There's Only One ISP in The New Residence - Is It Legit Though?

Lnux on 23/06/2022 - 13:26
Last edited 23/06/2022 - 15:07

We are moving to a new residence - a new development that's just been settled - and the manual from the Owners Corporation states "Internet connections are via Lightning Broadband".

We doubted the legitimacy of having only one ISP and spoke to the OC about our internet connection options; they didn't look confident on this matter but recommended we stay with Lightning Broadband simply because "choosing other internet service providers might result in additional connection fees and charges as well as connection delays".

There are a few boxes already installed in the house though, one of which is Lightning Broadband - guess we had been sold to them by the developer even before we purchased the property.

Contacted Lightning Broadband and found out that on top of the premium monthly charges ($75 for 25mbps) they are also charging $99 activation fee (which Belong wouldn't) and $300 new development fee (it wasn't us that requested their service).

Was wondering if anyone has encountered similar issues? Thanks.

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Comments

  • redforever on 23/06/2022 - 13:32

    I don't think you have a choice. On the flip side, you get symmetrical upload speed.

    You can't get 25mbps upload speed on residential 50 or 25mbps nbn plan.

  • bobbified on 23/06/2022 - 13:35

    Worst case, if you can't get a physical connection into your place through another provider, you can still get wireless. Although wireless is subject to interference so may not be as reliable as a fixed cable.

  • chrisd262 on 23/06/2022 - 13:46
    +1

    Call Aussie Broadband and ask what they can do for you - you should have your own wiring from the street

  • Loot N Plunder on 23/06/2022 - 13:53
    +1

    At the moment it is showing $75 for 25/25
    https://www.lightningbroadband.com.au/residential/home-fttb-…

    As others have said you get unlimited data and symmetrical upload + download speeds all the way to 1000/1000
    Give them a go and if its garbage then swap or try 4g/5g wireless
    Much better than my ABB NBN wireless 60/5 crap for $79
    I would love a better upload speed and would pay more just for it

  • c64 on 23/06/2022 - 14:06

    possibly you could get a 4g/5g service, nbn doesn't need to be involved

  • dasher86 on 23/06/2022 - 14:23
    +1

    the $300 new development fee is the fee charged by NBNCo to all providers if it's a new connection
    https://www.nbnco.com.au/develop-or-plan-with-the-nbn/new-de…

  • AndyC1 on 23/06/2022 - 15:06
    +1

    web page "We’re Lightning Broadband, one of Australia's largest privately owned Fibre to the Premise providers."

    If they have the FTTP then you a SOL and have to go with them. NBN will not come near the place as it has FTTP and is already supplied with fibre.

    The only other option is 4G or 5G, but FTTP is way better w.r.t. stability and speed.

    • nux on 23/06/2022 - 15:24

      Thanks. I gave Belong a call and they confirmed that with the old address (the place before subdivision & development) NBN connection is available and we do not need to pay the 'new development fee'.

      If this area is already covered by NBN, how come Lightning Broadband gets to build their own FTTP?

      However, the residence (unfortunately?) has been assigned with a new address which the Land Title Office hasn't officially registered yet, therefore Belong is unable to determine whether the new premise is NBN ready, and most likely we will have to pay the $300.

      Guess it's just another unofficial stamp duty for purchasing a property though.

      • AndyC1 on 23/06/2022 - 15:50
        +1

        Good luck with the old bad data Belong (aka Telstra) have given you as it is useless IMHO as NBN technicials and systems need correct info otherwise they will not do anything.

        If the farm/factory was subdivided and a new subdivision put in then all of the old infrastructure should have been pulled out or bulldozed to put the new roads and infrastructure (pipes, power, water, gas(?) etc).

        No RSP will be able to help you with NBN until the land has been registered and even then Belog may give you the run arround like allot of other RSP's do. ABB are the best for this, but you will need to wait.

        Nothing to do with the sate government. NBN is federal.

        Call Belong again and use the correct new address if you have the new address. The old address is useless.

    • Chaddy on 04/12/2022 - 20:29

      That is incorrect, NBN have installed Fibre in plenty of places where Telstra and TPG and plenty of other providers also have Fibre.
      They legally can't be excluded.

      • AndyC1 on 05/12/2022 - 08:21

        Never said anything about being excluded.

        • Chaddy on 05/12/2022 - 14:02

          You mentioned NBNCO can't installed Fibre where someone else has, but that is incorrect, they will just run the NBN Fibre right next to the other provider providing a resident is happy to pay the $300 new development fee.
          They don't need permission off the land lord either.

          • AndyC1 on 05/12/2022 - 14:28

            @Chaddy: Again wrong. I said " NBN will not come near the place as it has FTTP and is already supplied with fibre."

            NBN do not like to run the same fibre in the same suburbs where other providers have already put in fibre, so as I said NBN will not come near these suburbs. I never said it cannot be installed.

            I would expect the NBN fibre install cost will be way way more than $300 if the suburb has no fibre in the street.

            • Chaddy on 05/12/2022 - 17:46

              @AndyC1: Oh they do if your running a business and want to pay $400 a month minimum for it over 3 or more years.
              NBN Co have Fibre everywhere in major cities and most regional areas its just in a lot of cases its aimed at larger businesses. In terms of the offering from lightning though its actually not bad looking for cirmetrical speeds, you'd pay $400 a month for the same speeds from NBNCo.
              I sell broadband as part of my business.

  • kipps on 23/06/2022 - 20:15

    Got to love developers that save a quick buck by selling utility rights to particular providers so that the owners pay for the infrastructure.

    • Chaddy on 04/12/2022 - 20:24

      The developers aren't saving money by doing this, they actually make money as the RSP gives them a payment for each customer they sign up. Also NBN isn't excluded and other private Fibre providers can be installed as well, may already be actually. For people running small home based businesses I can look this info up for free just email [email protected] with some address details. I can tell you the exact speeds you can get and give you a free quote but its for business customers only. As for delays with NBN the connections are done pretty quickly but other Fibre providers might be slightly slower just depending on work loads.
      Oh and other providers such as NBN won't be paying the developers money either.

  • jvk oz on 17/11/2022 - 15:51

    Hi Nux @nux,

    What's the latest? Did you end up with lightning broadband? Were there any discounts on the charges?

    The new development fes on NBN is fair as we do have options to switch to a different provider. But with lightning, we have to pay $400 to start with and are stuck as there are no other providers.

    • nux on 22/11/2022 - 17:24

      We eventually signed up with Lightning Broadband because we needed the internet asap; talked to their sales person and got $15 discount on monthly charges, had to pay the $300 new development fee though.

      The service was up and running within 24hrs and we haven't had much problem with the Internet so far.

      • Futura on 09/12/2022 - 00:51

        If they're slogging you with a new development fee it sounds like they are passing on a nbnTM fee and nbnTM MAY be available? Just thinking out loud here…

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