Gigatown (1Gbps) broadband comes to 6 more cities

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Gigatown (1Gbps) broadband comes to 6 more cities

myfullflavour

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Topic # 201452 19-Aug-2016 09:49

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Exciting news folks!

The Local Fibre Companies Enable, Northpower & Ultrafast Fibre have launched 1Gbps broadband plans in their areas.

From October, subject to ISPs offering the service, customers will be able to get a 1Gbps download 500Mbps upload plan (similar to Gigatown Dunedin) in Christchurch, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Tauranga, Wanganui & Whangarei.

You might be aware that Ultrafast Fibre already offered residential 1Gbps plans - we certainly are - we're the market leader in this space.

The key change from October for existing customers is the upload speed is increasing to 500Mbps and the price is coming down.

We've updated our plans already for customers in Tauranga & Hamilton.

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Meow
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Reply # 1614131 19-Aug-2016 09:52

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Oh come on! Even though the 200/200Mbit plan is really overkill for me I'd totally do 1000/500Mbit for teh lulz but now won't see it anytime soon because... Chorus.

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myfullflavour

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Reply # 1614148 19-Aug-2016 10:13

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It's on the Chorus roadmap, I heard either 2017 or 2018 being chucked around by someone closer to the implementation. Wouldn't be surprised if it's fast-tracked to keep up with the Local Fibre Co's.

EDIT: Chorus have already done some industry-wide consultation on it.

sxz

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Reply # 1614151 19-Aug-2016 10:20

2 Degrees, are you listening? :) My plan expires in 6 months so you have that long to get 1Gbps plans! (P.S. stop stealing my data at the end of each month)

Also, I couldn't see your Hamilton plans here:
"We've updated our plans already for customers in Tauranga & Hamilton."

meesham

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Reply # 1614153 19-Aug-2016 10:21

Good work to the non-Chorus LFCs for doing this and pushing Chorus, while it's probably not that useful to the vast majority of people it's nice to have the option of faster speeds (with pretty sharp pricing there, Full Flavour!)

myfullflavour

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Reply # 1614202 19-Aug-2016 10:47

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sxz: Also, I couldn't see your Hamilton plans here:
"We've updated our plans already for customers in Tauranga & Hamilton."

It's all on that one page. We've tweaked it so it's less ambiguous now.

ripdog

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Reply # 1614454 19-Aug-2016 16:39

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Oh wow, that's a killer plan y'all are running there. I'm paying $130 for 200/200, and you're offering 1000/500 for $110?!?! Is that even profitable?!

Come oooon to Wanganui!

EDIT: Oh, I'll just repeat my question from the other thread. Is this plain old GPON? Are 10GPON upgrades on the cards when needed? How many gigabit customers per OLT?

toejam316

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Reply # 1614532 19-Aug-2016 17:46

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@2degreesCare

Wouldn't mind if you guys have something to say on this matter about maybe selling this service - I'm keen.

myfullflavour

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Reply # 1614534 19-Aug-2016 17:47

From top of my head it's either 16 or 24 subs per 2.4Gbps down, 1.2Gbps up.

ISP margins on Gig are identical to 100/20.

Behodar

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Reply # 1614539 19-Aug-2016 17:59

myfullflavour: From top of my head it's either 16 or 24 subs per 2.4Gbps down, 1.2Gbps up.

I believe it's 24 in older areas and 16 in newer ones.

myfullflavour

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Reply # 1614567 19-Aug-2016 18:51

We've published a bit more perspective here:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1608/S00685/gigabit-dream-becomes-reality-for-3000-tauranga-businesses.htm

CYaBro

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Reply # 1614570 19-Aug-2016 19:03

Nice!

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ripdog

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Reply # 1614695 20-Aug-2016 05:08

Thanks for the replies. I'm just wondering now, if the customer split and the underlying technology are the same, why did LFCs wait this long to launch cheap 1000/500 plans? If backhaul was the issue, then the delay would be ISPs to cause, not LFCs.

Also, what happens if significant numbers of the customers on one OLT get gigabit? If only two out of 24 customers could actually use the gigabit they're paying for at the same time, then it almost begins to sound like false advertising, no? Obviously overprovisioning is a reality on all residential connections now, but when a theoretical maximum capacity of 24gbps is being sold on a 2.4gbps line, it seems a bit excessive.

Not to mention Truenet scores might take a tumble.

Just an uninformed opinion, if anyone had some context to share, I'd be interested.

BarTender

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Reply # 1614709 20-Aug-2016 07:40

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I have this odd feeling gigabit to the customer on 24/32 way splits with unlimited plans is Conklin's part two.
I would love to see what commitments there is to deload certain PON ports when sustained usage gets above a certain point. Then it comes down to how well the LCD built their network with how many more splitters they can add to the FATs and how many pairs for back haul they first put in.

DarkShadow

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Reply # 1614710 20-Aug-2016 07:55

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ripdog:

Thanks for the replies. I'm just wondering now, if the customer split and the underlying technology are the same, why did LFCs wait this long to launch cheap 1000/500 plans? If backhaul was the issue, then the delay would be ISPs to cause, not LFCs.

I had a feeling the imminent launch of UFB2 has something to do with it. The UFB2 contracts specify that there is to be a gigabit residential service. It wouldn't look good if Piha has gigabit services while the main centers don't. Also Vodafone's DOCSYS 3.1 upgrade might have something to do with this as well.

Behodar

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Reply # 1614716 20-Aug-2016 08:34

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That Bigpipe article is interesting, especially this bit:

"Soon it shouldn’t matter if a child lives in Auckland or in Twizel – they will be able to get the same digital opportunities. Bigpipe will be here every step of the way."

Bigpipe has UFB coverage in six or seven cities now and apparently has no plans to expand further...

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