Ilox Update

For people who really want or need high speed internet and have the cash to put up front this is as good as it is going to get around here. Take it or leave it. For those of us on leaner budgets who would like faster internet but get along okay as it is this offer is not appealing or possible. I envy people who can afford to help shepherd this service in and wouldn’t miss the pesos if it should fall apart for whatever reason. Depending on the eventual monthly cost I may happily get to the end of the line someday. But, I can not afford a buy in.

The bright side to all of this discussion is that TelMex might be bright enough to see the possibility of a break up of their monopoly and start providing something that resembles service...

The owner of the building that houses Sol Mexicano Galeria de Arte (next to Galería Maria di Paola) on Colon, works for Telmex in Guadalajara. His brother was, and most likely still is, responsible for all fiber optics for Telmex in Jalisco. Would be interesting to talk to him about Telmex fiber optics plans in the Lake Chapala area. Both brothers might be retired by now, but would still be aware of Telmex expansion.

When I was a (very) young man in NY, a few years before I moved to Canada, I developed a technique for seeing Broadway shows that were hits without waiting for two years for ticket sales to settle down. If a show that was out of town got good reviews, I'd buy a pair of tickets as soon as the New York sales opened. This would typically be four to six months before the show opened. And, I would buy them for three months into the run. If the show was a hit, I'd have tickets very early in the run. If it flopped, I'd get my money back. Drove my mother crazy because I'd see the hits before she did (except when I took her).

All of my information says that this ILOX company is legit and reliable, and if things don't work out I will get my money back. It's not US$7,000 they want but P$7,000. And given their reputation it seems like it's not much of a risk. Sure it's a loan in one interpretation, but so were those advance tickets I bought.

Someone on Chapala.com posted "fake news" that you could sign up for Ilox for as little as $5,000.  Turns out that plan is not available in the Lakeside area.  The skinny, according to an attendee at the luncheon where an Ilox person spoke and provided handouts, is this:

Triple Plan 50 - (75 Mbps first year) Total $9708 MXN.
Triple Plan 250 - (300 Mbps first year) Total $14,748 MXN
Double Full Voz y Datos 50 (75 Mbps first year) $7188 MXN,.

Are they not just selling a 'data' plan only?  

But at $33 US a month for voice and 75mbps   fiber data I'd probably not complain if they didn't just sell data.  

So, I have my contracts but no payment instructions. Do I send in the contracts first?

Yes

Update on Subscriptions to Ilox

I am Dru Davies and I live in El Chante.  My neighbor has been actively collecting subscriptions and advanced payments and taking them directly to the Ilox office in Guadalajara.  I am sending this to give you, who are interested, the latest, correct information.

As of Wednesday, April 18, Ilox has received 100 paid subscriptions.  They have an additional 25 that include only the required paperwork but have not received proof of deposit from the subscriber.  They need 200 paid subscribers to proceed with the project.  If they do not receive that number, they will abandon the project and refund the prepayments within 30 days.

I signed up when this all began.  In February I received a letter from Ilox indicating they had received 453 signups of which 390 were willing to prepay a year.  

In El Chante, we have very poor Internet service, not only slow but intermittent.  Ilox seems to be the answer to our problem.  I have seen many posts on various web boards about similar problems and the fact that Telmex seems less than interested in upgrading their infrastructure.

I have read that some people are uneasy about depositing money into Ilox’s Bancomer bank account because they do not feel confident it will be returned if the project does not move forward.  Ilox had a letter on file with PROFECO, Mexico’s consumer protection agency, stating that the any money deposited will be refunded within 30 days if the needed number of subscribers is not met and the project does not move forward.  I have lived in Mexico for 22 years and have had 4 dealings with PROFECO against companies who misrepresented a product I purchased of did not provided the agreed upon service.  PROFECO has come through every time and I have no doubt that Ilox will refund money if the project does not proceed.

This is the best chance we currently have of getting reasonable Internet and telephone service here at Lakeside.  PLEASE if this is something that would be of benefit to you and you are interested, subscribe and prepay the one year.  Showing interest by submitting the original “letter of intent” is great but if we do not get enough people to sign up and prepay, it will be “all for not”.

I would be more than happy to help provide additional information.  If I do not know the answer, I will get it from Ilox.  Please do not delay as the deadline is approaching.  

You can also email Ilox at: info@mail.tvrey.com.mx  or Tom Kessler, trkess@gmail.com
He is the man who has spearheaded this movement to get Ilox to provide service at Lakeside.

Dru Davies
drudavies@gmail.com

i JUST RECEIVED THIS:  iLOX AND AJIJIC REAL ESTATE:

Begin forwarded message: ENGLISH AT THE BOTTOM

From: info@mail.tvrey.com.mx
Subject: AVISO ILOX / AJIJIC REAL ESTATE
Date: April 19, 2018 at 12:55:17 PM CDT
To: jsypher5@gmail.com


Muy buen dia..

