ᐅ Fiber Optic Network Expansion by 1&1 or Telekom – Who Covers the Cost of the Excavations?
Created on: 8 Mar 2023 12:08
A
andimann
Hello everyone,
Miracles do happen—fiber optic connections are being installed in the greater Nuremberg area. Maybe we'll finally move up from the third-to-last place on the OECD fiber ranking…
Since the day before yesterday, some unusual Telekom representatives have been going around trying to sell fiber contracts because fiber is supposed to be laid here by the end of 2023. 1&1 is also offering contracts with activation in January 2024. However, they probably won’t dig up the street a second time (which would have been expected in this digital chaos land called Germany) but will instead rent the lines from Telekom.
If you place an order now, the “connection costs” of 800 euros will be covered by Telekom or 1&1. But nobody has been able to clearly explain or put in writing exactly what is included in these “connection costs.”
There is mention of excavation pits in the garden, installation techniques, directional boring, and so on. But it’s nowhere explicitly stated whether I have to pay for the excavation and restoring the property to its original condition or if the 800 euros connection cost actually covers everything.
When the house was originally built, I had to pay for the trench for the telephone line, so I’m a bit skeptical.
If everything were included, that would be fantastic, and anyone not installing fiber now would be crazy. Two excavations on the property, one with paving and the other with patio slabs, underground cable installation, a watertight entry into a waterproof concrete structure, and so on—you could easily add another zero to the 800 euros!
Long story short; here is my question:
Has anyone here had fiber installed afterward and can tell me what exactly was covered by the connection costs? Or were the excavation works still the responsibility of the homeowner?
Thanks and best regards,
Andreas
Miracles do happen—fiber optic connections are being installed in the greater Nuremberg area. Maybe we'll finally move up from the third-to-last place on the OECD fiber ranking…
Since the day before yesterday, some unusual Telekom representatives have been going around trying to sell fiber contracts because fiber is supposed to be laid here by the end of 2023. 1&1 is also offering contracts with activation in January 2024. However, they probably won’t dig up the street a second time (which would have been expected in this digital chaos land called Germany) but will instead rent the lines from Telekom.
If you place an order now, the “connection costs” of 800 euros will be covered by Telekom or 1&1. But nobody has been able to clearly explain or put in writing exactly what is included in these “connection costs.”
There is mention of excavation pits in the garden, installation techniques, directional boring, and so on. But it’s nowhere explicitly stated whether I have to pay for the excavation and restoring the property to its original condition or if the 800 euros connection cost actually covers everything.
When the house was originally built, I had to pay for the trench for the telephone line, so I’m a bit skeptical.
If everything were included, that would be fantastic, and anyone not installing fiber now would be crazy. Two excavations on the property, one with paving and the other with patio slabs, underground cable installation, a watertight entry into a waterproof concrete structure, and so on—you could easily add another zero to the 800 euros!
Long story short; here is my question:
Has anyone here had fiber installed afterward and can tell me what exactly was covered by the connection costs? Or were the excavation works still the responsibility of the homeowner?
Thanks and best regards,
Andreas
andimann schrieb:
Has anyone had fiber optic installed afterwards and can tell me what exactly was included in the connection costs? Or whether the excavation was still the builder’s responsibility? For us, it was last summer. The fiber optic cable is now at least already _at_ the house, after it was announced three years earlier. CC35BS38 schrieb:
Ours was autumn 2022, and the cable is still in front of the houses rather than inside. I think you can add about a year to that. We are also waiting until the connection is made. FloHB123 schrieb:
Either they have plans of the cables They have plans, open the utility shafts, dig around them, and see where the cables go. For some, they could use existing conduits; for us, for example, they had to excavate the yard for two full days. Afterwards, everything looked the same as before. Cost: none.J
Jurassic13510 Mar 2023 10:02This was explained to us as follows:
- The network expansion is carried out by a large company, where providers like Telekom and others then "book" lines.
- Telekom and similar companies then sign contracts with the customers.
So, there is one company that lays the cables; the individual providers do not come and dig up the street multiple times.
There are a total of three steps/appointments for the expansion:
1) Fiber optic cables are laid in the street.
2) The house connection from the street to the house is installed, usually using a trenchless method such as a pneumatic piercing tool (sometimes called a mole or directional drill); the excavators have the cable plans to avoid any damage.
