Rural UFB install

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Rural UFB install

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

4819 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3935

Trusted

#3425199 15-Oct-2025 20:37

nztim:

They ran it to Haast so why not? :)

you had to pick the most remote part of NZ for that response :)

LOL, of COURSE I picked the remotest, stupidest, most expensive part of NZ to make my point. To spell it out...

There are OBVIOUSLY some locations in NZ where people live that clearly don't make sense to include in the fibre rollout. And as soon as we can all agree on that baseline fact, the discussion then becomes "Where is the Social/economic benefit vs cost line that separates that haves (fibres) from the has nots (Not haz fibres)?

And once we all agree that THAT is the real question, we all think that every fringe case should be included if we live there, and that if another fringe case gets it and we don't then it's a travesty.

There are multiple broadband technologies available from multiple providers, and while I personally think that fibre is the best currently available connection, there are others that would do me just fine if I lived in a lovely place in the countryside...

We should be advocating for a robust method of setting the line and investing where it will have the most net benefit - and where it doesn't we grin and bear it, and order a different technology.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

snj

310 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 224

#3425213 15-Oct-2025 21:08

MichaelNZ:

nztim:

They ran it to Haast so why not? :)

Haast township looks like a general rollout but the Heartland Hotel probably paid.

Keep in mind when looking at the map a single property island of pink is a paid install.

Everyone with UFB goes on the map.

Rural schools are a common example. Its not hard to work out where there is a farm, home, or business which paid.

Wasn't fibre to Haast in part due to the RCG Tower deployments and funded under RBI (from memory they initially installed a 3G with microwave/similar backhaul and then fibre to add 4G/etc), or am I thinking of a different remote part of the South Island.

MichaelNZ

1609 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 490

Trusted

Net Trust Ltd

#3425214 15-Oct-2025 21:20

snj:

Wasn't fibre to Haast in part due to the RCG Tower deployments and funded under RBI (from memory they initially installed a 3G with microwave/similar backhaul and then fibre to add 4G/etc), or am I thinking of a different remote part of the South Island.

To respond to you and elaborate for anyone reading this and considering this path.

I don't know about Haast but here (Norsewood) we got an RCG cellsite in December last year.

This potentially significantly reduced our install cost but this may have been coincidence. Our previous quotes (north of $50k) were around 2019 from memory so it may be something else changed since. Our cost was still a 5-figure sum but not as expensive.

For our install they used existing conduit where they could. This was already in place to feed the VDSL cabinet on the remote side of Norsewood.

They ran new fibre to the exchange even though there was existing fibre in said conduit. From the exchange to Dannevirke OLT they used existing fibre.

So with this in mind its possible an RCG celsite could reduce costs if a UFB install can reuse resources.

Having said that, I would advise anyone to have a 5-figure budget. The only installs I have heard of in 4-figure range were where the address was immediately neighbouring a UFB coverage area or within coverage but their address was not included in the rollout.

WFH Linux Systems and Networks Engineer in the Internet industry | Specialising in Mikrotik | APNIC member | Open to job offers | ZL2NET

MichaelNZ

1609 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 490

Trusted

Net Trust Ltd

#3427752 24-Oct-2025 15:17

Its now progressing to an ONT install.

The "MDU" part is a bit weird. Have asked Chorus to correct.

WFH Linux Systems and Networks Engineer in the Internet industry | Specialising in Mikrotik | APNIC member | Open to job offers | ZL2NET

MichaelNZ

1609 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 490

Trusted

Net Trust Ltd

#3428218 27-Oct-2025 13:34

Updated overnight (Its Monday) so this implies the public checker is probably updated once a week.

WFH Linux Systems and Networks Engineer in the Internet industry | Specialising in Mikrotik | APNIC member | Open to job offers | ZL2NET

Behodar

11156 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6177

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3428219 27-Oct-2025 13:35

Hey look, you can book a free installation!

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

MichaelNZ

1609 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 490

Trusted

Net Trust Ltd

#3428314 27-Oct-2025 20:23

Behodar:

Hey look, you can book a free installation!

This was already set in motion at the time of the original NOA (network on application / custom install) order.

It appears its going to be 'free' or was included in the NOA cost. We have not received any advice otherwise.

But in saying this our install distance is well within 200m and would be classed as 'free install' in a general rollout so it shouldn't be assumed by anyone reading this that theirs will be 'free' if, for example, they have a long driveway.

WFH Linux Systems and Networks Engineer in the Internet industry | Specialising in Mikrotik | APNIC member | Open to job offers | ZL2NET

lxsw20

3710 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2190

Subscriber

#3428319 27-Oct-2025 20:40

Looks like you already had a decent VDSL connection, will be interesting to see if you notice any difference day to day.

MichaelNZ

1609 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 490

Trusted

Net Trust Ltd

#3428321 27-Oct-2025 21:00

lxsw20:

Looks like you already had a decent VDSL connection, will be interesting to see if you notice any difference day to day.

You are right. We have not done this project (with a 5-figure sum cost) because of any issue with VDSL.

We did it because, fair or not, the writing is on the wall for DSL.

At this time Chorus has not received Ministerial approval to deregulate (read: turn off) the DSL network and I kind of hope they don't until the rollout is up to their 95% goal.

But here is the thing - sometimes the best approach is the pragmatic one. The current government may or may not support Chorus in this and, sorry to say, as much as I believe in the fibre rollout and Chorus substantial involvement in this, their financial figures are rather tight.

I work for an ISP and with my commercial hat on I have agreed with the owner we will not be taking on any more DSL clients and of the ones we have we are splitting them up into 2 categories - ones who we will have the discussion with about a paid fibre install and others who we will gently suggest they migrate to something else like Starlink. I also wanted to be able to approach this from a sound business point of view and without being personally invested.

