BajaNomad

New Internet (+Phone/TV) provider for El Dorado Ranch, San Felipe

Riom - 11-4-2016 at 10:06 AM

At the El Dorado Ranch developer meeting yesterday, a new internet provider made a presentation. They're Cumbre Group, a family business from Mexicali who until now have mainly run internet access for governments (such as free public wifi in Tecate).

They're planning to offer a package of unlimited internet access (20 Mb/s), US phone number with unlimited US and Mexico calling, and US television channels using a streaming service (based on a Roku box). They'll be at the El Dorado HOA meetings, and opening a full-time office across from the main LVDM gate at El Dorado soon.

Providing they get at least 100 signups soon, they plan to start service in "4-6 weeks" (which I'd consider a challenging target). Their technology is a series of Ubiquiti "airfiber" radio hops (with 1Gb/s+ capacity) from that office back to Mexicali and the US, then Ubiquiti radio links within the Ranch (so no dependence on Telnor/Telmex at all, but I think latency may be an issue, and there are no plans to build a back-up path).

Not cheap at US$423.40 install then US$ 91.64/mo (both including IVA), with no way to break the package to get just internet. Still, I hope they succeed as Telnor have decided to never upgrade their existing overloaded and slow WiMax system (which I never bothered with as Telcel 3G+ is faster).

I signed up as a potential customer yesterday. Realistically I'll be surprised if they get it all up and running before Christmas as planned, but unlimited data at 20 Mb/s should be worth waiting for.

Rob

[Edited on 2016-11-4 by Riom]

PaulW - 11-4-2016 at 02:49 PM

No such thing a air fiber/airfiber, Cumbre uses optical signal from Mexicali to San Felipe. Supposedly these laser signals are good for 300KM? Signal originates with fiber in Mexicali. Each home will have an optical receiving antenna. No radio signal involved. Of course optical signals are subject to atmospheric interference such and clouds, fog, and even dust. I wonder who's fiber they tap into, obviously not Telnor of Telmex/Telcel since San Felipe already had that fiber?

Riom - 11-4-2016 at 04:58 PM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
No such thing a air fiber/airfiber, Cumbre uses optical signal from Mexicali to San Felipe. Supposedly these laser signals are good for 300KM? Signal originates with fiber in Mexicali. Each home will have an optical receiving antenna. No radio signal involved. Of course optical signals are subject to atmospheric interference such and clouds, fog, and even dust. I wonder who's fiber they tap into, obviously not Telnor of Telmex/Telcel since San Felipe already had that fiber?


The backhaul from San Felipe to Mexicali will be Ubiquiti airFiber (the product they mentioned at the presentation). It is 5 Ghz radio: Ubiqiti Products. Good it's low latency. Same for the premises products on that page, likely they'll use the NanoBeam ac (or something with less range). No lasers or optics.

They showed a map of the proposed backhaul route (their own) which had about 4-5 hops to Mexicali (have to be line of sight to each other), so they won't be testing the limits of the range (but I agree dust during windstorms may affect it).

They haven't yet installed it yet (and mentioned they have a second option). Service within in the Ranch will initially be from a tower they'll be building at the old sales office opposite the LVDM main entrance.

I forget who they mentioned as the onward link once it gets to Mexicali, some major provider who has a fiber optic link from Mexicali (or the US side) to Mexico City, not Telmex. So it's all radio from Mexicali south, should be quick to install.



[Edited on 2016-11-5 by Riom]

wornout - 11-5-2016 at 03:24 PM

Hopefully the Air Fiber is a Ubiquiti product as I have been using a Ubiquiti wireless product here in LVS, sending my signal to LVN, a distance of about 3/4 of a mile, for two years now. The system has been flawless.

I signed up for the product yesterday too. Once I saw Rod bring up the system and show me local network channels (they have east and west) I was all in.....Now I am off to research how I can DVR programs with their system.


[Edited on 11-5-2016 by wornout]

David K - 11-5-2016 at 04:20 PM

LVS, LVN ??
My guess is Los Vientos Sur/Norte, but I don't know EDR (El Dorado Ranch) that well!!! LOL
(just in case it isn't a secret)
Thanks wornout!

Riom - 11-5-2016 at 04:47 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
LVS, LVN ??
My guess is Los Vientos Sur/Norte, but I don't know EDR (El Dorado Ranch) that well!!!


Los Viajeros North/South (yes, mixed languages...), 27 and 30 on the map of El Dorado Ranch communities.

Wornout: yes, Rodrigo did mention they're using Ubiquiti hardware, so it should perform OK (especially for me in Rancho del Sol III, nice and near the tower!).

And unless I misunderstood, the connections are a dedicated 20Mbps for each connection, rather than "up to 20Mbps", and same speed for upload. But I haven't yet seen anything written confirming that.