slice of the pie would you like?.... Bigger?... Bigger?? You'll never eat all that"

I think the phrase is "land grab"

Gonzo

Open Eir were busy here again today, they seem almost finished: today they were back splicing for homes along the ducting areas with tables set up with engineers working on the splice box's. I'll have a look tomorrow to see if the area is finally complete.

rob808

Gonzo wrote: »

Open Eir were busy here again today, they seem almost finished: today they were back splicing for homes along the ducting areas with tables set up with engineers working on the splice box's. I'll have a look tomorrow to see if the area is finally complete.

I wish they would just finish up the areas they started so they can focus on areas they haven't even started.They should give realistic dates on the exchanges instead of this early 2017/mid 2017 or H2 2017.

Gonzo

rob808 wrote: »

I wish they would just finish up the areas they started so they can focus on areas they haven't even started.They should give realistic dates on the exchanges instead of this early 2017/mid 2017 or H2 2017.

Starting an exchange, and putting them partly live is frustrating not just for the people left hanging but for others as well as it slows down moving onto or completing new exchanges and the people left hanging have no idea when their roads will be done as the exchanges are already marked as live.

The first exchanges that went live in September are getting more complete as time goes on tho.

Johnboy1951

Gonzo wrote: »

Starting an exchange, and putting them partly live is frustrating not just for the people left hanging but for others as well as it slows down moving onto or completing new exchanges and the people left hanging have no idea when their roads will be done as the exchanges are already marked as live.

The first exchanges that went live in September are getting more complete as time goes on tho.

I appreciate the frustration ..... have it myself ..... but I suspect that the most efficient use of resources/manpower is to do a number of blue-lines in parallel.
I console myself with that idea ..... it is to be expected IMO.

Johnboy1951

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

I appreciate the frustration ..... have it myself ..... but I suspect that the most efficient use of resources/manpower is to do a number of blue-lines in parallel.
I console myself with that idea ..... it is to be expected IMO.

I think it's more to do with logistics and crew skill sets, one team specialises in installing/ preparing ducting, another install overhead fibres, yet another in pulling fibres through ducting, etc.. By having specialised teams like this, they can move on to the next area as soon as they're done where they are now.

I suspect that the "second fix" crews were employed only after a significant amount first fix had been completed.

When the splicing teams are ramped up, there are plenty of lines to work on, nothing more wasteful than having teams of workers waiting for the previous crews to do their work.

If my theory is correct, we'll see large numbers of routes go live in rapid succession in the spring.

ED E

The final phase of setup requires appointments with customers. This is the slow and painful bit. Right now they appear to be focusing on the bulk work that they can have 100% staff utilization for, makes sense.

For VDSL installers have 4x 2hr slots per day, if John Doe isnt home they're wasting time waiting for the next one.

Gonzo

My area seems completely finished as of 11am this morning, the lads were finishing up spice box's earlier this morning, the ducting and wiring was finally connected yesterday. Not much more I can do now other than wait for a live date and then order!.

damienirel

ED E wrote: »

The final phase of setup requires appointments with customers. This is the slow and painful bit. Right now they appear to be focusing on the bulk work that they can have 100% staff utilization for, makes sense.

For VDSL installers have 4x 2hr slots per day, if John Doe isnt home they're wasting time waiting for the next one.

Yep - said this a while ago on this thread but nobody agreed with me. It will be the reason for most of the delays by far.

Gonzo

damienirel wrote: »

Yep - said this a while ago on this thread but nobody agreed with me. It will be the reason for most of the delays by far.

I wonder how many installs can be carried out in an exchange per day. Probably only a few per week I imagine. When ever I finally get to order, i'd imagine at least 4 weeks wait for the install. The priority should definitely be rolling out the fiber to new areas, those who have fiber in their area can rest easy and wait for an install. With the rollout so behind schedule it's best they do everything they can to speed it back up.

damienirel

Gonzo wrote: »

I wonder how many installs can be carried out in an exchange per day. Probably only a few per week I imagine. When ever I finally get to order, i'd imagine at least 4 weeks wait for the install. The priority should definitely be rolling out the fiber to new areas, those who have fiber in their area can rest easy and wait for an install. With the rollout so behind schedule it's best they do everything they can to speed it back up.

In your case I'd say you'll be fine as you're one of very few exchanges going live.
It will be a problem later when Eir will be up to their necks in the rollout - if that ever happens.

Gonzo

damienirel wrote: »

In your case I'd say you'll be fine as you're one of very few exchanges going live.
It will be a problem later when Eir will be up to their necks in the rollout - if that ever happens.

the project seems split between KNN doing all the preparation and pole wiring, then Open Eir come in and do the splicing and duct finishing.

With all the progress over past 6 weeks they seem to have a larger number of teams working on the project now. But it probably still isn't enough, Open Eir have gone through 2 stages of hiring more teams since the project was announced. (the most recent was announced at the ploughing back in September).

What will be interesting is if we get to hear that Eir wins part or all of the NBP, The rural blue lines and urban towns rollout will still be ongoing at that stage, they will have to hire many more teams if they are to continue work on the current rollouts and start the NBP areas, whlle managing installs and general faults/repairs.

Johnboy1951

ED E wrote: »

The final phase of setup requires appointments with customers. This is the slow and painful bit. Right now they appear to be focusing on the bulk work that they can have 100% staff utilization for, makes sense.

Indeed as many have pointed out in this thread, the estimates given by eir are for premises 'passed' and not connections made.

There has never, that I recall, been any mention by eir of actual 'connections' made.

So it is only reasonable that eir should be putting all their effort at present, in getting as many premises 'passed' as they can.

This is after all a commercial build-out, and eir will do what they think is right for them, regardless what anyone else might think, me included

For VDSL installers have 4x 2hr slots per day, if John Doe isnt home they're wasting time waiting for the next one.

damienirel

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Indeed as many have pointed out in this thread, the estimates given by eir are for premises 'passed' and not connections made.

There has never, that I recall, been any mention by eir of actual 'connections' made.

So it is only reasonable that eir should be putting all their effort at present, in getting as many premises 'passed' as they can.

This is after all a commercial build-out, and eir will do what they think is right for them, regardless what anyone else might think, me included

Thing is the amount of premises passed is dismal too.