Fastest type of copper connection a better bet than fibre - Commerce Commission tester
VDSL - the fastest type of copper connection - is the best option for small office and home office users, says TrueNet, one of two broadband testing companies appointed by the Commerce Commission.
A VDSL connection can hold its own against fibre, September testing found (see charts right; click to zoom).
And TrueNet principal John Butt notes that VDSL contracts can be as little as 12 months - making it a good stepping stone before fibre arrives in your neighbourhood (or your ISP starts offering fibre - hello, Telecom, Vodafone and TelstraClear).
VDSL is the best option for small office and home office (or "Soho") users who have embraced cloud computing options such as Apple's iCloud, Xero, Google Docs and Dropbox, Mr Butt says.
TelstraClear's hybrid cable is rated a solid choice, but is restricted to parts of the Wellington region and Christchurch.
The bad news: you have to within 1km of the nearest phone exchange or cabinet to get VDSL (which sits top of the DSL food chain above ADSL and ADSL2).
Unlike fibre, peformance degrades rapidly with distance.
Also, a number of ISPs - most conspicously, Telecom, which holds roughly 50% market share - have yet to offer a VDSL option, Mr Butt notes.
That could help explain why although 68% of TrueNet's 400 or so voluneer testers live withing the 1km radius required for VDSL, only 16 have a VDSL account.
Read Mr Butt's "VDSL best for Soho" entry on TrueNet's site here.
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Comments and questions17
In other words .. if you are within 1km of an exchange then you can get VDSL and about 50% of users served by an exchange are between 1 and 2km of it, so cannot get VDSL anyway. But VDSL is astronomic cost anyway
Still, even with Fibre, most people will need their ancient house wiring to be upgraded at least partially to get the benefits of fibre anyway ...
Yes! Finally someone writes about White.
Gudrun
It's a shame you don't have a donate button!
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for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
I look forward to new updates and will talk about this site with my Facebook group.
Talk soon!
Kina
Actrix sell VDSL to many small businesses and the cost is often comparable to what other ISP's are charging for ADSL. If someone finds the quote astronomical, they should call me at 0800 ACTRIX. Customers who can take advantage of VDSL love it
I have to agree with the article for SME and moderate use residential which is most of us ! VDSL cost is NOT astronomical and neither is it new technology any more. There is plenty of life left in the good old reliable robust copper network yet which should be utilised ! And you don't even need a new street connection !
Why won't Telecom offer VDSL? I live within 1 km of a VDSL enabled exchange and would sign up tomorrow.
No reason apart from economics and market strategy. Technology is there and available. Ask Chris Quin on NBR On Line 12-1pm tomorrow !
Telecom don't own the xDSL asset in the exchanges, Chorus does since Demerger. http://www.telecom-media.co.nz/releases_detail.asp?id=3792&page=index
The other ISP's had installed equipment though LLU and they can put VDSL cards in. I think Telecom have to wait 3 yrs before they can install xDSL gear.
But Chorus is not a retailer. They can only sell wholesale services to retailers. Retailers need to take the broadband services to market.
Telecom have never sold VDSL. Actrix has always promoted VDSL when it suits the customer environment. Actrix have been operating as an ISP for longer than Xtra has existed. Telecom sometimes ask us to supply their customer with VDSL, which we do. Call me on 0800 ACTRIX and we can discuss
Plenty of smaller ISPs like Snap, Voyager etc offer VDSL for home & businesses already, with pricing that is pretty reasonable when compared against UFB fibre services.
Plenty of smaller ISPs like Snap, Voyager etc offer VDSL to home & business users already, with pricing that is competitive against UFB fibre services
The other downside with VDSL that isn't discussed in any detail is the impact of older phone wiring in the house - given the average age of our housing stock this is a huge issue for telcos who could be lumbered with huge support overheads when they offer VDSL..
That same wiring will have to be replaced with FTTH anyway. That is why the big ISP's havent released any plans, they are waiting to see what they can get the government to pay and hhow much cost will be passed on to the customer.
VDSL is a good alternative but like any copper service the performance slows down for a variety of factors. Many of these don't exist for fibre. The wiring issue is real but mainly because of the fact we have an old wi-fi standard here in NZ. If you want to look at FTTH in action (from a tech perspective and simple to use CPE for households) then check out Google Fiber in Kansas City - I've just been doing some research on broader offers and what Google are offering is what some Koreans, Hong Kong residents and a very few others also have access to - it's next gen FTTH.
And CK - great Q&A with CQ too
Alcatel Lucent has announced VDSL2 Vectoring which can deliver 100mbps. Why is NZ spending $ billions on fibre to the home?
Quote "VDSL2 Vectoring uses existing copper lines for the “last mile” broadband connection to peoples’ homes, providing a quick, cost-effective alternative to large-scale residential fiber optic build-outs"
I would post the URL but the spam filter wont let me.
I agree a waste of money, the government got sold up the river there by the lobbyists and general public. Not that Im compaining its guaranteed me a job in an industry where there is already a skills shortage.