Campbell Live: Broadband fiasco (5/May/2010)

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112 posts

Master Geek

#327583 7-May-2010 01:22

Perhaps I should've gone to Campbell instead of here: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=59832

PaulBrislen: Apparently Telecom is the only provider of any service in the whole country.

edit: Oh, my sarcasm tag/smily fell off.

What we want is your 20GB plus homeline package for $100pm. We already have the biggest 3G plan you offer; 3GB+3GB for $79.95pm. The last time I checked overage was $0.50 per MB - $500 per GB, ok that may have changed but I doubt it is now only $10 per GB. The VF site is down so I can't check the T&C but even if overage was as low as $0.10 per MB it would cost us $1500 per month to get that 20 gigs.

We are in exactly the same boat as the interviewee on Campbell and even live in Rolleston. We sat on the waitlist from January-April 2009 before giving up and going for VF 3G. It is our HOME broadband because we have little alternative. We can't use it like serious home users because that would blow the data limit in days. We have already spent over $1500 in hardware and data charges to get something together that works on a home network, but it still doesn't come anywhere near what fixed line customers can get for significantly less cost.

Telecom claim that the interviewee did not get preferential treatment... well quite by chance we reactivated our request for fixed line broadband just over a week ago. Hopefully this means we will get connected in a matter of days although I'm not counting on it. Yes, I know that's a Telecom issue but you have stated that they are not the only provider. Well, at $1500 per month for 20 gig I don't think you're in the same ball park.

Oops, I think MY sarcasm tag fell off too.

P.S: This is my second go at writing this, the 3G connection dropped just as I sent the first attempt and it disappeared into the ether.

Zeon

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#327609 7-May-2010 09:37

What we want is your 20GB plus homeline package for $100pm. We already have the biggest 3G plan you offer; 3GB+3GB for $79.95pm. The last time I checked overage was $0.50 per MB - $500 per GB, ok that may have changed but I doubt it is now only $10 per GB. The VF site is down so I can't check the T&C but even if overage was as low as $0.10 per MB it would cost us $1500 per month to get that 20 gigs.

We are in exactly the same boat as the interviewee on Campbell and even live in Rolleston. We sat on the waitlist from January-April 2009 before giving up and going for VF 3G. It is our HOME broadband because we have little alternative. We can't use it like serious home users because that would blow the data limit in days. We have already spent over $1500 in hardware and data charges to get something together that works on a home network, but it still doesn't come anywhere near what fixed line customers can get for significantly less cost.

Telecom claim that the interviewee did not get preferential treatment... well quite by chance we reactivated our request for fixed line broadband just over a week ago. Hopefully this means we will get connected in a matter of days although I'm not counting on it. Yes, I know that's a Telecom issue but you have stated that they are not the only provider. Well, at $1500 per month for 20 gig I don't think you're in the same ball park.

Oops, I think MY sarcasm tag fell off too.

P.S: This is my second go at writing this, the 3G connection dropped just as I sent the first attempt and it disappeared into the ether.

This came up on another thread. Compass wireless should be able to provision your area with fixed wireless. The rates are pretty comparable to fixed line too. Take a look here: http://www.compass.net.nz/residential/internet/wireless_voip.asp

Seems like you are venting over 3g when you haven't checked the options....

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motogpnz

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Master Geek

#327623 7-May-2010 10:31

Zeon:
This came up on another thread. Compass wireless should be able to provision your area with fixed wireless. The rates are pretty comparable to fixed line too. Take a look here: http://www.compass.net.nz/residential/internet/wireless_voip.asp

Seems like you are venting over 3g when you haven't checked the options....

No my primary concern is over fixed line. But Paul stated that TC are not the only provider and in so doing insinuated that VF 3G is a viable option, so I needed to point out why I don't consider he has a case.

Yes, I read about Compass and then did a google search. Maybe you could do likewise to see what I got? If another party is prepared to offer a free one month trial with no strings attached I will seriously consider it. But the conclusion I got from Campbell's piece is that the court of public opinion clearly considers fixed line broadband is a right not a privilege in the affluent and well populated outer suburbs of NZs two biggest cities. We shouldn't have to be chasing up alternative solutions that may or may not work or lead to a whole set of other complications.

webwat

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#327694 7-May-2010 13:39

PaulBrislen: Oh yeah, forgot about them... and Slingshot was doing something wirelessly up north. Not sure if that's still live.

And Compass has wireless coverage in parts of Albany. If you dont mind the data caps on most of wireless services.

Time to find a new industry!

Zeon

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#327700 7-May-2010 13:51

motogpnz:
Zeon:
This came up on another thread. Compass wireless should be able to provision your area with fixed wireless. The rates are pretty comparable to fixed line too. Take a look here: http://www.compass.net.nz/residential/internet/wireless_voip.asp

Seems like you are venting over 3g when you haven't checked the options....

