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Eircom eFibre VDSL/FTTC rollout – plans to reach 1.6m premises by mid 2016

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Comments

  • #8072
    arctan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 354 ✭✭arctan


    ED E wrote: »
    Don't think its known yet. Phase 1 up to 1.6mil only includes the current list + echange launched. After that it could go fttdp or a lot more cabs or gfast etc. We'll probably see concurrent gpon too with the next run of VDSL.

    Edit: there's also the question of what happens to RSUs.

    RSU's are being left in situ, as to get rid of them would be unfair advantage to Eircom against LLU's, they'll probably stay there another 10 to 15 years if the regulators get their way..

    for smaller exchanges or RSU's, their exchange area cabinets would be fibred from the next bigger exchange with all the aggregation equipment being housed there....

    but also, as with a lot of RSU's, they are the only cabinet for the area, so this goes back to the idea of cabinetising direct dp's ... although it is financially unviable in some areas ...

    but in these instances, if the exchange area is small enough, the RSU should be able to provide decent ADSL2+ speeds for the interm (card install depending) until Eircom starts focusing on technology for the last mile.


  • #8073
    jd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,845 ✭✭✭jd


    Looks like eircom are starting a rural ftth trial in Belcarra, Mayo.
    http://fibrerollout.ie/fibre-pilot/


  • #8074
    Nolars
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,890 ✭✭✭Nolars


    The fibre pilot involves the build out of super fast fibre optics using Fibre to the Home (FTTH) in the town of Belcarra, Co Mayo. FTTH means that the high-speed fibre cables go directly in to the homes and businesses we have selected for our trial. This provides broadband speeds of up to 150Mb/s.
    In addition to our FTTH trial we hope to upgrade the Belcarra exchange with a technology called VDSL which will allow us to connect up homes and premises within the village which are currently connected directly to the exchange. VDSL (very high speed digital subscriber) provides a faster data transfer up to 50M/bs to homes and premises connected, and is perfect for homes and businesses located close to the exchange.
    Once the pilot is complete those who trialled the FTTH solution will have the option of reverting back to their initial DSL line or if FTTH is commercially available

    So a year to pilot FTTH which will be 150MBS, they will also upgrade the exchange to VDSL which will be 50MPS and then after all that whoever cant afford the FTTH and probably are to far away for VDSL cant resort back to DSL :D

    http://www.siliconrepublic.com/enterprise/item/16593-eircom-to-trial-fibre-to-th
    Up to 10,000 homes and businesses in Sandyford, Dublin, and Wexford town are set to experience fibre-to-the-home broadband with speeds up to 150Mbps possible, as part of a €20m trial by Eircom.

    So whats the difference?


  • #8075
    Manc Red
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 293 ✭✭Manc Red


    jd wrote: »
    Looks like eircom are starting a rural ftth trial in Belcarra, Mayo.
    http://fibrerollout.ie/fibre-pilot/

    Why is it only 150Mb?


  • #8076
    Manc Red
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 293 ✭✭Manc Red


    I'd love to see the amount of customers they have still using the old NGB in "fibre enabled" areas. There's about 10 houses in my area that can still only get the old broadband service. I'm guessing there's a lot more else where as well.


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  • #8077
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 23,741 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    Nolars wrote: »
    So a year to pilot FTTH which will be 150MBS

    They are only trialling 150mb/s at the moment. They are using the same technology as the ESB GPON, so it should also be capable of up to 1Gb/s
    Nolars wrote: »
    So whats the difference?

    What Eircom are trialling here is how much it costs to install, operate and maintain a FTTH network in a rural area versus the urban trial they already carried out.

    From then end users perspective their should be very little difference between the two trials. But from Eircoms perspective, there should be very big differences bettwen an urban trial and a rural one.

    For instance in method of installation (Fibre on Overhead poles versus in ducts), much further distances (thus more expensive), more exposed to the weather (thus potentially higher maintenance costs), more exposed to farmers shotguns, car crash into a pole, birds sitting on/pecking at fibre wires, etc. rights to cross farmers land, etc.

    With this trial I'm sure Eircom will learn the real cost of doing rural FTTH and will likely use that too potentially cost out future rural FTTH roll outs and potential bids for the National Broadband Plan.


  • #8078
    ED E
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,094 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    A big thing will be training, only a small percentage of the staff can splice fibrelines in case of a break, its a specialist role. To cover a large area they'll need several to maintain service levels in the wilds of winter.


  • #8079
    nilhg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,270 ✭✭✭nilhg


    bk wrote: »
    They are only trialling 150mb/s at the moment. They are using the same technology as the ESB GPON, so it should also be capable of up to 1Gb/s



    What Eircom are trialling here is how much it costs to install, operate and maintain a FTTH network in a rural area versus the urban trial they already carried out.

    From then end users perspective their should be very little difference between the two trials. But from Eircoms perspective, there should be very big differences bettwen an urban trial and a rural one.

