National Broadband Ireland : implementation and progress

Actavo vans on the road all week doing tests on the DP boxes. Just checked eircode and its gone from Sept 22/Jan 23 to pre order. Between Waterford city and Tramore.

Looking to sign up for nbi broadband in next few days. Local isp who I have been getting wireless broadband for a number of years are charging €50 pm (or €47 if I use existing router). When I queried why so expensive compared to VFs €35pm I was told you will always get us on phone if you have a problem. So do people think its worth paying €15pm for potential better customer service or would I be simply throwing away €180 over the 12 month contract?

Some of the prices are ridiculous, if you ring them twice a year I'd say that would be worse case. 15 extra a month is high. A lot of them won't last.

I paid over the odds for Digiweb because they've always fixed any issues I had over the years promptly, and they always ring afterwards to ensure everything is back up and running. I work from home so that level of service is essential. VF will be charging you the same as them when the introductory offer is over and you won't be getting that level of service (more than likely)

I would expect part of the reason smaller operators need to charge more is down to numbers. Bigger operators like VF, Eir and Sky can charge less as they can expect to make up for it with large numbers of customers - smaller operators won't have those numbers. There is also the aspect of double/triple/quad play where the bigger operators can offer multiple services, each at a reduced price but overall they are winning. Smaller operators can't offer such services.

I tried to sort out my elderly neighbours Sky NBI problems and was onto their help desk in India. It was hard work understanding her as she got me to go into the router settings etc. In the end, I think the problem was their PC. But the neighbours lost patience with Sky and cancelled the contract and went back to the local supplier. He is apparently going to offer fibre to them “soon”. I went with Digiweb myself rather than Vodafone, Sky and Eir because I really hate their customer service. As I have loads of suppliers now, I’ll ring around next year to see who I’ll go with (other than the big three). And I won’t choose the very small ones either. I hope competition will drive down FTTH prices.

Anyone gone with VF who I have spoken to seem adament that they won't be paying €50/60 pm when initial 12 month contract is up but will shop around. Haven't read the T&Cs of these contracts but assuming there are no major impediments to switching providers.

What sort of speeds are new customers getting?

I take it there is a standard speed countrywide?

If you are switching within the same wholesale network it probably is usually quite smooth but with router changes and provisioning you do see people on here who have had it go wrong occasionally.

Anecdotal I know but with the electric and gas I’ve never heard of it going wrong to the point of someone losing service, it just seems to be a billing switch in the background.

What area is that?

What ISPs are you changing to each year? From experience are there any ISPs you would avoid

Eircon and Pure.

Obvious solution install your own telephone pole. Hang some old telephone cable from it and drop it down cut on the ground to the next line then call out a service crew tell them your internets acting funny.

Open a beer.

Yeah it's a 7530 they supply for the NBI installs. Should be fairly simple to reconfigure for FTTH

Why would not just get a new free 7530 from Digiweb when connecting? My current provider has offered to reduce monthly from €50 to €47 if I agreed to use my own existing 7530. However they won't support it if something happens within 12 month contract period. So for €36 I would get a new 7530 supported by provider. Would Digiweb offer a similar discount?