Chorus FTTH Pilot Completion Date?

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dgashby

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Master Geek
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Topic # 86551 8-Jul-2011 10:09

Hi,

Does anyone have any idea when the Chorus FTTH pilot for new subdivisions with WorldxChange will end and the Chorus fibre be opened up for other providers?

Back in January there was mention in some other forum posts that this was likely to happen within a few months. I've tried to track down some information via Telecom's New Subdivisions Group their current response is that WorldxChange are the only ISP capable of making use of the fibre. My existing ISP has tried approaching Telecom Wholesale but seem to have also hit a brick wall.

We're in the process of purchasing a property in a new subdivision and I don't particularly want to be tied to one ISP. It's not a deciding factor in the purchase, but we don't want to get signed up with one ISP and then discover a month down the line that there are now more options.

Is anyone out there in the know regarding timeframes?

Thanks,

Dean

plambrechtsen

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Reply # 490961 8-Jul-2011 10:23

I have a friend who moved into one of the new subdivisions in Newlands in Wellington. And they also only had the option to go via Chorus FTTH to WorldxChange.

I would suggest you chase up with your provider again to get them to chase up Wholesale / Chorus and tell them that you will be moving toe WXC if they don't get back to you. But there may be a requirement to also be able to provide VoIP service along with data and how the whole inter-connect works may be the issue since it wouldn't be treated like a normal copper circuit.

I don't personally know, but I will ask around and see if I am allowed to know or not due to separation.

Zeon

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Reply # 490971 8-Jul-2011 10:33

I wonder if Chorus2 will take over this fibre and the wholesaling as part of Telecom's split. Hope it isn't so hard for ISPs to become wholesalers with UFB!

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ChrisNZL

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Reply # 490973 8-Jul-2011 10:34

Back in February, I asked the Chorus technician that installed my FTTH equipment this same question.

He said Telecom hope to get other ISPs on board "in a few months", but also went on to say he's heard that for a year or two now...

Creator of Tallowmere.

maverick

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WorldxChange

Reply # 490990 8-Jul-2011 11:15

The question really is who is actually capable of delivering a full deployment model for this and untill the product is ready for a commercial offering then the pilot will most likley continue, the pilot has been designed to look at a the full deployment model with an eye to the UFB... In saying that the current model is changing based on the UFB and other requiremnst obsered from the pilot so hopefully you will have choices soon enough.

I'm also guessing allowing anyone to jump on this with a freeware asterisk box and a configure your own box deployment model at this stage is not something that would get much attention I would think

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

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plambrechtsen

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Reply # 492132 11-Jul-2011 16:55

I didn't get any answer apart from a very similar response to what maverick also said. So far there hasn't been any official press releases about when the pilot will end. So my personal bet (not any official line of Telecom) would be next year I would assume other players will come onto the market. But as maverick also said it's a full service offering so any other ISP offering FTTH would need to support the VoIP component too so that any "normal" non-technical person could plug in a box and get a reliable phone conversation over their connection.

See which current ISPs offer a full VoIP solution and my personal bet is they would be the first to jump onto a FTTH offering as a techie Asterisk / Just install Skype and you're on your own wouldn't really cut it.

cyril7

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Reply # 492136 11-Jul-2011 17:12

For the amount many of us use the Graham Bell thing for we probably wouldnt bother with Voice service, with more attractive cellular rates and all.

Cyril

dgashby

61 posts

Master Geek
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Reply # 525502 25-Sep-2011 09:38

Chorus appear to have been busy out at the subdivision, here are a few photos of what a new FTTH installation looks like below ground.

Services trench from south looking north

Services trench from south looking north

Lots of different services/utilities here, black cables appear to be power, white and blue are the water main, pale green is the ducting through which the darker green blown fibre ducting is threaded.

Services trench from north looking south.

Services trench from north looking south.

I'm curious as to why the two darker fibre ducts in the image below are not inside a larger paler green duct where they exit the pit at the bottom - maybe this is a work in progress.

Chorsu services pit

An offcut of the blown fibre ducting through which the fibre optic cable is threaded.

I haven't heard if there have been any changes regarding the restrictions on ISP.

bales

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Reply # 533664 15-Oct-2011 12:58

the smaller ducts serve cabinets the larger are for individual house distribution.