Flat / Apartment UFB Term Contracts

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mctaguma

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#111656 10-Nov-2012 12:33

Hi all,

I'm living in a flat / apartment in Timaru, and am looking at getting UFB connected.

My question is, is there any way to get around the issue of having a term contract?

My landlord is happy for me to get fibre connected, so that's not an issue.

I would probably be happy to pay for part of the install myself, but the contracts won't work for me as I may move to another flat in February 2013?

Any ideas? How are other tenants handling this?

sbiddle

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#715169 10-Nov-2012 14:57

Term contracts are the reality of UFB no matter where you sign up. This isn't going to change any time soon.

The simple fact is your install will cost typically cost somewhere in the vicinity of $1 - $2k or more if it's a complex install. That cost is paid for by Chorus or your local LFC who have to recover some of that cost in part by imposing term contracts.

The simply reality if you're somebody who moves around a lot or isn't staying at a place for less than a year then UFB isn't going to be viable unless you're prepared to buy your way out of the contract.

lucky015

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#715212 10-Nov-2012 16:41

That would make perfect sense if they didn't remove the copper lines, Unless they are seriously concerned that the next person to move into the property will have no interest in fixed broadband services then all they are trying to do is line their own pockets and in a country full of renters it means UFB is never going to get anywhere.

sbiddle

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#715225 10-Nov-2012 17:17

lucky015: That would make perfect sense if they didn't remove the copper lines, Unless they are seriously concerned that the next person to move into the property will have no interest in fixed broadband services then all they are trying to do is line their own pockets and in a country full of renters it means UFB is never going to get anywhere.

IMHO your argument doesn't hold a lot of weight.

Copper will only be removed in a small minority of installs, typically when extra overhead cables aren't allowed on poles due to local body guidelines (so copper drop will be replaced by fibre) or where copper may be used as a draw wire for underground services and reinstating the copper would be problematic.

in 10 years time once UFB is in place and we look towards a world circa 2025 where copper will very likely be decommissioned term contracts wouldn't be needed once a growing number of premises already have fibre and the ONT installed and the costs of an install drops to virtually nil as it can simply be a self install where the customer plugs their router into their ONT.

lucky015

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#715236 10-Nov-2012 17:22

I'll admit I haven't particularly seen many installs but those that I have seen have all had copper removed.

My point still stands, If the contracts are to ensure continued UFB service then are they really that concerned that the next person to move into a property is not going to continue to use a fixed service?

Zeon

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#715245 10-Nov-2012 17:38

Hmm its a tricky one, if you could pass the contract onto someone if you moved that would be fine, perhaps at a discounted rate e.g. you offer the next tenant $10 off per month or something like that as an incentive. Pretty risky though.

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sbiddle

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#715281 10-Nov-2012 19:19

lucky015: I'll admit I haven't particularly seen many installs but those that I have seen have all had copper removed.

My point still stands, If the contracts are to ensure continued UFB service then are they really that concerned that the next person to move into a property is not going to continue to use a fixed service?

Copper removal only occurs is absolutely necessary. It is not standard procedure to remove it.

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InstallerUFB

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#715291 10-Nov-2012 19:54

sbiddle:
lucky015: I'll admit I haven't particularly seen many installs but those that I have seen have all had copper removed.

My point still stands, If the contracts are to ensure continued UFB service then are they really that concerned that the next person to move into a property is not going to continue to use a fixed service?

Copper removal only occurs is absolutely necessary. It is not standard procedure to remove it.

absolutly - infact none of the installs i have been involve with in the last 4 mths have we removed the copper and I think only on 2 was the copper feeder disconnected at the hse on the installation of fibre (both on specific request of the end user, not the provivder or network operator)