    For instance in method of installation (Fibre on Overhead poles versus in ducts), much further distances (thus more expensive), more exposed to the weather (thus potentially higher maintenance costs), more exposed to farmers shotguns, car crash into a pole, birds sitting on/pecking at fibre wires, etc. rights to cross farmers land, etc.

    With this trial I'm sure Eircom will learn the real cost of doing rural FTTH and will likely use that too potentially cost out future rural FTTH roll outs and potential bids for the National Broadband Plan.

    Eircom lines don't cross farmers lands, instead run along roadsides often fouled through trees with branches physically rubbing them which leads to all sorts of maintenance issues. The ESB network on the other hand does cross fields and is meticulously kept clear of any sort of day to day problems, sure big storms occasionally take down lines but that's very much a once off problem.

    You'd have hoped with a national broadband plan in operation (and an update coming) and both ESB and Eircom rolling out fibre either to the curb or to the home, that some sort of coordination or pooling of assets might be taking place, it must make financial sense? Or maybe not, could fibre be cheap enough to be able to run the extra lengths required?


  • #8080
    ED E
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,094 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    IIRC ESB have a blanket way leave to enter land when required, eircom dont have the luxury, would be great if they did.


  • #8081
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 23,741 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    nilhg wrote: »
    You'd have hoped with a national broadband plan in operation (and an update coming) and both ESB and Eircom rolling out fibre either to the curb or to the home, that some sort of coordination or pooling of assets might be taking place, it must make financial sense? Or maybe not, could fibre be cheap enough to be able to run the extra lengths required?

    I think it maybe better to have your own, potentially duplicated network certainly in urban areas.

    I don't know that for a fact, but my thinking goes:

    It is better to have your own network, even if it is duplicated and only get 50% of the potential customers, versus using another companies network and just being a reseller on their network with minimal profit margins.

    However I do hope that they don't target the same areas at the same time and instead build out their networks from different locations.

    However I'm delighted to see that Eircoms FTTH is also open to be used by other companies, similar to VDSL and ADSL. All very good news, things are looking up.


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  • #8082
    NextYearIthink
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39 ✭NextYearIthink


    Well, after 1 year and 5 months of waiting, I checked the availability site again this morning, as I have done on almost a daily basis for the last 17 months, and finally it tells me that it is available to order.....so I went ahead and rang Eircom, but they advised that it's not available to order until November 12th.....still, I am a step closer :o)

    Although I've noticed that apparently I can order it on their website, so I will go ahead and give that a go to see what happens


  • #8083
    dalta5billion
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,034 ✭✭✭dalta5billion


    NextYearIthink wrote: »
    Well, after 1 year and 5 months of waiting, I checked the availability site again this morning, as I have done on almost a daily basis for the last 17 months, and finally it tells me that it is available to order.....so I went ahead and rang Eircom, but they advised that it's not available to order until November 12th.....still, I am a step closer :o)

    Although I've noticed that apparently I can order it on their website, so I will go ahead and give that a go to see what happens

    I preordered on their website, they lost my order. Wouldn't recommend as it won't be any quicker than ringing them up on the 12th.


  • #8084
    BigMoose
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,230 ✭✭✭BigMoose


    Likewise - I preordered during the 2 week "live but not accepting orders" period and they lost it. Ordered again on the actual day and got a quick installation.


  • #8085
    notahappycamper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,165 ✭✭✭notahappycamper


    How long were you all waiting from when the nearest cabinet/the cabinet you are connected to went live/allowed you to place an order ? I'm In Clontarf in Dublin and the cabs have only started to be put in. The one on my road has been completed about 3-4 weeks ago.

    Thanks...


  • #8086
    Slick50
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,062 ✭✭✭Slick50


    Six months.... and counting.


  • #8087
    notahappycamper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,165 ✭✭✭notahappycamper


    Slick50 wrote: »
    Six months.... and counting.

    6 months after the cab was installed and you are still waiting?! Fooking hell!!


  • #8088
    BigMoose
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,230 ✭✭✭BigMoose


    Think mine was about 2 months after it was physically installed until it went live, then the 2 week period before they'll actually take orders.


  • #8089
    Slick50
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,062 ✭✭✭Slick50


    notahappycamper wrote: »
    6 months after the cab was installed and you are still waiting?! Fooking hell!!
    My sentiment exactly. The web site says my 'area' is fibre enabled, just not available at my address, yet.


  • #8090
    irishgeo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,788 ✭✭✭irishgeo


    my local cba got the extra hat on top.


  • #8091
    notahappycamper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,165 ✭✭✭notahappycamper


    Slick50 wrote: »
    My sentiment exactly. The web site says my 'area' is fibre enabled, just not available at my address, yet.

    Yeah, same here! A few cabs in my area are green/live alright as per the Eircomwholesale map but there are still a few more to be installed.


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  • #8092
    Slick50
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,062 ✭✭✭Slick50


    I was just checking Eircom's boards forum, it doesn't look very encouraging. I came across this.


