UCG, how long is too long for these guys to do some work?

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › UCG, how long is too long for these guys to do some work?

TeaLeaf

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Topic # 230259 15-Feb-2018 17:05

So had fibre approved in November as per their design. But neither myself or the body corp have heard anything in 2months !

I know Chorus is painfully slow, but these guys are worse and zero communication to emails.

Do I just sit in la la land for another 6 months wondering if somebody is doing something?

I hate Orgs who use "fashionable" terms for projects like "Agile", certainly not agile at procurement. If they are having red tape issues they need to work on fixing them before using methodology words like "Agile".

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Reply # 1958689 15-Feb-2018 17:42

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2 Months is not that long really

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Ex JohnR VodafoneNZ 17 years 4 days

toejam316

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Reply # 1958726 15-Feb-2018 18:24

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Things can slow down quite a bit for an MDU, and (personal opinion ahoy!) UCG aren't exactly the flashest outfit anyway - suffice to say not a single person who I know who's worked in the industry thinks highly of them, and to my understanding the remuneration on offer is not high enough to attract what I would call competent skilled workers. YMMV, but I suspect that in just over a year, UCG's name will be a bit more prolific, and said in a similar way to Visionstream.

quickymart

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Reply # 1958803 15-Feb-2018 21:42

I've heard of some complicated MDU installs taking almost six months to complete - really tricky ones a year (those were highly complex though).

webwat

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Reply # 1958822 15-Feb-2018 22:14

However some building management organisations make life difficult for the contractors, who probably need more support to get communication flowing better with body corps etc.

Qualified in business, certified in fibre, stuck in copper, have to keep going ^_^

networkn

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Reply # 1958833 15-Feb-2018 22:35

UCG were involved in a clients fibre installation they were a complete NIGHTMARE to deal with. Impossible to get a straight answer from, didn't return calls, escalations went nowhere, nothing short of disgraceful.

We ended up lodging a formal complaint to Chorus about it and they took some action.

Wheelbarrow01

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Chorus

Reply # 1958867 16-Feb-2018 08:06

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Bear in mind that if any part of the design involves digging on the road or footpath outside your building or property, council consent (and possibly traffic management plan approval) will be required - for which there can sometimes be a significant wait.

Have you asked your RSP to contact Chorus requesting an update on progress? Chorus' desired completion time for network build is 20 working days. Chorus stats show that in December, the average build time on UCG jobs was 40 working days, which improved in January to 24 working days.

For orders I have issued (for Spark Digital customers), I proactively contact Chorus requesting a progress update and estimated completion date as soon as that 20 working day benchmark is reached. However I suspect some RSPs don't proactively manage their customers' orders or chase for updates with the same level of tenacity.

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

Chorusnz

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Reply # 1959083 16-Feb-2018 12:30

TeaLeaf:

So had fibre approved in November as per their design. But neither myself or the body corp have heard anything in 2months !

I know Chorus is painfully slow, but these guys are worse and zero communication to emails.

Do I just sit in la la land for another 6 months wondering if somebody is doing something?

I hate Orgs who use "fashionable" terms for projects like "Agile", certainly not agile at procurement. If they are having red tape issues they need to work on fixing them before using methodology words like "Agile".

Building Fibre into a Multi dwelling unit certainly has its own set of difficulties that can influence how long the work takes. There are often extra consents required and multiple stakeholders involved that cause delays or hold up critical tasks. You can read more about the process’s involved for MDU work on our website here: https://www.chorus.co.nz/fibre-centre/mdu-process.

Chorus works with multiple Service partners including UCG and Visionstream with whom we are always working on ways to improve quality and efficiency. Do keep in mind that this is the largest infrastructure project of our generation which comes with its own unique set of challenges.

@TeaLeaf waiting since November is certainly longer than we would expect on average for an MUD build. Your broadband provider will be getting updates regarding any delays and should be keeping you in the loop. However we’d be happy to look into this in more depth, if you could please Private Message us with the address. ^Richard

TeaLeaf

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Reply # 1959542 17-Feb-2018 11:43

Thanks for that. I didnt mean UCG specifically in the title, I should have said the connection, just UCG is who emailed last.

Its design is simple, no digging, following existing copper conduit with the fibre pit being in the same place as the copper.

I just feel like its sitting in a queue and has no priority. But its been since February last year that this process began. If it took me that long to get my electricity connected id be in big trouble.

quickymart

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Reply # 1959556 17-Feb-2018 12:00

Totally different utility, not really fair to compare.

TeaLeaf

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Reply # 1962295 22-Feb-2018 16:08

Well Ill compare it to a telephone line, which it is.

After approval Ive not been told one of the landlords has objected directly to Chorus.

My understanding is the Government has put in place legalities for limited reasons to refuse?

This has no impact on any unit unless that Owner CHOOSES to install the Fibre from the Garage up to through the floor to their unit.

Im getting really tired after a year of trying to get Fibre which has just been sitting there, Im about to give up as its too disheartening being told the bodycorp has approved and now someone has objected after the fact and thats why UCG has stalled the process, which will mean it will sit in their queue for 3 months regardless (going on prior speed to respond)

TeaLeaf

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Reply # 1962323 22-Feb-2018 16:20

Lol I found this funny from NBR, 104 day average wait, well my close to 365 days must mean everyone else is connected within a month.

https://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/diary-ufb-install

It appears between the Body Corp, UCG, CHorus and my ISP, none of them no where the order is actually at as they all have different versions.

Good old NZ, typically behind 1st world tech, could we be described as 1.5 World, 2nd world would be a bit harsh. I think its more we are just so darn complacent to getting work done.

I see there is a disputes committee, but UCG are saying an owner has complained to Chorus, but they havnt finished the design according to the body corp, so somebody is telling furfees or miscommunicating.

quickymart

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Reply # 1962647 23-Feb-2018 08:34

Yes, but a phone line is usually installed and ready to go - fibre isn't (usually) and requires an installation.

@sbiddle mentioned this comparison in another thread but I can't find it.

richms

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Reply # 1962650 23-Feb-2018 08:41

How soon can chorus just chop the copper into these buildings that are being obstructive? Is that the 2020 date people keep mentioning? Perhaps someone needs to do an advertising blitz on one news to these old people that obstruct that they need to do something by then?

Richard rich.ms

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Reply # 1962651 23-Feb-2018 08:45

richms:

How soon can chorus just chop the copper into these buildings that are being obstructive? Is that the 2020 date people keep mentioning? Perhaps someone needs to do an advertising blitz on one news to these old people that obstruct that they need to do something by then?

Hopefully the line in 2020 is "oh your copper has stopped working? Well fibre is available, you will need to get that installed"

TeaLeaf

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Reply # 1962813 23-Feb-2018 11:31

Lol, an education on the properties of maintaining copper and how much money us tax payers have put into this new fang dangled communication system for you and how it will benefit our businesses and people alike.

Im just laughing today. My ISP said it was all approved and was now being built. So this was a shock 2 weeks after that. Everything seems to just take SOOOOO long.

I think because procurement is a fairly new process it feels like the 4 parties dont communicate at all and the customer is left wondering. The ISP should IMO be managing the customer given they are going to be taking in money from it.

The worst of this is its not my property Im doing it on behalf of someone very low tech, but even she understands the benefits of fibre vs the rotting copper that gives her lost packets and complete drop outs. I think most people would be easy to convince if you said you paid for it in your taxes.

The design has zero impact to the building as they intend to use the existing conduit coming in for copper, then run backbone under the units via existing conduit and put the ETPs in, where unless they connect will have no impact to any units.

Thats why its frustrating.

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