The Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA), which represents UK alternative broadband ISP networks, has warned that Ofcom could be putting their collective investment of £20bn to build competitive full fibre networks at risk if they wave through Openreach’s (BT) next round of FTTP broadband prices cuts (Equinox 2). As we’ve reported before (here), Openreach are […]

The Government’s Building Digital UK team has today confirmed that they’re tripling the value of the vouchers they issue to homes under their Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS), which helps those in rural areas to get a gigabit-capable internet connection installed. Businesses will also see a smaller boost. Just to recap. Until today the voucher […]

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today launched a new industry-wide enforcement programme, which will monitor and examine whether in-contract price rises were being set out clearly enough by broadband ISP and phone providers before customers signed up. In an ideal world, the price you’re asked to pay when you first sign-up to a new […]

The Building Digital UK team has published their latest quarterly Winter 2022 update for the Government’s £5bn Project Gigabit broadband rollout scheme, which summarises some good progress, but also reveals that procurements for Lancashire, Surrey and Oxfordshire and West Berkshire have had to be deferred. Just to recap. Project Gigabit aims to extend networks capable […]

Mobile network operator Three UK has confirmed that some of their customers, across different parts of the country, may currently be experiencing problems making and receiving calls (e.g. incoming calls are going straight to voicemail). The issue appears to have started at just after 6am this morning. In a brief statement, the operator said a […]

A couple of months ago Vodafone enhanced their existing range of home broadband (FTTC / FTTP) services by launching a new “Pro Broadband II” plan (here), which saw them become the first UK ISP to bundle a Wi-Fi 6E router (Ultra Hub) and mesh system (Super WiFi). The operator has now expanded this to their […]

Gigabit broadband ISP YouFibre, which sells packages via Netomnia and Cityfibre’s respective Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) networks, has launched a new pre-Christmas broadband offer that will be available until 12th December. Packages now start at just £19 per month for 150Mbps and £29 for 920Mbps on an 18-month term. As usual each package offers unlimited usage, symmetrical […]

Contributed Article

At the 25th AfricaCom (AfricaCom 2022) themed “Driving Inclusive, Sustainable Growth Through Tech Investment”, Openserve and Huawei jointly unveiled the new home networking solution — fiber to the room (FTTR). In addition, Openserve outlined its plan to put FTTR products into commercial use in the near future, aiming to provide optimal fiber broadband experience for users across South Africa.

As a subsidiary of Telkom SA, Openserve is the largest fixed network operator in South Africa, and is committed to providing premium broadband networks for home and enterprise users. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, home office, online learning, and entertainment activities have surged, placing greater demands on bandwidth and online experience. Openserve believes that the FTTR solution can give them a competitive edge in the broadband market and significantly improve end users’ home network experience.

During the AfricaCom exhibition, Motlalepula Ramaisa, Executive of Commercial Products & Innovation of Openserve, spoke with Matthew Reed, Chief Analyst of Omdia, and described the commercial FTTR pilot projects carried out by Openserve and Huawei in South Africa. He noted how well the FTTR network was received by pilot users. According to one user: “Even in a large house, I can enjoy an optimal Internet access experience with high-speed Wi-Fi coverage at every corner.”

FTTR consists of one master FTTR unit and several slave FTTR units connected by optical fibers, realizing indoor all-optical networking. The Master and Slave communicate with each other through optical fibers, which avoiding Wi-Fi signal interference and attenuation in distant rooms. In this way, full Wi-Fi signal coverage and seamless roaming can be achieved throughout the house, providing consistent Wi-Fi access and premium service experience anywhere in the home. Compare with Wi-Fi Mesh (Wi-Fi cascading to expand network coverage) solution, which Internet access rate may be impacted due to attenuation and interference when signals penetrate walls, but it is still an alternative way of Wi-Fi connection.

Moreover, the FTTR solution lets users manage the network themselves. Users can use a mobile app to easily manage their home networks anytime and anywhere, including checking the network status, device connection status, and Wi-Fi signal coverage, as well as performing a speed test, parental control, and one-click optimization or rectification of common network faults.

The FTTR solution was well received in the pilot projects. Owing to the high-speed Wi-Fi coverage, seamless roaming handover, and intelligent and visualized home network management, it provides users with an ultimate Wi-Fi experience. Building on the success of the cooperation with Huawei, Openserve plans to launch commercial FTTR products in 2023 to provide an optimal home broadband service experience across South Africa.

The post Openserve Set to Launch Range of FTTR Products in 2023 first appeared on Total Telecom.

The UK Government has today launched a series of new trials that aims to leverage the new generation of compact satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in order to deliver faster and more capable broadband connectivity to some of the remotest locations, which full fibre (FTTP) would otherwise struggle to reach. At present the Government’s […]

Network access provider Openreach (BT) is stepping up their preparations for another harsh winter, which last year saw multiple street cabinets and 750 “telephone poles” damaged in storms (example). Such damage can cause significant disruption to broadband and phone services, but the operator aims to do better this year. Naturally, flooding, snow, major power cuts […]