Landline over copper only being phased out.

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Landline over copper only being phased out.

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#3173497 19-Dec-2023 17:24

windtow:

Talkiet:

I'm not sure I understand your point about a monopoly - Presumably if fibre is available at your grandmother's address, then any one of a number of retail providers can provide a voice solution. By design there aren't multiple fibre providers servicing the same addresses!

If voice is the only desired service, is there any chance that she would be able to drive a cellphone? That would be technically an option (and there is no stop-sell process for voice services over the mobile network - so capacity won't be an issue - provided coverage is ok)... I do understand that some people don't want to use a cellphone, or learn to use one - but it's a thought.

Finally - Fibre installation will only improve property value and despite the odd horror story, installation is usually fine. You could get added as an authority on the account and manage the installation process as well - I have done that for a couple of elderly relatives in the past.

Ultimately, Copper is a service that increasingly costs more to maintain and with the benefits of fibre, it's a minority (and declining) access type - Copper withdrawal is going to happen - it sounds like fibre is available and if the customer doesn't want to take it up, then that shouldn't hold up the withdrawal I'm afraid (in my personal, non company representing, opinion)

Cheers - N

There isn't much demand for landline only connections, therefore there isn't much competition.

She actually has a iPhone 6, she knows how to text and call on it. However, ringing to a landline from a cell phone is expensive and I think she just prefers using a landline sometimes.

I know 2talk is a good VOIP ISP. Is it possible to get a landline number for a mobile with cheap calling? That might be an idea.

How does $25 per month for unlimited talking and texting and data sound.

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ajw

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#3173498 19-Dec-2023 17:28

https://www.koganmobile.co.nz/

You are not charged extra to call a landline.

coffeebaron

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#3173512 19-Dec-2023 19:44

I thought there was a fibre landline only service? I think Spark had this available some time ago?
Whats the current cost of landline?
You could get a $15 +GST a month 2talk slow unlimited 4G data pack and a 4G modem, then run VoIP on top.

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RunningMan

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#3173521 19-Dec-2023 21:05

coffeebaron: I thought there was a fibre landline only service? I think Spark had this available some time ago?
Whats the current cost of landline?

In the second post.

$61

raytaylor

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#3173522 19-Dec-2023 21:07

coffeebaron: I thought there was a fibre landline only service? I think Spark had this available some time ago?
Whats the current cost of landline?
You could get a $15 +GST a month 2talk slow unlimited 4G data pack and a 4G modem, then run VoIP on top.

I would go simpler - get one of those old home phone wireless ATAs and plug her landline phone into it, pop in a sim card and she wont know the difference.

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nztim

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#3173537 19-Dec-2023 23:40

raytaylor:

coffeebaron: I thought there was a fibre landline only service? I think Spark had this available some time ago?
Whats the current cost of landline?
You could get a $15 +GST a month 2talk slow unlimited 4G data pack and a 4G modem, then run VoIP on top.

I would go simpler - get one of those old home phone wireless ATAs and plug her landline phone into it, pop in a sim card and she wont know the difference.

Still requires someone semi technical to maintain

This is grandma we are talking about here, Spark deliver voice via the ONT & the ONT is maintained by the LFC.

They will be paying $65 for their copper Voice and that drops to $61 on fibre, or they could get Home Fibre Starter Voice+Broadband for $70

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

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Wheelbarrow01

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#3174043 21-Dec-2023 13:19

Hi @windtow

If you flick me your grandmother's address in a private message, I can look into this situation and can discuss with our Copper Withdrawal team, and we can arrange for specialist care given your grandmother's age and limited understanding of the technologies involved.

We appreciate this can all be quite confusing for some older folk. We give all customers plenty of notice of withdrawal (at least 6 months) and explain what the alternate options are, and we do what we can to get customers to take action. Unfortunately some customers choose to bury their head in the sand and take no action. This will not delay the withdrawal of copper - it will happen in line with the principles outlined in the Copper Withdrawal Code whether the customer engages in the process or not. Obviously we'd prefer it if they do engage with us, and the earlier the better. We will also work with the RSP to ensure all parties know what is happening.

I can find out what is going on in this case, but unless you are authorised on your grandmother's Spark account, I won't be able to release any specific details to you.

