Fibre Optic

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djrm

191 posts

Master Geek

#101994 14-May-2012 07:53

I live in a small community with around 168 properties situated approximately 25kms from central Auckland. We have no wired broadband and there are no plans to do this. We are approximately 7.5 kms from the nearest exchange but only 2.3 kms from the nearest fibred cabinet.

At present we have a wireless signal coming in from Botany but the network seems to be on its last legs with more more outages each day and speeds that resemble dial up at times.

Therefore the community needs a solution quite soon. I read a recent article about communities in Lancashire England that have payed for their own fibre and also dug their own trenches. I am not suggesting digging trenches and permission would be a nightmare but I have heard that slinging the fibre over existing telegraph pole networks in the US of A is one way of providing to rural properties relatively cheaply.

So my question is about logistics, costs and contacts in the industry.

(Serious comments only and a slap for the first person who suggests I move house!)

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Chorus

#624612 14-May-2012 08:25

Do you know about the Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI)? Have you asked your retail service provider if your community will benefit from it?

In April last year, Chorus and Vodafone were jointly selected to deliver the Government?s RBI objectives.

Chorus will deploy around 3,100km of new fibre optic cable to connect 93 percent of rural schools by the end of 2015. We will also install or upgrade 1,000 fibre-fed cabinets to enable 5Mbps broadband or faster to about 57 per cent of rural customers.

Vodafone has committed to deliver 5Mbps wireless broadband services to more than 80 percent of rural households.

sbiddle

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#624614 14-May-2012 08:34

The first thing to do is establish whether you are covered by the RBI rollout, whether this be cabled or wireless.

grant_k

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#624627 14-May-2012 08:55

djrm: I live in a small community with around 168 properties situated approximately 25kms from central Auckland. We have no wired broadband and there are no plans to do this. We are approximately 7.5 kms from the nearest exchange but only 2.3 kms from the nearest fibred cabinet.

We are in a very similar situation to you: Around 7km from the roadside cabinet we are connected to, so not possible to get ADSL with any decent speed or reliability, yet we have fibre running past our gate!

For about 3 weeks now, we have been connected via Vodafone's RBI with download speed of 4-5Mbps and Upload speed of 1.5-2 Mbps. Reliability has been great and I am finally able to stream HD video content, which was not possible on our old Kordia Extend connection.

First thing to do is check the coverage via this map:

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/about/media-centre/rural-broadband-initiative/coverage/

You may be lucky and find that you already have coverage (green zone) or it may be coming in the next 12 months (blue zone).

Out of interest, which network are you currently connected to?

Behodar

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#624909 14-May-2012 15:00

I live in a valley where thankfully we do have ADSL2+ but no VDSL or fibre. I'd like a faster upload speed, and my neighbour that works with HD video needs something faster. A guy just up the street also wants something better, so we contacted Chorus (via my ISP) to get details around the costs to trench fibre etc (it's about 1.5 km to the fibre-fed ADSL2+ cabinet).

Alas, it seems that Chorus isn't interested. It didn't matter that we were prepared to pay for it, basically Chorus has its own ideas about where/when fibre will be laid, and wouldn't budge.

ChorusVan

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Chorus

#624939 14-May-2012 15:49

Our UFB deployment areas will put fibre in reach of urban homes and businesses. If you're not included within these areas then there are business fibre services available to order at a premium, but the costs of these can be very high depending upon the available network.

What normally happens is that you make a request for the service through your retail service provider (RSP), not through Chorus. Only RSPs can order services from Chorus.

They will let you know if you're included within our UFB areas and if we've released timings on our rollout. If you're outside of this area or want to have fibre ahead of the deployment then we can look into the feasibility of getting you connected - there can be costs associated with the investigation, but its up to your provider what costs they pass on.

We're not in the business of turning away RSPs, when they have customers willing to pay for the service, so I'm a little surprised at your comment. Happy to ask our team to contact your RSP, if you drop me an email with your details.

Behodar

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#624947 14-May-2012 15:57

That's interesting, thanks for that. I'll direct my RSP (TelstraClear) to this thread and see what they say :)

djrm

191 posts

Master Geek

#625092 14-May-2012 20:39

Thanks for the comments. I have been checking the progress of the RBI for a few years but alas Vodafone have decided that we are low priority and wont get it till the back end of next year, possibly 2014. We need solutions quicker than that.

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grant_k

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#625137 14-May-2012 22:09

djrm: Thanks for the comments. I have been checking the progress of the RBI for a few years but alas Vodafone have decided that we are low priority and wont get it till the back end of next year, possibly 2014. We need solutions quicker than that.

OK, here's another thought for you. Araneo Wireless cater for situations like yours. One of their staff contacted me recently regarding an enquiry I made on behalf of a friend who is in a deep valley with several households all still using dialup, because there is no broadband at all.

Check out their coverage map here:

https://www.araneo.net.nz/index.php/coverage/regional-north-island/

and see if there is anything in your vicinity. From the discussions I had, Araneo were prepared to install a DMR link onto a nearby hilltop from where the whole neighbourhood could be serviced. It wouldn't have been cheap, but they were prepared to do it, so long as sufficient households signed up. Might be worth a look.

raytaylor

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#625177 14-May-2012 23:24

Give Ubernet a call and see what they can do. Generally cheaper than Araneo i would imagine.
http://www.ubergroup.co.nz/broadband-wireless/coverage-wireless.uber

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grant_k

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#625185 15-May-2012 00:11

raytaylor: Give Ubernet a call and see what they can do. Generally cheaper than Araneo i would imagine.
http://www.ubergroup.co.nz/broadband-wireless/coverage-wireless.uber

Nice try, but no use near Botany, where the OP is located!

DonGould

3892 posts

Uber Geek

#625658 15-May-2012 19:09

Check out the wireless providers page on GoWifi's web site for a list of providers in your area and then make contact.

The bottom line in my view is that if you have a community who will join together and deliver a commitment then someone will step up and fill the gap. Other wise you are at the whim of where providers are interested in building.

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Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

coffeebaron

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#625887 16-May-2012 08:35

djrm: Thanks for the comments. I have been checking the progress of the RBI for a few years but alas Vodafone have decided that we are low priority and wont get it till the back end of next year, possibly 2014. We need solutions quicker than that.

PM me some address details and I'll look into some options for you.
Thanks
Fraser

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coffeebaron

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#630042 24-May-2012 20:17

Your answer is here:

Just a few doors up from you! Will leave you to post back the name of this little community out west.

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cyril7

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#630071 24-May-2012 21:35

But Fraser, your info is totally in conflict to the OPs orignal post..

We are approximately 7.5 kms from the nearest exchange but only 2.3 kms from the nearest fibred cabinet.

What gives

Cyril

coffeebaron

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#630088 24-May-2012 22:20

Work has only just started on this cabinet. There was nothing here only two weeks ago.

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