I find that people using this forum are quick to point out faults in an argument, rather than produce anything based on contructive feedback - or seek assist in gaining answers to questions posed. A shame really - maybe a reflection of an online culture in NZ. I hope not.
Anyway. I have been in contact via phone and e-mail with local MP's and Council. Waitakere City Council has apparently had something in the pipeline for the local area here for some time. Now a company called Borg Wifi is in the process of establishing an accessable network for this community. From their site:
Broadband Challenge: The council has applied for Government funding to support a pilot project to deliver wireless broadband to the Laingholm and Parau areas. If successful this project will enable residents who have never had more than dial up access to access the Internet at higher speeds. Council will advise residents if the funding application is successful. The success of this project will depend on broadband uptake in these underserved areas.
So fingers crossed for now. I aint expecting anything to really take control for at least a year.
TheyShouldFall: please dont take it to heart, but I too would consider broadband access before moving house, if that was possible.
Jama: Don't knock communism so quickly, capitalism has its flaws too. corruption, beaurecracy, over-run corporations.
IMHO of the future; we wont need big Telcos (Telecom OR Telstra) to support the majority of our networks
We are an increasinly tech-savvy generation and relying on Telecom's dating ATM & NEAX61 (correct me someone?) infrastructure seems sillier to me every day. Big companies (arguably) are less able to adapt and use new technologies than even a low-capital startup.
Ethernet & IP based DSLAMs _definately_ do not cost 50 or 60 thousand dollars (unless you buy Ericsson) and I'd hate to think what type of expensive hardware Telecom are buying, instead of ethernet/IP-based stuff!!
Knowing that we are a country of small businesses it is perfectly forseeable to have many, smaller ISPs. If the government would sponsor the construction of Internet peering exchanges this could happen sooner rather than later too.
I'm really glad the calling the MP and Council idea brought some results for you. Hopefully Borg won't charge to higher rates knowing they have a captive market in that area
"Huia, is serviced by the Titirangi exchange" - "distance is surely not a factor when a place like Huia can still recieve, albeit a weakened BROADBAND connection"
Huia in fact has it's own exchange (HR1) and is not serviced by Titirangi (TGN2). Distance and line quality will be your limiting factor in not receiving broadband. Huia get broadband becuase the HR1 exchange is ADSL enabled.
Have you considered getting it installed anyway just to see? Using a router (rather than the single PC modem) and going for the connection & wiring installaton option will give you the best possible connection speeds. You may not get 7Mbps but you could get much, much better than dialup.
Know the thread's going cold but can offer some feedback. We had a similar situation a couple of years ago now round the eastern bays of Wellington - serviced from Petone exchange about 5-10km away and mostly beyond DSL range. Eastbourne exchange, 3-5 km further on was DSL equiped but didn't service back in our direction. A group got together and approached Telecom (Telstra's approach was "we're waiting for LLU" even though they have fibres that run right round the bays, and its a bit far for Woosh) and with (I think) about 25 people saying they were keen on DSL (no commitment, just interest) Telecom went ahead and installed a cabinet DSLAM in the bays. From first contact to operational took about 12 months, but at least its there. Not sure of your area, but if a few of you can get together, a combined approach might work for you too.
About a year ago I approached Auckland ity Council as to the possibility of running fibre through the sewer lines, I understand this has been succesfully done in both Canada and Scotland. My figuring was that as all buildings have a sewer line of at least 100mm dia thia could be a possibility.
Here are some of the reasons it could not be done according to ACC;
"I am told this idea has been given consideration by the likes of Telecom and other
network providers. >I understand there are several reasons why the idea has not
progressed which include:
The fibre line will act to collect pipeline products such as toilet paper and thus
generate blockages.
The fibre line will have to leave the sewer somewhere and this may not be easy in
terms of .>engineering.
The fibre line may be damaged by pipeline cleaning operations.
Pipelines go under private property and telecommunications companies do not have
general access rights >to private property.
Fibre workers are not trained in sewer access which has special health and safety
issues. There have >been accidents where four drainage workers have been killed down
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