3) Connection inside the house: a technician comes to connect the cable installed in the house to a wall outlet. The customer can then plug in their router or continue wiring inside the house from there.
For us, all of this is free of charge or included in a 2-year contract. The monthly fee is slightly higher than our current internet contract, but it includes everything up to the outlet inside the house.
You still need to arrange the internal wiring in the house yourself. Our provider offered a free consultation, where someone came to explain all the steps again and gave advice on where and how to wire the house or connect the router.
For us, step 1 was already scheduled for last autumn; currently, everything is expected to be completed by summer.
I assume the process is similar in other regions of Germany.
- The network expansion is carried out by a large company, where providers like Telekom and others then "book" lines.
- Telekom and similar companies then sign contracts with the customers.
So, there is one company that lays the cables; the individual providers do not come and dig up the street multiple times.
There are a total of three steps/appointments for the expansion:
1) Fiber optic cables are laid in the street.
2) The house connection from the street to the house is installed, usually using a trenchless method such as a pneumatic piercing tool (sometimes called a mole or directional drill); the excavators have the cable plans to avoid any damage.
3) Connection inside the house: a technician comes to connect the cable installed in the house to a wall outlet. The customer can then plug in their router or continue wiring inside the house from there.
For us, all of this is free of charge or included in a 2-year contract. The monthly fee is slightly higher than our current internet contract, but it includes everything up to the outlet inside the house.
You still need to arrange the internal wiring in the house yourself. Our provider offered a free consultation, where someone came to explain all the steps again and gave advice on where and how to wire the house or connect the router.
For us, step 1 was already scheduled for last autumn; currently, everything is expected to be completed by summer.
I assume the process is similar in other regions of Germany.
W
WilderSueden10 Mar 2023 11:42Patricck schrieb:
I know that they increased from 900 to 2500, but I don’t understand what could suddenly cost 1600 more. My guess is that they realized how low 900€ really is for existing connections. Digging up the street, trenching on the property, drilling through the basement wall, running the pipe, sealing the penetration, blowing in the fiber, installing the connection box, refilling everything, and patching the street. That’s a lot of work and material. Plus, there are additional costs for installation under the street. And since municipalities don’t have the budget to subsidize this generously, they just charge those who still don’t have a connection. There are not many alternatives. In rural areas, fiber is often missing, DSL speeds may be around 2000, cable networks don’t exist and therefore no cable providers. Mobile broadband is used as a temporary solution (that’s what we’re currently using), but it’s not a long-term option.
WilderSueden schrieb:
My advice would be that it became clear how little 900€ is for existing buildings. Digging up the street once, digging a trench on the property, drilling through the basement wall, running the pipe through, sealing the duct, blowing in the fiber optic cable, installing the connection box, backfilling everything, repairing the street. That is a lot of work and materials. Plus the costs for laying the cable under the street. And since municipalities don’t have the funds to subsidize this generously, they simply charge those who don’t have a connection yet. There aren’t many alternatives. In rural areas without fiber optic, it’s often DSL 2000, no cable networks, so no cable providers. Mobile networks can be used as a temporary solution (which is what we’re currently using), but not much more.But not if the pipe is already inside the house. And paying 900 euros for one hour of blowing in the cable means the fiber optic cable itself isn’t that expensive.
WilderSueden schrieb:
Haha. That would be nice. BLS charges €2500 (about $2700), and that’s already the subsidized price... We have Vodafone, and connection costs of €2600 (about $2800) are covered by subsidies. We don’t pay anything.
X
xMisterDx10 Mar 2023 18:49andimann schrieb:
If all of that were included, it would be amazing, and anyone who doesn’t install fiber optic now would be completely crazy. Two excavations on the property, one with paving stones and the other with patio slabs, underground cable installation, a watertight entry into a waterproof concrete shell (white tank), and so on. You could easily add another zero to that 800€ (about $800)! Without being 100% sure, I would assume that removing and reinstalling the paving, removing and reinstalling the patio, and the watertight entry are your issues.
The entry anyway—you have to provide that yourself.
In public areas, cutting through the street or sidewalk might be included, but on your own property, you can forget about the telecom company covering the cost for the paver. They’ll dig the trench, fill it back in, and then say, “Enjoy your internet, we’re done!”
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