Getting Chrous to install on new sub divided site, is it worth it?

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Getting Chrous to install on new sub divided site, is it worth it?

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#153976 14-Oct-2014 13:24

A friend is subdividing their large property, adding 2 sites on the back. I suggested to them that they should get fibre installed on all the sites, so they don't have to dig a trench later on. They however aren't in an active UFB area yet, and I don't think it is scheduled either. Although it is an urban area so should 'eventually get it'. They have been quoted a large amount to get Chorus to install it,and that doesn't include trench work, or installation of equipment. They also require some form of ongoing service contract to be signed, which I presume is ongoing maintenance. Not sure if there is an ongoing charge for that, as it doesn'[t appear to be specified. So this is all a cost for something that won' t be used until UFB is available in the area. The thing is that individual UFB connections to each house appear to be free if UFB is being installed in the area. So I was wondering if they maybe better to wait until UFB is actually available, and then get it installed. Anyone subdivided their land and installed UFB in readiness? Anyone got any suggestions? TIA

hio77

12999 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lizard Networks

#1153595 14-Oct-2014 13:27

Ild say your best bet is to install chorus spec conduit so when it comes to it, the installation process is as easy as can be.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#1153610 14-Oct-2014 13:52

hio77: Ild say your best bet is to install chorus spec conduit so when it comes to it, the installation process is as easy as can be.

Yes that sounds like a good idea, and probably makes everyones life easier, then it can just be pulled through.

Chorusnz

430 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Chorus

#1153700 14-Oct-2014 15:40

If a property is being subdivided, the local council will impose certain conditions relating to the utility services that must be delivered BEFORE they issue the new title.

The developer (your friend) will be required to arrange for water, waste-water, stormwater and electricity supply to the boundary of each of the lots. There is usually also a requirement to reticulate for telecommunications services at the same time as the other utilities.

Part of reticulating for utilities is to get the service from the building site to the roadside (installing the on-site pipe/duct/cable etc down the right-of-way or driveway that will be created).

The second part of reticulation is having capacity in the street to connect to, that goes all the way back to the supply. In the case of a copper cable network if there is a 25-pair cable in the street and 16 houses, then there is plenty of capacity. If every quater-acre section is subdivided to add two more town houses, suddenly there is demand for 48 lines and only a 25-pair cable. Sometimes this demand is forecast so we build the capacity ahead of the subdivision activity and then charge each developer their portion of the cost (in which case you won't see us digging up the road and laying a new cable as it was done some time ago). Other times the demand is not forecast, so we will actually dig & lay the new capacity as it is required.

The cost of reticulation factors in a portion of the total cost of adding the additional capacity in the street. This applies no matter what the utility is - water, waste-water, stormwater, power or telco services.

In a Chorus UFB area, your friend can elect to make the sites "Fibre-Only", in which case a standard UFB reticulation fee applies. If UFB has not rolled down this street, this will mean that no service can be offered until it arrives (no copper means no DSL).

Developers are responsible for digging the trenches to lay the utility pipes/ducts/cables to ensure that all services are laid at the appropriate depth & separation (for H&S ). This is done under the supervision of the network utility provider. The developer is responsible for co-ordinating the timing of this work to fit in with their construction timetable.

In addition to doing the cabling, jointing, splicing etc. Chorus create network records related to the "new" address that is created by the subdivision process. (i.e. The house at 25 Anywhere Ave becomes 1/25 Anywhere Ave and the two new properties become 2/25 Anywhere Ave and 3/25 Anywhere Ave etc). Once the reticulation of power, water, & teleco services have been completed, each of the utility providers will provide a completion certificate, which the developer can take to the council to confirm that the development complies with the council's subdivision requirements. The council then issues title for the new properties.

When the council registers the new titles, we get an overnight feed from TerraLink which updates our Address Master Database.

The cable records relating to the reticulation are added to our address database so that any ISP anywhere in the country can now look up this address and see what services can be delivered there.

So running "green duct" out to the road does not constitute reticulation for subdivision purposes. Your friend should consult a surveyor or engineer who is experienced in property development and is aware of the local council requirements under the relevant district plan - the rules vary throughout the country, but the basics as defined above will apply in most cases.

The folks at the Chorus Subdivision Group (http://www.chorus.co.nz/land-development ) are the right channel to deal with in this case.

^GL

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#1153895 14-Oct-2014 19:24

Thanks Chorus for the detailed explanation. They do also have a quote for a Copper install, think it is about 2k per property, so that would cover the councils requirements. They were just looking at future proofing it for UFB, rather than having to rip up the drive where the trench may have to be dug. They will be contacting a company that is used to subdividing property, who will know all the ins and outs of everything.