Estimado habitante de la zona Ajijic, Jocotepec, Chapala, es un gusto para Ilox Telecomunicaciones saludarle y a su vez aprovechar esta oportunidad para notificarles que pueden acudir a AJIJIC REAL ESTATE  ubicados en Calle Morelos no. 4 Colonia Centro en Ajijic..  con la Srita. Nelly..

Aqui les apoyaran con sus dudas y pueden llevar ahi sus documentos, ellos nos los escanearan y nos los enviaran a nosotros para que se les elabore su contrato: Comprobante de domicilio e Identificación vigente.

AJIJIC REAL ESTATE esta en COORDINACIÓN CON ILOX para apoyar y el proceso sea mas sencillo para todos ustedes que están interesados en que esta región cuente con un servicio de altas velocidades mediante fibra óptica para servicio de INTERNET principalmente, Telefonía y TV..

Favor de acudir con sus documentos para iniciar con su proceso...



Good day ...

Dear inhabitant of the area Ajijic, Jocotepec, Chapala, it is a pleasure for Ilox Telecommunications to greet you and at the same time take this opportunity to notify you that you can go to AJIJIC REAL ESTATE wich is located in Morelos Street #4, Centro, Ajijic, Jalisco ... with Miss. Nelly ...

Here they will support you with your doubts and you can carry out your documents(Proof of residency and current ID), they scanned and sent to us to have your contract drawn up.

AJIJIC REAL ESTATE is in COORDINATION WITH ILOX to support you and the simplify the process for all of you interested in having high speed optical fiber INTERNET service, Telephony and TV.

Please come with your documents to start your process ...

Hi. I got my contracts and printed out the signing pages. (Required minor adjustments on Acrobat since the ILOX pages are 8 x 14.) When you are depositing the contracts at Ajijic Reality you do have to submit your receipt of payment. I walked back up to Bancomer and was told I needed cash. Fortunately their cajero gave me the P$7,000 I needed. A short stroll back to Ajijic Reality, and it was done.

I did this for two reasons. First, as Dru is saying, it really does seem like a refund will be forthcoming if the project flops. Secondly, if you are not on the prepaid list, it could take well more than a year once the flood of requests begins. If you are on the fence, as I was for quite a while, this is the time to jump in.

Mike, good decision!

Thanks for the great write up and letting people know of your experience with Ajijic Real Estate!

Dru Davies

UPDATE:   We are now at 70% subscribers paid in (140 /200).   About 180 have been issued contracts and working their way to the bank.  Several hundred more than that have pledged and will start receiving follow up calls.   Sixteen gated communities have requested quotes.  

If you have not signed up, please be aware we expect to reach the goal and declare cutoff around the end of May.    This project is becoming a reality.

Thank you for all your patience and help, Tom!

Hi Tom Kessler,
Once again many thanks for helping spearhead this tremendous service offering being made. We will look back on this in the future as one of the best developments possible.
When you say "declare cutoff around the end of May", what exactly does that mean? I assume it means that the prepaid subscription goal is satisfied and that no other prepaid subscriptions will be accepted. Therefore anyone wanting service after that date will have to wait until the rollout is complete, the prepaid subscribers are online and a local service point of presence is established. Is my understanding correct and complete?
Also, I see your info update here after finding nothing on Facebook where I originally got wind of this project. Is this the best place to seek current updates/info?

Thanx again, and again, and again...

ChicagOntarian,

Yes, at some point after the goal is reached, they'll need to start the rollout. Out of respect for those who have already paid, they can't wait too long. The gated communities are the big issue. Many are wanting to sign up en masse; the obstacle being to get them infrastructure improvement quotes they can vote on. Working hard on that so we get as many of them on board as possible. Las Quintas, a small one of 12 homes, has already started work. Los Sabinos, about 65 homes, has an HOA meeting this Saturday. The Los Arroyos Norte and Sur are all wanting to sign up...etc. So next few weeks should be interesting.

We're planning on getting an update newsletter out soon...People take a while between getting their contracts and to the bank, but they do pay.

Tom

yes I would worry about getting my deposit back from ANY company in Mexico. It is always a hassle at best..

I do NOT care about the deposit. I have now been without either a landline or internet since April 27th. I'm using my neighbour's WIFI to write this but I keep my connections to an absolute minimum.

I AM SIGNING UP FOR ILOX TODAY. Some Telmex Contratista CUT my line to connect a new house around the corner. His license plate number and the house he was working at have been reported..within an hour of it happening. According to Telmex, the guy will be fired because he's done this to three other houses. They say my line will be restored in "24 hours" ... in 2 hours. yada yada yada. All talk (lies) and no action (typical),
My Telcel cell phone no longer works in my house because they're mucking with the cell towers.
I am looking forward to the day when I can tell Telmex to cancel my service and, dropping the modem on a desk and telling them to shove it where the sun don't shine.
NOTHING has changed in terms of service in 22 years. PITY.