Consumers should be wary of making assumptions about what a fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) package covers, say people in the industry.
"As simple as it sounds, consumers need to ensure that they are fully aware of what is and isn't included in a FTTH package so that they don't fork out for a service that doesn't meet expectations, and end up short changed," writes Calvin Collett, CEO at iConnect Telecoms.
Typically, setting up FTTH involves liaising with more than one service provider, each of which will be responsible for different aspects of the infrastructure that piece together to form this singular resource within the home, says Liana Clarke, communications manager for Frogfoot networks.
A common assumption users should question is that the fibre will necessarily reach their house, or the point in the house where they would like to connect the Internet router, says Collett.
A fibre installation fee typically covers the first 30 metres of trench, duct, and fibre starting at the corner of the user's property that is closest to a manhole and moving towards the point at which the user would like to connect the fibre, Frogfoot Networks clarifies in a blog post aimed at consumers. If this distance is more than 30 metres, users will need to negotiate additional fees with the contractor installing the fibre, the post explains.
Other questions consumers should ask include whether the fibre package covers routers and router installation; how much data they will be getting and what the fair use policy is for an "uncapped" plan; how they can monitor their data use; and the extent of ongoing support they will be offered, says Collett.
Questions about data plans and ongoing support should be directed at Internet service providers, advises Clarke.
It is a good idea for fibre providers to host meetings with communities that are soon to receive fibre, to help residents understand how to navigate the process of acquiring the fibre plan they need, says Clarke.
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