Anyone know why the only RSP in Kapiti is Spark

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Anyone know why the only RSP in Kapiti is Spark

ckc

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Topic # 153577 1-Oct-2014 20:53

So we're moving to Kapiti in two weeks, but apparently Kapiti is the only area of the country where the only RSP is Spark.

I hate Spark with a passion. They monumentally screwed up last time, and I'm loath to go near them unless I have to. But it looks like I'm going to have to.

Anyone know why Kapiti is so special that only Spark service it? Greymouth and Feilding have more RSPs.

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Reply # 1145116 1-Oct-2014 21:00

Because nobody else yet has equipment and handovers in place. As to why? You'd have to ask other RSPs. My pick would be the size of the current coverage area combined with the UFB build out rate mean it's not cost effective for other players to look at the area yet. With UFB there will many areas where your choice of RSPs is limited because it will never make financial sense for some RSPs to deploy handovers.

Spark were the first and have only been there since around early August or so - before that you couldn't get UFB at all.

ckc

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Reply # 1145117 1-Oct-2014 21:03

Okay.

Now you're going to have to tell me what you mean by equipment and handovers. :P

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sbiddle

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Reply # 1145119 1-Oct-2014 21:09

For an RSP to provide coverage in an area it has to install backhaul into that area, and possibly hardware as well. Purely as a ballpark figure (which will depending on what an ISP is going to do, their size and their bandwidth requirements) this could easily be a $25k upfront cost and maybe monthly costs of somewhere in the $5k range (could be 1/2 this if you're smaller). With the very low margins on residential UFB offering you could be in a situation where you need hundreds of connections before you'll even break even on your investment.

With xDSL services Chorus offer tail services to get the connections out of an area back to the RSPs network (which could be anywhere in the country). Chorus and LFCs are not allowed to provide tail services as part of UFB.

ckc

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Reply # 1145122 1-Oct-2014 21:16

Oh. Interesting. Thank you.

Amazing that Levin and Feilding, tiny by comparison to the huge slew of Paraparaumu and Paraparaumu Beach covered by the UFB, only gets Spark. Mind you, lots of old people who trust Telecom...

...I guess. This is a guess. I don't mean to malign senior citizens here. :)

plambrechtsen

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Reply # 1145127 1-Oct-2014 21:23

Spark of today is a very different beast to even 3 years ago. Let alone 6+ years ago.

Knowing the number of customers on the Kapiti handover I think Steve hit the answer on the head. Having interconnect at each region with a handover isn't a cheap exercise and there are non-trivial monthly costs with providing Broadband service.

If the UFB installation processes thus far are anything to go by, once it's been connected up and the ONT is in place, powered on and correctly configured by the LFC. Getting internet should be easy and fast. We are the fastest for Fibre or so Truenet say, and that's from no accident at all.

If you do order through us, feel free to email me "pl at spark.co.nz" if you have any concerns and I can see whats going on.

But depending on the premises (single dwelling that you own vs rented house down a shared driveway or apartment block) the time for installation can vary wildly. All of that is completely outside our control unfouruntately. But we do have a pretty good reputation for working effectively with the LFCs. Just say'n.

ckc

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Reply # 1145145 1-Oct-2014 21:33

This was actually the spark of 10 months ago. Wasn't the service part, it was the customer service part. :) I can totally give you another go though.

House is rented, but it's a freestanding house with its own driveway. I want to get it planned out as soon as possible to avoid delays, because I need internet to work and mobile ain't so reliable. I'm just working to do everything in advance.

Thanks for the replies guys. I really appreciate it.

plambrechtsen

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Reply # 1145149 1-Oct-2014 21:37

I highly recommend if you want to order UFB it use the online chat:

https://store.spark.co.nz/internet/addresschecker

Then click on the online chat on the right side. Then you should get emailed a order number and that group are great.

quickymart

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Reply # 1145234 1-Oct-2014 23:34

Silly question, but is cable not an option where you are? I know TCL/Vodafone cover most of the Kapiti Coast.

wellygary

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Reply # 1145357 2-Oct-2014 09:35

quickymart: I know TCL/Vodafone cover most of the Kapiti Coast.

