Smart employee happy to answer questions on bb rollout

GarfieldConnoll

lomb wrote:

where does the newlands cross exchange fit into the scheme of things? its newlands cross in clondalkin but i think there is another exchange in clondalkin- the clondalkin exchange that u are referring to above?

Yeah, the Newlands Cross exchange is different to the Clondalkin exchange, though Newlands Cross does serve areas that people would consider to be Clondalkin.

Unfortuntely, the Newlands Cross exchange is not near our fibre assets at present. That's why it wasn't included in the first phase, which is predominantly Dublin. At present we can't address the exchange on fibre, so it is off the build plan for the moment. Doesn't mean it can't come back on to the list, but that's where it stands at present.

Garfield.

lomb

GarfieldConnoll wrote:

Yeah, the Newlands Cross exchange is different to the Clondalkin exchange, though Newlands Cross does serve areas that people would consider to be Clondalkin.

Unfortuntely, the Newlands Cross exchange is not near our fibre assets at present. That's why it wasn't included in the first phase, which is predominantly Dublin. At present we can't address the exchange on fibre, so it is off the build plan for the moment. Doesn't mean it can't come back on to the list, but that's where it stands at present.

Garfield.

thanks probably best to tell ur phone sales people to not keep ringing us if there is no plan to enable it. best to spend their time productively

Sponge Bob

I had to put Lomb on my Ignore list because he keeps quoting huge posts for no reason.

Whats the story on the Telephony Options Garfield , Wmart provide a full set of Telephony features ? .

Ta

lomb

Sponge Bob wrote:

I had to put Lomb on my Ignore list because he keeps quoting huge posts for no reason.

Whats the story on the Telephony Options Garfield , Wmart provide a full set of Telephony features ? .

Ta

lol

GarfieldConnoll

Sponge Bob wrote:

I had to put Lomb on my Ignore list because he keeps quoting huge posts for no reason.

Whats the story on the Telephony Options Garfield , Wmart provide a full set of Telephony features ? .

Ta

Sponge Bob,

I saw the post. Not ignoring it, just busy. Haven't spoken with the Switching guys, but yes they should all be there (barring the SMS service, which I don't believe is on the road map).
I'll follow up with them.
As for pricing, I've no idea. I'm sure someone does, so I'll ask.

Garfield.

lynchie

GarfieldConnoll wrote:

Yeah, the Newlands Cross exchange is different to the Clondalkin exchange, though Newlands Cross does serve areas that people would consider to be Clondalkin.

Garfield.

There are two exchanges in Clondalkin - Nangor Road and Newlands Cross.

Looks like you have another customer once you sort out the upload speeds

gibo_ie

sorry if it has been asked already but with 300+ posts

Can you take customers who already have single billing with Esat for example. I only ask because i have had issues with other providers who said they could but then after comreg intervention found out they cant!!!
Thanks

stackeye

Hi GarfieldConnoll,

Im living in phibsboro but am on the cabra eircom exchange, phibsboro is mentioned in phase 1 and am wondering will this include the cabra exchange, if so you have a customer here.

Thanks in advance

dub45

GarfieldConnoll wrote:

Hi,

I've listed below the exchanges on the build programme as promised.

The further out the dates, the less sure they are. That's not a fudge, that's just project management.

Phase 1

Beggars Bush March / April
Belcamp March / April
Clondalkin March / April
Coolock March / April
Crown Alley March / April*
Crumlin March / April
Custom House Dock March / April*
Dolphins Barn March / April
North Main March / April
Phibsboro March / April
Santry March / April
Ship Street March / April
Summerhill March / April
Tallaght March / April
Walkinstown March / April
Whitehall March / April

*Civils issues still be resolved.
hase 4........................

What is 'Civils'? (it sounds bad!!!!)

GreeBo

GarfieldConnoll wrote:

Hi,

I've listed below the exchanges on the build programme as promised.

The further out the dates, the less sure they are. That's not a fudge, that's just project management.
....
...
..
<snip>

You may need to check your list as it does not seem to be the full one
Its at least missing BALLYBODEN

Your phone number 1494**** is in the exchange BALLYBODEN. The exchange code is BLBG.
Congratulations, Broadband is available to you! It will be available in July/August. Would you like to avail of this amazing offer?

Moriarty

dub45 wrote:

What is 'Civils'? (it sounds bad!!!!)

Civil Engineering - physically building the ducting to bring the fibre to the exchange, and any physical changes that may need to be made to the exchange, etc etc.

dub45

dahamsta wrote:

Welcome to Boards Garfield, great to see an "operator" - .....

