NBN Discussion

[Quickstatus]

I hope I have the correct units here.
We are having ongoing problems with our Naked DSL connection. Last weekend our download speed bottomed out at 0.5Mbps; we couldn't download anything or make a call on our VoIP phone. I rang our provider, not Telstra but it is big and has been recently taken over, who did something and our speed shop up to a whopping 5.3. Since then it has slowly dropped back to 2.5, which is pretty useless. The best we have ever got is 8.2.
We can see Perth city across the river from the end of our street but cannot use any mobile provider except Telstra as we are in some sort of black hole.
NBN has now come to our street and we are wondering if we should change over to NBN and a new provider. Our thoughts are to change to Telstra, a 1000 Gb download plan for $79 with a (waived) connection fee of $99. Promised speed is up to 40Mbps.
I have a few concerns.
Can we keep the VoIP phone connection and the number?
What is the minimum speed if 40 is the promised maximum?
What email would come with a Telstra plan?
What will happen to our emails which come through our current provider?
Has anyone been in a similar position to us?

Difficult to say with voip numbers
Here is ACMA position later on this subject:
VoIP & local number portability | ACMA

Minimum speed on NBN can be 0.01 irrespective of top speed. This is because the service is a “best effort” only - hence no guarantees. It only needs to reach advertise speed once in 24hr period. Though the ACCC is requiring RSP to publish their evening speeds.

Telstra Email will tend to be something like [email protected]_

Email service via your current provider will cease

That’s why it’s better to use a Hotmail or gmail service. Strongly advise to start a Gmail account (free) and advise all email contacts of new email. Archive all the old emails. Once on Gmail or similar never have to change again

What do you use internet for?

 

[moa999]

You will be able to keep using your existing VOIP service on Telstra.
Some Telstra plans come with included calls so you might be able to use Telstra for outgoing calls, but requires an anolgue handset to be plugged into their router (they don't provide VOIP details).
If you wanted to port that number back to Telstra it depends (Telstra will generally only support numbers from local exchanges)

That plan is a 50/20 plan - so 50 down and 20up. The minimum 40 reflects that over peak periods you might get some congestion.
(Note assuming if on FTTN you are close enough to the node that you can get 50/20, a minority cannot)

Echo the comments on using Gmail or equivalent.
Some providers will let you keep existing email for an annual fee

 

[Quickstatus]

Minimum can’t be 40 as it’s “up to 40”. Wish NBN can provide a minimum of 4Mbps.

Porting is not a given - especially if the voip number is an out of area number. Additionally Many people have had problem porting am in area voip number.

My still to be built FW NBN towers are delayed due to protests. They want it to be in another area. Still waiting for 2020

 

[Buzzard]

I've never been a fan of Gmail or Hotmail accounts, much prefer to have a domain registered. It provides me the freedom to switch providers and have a somewhat personal email address.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I've never been a fan of Gmail or Hotmail accounts, much prefer to have a domain registered. It provides me the freedom to switch providers and have a somewhat personal email address.

Agree. But it’s beyond most people.

 

[Buzzard]

Agree. But it’s beyond most people.

I used to have 3 domains, now have 2.
IIRC they only cost about $20/year each.
Email hosting via a Melbourne company is $2.75 per month per email address.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I used to have 3 domains, now have 2.
IIRC they only cost about $20/year each.
Email hosting via a Melbourne company is $2.75 per month per email address.

I’m sure many AFFers would love a [email protected]!

 

[rogerkambah]

That’s the basic nbn plan using the 12/1 speed.

They should call it NBN Slow rather than NBN unlimited

Sorry, should have been clearer. I meant unlimited data download.

 

[Quickstatus]

Sorry, should have been clearer. I meant unlimited data download.

No you were clear. I knew exactly.
Catchy marketing calling it unlimited. Calling it Basic or Slow I suppose does not sound as good

ACCC should ban such words in marketing

I think that most households will do just fine with 12/1. Currently.

 

[moa999]

Barely.
Will struggle with multiple HD streams, which rules out many families

More to the point though, if you can live with 12/1, you're unlikely to actually need unlimited.

 

[Quickstatus]

Barely.
Will struggle with multiple HD streams, which rules out many families

More to the point though, if you can live with 12/1, you're unlikely to actually need unlimited.

Not just in household but in the area if the area like to multistream HD between 7-11pm. No amount of CVC can cope.
Currently average CVC 1-1.5 Mbps suggesting most don’t multi stream HD.

By definition Unlimited is impossible to attain even for those on FTTP

 

[equus]

Agree. But it’s beyond most people.

I have used www.pobox.com for well over 20 years. Doesn’t require a domain to be registerded, does spam filtering, and redirects to whatever ISP address you happen to be using. The more expensive plans let you send to multiple different addresses as well

A few different domains available, but I am using a [email protected] address (and I was in early enough that it is my actual name).

Simple enough for anybody.

 

[love_the_life]

Stuff only knows! The really bizarre thing is that I couldn't reach her on the new number this afternoon but the old one worked! Sister used the new one last week and it was fine. Just weird.

All solved. Apparently she was told she had to have a new number but brother and SIL had requested that she be able to keep the old one. Even though Telstra swore she couldn't once the local MP and the Telco Ombudsman were involved, Telstra miraculously was able to do it. Give her age (95) and that of her friends, it makes it so much easier. The turning point came when a case manager was appointed and things started to happen. Apparently all connection fees are waived and there will be some form of financial compensation for the delay and stuffing around.

 

[Quickstatus]

Many have this problem with number porting. Im not sure if its deliberate, but I would think many would just give up their number.

 

[marki]

I think we will need to start discussing 5G and its issues soon.

 

[Pushka]

So our street has been wrecked for the last four months for nbn instal and is due to be active in May. So tell me it’s not a coincidence that since the most recent work our internet has been absolute rubbish just to make us sign up to nbn?

 

[jb747]

So our street has been wrecked for the last four months for nbn instal and is due to be active in May. So tell me it’s not a coincidence that since the most recent work our internet has been absolute rubbish just to make us sign up to nbn?

Well, if you're going to be on FTTN, then you'll be using the same copper lines....so it will probably be rubbish too.

 

[Pushka]

Well, if you're going to be on FTTN, then you'll be using the same copper lines....so it will probably be rubbish too.

Apparently it’s going to be FTTC which is good I think?

 

[jb747]

Apparently it’s going to be FTTC which is good I think?

Yes, it is....

 

[Quickstatus]

Apparently it’s going to be FTTC which is good I think?

Potentially better.
And you can easily upgrade to Full fibre FTTP later on.

....

I think we will need to start discussing 5G and its issues soon.

5G currently is just marketing hype.
5G requires a lot of radio spectrum and a lot of fibre especially for the high frequency end of 5G as it cannot penetrate building walls. Australia does not have fibre everywhere.

I read somewhere that the first iteration of 5G industry standards have been approved. Its a start though. NBN will be around for a while fortunately or unfortunately