And your answer is probably this...
The take up rate of fibre on the coast is likely to be lower than in other places as its already has an existing HFC service, VF have no incentive to provide UFB as they would prefer you sign up to their cable offering.... so I suspect other RSPs don't see it worth their while...

Once you get furhter up into horowhenua there is no existing HFC network, thus UFB is the only solution...

chevrolux

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Reply # 1145369 2-Oct-2014 09:45

Just moved to Raumati Beach.

Ordered Vodafone Cable 130/10. They are trenching the street for UFB now. Will I get it installed?... Nope. What's the point?!

....but more to the point I am only renting this place for 6 months so will probably get it installed when we buy.

nickb800

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Reply # 1145395 2-Oct-2014 10:01

Given that you have stated that you need internet to work, and given the number of threads about delays with UFB installs (understandable as everyone is still figuring things out in this area) then I would suggest that you sign up for a boring old xDSL service at first to get you up and running, then order UFB. This will likely cost you more, but is probably worth it if you rely on the internet for work.

Hosting direct apparently offer UFB in Kapiti, but if you search Geekzone you will find that they aren't held in high regard. All ISPs mess up, I'd sugget Spark is a far better choice than HD

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Reply # 1145407 2-Oct-2014 10:16

wellygary:
quickymart: I know TCL/Vodafone cover most of the Kapiti Coast.

And your answer is probably this...
The take up rate of fibre on the coast is likely to be lower than in other places as its already has an existing HFC service

I think you've pretty much answered the question.

My understanding is Vodafone's market share of the phone & internet market on the Kapiti Coast is (or at one point was) somewhere in the vicinity of 65% of premises. That means a very small market for Chorus services. With such a low uptake of this RSPs are probably not of the opinion they'll see a mass move away from Vodafone to UFB services.

ckc

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Reply # 1145411 2-Oct-2014 10:17

quickymart: Silly question, but is cable not an option where you are? I know TCL/Vodafone cover most of the Kapiti Coast.

Well, I want 100/50. But if my experience with Spark and VDSL was unpleasant, then I'm probably suffering from PTSD from the last time I dealt with Vodafone. I wouldn't touch Vodafone with someone else's, to be honest. All we got last time was waiting the better part of a year for them to catch up with everyone else's offerings. Entirely half-arsed. While their customer service might be pleasant to deal with, it's generally because they're really good at apologising profusely for not knowing or something going wrong. At the corporate and process level it's badly coordinated and slow to get anything done. Might be different for other people, or if nothing went wrong, but I just don't want to go there.

They've had a terrible website for years and done nothing about it. Case in point: checking out the new address for cable, select the cable option and Vodafone site came up with "There is a problem" and then gives a bunch of information about UFB.

If I can't even get straight information before I sign up, I don't want to lock myself into a contract with them.

nickb800: Given that you have stated that you need internet to work, and given the number of threads about delays with UFB installs (understandable as everyone is still figuring things out in this area) then I would suggest that you sign up for a boring old xDSL service at first to get you up and running, then order UFB. This will likely cost you more, but is probably worth it if you rely on the internet for work.

Hosting direct apparently offer UFB in Kapiti, but if you search Geekzone you will find that they aren't held in high regard. All ISPs mess up, I'd sugget Spark is a far better choice than HD

I can work around it at first. And actually, I'm going to be back in Dunedin for a week two weeks after we move, so it's not a huge problem. Once I'm established there though and it's all up and running, it'll be fine, I'm sure. :)

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Reply # 1145413 2-Oct-2014 10:19

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This issue has been a major issue for schools on the Coast, until a month back when Spark added backhaul into the region there were no others, so even though the MoE had paid Chorus to connect every school on the coast to fibre, they could use it for nothing.

Cyril

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Reply # 1145415 2-Oct-2014 10:20

If you don't want to deal with NZ's two biggest players then you'd better start looking at ADSL2+ or VDSL2 availability...

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