No my primary concern is over fixed line. But Paul stated that TC are not the only provider and in so doing insinuated that VF 3G is a viable option, so I needed to point out why I don't consider he has a case.

Yes, I read about Compass and then did a google search. Maybe you could do likewise to see what I got? If another party is prepared to offer a free one month trial with no strings attached I will seriously consider it. But the conclusion I got from Campbell's piece is that the court of public opinion clearly considers fixed line broadband is a right not a privilege in the affluent and well populated outer suburbs of NZs two biggest cities. We shouldn't have to be chasing up alternative solutions that may or may not work or lead to a whole set of other complications.

Fixed wireless is very much an alternative to fixed wire for data communications. We use fixed wireless at our office as it was far cheaper than fibre. We have the same service level agreement as a fibre connection and are able to get speeds up to 1gbps. In terms of data caps, we have flat rate national and slow as sh!t international. More an ISP thing on the international than anything else.

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Ragnor

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#327701 7-May-2010 13:52

Compass would meet motogpnz's price requirements of ~$100 /month for 20GB @ 5Mbit/1Mbit speed.

Hmm includes phone too, pretty good offering.

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webwat

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#327722 7-May-2010 14:36

Ragnor:
pressF1:

IIRC what happened was telecom rolled out cabinets to a number high density locations which did not necessarily need cabinets..

Telecom has to deliver 10Mbit/s to 20Mbit/s connections to 80% of New Zealanders by the end of 2011 as part of its government Operational Separation Undertakings.

Whether an area is high density doesn't matter, if your house is in a "high density" area but >2km in line wiring from the exchange then you are probably not going to be able get >10Mbit sync speed.

Cabinets are in fact required/neccesary.

Do you know of any examples of houses connected to cabinets when they are are within 2km of the exchange?

Ponsonby was one of the first exchanges unbundled, and had some of the first cabinetisation projects too. They were supposed to cabinetise the areas with worst distance issues first, but they appeared pretty keen on doing LLU areas. I dont think its something to complain about though, was quite predictable once cabinetisation plans unfolded and the fact that 80% of lines would be cabinetised was public knowledge.

However I would suggest that any recent subdivision should have been built with ducts ready for fibre, and Telecom will face more competition if they continue putting in copper to new developments. A fibre company will come along with a government contract to run fibre past every house, leaving Telecom with stranded assets much closer to users than fibre needs to be, and in cabinets designed for powered ISAMs instead of all passive splitters and/or patch panels. Perhaps a few of the cabinets could be useful as backhaul POPs and they could sell access to ducts. But mostly they will be fighting to keep their copper line customers.

Time to find a new industry!

Compass

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#327742 7-May-2010 15:16

What we want is your 20GB plus homeline package for $100pm. We already have the biggest 3G plan you offer; 3GB+3GB for $79.95pm. The last time I checked overage was $0.50 per MB - $500 per GB, ok that may have changed but I doubt it is now only $10 per GB. The VF site is down so I can't check the T&C but even if overage was as low as $0.10 per MB it would cost us $1500 per month to get that 20 gigs.

Hi - just letting everyone know that Compass Wireless's WiMAX service recently launched in Albany. (We also have base stations in Warkworth, Orewa, Otahuhu, Tauranga and Christchurch - reaching the outer fringes of Rolleston.

We offer 20GB of data and a phone line, for $90.95/mth. This can reach speeds of up to 5Mbps/1Mbps (down/up). And the price includes voicemail, call waiting and caller ID. We also offer naked broadband, if you don't need a phone line. Something to consider.

Cheers
Will

sbiddle

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#327752 7-May-2010 15:39

webwat:
However I would suggest that any recent subdivision should have been built with ducts ready for fibre, and Telecom will face more competition if they continue putting in copper to new developments. A fibre company will come along with a government contract to run fibre past every house, leaving Telecom with stranded assets much closer to users than fibre needs to be, and in cabinets designed for powered ISAMs instead of all passive splitters and/or patch panels. Perhaps a few of the cabinets could be useful as backhaul POPs and they could sell access to ducts. But mostly they will be fighting to keep their copper line customers.

Telecom aren't putting copper into new subdivisons - that is all fibre (and is listed on the BrightSpark website). Copper is being deployed still to existing subdivisions where expansion is still occuring.

The key word is "new" - something that doesn't have a clear definition!

Telecom's 2nd generation fibre cabinets using blown fibre are kitted out for both fibre and copper.

SepticSceptic

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#327758 7-May-2010 15:50

Hi - just letting everyone know that Compass Wireless's WiMAX service recently launched in Albany. (We also have base stations in Warkworth, Orewa, Otahuhu, Tauranga and Christchurch - reaching the outer fringes of Rolleston.

