Are the Chorus 'network build team' the ones who do the treching?

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gished

260 posts

Ultimate Geek

#198009 22-Jun-2016 10:44

As per the title, I'm trying to figure out how my fibre install is progressing. As far as I'm aware, I'm waiting on a ground crew to unblock some duct so that another Chorus team can run fibre from the road up my driveway to a yet to be installed ETP. The last update I have from Spark is that the 'Network build team' have estimated the completion date by tomorrow.

When I asked the chap at Spark yesterday what the network build team does, he said they "make the networks around the neighborhood, and once the job is complete, will update the 'Records' team... who'll then arrange the provisioning team". When I asked him if that means the Network build team does trenching etc he said no. I'm confused.

Sounddude

I fix stuff!
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Vocus

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#1578206 22-Jun-2016 11:18

Yes (Chorus will have contracted the job out however).

vexxxboy

3331 posts

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#1578211 22-Jun-2016 11:28

you could tell the Chorus provisioning teams in Rotorua, they had the vans with the trailers and a generator on it.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

Wheelbarrow01

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#1578762 23-Jun-2016 01:57

gished:

As per the title, I'm trying to figure out how my fibre install is progressing. As far as I'm aware, I'm waiting on a ground crew to unblock some duct so that another Chorus team can run fibre from the road up my driveway to a yet to be installed ETP. The last update I have from Spark is that the 'Network build team' have estimated the completion date by tomorrow.

When I asked the chap at Spark yesterday what the network build team does, he said they "make the networks around the neighborhood, and once the job is complete, will update the 'Records' team... who'll then arrange the provisioning team". When I asked him if that means the Network build team does trenching etc he said no. I'm confused.

I gather your property is part of a shared driveway scenario or MDU?

It sounds to me as if the Network Build team were close to finishing their part of the process (installing the required network from the roadside cabinet to your boundary) when they discovered the blockage in the duct. What usually happens is they will pass it off to a 3rd party contractor who locates the blockage and then removes whatever is causing it. Once that is signed off, the Network Build process continues where it left off. Network records will always be updated at the conclusion of Network Build.

Once Network Build is complete and the records updated, Chorus will generally contact you to arrange a final site scope, at which time the scoper will determine if any trenching etc is required on your property to get the fibre from your boundary to your house. If so, he will arrange a Civil Crew to complete this, prior to the final installation date being booked.

So generally speaking, Network Build = Trenching etc outside your boundary, whereas Civil Work = Trenching etc inside your boundary

It's worth mentioning that depending on the location and severity of the blockage, Chorus or their subbies may need council consent to dig up a road or footpath again - hence why it can sometimes take a while for a blocked duct to be resolved. It's very hard for an RSP to get updates for their customer when this happens - it just takes as long as it takes unfortunately.

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer Chorus NZ Ltd

gished

260 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1578890 23-Jun-2016 11:15

Wheelbarrow01:

I gather your property is part of a shared driveway scenario or MDU?

It sounds to me as if the Network Build team were close to finishing their part of the process (installing the required network from the roadside cabinet to your boundary) when they discovered the blockage in the duct. What usually happens is they will pass it off to a 3rd party contractor who locates the blockage and then removes whatever is causing it. Once that is signed off, the Network Build process continues where it left off. Network records will always be updated at the conclusion of Network Build.

Once Network Build is complete and the records updated, Chorus will generally contact you to arrange a final site scope, at which time the scoper will determine if any trenching etc is required on your property to get the fibre from your boundary to your house. If so, he will arrange a Civil Crew to complete this, prior to the final installation date being booked.

So generally speaking, Network Build = Trenching etc outside your boundary, whereas Civil Work = Trenching etc inside your boundary

It's worth mentioning that depending on the location and severity of the blockage, Chorus or their subbies may need council consent to dig up a road or footpath again - hence why it can sometimes take a while for a blocked duct to be resolved. It's very hard for an RSP to get updates for their customer when this happens - it just takes as long as it takes unfortunately.

Yes, it's a right of way. The first Chorus guys who were going to try getting the road -> boundry part sorted used some sonar device to trace a rod along the duct and found a blockage on my side of the property (in my garden fortunately). They also pointed out that the fibre cabinet and the existing duct that runs the current copper up the (shared) driveway to both properties are on different sides so they'd need to cut across the driveway to get cabinet. It's supposedly meant to be completed by today but aside from some spray paint which appeared last week sometime indicating the gas main, I haven't seen or heard anything.

I guess I'll just have to ask Spark again for an update next week. Even if the response from chorus is that its still in progress then so be it....

Wheelbarrow01

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#1579106 23-Jun-2016 17:05

gished:

Wheelbarrow01:

I gather your property is part of a shared driveway scenario or MDU?

It sounds to me as if the Network Build team were close to finishing their part of the process (installing the required network from the roadside cabinet to your boundary) when they discovered the blockage in the duct. What usually happens is they will pass it off to a 3rd party contractor who locates the blockage and then removes whatever is causing it. Once that is signed off, the Network Build process continues where it left off. Network records will always be updated at the conclusion of Network Build.

Once Network Build is complete and the records updated, Chorus will generally contact you to arrange a final site scope, at which time the scoper will determine if any trenching etc is required on your property to get the fibre from your boundary to your house. If so, he will arrange a Civil Crew to complete this, prior to the final installation date being booked.

So generally speaking, Network Build = Trenching etc outside your boundary, whereas Civil Work = Trenching etc inside your boundary

It's worth mentioning that depending on the location and severity of the blockage, Chorus or their subbies may need council consent to dig up a road or footpath again - hence why it can sometimes take a while for a blocked duct to be resolved. It's very hard for an RSP to get updates for their customer when this happens - it just takes as long as it takes unfortunately.

Yes, it's a right of way. The first Chorus guys who were going to try getting the road -> boundry part sorted used some sonar device to trace a rod along the duct and found a blockage on my side of the property (in my garden fortunately). They also pointed out that the fibre cabinet and the existing duct that runs the current copper up the (shared) driveway to both properties are on different sides so they'd need to cut across the driveway to get cabinet. It's supposedly meant to be completed by today but aside from some spray paint which appeared last week sometime indicating the gas main, I haven't seen or heard anything.

I guess I'll just have to ask Spark again for an update next week. Even if the response from chorus is that its still in progress then so be it....

OK yea, it sounds like in your case they plan to use the existing copper duct to blow the fibre though. This method is not unusual, and it's also not unusual to come across blockages in these old copper ducts. As it's on your property it will indeed be a civil crew tasked with sorting the blockage out. The good news is that they won't require council consent for this (in most cases). It's probably more a case of waiting for the specialist unblocking equipment which is in short supply at the moment due to the sheer volume of fibre orders in the system.

The issue of the fibre drop off being located on the other side of the driveway to your duct is also not uncommon. I suspect they will just hand trench across the drive at the boundary then reinstate using hotmix. It should be pretty straight forward but as you've alluded to, they'll be waiting to confirm exact locations for power, water and gas first.

I am currently on sick leave due to a back injury, but I hope to be back at work next week. Flick me a private message with your Spark order details and I am happy to look into t when I can.

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer Chorus NZ Ltd