  • #8093
    red_bairn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,354 ✭✭✭red_bairn


    Slick50 wrote: »
    I was just checking Eircom's boards forum, it doesn't look very encouraging. I came across this.
    notahappycamper wrote: »
    6 months after the cab was installed and you are still waiting?! Fooking hell!!

    Still waiting...


  • #8094
    Its Only Ray Parlour
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 393 ✭✭Its Only Ray Parlour


    red_bairn wrote: »
    Still waiting...

    What map is that?


  • #8095
    red_bairn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,354 ✭✭✭red_bairn


    Its Only Ray Parlour wrote: »
    What map is that?

    From the Mapping Thread:

    https://www.google.com/fusiontables/DataSource?docid=1M_lYcvMkt7xIqqSa43TdS1s25oRqtA2JgpxAkYM#map:id=4


  • #8096
    notahappycamper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,165 ✭✭✭notahappycamper


    Its Only Ray Parlour wrote: »
    What map is that?

    Ah jaysus! I wonder how they are deciding how long after the cabs are installed they are going live and when people can place orders??


  • #8097
    kaizersoze
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,043 ✭✭✭kaizersoze


    First cab in Ballinasloe was installed nearly 14 months ago. It still isn't live even though it's fibred and powered.
    Others installed since are live, some quicker than others.


  • #8098
    sparky63
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 160 ✭✭sparky63


    ED E wrote: »
    IIRC ESB have a blanket way leave to enter land when required, eircom dont have the luxury, would be great if they did.

    Eircom have wayleaves to access and maintain plant on land when required.


  • #8099
    ED E
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,094 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    sparky63 wrote: »
    Eircom have wayleaves to access and maintain plant on land when required.

    Yeah, but the access network still follows prublic property the vast majority of the time and even replacing an in situe cabinet requires planning permission.


  • #8100
    arctan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 354 ✭✭arctan


    sparky63 wrote: »
    Eircom have wayleaves to access and maintain plant on land when required.

    It's still at the discretion of the landowner at the time, even though technically there is wayleave...

    numerous times I've had to get off site because someone didn't want me working on their land or premises.


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  • #8101
    KOR101
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,898 ✭✭✭KOR101


    In the Irish Times this morning.........

    The battle between network providers in the next-generation super-fast broadband stakes will step up a notch later today when Eircom announces the rollout of a new fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network in 66 towns across the State.

    The new network can achieve speeds of up to a gigbyte or 1,000MB – fast enough to download a high-definition movie in less than one minute – which is 10 times what is available on Eircom’s existing fibre network.

    The announcement comes a day after the European Commission green-lighted a similar FTTH joint venture between ESB and Vodafone that will build a €450 million super-speed network across ESB poles in regional areas.

    FTTH achieves this by running fibre directly from its main fibre network through the walls of subscribers’ homes and businesses, bypassing the slower copper lines that deliver its regular services in the final stretch to buildings.

    Eircom is billing its FTTH announcement, which also covers parts of the major cities, as its “strategic response” to the threat from ESB-Vodafone, raising the prospect of a rollout and price war between both sides as demand for super-speed broadband services picks up in coming years.

    Eircom has selected 66 locations across the country for the new “hands up” FTTH service, which will require a sufficient number of customers in a locality to order the service before its engineers will run the fibre directly to buildings.

    The network will include parts of the major cities, every county town and major regional urban areas. Work will begin next month on the first three locations in the rollout: Cavan town, Kilkenny city and Letterkenny. Each town will take six months to hook up to the service, and Eircom hopes to launch its first products next summer.

    In Dublin, the new service will initially be concentrated on the northside, with Malahide, Portmarnock and Swords among the towns slated to be part of the FTTH rollout, which will take until the end of 2017.

    Eircom says it will release a full rollout plan “in due course”, and that the sequencing of towns will be guided by its network planners.

    It has already notified the communications regulator and the Government of its intention to offer FTTH services.

    “This is our strategic response to the ESB-Vodafone joint venture,” said Richard Moat, Eircom’s acting chief executive. “We will do it where there is demand. There has to be a sufficient number of people who want it. If, for example, 25 people in a housing estate got together and came to us, we would roll it out for them.”

    Premium product
    He said it would be a “premium product with a premium price attached”.

    At the end of August, Eircom announced it was accelerating its normal fibre rollout, which offers speeds of up to 100MB, to 1.6 million homes by the end of 2016.

    It will also announce today a further acceleration, promising to hit its target six months ahead of the schedule it set in the summer.

    It will announce its plans to test FTTH services in Belcarra in Mayo, to assess the technology’s suitability for providing broadband in rural areas.

    Mr Moat, who was Eircom’s chief financial officer under former boss Herb Hribar, is running the company in an acting capacity following Mr Hribar’s departure last month. He confirmed to The Irish Times that he has applied to replace his old boss.

    “I’m doing the job on an acting basis and I’m proud to do so. But I’ve indicated to the board that I’d like to do it full-time,” said Mr Moat.


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