Moriarty calls this a rant and he has a point, but so does wideband. "No limits" is another phrase that is /seriously/ not welcome around here -- if it wasn't for Esat's explicit use of the phrase, IrelandOffline probably wouldn't exist and it's quite possible this forum wouldn't either. "No limits" on hosting and broadband products is snakeoil, you know it and we know it. So please, define "excessive". We're not looking for caps or explicit limits, but I certainly feel that a reasonable estimate of where Smart is going to draw the line is not too much to ask.


Thanks,
adam

Firstly I am not a big downloader so a cap is not a major issue for me but fudging is!!! Surely there is a contractual issue here in that Smart are saying no limits etc BUT!............. How can that be permissable from a contractual point of view in that any consumer is entitled to know in advance what exactly he or she is purchasing. In this case we don't.

So at the moment Smart are saying there are unlimited downloads but we will tap you on the shoulder if you go ahead and act on what we tell you. (How is anyone not following this on boards for instance to know about the potential tap on the shoulder?) The web site clearly states ''No monthly limits'' but in fact we appear to be in 'Alice in Wonderland' territory in that NML does not mean NML it means what Smart decides it means.

A supplier who wants to establish and maintain a good reputation with its potential customers should be upfront and clear from the start. If Smart envisage a download limit then let them state it publicly - similarly with the contention ratio.

If we persist in believing and acting on what Smart are telling us what then? Will a customer be warned? Disconnected? Charged for exceeding a non existent cap?

Smart may mean well in taking this approach but I really do not think they are doing themselves or their customers any favours by fudging things at this stage.

dahamsta

Moriarty wrote:

Civil Engineering - physically building the ducting to bring the fibre to the exchange, and any physical changes that may need to be made to the exchange, etc etc.

And the associated paperwork of course, which is the real pain in the arse.

dub45

Moriarty wrote:

Civil Engineering - physically building the ducting to bring the fibre to the exchange, and any physical changes that may need to be made to the exchange, etc etc.

I knew it was bad looks like late in the year then!!! My UTV contract will easliy have run out by then!!! :rolleyes:

Giblet

I guess we won't be seeing Blessington on that list anytime soon

Carpenter

Hi
I am with smart for my house phone and am into bb when i phoned the office they told me they dont know when i can get it ?
1 will i get free line rental (i did try) :rolleyes:
2 has anyone got a clue when this might happen this area is huge

Couch Potato

GarfieldConnoll wrote:

Hi,

I've listed below the exchanges on the build programme as promised.

The further out the dates, the less sure they are. That's not a fudge, that's just project management.

Phase 1

Beggars Bush March / April
Belcamp March / April
Clondalkin March / April
Coolock March / April
Crown Alley March / April*
Crumlin March / April
Custom House Dock March / April*
Dolphins Barn March / April
North Main March / April
Phibsboro March / April
Santry March / April
Ship Street March / April
Summerhill March / April
Tallaght March / April
Walkinstown March / April
Whitehall March / April

*Civils issues still be resolved.

Phase 2

Castletroy May / June
Churchfield May / June
Clontarf May / June
Cork Central May / June
Dennehy's Cross May / June
Dooradoyle May / June
Dundalk May / June
Galway HPO May / June
Letterkenny May / June
Mervue May / June
Quaker Road May / June
Rathedmund (Sligo) May / June
Roches Street May / June
Shantalla Galway May / June
Tyrrelstown May / June
Waterford May / June
Waterford Tycor May / June
Wellington Road May / June

Phase 3

Rathmines July / August
Lucan Ballydowd July / August
Wexford - Anne Street July / August
Tullamore July / August
Tralee July / August
Thurles July / August
Shannon Airport July / August
Shannon Town July / August
Athlone - Roslevin July / August
Portlaoise July / August
Naas July / August
Mullingar July / August
Mallow (SHB) July / August
Kilkenny July / August
Ennis July / August
Dundrum July / August
Carrick-on-Shannon July / August
Carlow July / August
Ballincollig July / August
Ballina July / August
Arklow July / August
Dun Laoghaire July / August
Oranmore July / August

Phase 4.

To be confirmed.

What about Blanchardstown ??????????????

Huge catchment area ... I would have thought this was one of the biggest exchanges in West Dublin ???????????

colin300

As he said Couch Potato when i asked about Bray they are only doing places there fibre goes to so until they expand there fibre network or a MAN is set up your like all us unlucky people.

Stone

Garfield - your line checker states that I'm on the BALLYBODEN exchange (which is obviously correct) and that it will be available in July/August ... however it's not on your recently posted list of exchanges
Does this mean I have to wait 4ever :eek:
I've already signed up etc. .......
Thanks,
Stone

colin300

I wouldn't get too stressed at the moment he might have missed a few exchanges. I'm sure though if it says your exchange will be done it will be done. The database it is working off is most likely more correct no offence to Garfield.