A few days ago I submitted a Community co-fund fibre application for one of these and I hope Chorus comes back with a number I can recommend they accept.

I have waited 6 years for them to do a general roll out in Norsewood and it hasn't happened. I have covered my thoughts about that in previous threads (and here) so don't really want to rehash it.

For various reasons I wish to stay directly connected to the ISP where I have worked for 26 years and the best option on the table was fibre.

The NOA (network on application) / custom install / community co-build offerings are a very vague space and I had very little info going into it. So I have shared about this to create a resource for others who have questions.

And in summary fibre is just better and faster.

WFH Linux Systems and Networks Engineer in the Internet industry | Specialising in Mikrotik | APNIC member | Open to job offers | ZL2NET

PSlover14

207 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 17

ID Verified

#3428331 27-Oct-2025 22:35

MichaelNZ:

Lets be realistic here. Noone was advocating fibre to this address.

FWIW I live in the Norsewood township. This is a community along SH2 with around 100 properties in near urban density.

Even then we still had to pay for our install. I know of two other Geekzoners who likewise had to pay. In all 3 of these cases we are talking 5-figure sums but I have heard through the grapevine of scenarios into the 6-figures. There is a GZer who was quoted a 1/4 million.

Ha, not every day you see your hometown on here!

I'm slightly shocked there wasn't already UFB running through at least upper Norsewood given the school is there. However not shocked at those prices quoted, parents once had a chat with a Chorus tech about getting something better then ADSL2 put in (since apparently they were too far away for VDSL2) because between me and my brother trying to play games online and them wanting to watch YouTube/Netflix, our poor 5mbps down was getting hammered (god forbid you needed to install a game or update one) and I believe the number quoted was in the 6 figure mark. Granted, they're just outside of Norsewood along SH2 so I imagine part of that is the logistics of digging up the highway.

Intrigued to see if more point-to-point solutions come along in these rural areas, for them something like that or Starlink would do the job much better then ADSL2 does. Normally when I go to visit I've begun just chucking a 7-day unlimited data bonus on my phone and using Spark 4G rather than trying to use their internet.

MichaelNZ

1609 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 490

Trusted

Net Trust Ltd

#3428332 27-Oct-2025 22:41

PSlover14:

I'm slightly shocked there wasn't already UFB running through at least upper Norsewood given the school is there.

Norsewood is an unusual situation in that a regional ISP also has fibre running into the township. I know of 2 local businesses who are connected to this and they paid. Rumour is the school is also connected but I have not seen this myself.

I enquired with them some years ago and they wanted over $70k which is more then Chorus was quoting at the time. And I would have been locked into their service.

Otherwise its certain Norsewood school would have been connected to UFB by now. Ruahine school and others in the region are showing with individual address UFB coverage.

PSlover14:

Granted, they're just outside of Norsewood along SH2 so I imagine part of that is the logistics of digging up the highway.

At this time there is VDSL coverage in the township which extends out to SH2. It was upgraded to vectoring a few years ago so depending when you asked things may have changed since then.

But moving forward fibre is the only good option and you now know its available in the township on a pay-to-connect basis.

You are welcome to send me a PM if you want to discuss any specifics.

WFH Linux Systems and Networks Engineer in the Internet industry | Specialising in Mikrotik | APNIC member | Open to job offers | ZL2NET

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

PSlover14

207 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 17

ID Verified

#3428334 27-Oct-2025 22:58

MichaelNZ:

At this time there is VDSL coverage in the township which extends out to SH2. It was upgraded to vectoring a few years ago so depending when you asked things may have changed since then.

But moving forward fibre is the only good option and you now know its available in the township on a pay-to-connect basis.

You are welcome to send me a PM if you want to discuss any specifics.

Intriguing. FWIW Dad's big argument against just going to something like 4G Wireless or Starlink has been he wants to keep his landline as their phone is one that gets power from the line, and in emergencies he believes the generators etc at the exchange will keep his landline going when the towers don't have power (I have yet to find a way to explain how they probably use the same generator/battery etc but nevermind he can spend his money how he likes haha)

They tried getting VDSL2 a few years ago when I was still living at home, probably before the introduction of that VDSLV stuff, the main issue was for where they are, Spark estimated the speed would be no different then ADSL2 entirely due to range. They reckoned that they could turn it on, but there'd be no benefit, and in the mean time they'd enabled without asking a bunch of "smart" things on the landline like a voicemail/call waiting thing that they did not want at all, so that put Dad off the whole thing. It's a frustrating issue because they're paying more for their crap ADSL2 and phoneline then I pay here in Hamilton for 900/500 UFB!

Not been an urgent thing since their usage has gone significantly down due to both me and my brother moving out, so their old slow internet handles their light load fine, but I suspect they're in for a rude awakening when they do this copper shutoff.

MichaelNZ

1609 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 490

Trusted

Net Trust Ltd

#3428335 27-Oct-2025 23:05

PSlover14:

he believes the generators etc at the exchange will keep his landline going when the towers don't have power (I have yet to find a way to explain how they probably use the same generator/battery etc but nevermind he can spend his money how he likes haha)

AFAIK there is no generator at the Norsewood exchange at Odin Street or the RCG cellsite at Hovding Street.

Ironically the only thing which might keep going is UFB if there is a generator at Dannevirke. I haven't seen a genny there but it is a fairly reasonable size building which also runs some backhaul stuff.

WFH Linux Systems and Networks Engineer in the Internet industry | Specialising in Mikrotik | APNIC member | Open to job offers | ZL2NET