Would Chorus install fibre through an unused, disconnected Vodafone (Saturn) HFC conduit?

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Would Chorus install fibre through an unused, disconnected Vodafone (Saturn) HFC conduit?

twowords

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#259800 22-Oct-2019 23:46

First post, please excuse the rambling back story...

There is an underground conduit with an old vodafone (Saturn ETP box) cable in it to our house in Wellington. We have never used the cable in the 13+ years we have owned the home, plus 2 years flatting before buying. Also still have the old cables under the house to various unused locations.

We have a ~9 metre deep council grass bank verge in front of the property that the conduit appears to run at an angle through. The conduit has no markings on it at either end (house and pole) and is white 20mm PVC. Connects to the Saturn labelled box on our basement.

We currently have chorus overhead copper for internet and phone. It's the only overhead cable on the property. The line runs to a 6 foot upright 4by2 on our fence (which needs fixing now after council damage), that then runs down to a basement grill into the house. There is no ETP and the VDSL master filter/splitter I put in when we got VDSL 3 years ago with vodafone, is in an icecream container.

Tried to get fibre connected at our home 3 years ago, the VDSL was the first step. After many many adventures with Chorus and Vodafone the install was cancelled by the Vodafone help desk when I said I would like some details on the $2800 dollars quoted by Chorus to Vodafone for an underground fibre installation.

Some more adventures asking Vodafone directly if we could use the unused conduit has not meet with any success either and sounds a bit like how it is(?):
https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=201567

I have noticed in the forums that some other zoners have been helped out with old Saturn cable removal this year (2019) e.g.:
https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?topicid=258529&forumid=40&page_no=2
https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?topicid=250609&forumid=40&page_no=4

We really want to get fibre installed underground, without having to pay a few thousands dollars and tidy things up a bit under, over and around the house.

If I request Vodafone to remove the cable, leaving an empty, unlabelled, hopefully good for fibre conduit, perhaps with a pull wire, do you think Chorus would at least try and use it for a fibre install??

Any advice much appreciated.

Jase2985

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#2342215 23-Oct-2019 05:32

if your copper is overhead then the fiber will likely be overhead too. which means you have to pay for an overhead to underground conversion. and even though they have a nice duct for there they could use they will still charge like a wounded bull to do the conversion and its unlikely you will get a cost breakdown to show where the costs are.

IMO get the TCL cable removed as well as the Saturn box leaving no trace, then try and get fibre installed

@chrousnz might have some comments though

BarTender

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#2342216 23-Oct-2019 06:22

No

They don't own the duct so can't use it.

nickb800

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#2342218 23-Oct-2019 06:36

What I would do, which is in no-way recommended by either Chorus or Vodafone:

Disconnect Vodafone cable in the grey box on the side of your house (unthread the connector, don't cut the cable).

Attach Vodafone cable to draw cable (rope, strapping tape, old phone cable, etc) and pull through conduit to street.

Tidy the bundle of Vodafone cable at the street, and call Vodafone asking them to remove it.

Book in your fibre install, and ask them to use the draw cord in the conduit. If they consider it an OHUG conversion, then at least get a quote from them (prepare for $1k plus). Worth giving it a go to see if they'll do it for free.

*Bonus option - add some green conduit at each end to the Vodafone conduit to make it look legit

I pretty much did this at my place, although in my case the conduit was installed by the developer with an un-terminated phone cable inside, which was then replaced with a Vodafone lead-in when I requested an HFC install. So I would argue that Vodafone didn't own the conduit in my case.

Chorusnz

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Chorus

#2342252 23-Oct-2019 08:50

Hey Twowords, if your copper is overhead then our network will be built to install the Fibre like for like (overhead) as well. That means if you want it run underground we have to modify the network to accommodate. Hence why Chorus charge for an OHUG.

Unfortunately due to commercial agreements and some sensitive information we can’t give you a full breakdown of costs on a quote. However we can provide you with a split of materials from labour costs.

Regarding the cable/conduit, because it does not belong to us we cannot touch the cable. You’ll need to have it removed and replaced with a draw wire if you want any hope of using the conduit. However the pipes do belong to you (being on your property), so you can do what you will with it.

Technically we can’t use the conduit because it’s not ‘telecommunications green’. What you discuss with the technician and agree to is between you and them.

If you want more details, your welcome to flick us a PM with your address and I can go searching for the records. ^Richard

BlinkyBill

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#2342297 23-Oct-2019 09:44

When I applied for fibre, Chorus guy wouldn’t use the same conduit. Nor would be bury a new one. Both because those options involved too much work (didn’t say that, of course). Instead, mount the cable to a concrete wall! Very ugly solution.

twowords

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#2342485 23-Oct-2019 15:06

Thanks for all the info/opinions so far.

Have PM'ed @Chorusnz to get any extra details.

And will try and ask Vodafone to remove the cable as a start to tidying up.

duckDecoy

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#2342489 23-Oct-2019 15:24

Chorusnz:

What you discuss with the technician and agree to is between you and them.

From my very recent experience can I just give this comment a +1 Tidy up the existing cable, book an OHUG and see what agreement can be reached. The OHUG scope is free so you won't be out of pocket for trying.

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Jase2985

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#2342500 23-Oct-2019 15:42

@Chorusnz:

Unfortunately due to commercial agreements and some sensitive information we can’t give you a full breakdown of costs on a quote. However we can provide you with a split of materials from labour costs.

Hi Richard

what commercial agreements and sensitive information is there in a quote to install a residential service?

raytaylor

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#2342573 23-Oct-2019 18:42

Jase2985:

@Chorusnz:

Unfortunately due to commercial agreements and some sensitive information we can’t give you a full breakdown of costs on a quote. However we can provide you with a split of materials from labour costs.

Hi Richard

what commercial agreements and sensitive information is there in a quote to install a residential service?

The labour costs that chorus pays subcontractors for various job types will be kept quite secret.

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Jase2985

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#2342584 23-Oct-2019 19:06

raytaylor:

Jase2985:

@Chorusnz:

Unfortunately due to commercial agreements and some sensitive information we can’t give you a full breakdown of costs on a quote. However we can provide you with a split of materials from labour costs.

Hi Richard

what commercial agreements and sensitive information is there in a quote to install a residential service?

The labour costs that chorus pays subcontractors for various job types will be kept quite secret.

they have no competition so......

and we have no choice

zyo

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#2342796 24-Oct-2019 08:39

Chorusnz:
Technically we can’t use the conduit because it’s not ‘telecommunications green’. What you discuss with the technician and agree to is between you and them.

Are there going to be any gotchas regarding future wiring repair and maintenance if such conduit is used? (i.e. who's responsible if the cables damaged for some reason)

Bung

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#2342812 24-Oct-2019 09:15

"Telecommunications green" is relatively recent. Underground copper pillars are probably still all NZPO Grey. My underground copper is in conduit so old I'd have to dig down to see if it was white or grey originally and how it was branded. Cables and microduct are black. I don't think a spade cares what colour the pipe is.

Chorusnz

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Chorus

#2342820 24-Oct-2019 09:26

Jase2985:

Hi Richard

what commercial agreements and sensitive information is there in a quote to install a residential service?

I don’t personally know the specifics of why Chorus chooses to not give a full breakdown of costs. Quite likely for the reason pointed out by raytaylor. I believe there is also agreement with the RSP’s, who often put their own charges on top of ours.

@zyo a maintenance tech is not going to be fussy about what colour the conduit is. If someone has put a digger through the line they are going to be liable for the damage either way. ^Richard