[EDIT: fixed grammar]

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windtow

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#3174123 21-Dec-2023 17:04

Wheelbarrow01:

Hi @windtow

If you flick me your grandmother's address in a private message, I can look into this situation and can discuss with our Copper Withdrawal team, and we can arrange for specialist care given your grandmother's age and limited understanding of the technologies involved.

We appreciate this can all be quite confusing for some older folk. We give all customers plenty of notice of withdrawal (at least 6 months) and explain what the alternate options are, and we do what we can to get customers to take action. Unfortunately some customers choose to bury their head in the sand and take no action. This will not delay the withdrawal of copper - it will happen in line with the principles outlined in the Copper Withdrawal Code whether the customer engages in the process or not. Obviously we'd prefer it if they do engage with us, and the earlier the better. We will also work with the RSP to ensure all parties know what is happening.

I can find out what is going on in this case, but unless you are authorised on your grandmother's Spark account, I won't be able to release any specific details to you.

[EDIT: fixed grammar]

PMed you.

nztim

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#3177401 3-Jan-2024 19:56

What was the outcome of this?

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windtow

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#3177774 4-Jan-2024 17:40

nztim:

What was the outcome of this?

@Wheelbarrow01 is looking into it. He has passed it on to the manager of the Copper Withdrawal team, however, due to it being the holidays he said it might not get looked at. So he has made a note to follow up when he returns to the office on January 10. Not really sure what they could do, however, it is inevitable that the cut-off date will be extended, are I suspect a few people haven't got fibre installed yet.

Originally Spark mailed out information and advertised wireless as one option, however, this wasn't correct as it wasn't available. This confused people, as people were aware of neighbours who were on wireless but they couldn't get it. I believe the network is at capacity as certain Spark call centre workers claim this, however some don't know or don't say the reason. Often the call centre workers suggest you go to a physical spark store to sort it out.

The current cut-off date is in February 2024, there are still a few people in the area I know of who haven't installed fibre yet or are still deciding. There are probably more people that I am not aware of. A few residents have lived in their houses since they were built in the 1960s. My grandmother has accepted the fact she will get fibre installed, but we haven't booked any dates yet.

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#3177775 4-Jan-2024 17:53

If there is a date set it's very unlikely to be extended due to inaction by users.

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#3177824 4-Jan-2024 19:30

In the New year I have been asked to sort several businesses locally who repeatedly ignored notices that their land lines were being removed, and late last month, guess what the lines went dead, several have multiple lines feeding ancient analog pabx's.

Fortunately two of them immediately reached out to a local IT company who contacted me, I was able to get their pilots redirected to mobiles and managed to order up a decent number of VOIP handsets, so next week will be busy moving approx 40 handsets to 2talk.

A couple of other businesses have been less successful in keeping their numbers active for me to port, I am hopeful I can get them all back.

So don't think you can call their bluff and ignore.

Cyril

nztim

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#3177838 4-Jan-2024 20:26

cyril7: couple of other businesses have been less successful in keeping their numbers active for me to port, I am hopeful I can get them all back.

So don't think you can call their bluff and ignore.

Cyril

Order customerlink then port that, should work

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windtow

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#3178059 5-Jan-2024 15:57

cyril7: In the New year I have been asked to sort several businesses locally who repeatedly ignored notices that their land lines were being removed, and late last month, guess what the lines went dead, several have multiple lines feeding ancient analog pabx's.

Fortunately two of them immediately reached out to a local IT company who contacted me, I was able to get their pilots redirected to mobiles and managed to order up a decent number of VOIP handsets, so next week will be busy moving approx 40 handsets to 2talk.

A couple of other businesses have been less successful in keeping their numbers active for me to port, I am hopeful I can get them all back.

So don't think you can call their bluff and ignore.

Cyril

It makes you wonder how people can operate a business, but ignore notices.

Some of those analogue PBX systems run forever, especially those Panasonic ones.

However, I will ensure that we keep the number reserved if my Grandmother's phone does get disconnected if we haven't got fibre installed by the deadline. Luckily, she has an iPhone 6 and already regularly uses it for texts and calls. Then maybe she might realise she can do without the landline permanently. So this is more of an annoyance.

nztim

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#3178121 5-Jan-2024 20:05

windtow: However, I will ensure that we keep the number reserved if my Grandmother's phone does get disconnected

Once its disconnected there is no guarantee you can keep your number

If a decision isn’t made mid Jan get it moved to customerlink and divert to mobile.

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

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