Like you I have contacted my telco Slingshot to ask what they have heard about UFBA installation. Seeing the dates you have mentioned just makes more more annoyed, we are on the edge of UH small population so last on the list.
I have investigated other ways to get a better connection and I suspect 4 or 5g will be available before UFB gets installed. I have asked Chorus about our closet tower to get that up graded or better have a tower installed at Te Marua store or Maymorn Station. Again all on deaf ears.I have also spoken with our local member of parliament, Chris Hipkins but his influence from what I see hasn’t had any effect to date. Even trying to get a small business interested in setting up a wifi for the community setup from Plateau school could be an option but I haven’t found anyone interested as of yet.
I’m keen to find a solution as I’m completely over the crap we get from the telcos.
I have had several surgeries over the past couple of years and the need to work from home has been critical – I have not been able to do this and have struggled with having to return to work – particularly when I have not been able to drive. I have a home office (we own a business in Upper Hutt) but can never work from home. Also my daughter has health issues which have required her to school through Correspondence school – we have had to do this from the Upper Hutt library which again is not ideal.
We would love a better internet service at our address on Plateau Rd. When we moved in nearly 8 years ago we struggled with the broadband(!) service. Sometimes it would be dial-up speed and then we would ring and it would improve for awhile, before reducing to dial-up speed again. This variable service wasn’t an option for us we both work from home and my partner needs a reliable internet service for his work.
After a few months of calling Chorus and no resolution to the problem we decided to switch to the more expensive mobile broadband with limited upload/download. Luckily we had checked that was an option before buying the property. Last year we got a mobile phone upgrade and we now get our internet wirelessly through that phone. This is more expensive than landline broadband and has a limit, but it is more reliable and faster for us. Just make sure you don’t go over your limit! It would be great if we could have unlimited internet that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. I can’t access the internet for video (including Skype) at home, as it uses too much data and so I am often forced to travel to the library during the day in order to complete my work.
Having a reliable broadband service would really make a different to our lives. It would make work, study and long distance relationships with family overseas so much easier. I really hope you are successful in getting a better service for our area.
Note: Many residents don’t get any mobile coverage on the street and some have resorted to booster aerials at great cost too to get mobile connection and internet