Quick Clarification - NBN and Phone Line

[cats2rise]

Dearest bigfooty brethren,

I move house next week to a rental which does not have an active phone line. To get internet etc, I would need to call Telstra and get them to set up a phone line so I had a phone number and line rental, to then be able to get TPG or whoever to provide "Broadband OffNet" as apparently ADSL2 isn't available.

However, the TPG tech I was speaking to happened to indicate that the NBN is due to click over on our new street in about 3-4 weeks. That got me thinking.

Now, I was pretty sure that the NBN did not need to be connected by way of a phone line. So, my plan is/was to then sit it out for about 3-4 weeks without internet before then getting an NBN connection without having to part with any money for Telsta to provide the phone line.

However, the TPG tech said they were not sure about that, but I should call up Telstra to put in the phone line, and then go on a 6 month contract with TPG for this Broadband Offnet deal before switching to the NBN.

I chortled, and said I would speak to those on bigfooty for clarification and then hung up.

So - Am I right that I don't need a line rental through Telstra once the NBN is switched on in a few weeks? Is living the life an internet-less hermit for 3 weeks worth it?

 

[imperial_oz]

Dearest bigfooty brethren,

I move house next week to a rental which does not have an active phone line. To get internet etc, I would need to call Telstra and get them to set up a phone line so I had a phone number and line rental, to then be able to get TPG or whoever to provide "Broadband OffNet" as apparently ADSL2 isn't available.

However, the TPG tech I was speaking to happened to indicate that the NBN is due to click over on our new street in about 3-4 weeks. That got me thinking.

Now, I was pretty sure that the NBN did not need to be connected by way of a phone line. So, my plan is/was to then sit it out for about 3-4 weeks without internet before then getting an NBN connection without having to part with any money for Telsta to provide the phone line.

However, the TPG tech said they were not sure about that, but I should call up Telstra to put in the phone line, and then go on a 6 month contract with TPG for this Broadband Offnet deal before switching to the NBN.

I chortled, and said I would speak to those on bigfooty for clarification and then hung up.

So - Am I right that I don't need a line rental through Telstra once the NBN is switched on in a few weeks? Is living the life an internet-less hermit for 3 weeks worth it?

Are you getting fibre to the premises or fibre to the node? Fibre to premises usually means the copper get decomissioned at some stage. Fibre to node I think will still get you access to NBN as long as you physically have copper lines leading into your house. If there has never been a phone there, you may need to get a line installed, although thats an unlikely scenario.

Might be worth discussing your options with other companies before signing up even for a 6 month contract.

A couple of points: NBN installations are almost always delayed, some substantially, so that may impact on your decision. The other thought i had immediately is using your mobile exclusively in the interim, depending on your plan, limits etc.

Me: I'd find out all I could about the proposed installation, then talk to other companies first

 

[cats2rise]

Are you getting fibre to the premises or fibre to the node? Fibre to premises usually means the copper get decomissioned at some stage. Fibre to node I think will still get you access to NBN as long as you physically have copper lines leading into your house. If there has never been a phone there, you may need to get a line installed, although thats an unlikely scenario.

Might be worth discussing your options with other companies before signing up even for a 6 month contract.

A couple of points: NBN installations are almost always delayed, some substantially, so that may impact on your decision. The other thought i had immediately is using your mobile exclusively in the interim, depending on your plan, limits etc.

Me: I'd find out all I could about the proposed installation, then talk to other companies first

Thanks for the response.

It will be Fibre to the node where I am moving to. There has been a phone there previously, the service is just not connected and I would have to pay/organise for Telstra to do that before I could then go with a service provider and pay line rental, which I don't really want to do if I can avoid it.

NBN website and various service provider websites (iinet, TPG, Telsta) all note NBN is due in the first week of March.

A nicer TPG tech this morning did note that I could avoid organising a line rental with Telstra, but would have to be a different service provider and not TPG.

Mobile for internet will be fine for a few weeks, but certainly did factor that in.

I might have a few calls to service providers to confirm - that's a good idea.

 

[imperial_oz]

Thanks for the response.

It will be Fibre to the node where I am moving to. There has been a phone there previously, the service is just not connected and I would have to pay/organise for Telstra to do that before I could then go with a service provider and pay line rental, which I don't really want to do if I can avoid it.

NBN website and various service provider websites (iinet, TPG, Telsta) all note NBN is due in the first week of March.

A nicer TPG tech this morning did note that I could avoid organising a line rental with Telstra, but would have to be a different service provider and not TPG.

Mobile for internet will be fine for a few weeks, but certainly did factor that in.

I might have a few calls to service providers to confirm - that's a good idea.

I've just checked with some people at work who were involved with this and they've confirmed my understanding.

Once the NBN has commenced operation to your area, you will need to book with a service provider to connect your premises. This will involve cutting the existing copper to the house from the exchange and connecting it to the node. There should be no need to deal with any Telstra line rental. I could see a need if you want to get internet prior to NBN cutover but not afterwards.

That said, the advice given to your by TPG is confusing all of us here as it doesn't make sense.

The advice I got was to contact NBN co direct and get it from the horse's mouth. Maybe something is weird with that installation that we don't know about

 

[cats2rise]

I've just checked with some people at work who were involved with this and they've confirmed my understanding.

Once the NBN has commenced operation to your area, you will need to book with a service provider to connect your premises. This will involve cutting the existing copper to the house from the exchange and connecting it to the node. There should be no need to deal with any Telstra line rental. I could see a need if you want to get internet prior to NBN cutover but not afterwards.

That said, the advice given to your by TPG is confusing all of us here as it doesn't make sense.

The advice I got was to contact NBN co direct and get it from the horse's mouth. Maybe something is weird with that installation that we don't know about

Lovely - thank you ( and your colleagues).


Considering the advice TPG offered was to sign up with them for 6 months when I don't really want/need to.... I will take it with a grain of salt regardless!

 

[imperial_oz]

Lovely - thank you ( and your colleagues).


Considering the advice TPG offered was to sign up with them for 6 months when I don't really want/need to.... I will take it with a grain of salt regardless!

Sounds like a fair call. Let us know how you get on