Vodafone mobile broadband connection while waiting for fibre

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freitasm

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Topic # 239549 23-Jul-2018 13:24

Just received:

Vodafone New Zealand announced today new customers signing up to an Ultimate Home Fibre plan* will be able to get connected faster thanks to a New Zealand-first technology, the Ultra Hub Plus modem. The modem gives customers a mobile broadband connection over Vodafone’s 4G/3G mobile network while they wait for their fibre broadband to be installed.

Consumer Director Matt Williams says Ultra Hub Plus is a direct response to customers’ desire to be always connected, and a way to make it easier for people to switch to a modern broadband technology and enjoy the benefits of fibre.

“Fibre is one of the fastest broadband technologies currently available and offers customers a great experience. But, our customers tell us they are frustrated by installation wait times, while others say they are putting off a move to fibre because they simply don’t want to be disconnected while they wait.

“Tens of thousands of customers across all providers are waiting for fibre. While Vodafone can’t control the significant installation delays from Chorus and other LFC’s (local fibre companies), we have found a way to provide a solution that means customers can get connected super-fast. In addition, we are providing data usage over our mobile network while they wait for fibre for free.

“Those who have trialled the Ultra Hub Plus are calling it a ‘game changer’, ‘super easy to set up and use’, and ‘a seamless experience’. Vodafone is proud to be the first telecommunications company to launch a modem of this type in New Zealand,” says Williams.

The Ultra Hub Plus modem set-up is simple. Once a customer receives the Vodafone Ultra Hub Plus, as long as they are in a 4G/3G coverage area they can simply plug it in and get connected to Vodafone’s mobile network until their fibre connection is up and running.

In addition to enabling customers to be connected while they wait for fibre installation, the Ultra Hub Plus modem will also provide a mobile backup connection allowing customers to stay connected in the event a fault affects their fibre service. Once the fault is repaired, the modem will automatically switch back to fibre, which ensures customers are always connected.

“We understand our customers don’t care about the kind of technology their internet runs on, they just want it to work. Being connected is integral to our daily lives. The Ultra Hub Plus modem is designed to deliver that for our customers,” added Williams.

For more information on Vodafone’s Ultra Hub Plus click here.

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hio77

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Reply # 2061027 23-Jul-2018 14:40

Physical cost of a modem that does this is hefty...

With the fallback to Mobile; that could be risky in terms of users not noticing say... their wan cable is unplugged....

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Naithin

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Reply # 2061033 23-Jul-2018 14:53

Super curious what the specs of the modem are, who makes it, etc. Is it Wave 2? CAT 6 on the Mobile network side?

Has this been used already with other instances of Vodafone around the world? :)

littlehead

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Reply # 2061051 23-Jul-2018 15:07

Physically it looks very similar to the regular Ultra Hub. The quick start guide isn't available for download yet, however looking at the Setup video it has a 3G/4G light instead of the Mobile one on the regular Ultra Hub.

The instruction pages for changing your Wi-Fi details and Upgrading Firmware are the same pages/screens for both the regular and Plus ultra hubs, so I would assume the same manufacturer which i think was Technicolor?

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Reply # 2061100 23-Jul-2018 16:22

One person supports this post

Vodafone have been offering this in Australia for a while now. The irony over there is the "temporary" 4G connection is often far superior to the nbn offering when it finally arrives.

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Reply # 2061251 23-Jul-2018 20:09

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sbiddle:

Vodafone have been offering this in Australia for a while now. The irony over there is the "temporary" 4G connection is often far superior to the nbn offering when it finally arrives.

Opps, my plug for the NBN connection feel out again :)

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darkasdes2

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Reply # 2061755 24-Jul-2018 15:45

I wonder if this would be offered to small business customers especially with the fall back 4g/3g in the event of a fibre outage until the fibre service is up and running.

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Reply # 2061756 24-Jul-2018 15:48

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sbiddle:

Vodafone have been offering this in Australia for a while now. The irony over there is the "temporary" 4G connection is often far superior to the nbn offering when it finally arrives.

They've now fixed that by rate limiting it to 5Mbit down, 1Mbit up I believe.

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BWK

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Reply # 2068888 6-Aug-2018 17:38

If they can do this why can't they offer a 3G modem broadband option like the 4G package they have. I don't have 4G in my area and would very much like to have the cheap plan to supplement my unreliable cellular data.

hio77

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Reply # 2068894 6-Aug-2018 18:05

BWK:

If they can do this why can't they offer a 3G modem broadband option like the 4G package they have. I don't have 4G in my area and would very much like to have the cheap plan to supplement my unreliable cellular data.

If your cellular data isn't great, this won't be any better (ok antenna design in the modem may be SLIGHTLY better.)

Vodafone already do offer some crazy plans over 3G, many which are quite risky without a fair usage over the top..

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sbiddle

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Reply # 2068951 6-Aug-2018 20:27

There were Vodafone resellers offering unlimited 3G plans, but I believe Vodafone may have now imposed data caps but to the abuse it was getting.

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Reply # 2069001 6-Aug-2018 22:32

BWK:
If they can do this why can't they offer a 3G modem broadband option like the 4G package they have. I don't have 4G in my area and would very much like to have the cheap plan to supplement my unreliable cellular data.

Where approx are you? Not many places left that you can't get 4G.

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BWK

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Reply # 2072571 13-Aug-2018 11:46

Actually in part of Christchurch, and I know 4G is available in other suburbs.

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Reply # 2072575 13-Aug-2018 11:51

BWK:

Actually in part of Christchurch, and I know 4G is available in other suburbs.

@BWK What part of Chch? Narrow it down please

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Reply # 2073378 14-Aug-2018 15:56

OK so I recently moved and just signed up for Fibre on Saturday - I'm in a 10 unit MDU which is defiantly going to require a lengthy consent process.

At the time of signup I declined a Home Hub as I already had one from using FibreX at my previous property (To clarify it wasn't a relocate/move of address - I cancelled my old account completely and signed up a couple months later as a new customer).

Also the article says:

"In addition, we are providing data usage over our mobile network while they wait for fibre for free"

I currently don't even have an ADSL connection as there aren't enough pairs in my terminal and install went to build/quote with Chorus (the MDU was built with only one pair per unit at the terminal, one of my neighbors nicked "my" pair by getting an extra line - presumably when my unit was vacant... ).

Should I call New Connections / Retention to see If I can get this or just cancel my order and apply again?

Any help from someone from Voda would be appreciated?

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Reply # 2073395 14-Aug-2018 16:16

how much data can you churn?