His eyes are probably killing him from looking at the screen so long answering all the questions being thrown at him.


Sure while I'm here I'll ask one
Are you as Smart Telecom employing technicans to come out to people houses to make sure everything is ok if there is a fault on the line or are you contracting it out to another company or are you giving the responsiblity to Eircom because if you are then your customers will get terrible service as Eircom will give second priority to Smart telecom as they do if you have cps or anything else with utv or esat?

iano

iano wrote:

Garfield,
From Smart Telecom FAQ

We require a direct debit payment. This is an advanced monthly payment that is taken from either your bank account or a credit card. Download a Direct Debit mandate form here (PDF format).

The form is not suitable for Credit Card payment. Do you have an alternative one that is?

Garfield, did you miss this question or is it on your list?
The form that we are required to download, complete and submit is NOT suitable for Credit Card payment. It only caters for bank account direct debit.

GerardKeating

Also on the web site, it requires a userid and password to read the terms and Conditions documents.

Can this be views before signing up...


Download Terms & Conditions.

ando

This ADSL2+ technology, whats its reach from the exchange? I was thinking of getting a second deticated phone line for this product. I'm using someone else's line at the mo for eircom Radsl

dlofnep

This is one long thread.. I got to page 11 and got bored..

Firstly, thanks to the rep for taking the time out to answer all the questions. I have one question which I am still unsure about.. Well maybe 2 questions..

1) Given that we would have free line rental and cheap 2mb broadband, what sort of charges would be incurred for standard calls? I don't see anything there.. I don't want to sign up to a 12 month contract and then be killed for call prices.

2) Do you support migrations from the Eircom adsl service to you service? I'm guessing probably not because adsl2+ is different, correct?

Just want to clarify that.

dlofnep

dub45 wrote:

Garfield has pointed out a couple of times in the thread that full details will be available before a customer actually signs a contract. Smarts call charges are available on the web site and they are hardly like to change too much.

Migration is a very gentle word for what is likely to be a painfull extraction process and there are no details yet of any migration proposals.

I work for an ISP, a migration for us is zero loss of service switching a comparable service from one provider to another keeping the existing line.

But let us call a word a word, what sort of downtime is an average eircom broadband customer looking at switching from eircom to smart telecom.

Also, I found the call rates.

SkepticOne

I think Smart should not be discouraged by what may seem petty complaints. It means there is a huge interest in the product. But they should stick to what they appear to be doing, i.e., a very cheap product aimed at the mass market. In order to compete, Eircom and their resellers will have to bring out DSL at ten euros/month if the Eircom line rental is to stay where it is. There is huge untapped demand for very low priced broadband in Ireland.

lomb

SkepticOne wrote:

There is huge untapped demand for very low priced broadband in Ireland.

there is hugh untapped demand for anything cheap be it houses, cars or airtravel. CHEAP sells and sells big.

iano

I was largely ignoring dub45's objections on the assumption that the LLU process would allow Smart Telecom to take control of a Customer's line with appropriate authorisation from the Customer.

This would mean a clean cutover (couple of hours downtime max.) and the Customer then cancelling Netsource/UTV/Eircom/whatever BB and paying for a month's unused service.

BUT

Eircom's Process Manual for the Services: unbundled local metallic path and line sharing states:
3.5.2.3. Competing Services
It is accepted that lines with Bitstream can be unbundled.
Where an LLU order is received from an Access Seeker for the provision of an LLU service on a line, which already has a Bitstream Service in place or pending, the LLU order will be rejected pending the removal of the Bitstream Service.
...
This guiding principle will allow eircom Wholesale manages the provision and ceasing of competing services.
Once the competing service has been removed, the Access Seeker can submit a new order requesting service to be provided.

So it appears that you cannot switch a line that has existing broadband without weeks (and potentially months) of downtime.

Garfield , nowhere do you make that clear. You either need to get that changed or forget about it!

dub45

iano wrote:

I was largely ignoring dub45's objections ...................appears that you cannot switch a line that has existing broadband without weeks (and potentially months) of downtime.

Garfield , nowhere do you make that clear. You either need to get that changed or forget about it!

My points are not meant as objections I can assure you - Smart would save me almost 35 euros a month so I want them to succeed - but it concerns me greatly (as you may have noticed:)) that they give no indication whatsover of ever having considered the switchover problems until it was raised on boards. And I did not know about the Eircom stuff until you pointed it out in your post.

Sponge Bob

Surprise Surprise

Eircom have appealed both the proposed LLU Pricing and the proposed LLU Process matrix.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=226345

Smart will probably start servicing customers in May at the earliest Dub45 , as you said .