Telecommunications Law - Consumer rights around decommissioning copper lines & rights to service?

Forums › ICT Policies and Regulation › Telecommunications Law - Consumer rights around decommissioning copper lines & rights to service?

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halper86

547 posts

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#3126793 13-Sep-2023 00:02

spacedog:

Hi @Chorusnz - I'm being told by OneNZ that our copper phone lines are being withdrawn from our location on Waiheke in January 2024.

However, it's unclear if they are just saying they won't provide service over a copper phone line or if Chorus is withdrawing the copper.

Can you, or anyone here, comment on this?

There is still no alternative service available in terms of fibre or even RBI/4G/5G coverage at this location. We wish to keep our copper phone lines as the internet that we have relies on the goodwill of neighbors and/or is from a small WISP who tries their best, but we don't feel confident the service is reliable enough to have things like fire and security rely on that connection.

Latest report on NGA for fibre hookup is "in excess of $10,000" - just how much 'in excess' is not clear. My first quote (as mentioned in this thread) was $103k...I was told it might be a lowly $36k about 2 years ago...

I would now seriously look into getting Starlink. Its really your only other option.

No provider wants the expense or even has the expertise to provide such antiquated services such as BBIP. We live 5 minutes out of Invercargill, have no fibre (or any planned), poor DSL (3 mbps) and poor RBI due to surrounding native bush - Starlink has been a lifesaver.

At least half of my neighbours are on it too and they all have mostly solid connections, but what can you expect from a relatively new technology. Starlink works great and we can now load webpages almost instantly. The latency is consistently under 100ms so nowhere near as frustrating as geo stationary sats. VoIP / WiFi Calling has minimal issues.

spacedog

482 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3126814 13-Sep-2023 07:37

nztim:

Re-igniting an old thread where plenty of advice has been given, including linking you with another provider, one don't want to keep providing voice over copper, it's not a chorus thing it's a one thing.

@nztim appreciate your comments and your earlier help and I'll move to another provider presuming Chorus is not going to yank the copper lines and it's still an option. I didn't move to NOW back then as One was continuing to offer service and their was no charges for calling all the One mobile numbers on our plan which we rack up quite a few minutes making outbound calls to OneNZ mobiles over our copper land lines.

My only remaining question is whether there has been any change to the legislation about copper withdrawal and the copper will remain in place and my only issue is finding a provider who can offer me service.

nztim

3819 posts

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TEAMnetwork

Subscriber

#3126820 13-Sep-2023 08:02

Copper cannot be withdrawn if no fibre is available the NEAX voice service which provides the dial tone on your copper line is been withdrawn though

your choices are move to whatever One offers which is voice over DSL or change provider

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

Chorusnz

430 posts

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Chorus

#3132137 26-Sep-2023 15:19

Sorry I'm late to the party as usual but just want to quickly jump in and clarify here because its come up a few times.

1) We will not remove copper from an area unless there is another fixed broadband option available (AKA Fibre). The regulations for this MAY change at some point, but for the foreseeable future this holds true.

2) If you are on copper and we are removing it in your area we will contact you directly, well in advance, multiple times. To try and give as much warning and to help transition onto Fibre.

If the notice about copper going away comes from your RSP it will be because THEY have decided to stop selling and or supporting copper in a given area.

^Richard

spacedog

482 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3356089 21-Mar-2025 17:08

Chorusnz:

Sorry I'm late to the party as usual but just want to quickly jump in and clarify here because its come up a few times.

1) We will not remove copper from an area unless there is another fixed broadband option available (AKA Fibre). The regulations for this MAY change at some point, but for the foreseeable future this holds true.

2) If you are on copper and we are removing it in your area we will contact you directly, well in advance, multiple times. To try and give as much warning and to help transition onto Fibre.

If the notice about copper going away comes from your RSP it will be because THEY have decided to stop selling and or supporting copper in a given area.

^Richard

Resurrecting this thread just in case anyone is interested.

We eventually got BBIP working just fine with these lines thanks to the amazing help of @2degrees which was great.

However, the copper has failed again a few months ago and there is still no change in coverage or options at our location as far as I have been aware. Furthermore, we have never been served with a copper withdrawal notice either.

However, was informed by 2D support yesterday that Chorus has told them the copper we are on has reached 'end-of-life' and, apparently, they won't repair it and we should move to an 'alternative service'. Have been told by 2D to call @Chorusnz which was quite surprising to me as my understanding is that Chorus won't discuss anything with end-customers since they are strictly in the wholesale business.

Have made a call in, but apparently it's a small team over there and I have to wait for a callback.

Will be very interested to see what alternative service Chorus will offer. Does the growing presence of Starlink mean that Chorus can now withdraw copper service and say they don't have to fix our copper or provide an alternate service because Starlink exists now? That was the first thing the Chorus rep suggested and I'm wondering if Elon's Starlink coverage now can be used by Chorus as means to terminate copper services?

Wheelbarrow01

1725 posts

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Chorus

#3356118 21-Mar-2025 18:41

Hi @spacedog,

Could you please flick me a PM with your address and/or line number details? I'll look up the details and see if I can fill in the blanks for you.

Thanks, Simon @ Chorus

[EDIT: The OP has been in touch and I will work with our internal teams to get a full understanding of the situation, and what the likely solution will be, but I am aware it's a very complex fault with no easy fix. I've advised the OP to expect a call from Chorus on Monday with an update]

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

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