We offer 20GB of data and a phone line, for $90.95/mth. This can reach speeds of up to 5Mbps/1Mbps (down/up). And the price includes voicemail, call waiting and caller ID. We also offer naked broadband, if you don't need a phone line. Something to consider.

Cheers

Will

Do you have a WiMax coverage map ? Something that shows marginal / fringe areas ? Much like the Freeview UHF coverage map - i can see quite clearly I'm just out of zone for reasonable Freeview UHF coverage. ( @ Puhoi)

SepticSceptic

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#327766 7-May-2010 16:03

SepticSceptic:

Hi - just letting everyone know that Compass Wireless's WiMAX service recently launched in Albany. (We also have base stations in Warkworth, Orewa, Otahuhu, Tauranga and Christchurch - reaching the outer fringes of Rolleston.

We offer 20GB of data and a phone line, for $90.95/mth. This can reach speeds of up to 5Mbps/1Mbps (down/up). And the price includes voicemail, call waiting and caller ID. We also offer naked broadband, if you don't need a phone line. Something to consider.

Cheers

Will

Do you have a WiMax coverage map ? Something that shows marginal / fringe areas ? Much like the Freeview UHF coverage map - i can see quite clearly I'm just out of zone for reasonable Freeview UHF coverage. ( @ Puhoi)

I suppose I should have looked first at your website - seems you need line of sight coverage to the antennas. Dang, foiled again. Then again, Moir's hill is pretty close to me - gonna have to get out the telescope for a perve, and to ensure I can see the dish @ Moir's Hill. And the Antenna :-)

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Compass

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#327779 7-May-2010 16:41

SepticSceptic:
Do you have a WiMax coverage map ? Something that shows marginal / fringe areas ? Much like the Freeview UHF coverage map - i can see quite clearly I'm just out of zone for reasonable Freeview UHF coverage. ( @ Puhoi)

If you'd like to check whether you're covered in any telco's broadband coverage, visit:
http://www.broadbandmap.govt.nz/map/ (Feel free to click on Compass for our coverage!).

For more information on Compass Wireless, check out:
http://www.compass.net.nz/residential/internet/wireless.asp

Or try calling our Compass Residential Sales Team, if you wanted to ask some curlier questions...
0800 648 888

Cheers!
Will

Zeon

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#327785 7-May-2010 17:00

Compass:
SepticSceptic:
Do you have a WiMax coverage map ? Something that shows marginal / fringe areas ? Much like the Freeview UHF coverage map - i can see quite clearly I'm just out of zone for reasonable Freeview UHF coverage. ( @ Puhoi)

If you'd like to check whether you're covered in any telco's broadband coverage, visit:
http://www.broadbandmap.govt.nz/map/ (Feel free to click on Compass for our coverage!).

For more information on Compass Wireless, check out:
http://www.compass.net.nz/residential/internet/wireless.asp

Or try calling our Compass Residential Sales Team, if you wanted to ask some curlier questions...
0800 648 888

Cheers!
Will

I have to admit with compass - I asked for a quote on a fibre business plan and they said they would get back to me and they never did. Either they don't want new business or are pretty incompetent

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ajw

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#327793 7-May-2010 17:53

Compass:
SepticSceptic:
Do you have a WiMax coverage map ? Something that shows marginal / fringe areas ? Much like the Freeview UHF coverage map - i can see quite clearly I'm just out of zone for reasonable Freeview UHF coverage. ( @ Puhoi)

If you'd like to check whether you're covered in any telco's broadband coverage, visit:
http://www.broadbandmap.govt.nz/map/ (Feel free to click on Compass for our coverage!).

For more information on Compass Wireless, check out:
http://www.compass.net.nz/residential/internet/wireless.asp

Or try calling our Compass Residential Sales Team, if you wanted to ask some curlier questions...
0800 648 888

Cheers!
Will

When do you plan to have live WIMAX sites in Lower Hutt. Alicetown is the suburb.

Zeon

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#327795 7-May-2010 18:03

ajw:
Compass:
SepticSceptic:
Do you have a WiMax coverage map ? Something that shows marginal / fringe areas ? Much like the Freeview UHF coverage map - i can see quite clearly I'm just out of zone for reasonable Freeview UHF coverage. ( @ Puhoi)

If you'd like to check whether you're covered in any telco's broadband coverage, visit:
http://www.broadbandmap.govt.nz/map/ (Feel free to click on Compass for our coverage!).

For more information on Compass Wireless, check out:
http://www.compass.net.nz/residential/internet/wireless.asp

Or try calling our Compass Residential Sales Team, if you wanted to ask some curlier questions...
0800 648 888

Cheers!
Will

When do you plan to have live WIMAX sites in Lower Hutt. Alicetown is the suburb.

There are already heaps of wireless options in Wellington. Look at NZ wireless or smartlinx

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