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story category Dig Your Own Fiber Trench, Save $400
One Norwegian ISPs lets customers do the manual labor...
(old news - 08:56AM Tuesday May 12 2009)
tags: Fiber · business · install · world
Telephony Online explores how one Norwegian fiber to the home ISP offers customers $400 savings if they're willing to bury the fiber optic line in their yard themselves. Norwegian ISP Lyse offers symmetrical 10Mbps, 30Mbps, or 50Mbps connections, then runs the fiber to the edge of the customer's lawn. Customers are then given the option of finishing the install themselves, something that 80% of customers agree to. Lyse tells Telephony that the self-install acts as kind of a bonding moment for customers, giving the carrier a 0.2% churn (customer defection) rate.

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Forums » Dig Your Own Fiber Trench, Save $400
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Post a:
expert007

join:2006-01-10
Buffalo, NY

In the words of the Guiness Beer Guys....

Brilliant!!

baineschile
2600
Premium
join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI

Id do it

Can someone come run fiber to my house? There is a trench in my yard already....

jmn1207
Premium
join:2000-07-19
Reston, VA
·Verizon FIOS

Re: Id do it

said by baineschile See Profile :

Can someone come run fiber to my house? There is a trench in my yard already....
A trench? In Norway, I think the code requires a fjord.
blips

join:2001-04-17
Addison, IL

Bonding??

My guess is the churn rate is so low because fiber is that much better than the alternative not because they dug their own trench.

Madness
A flea circus at a dog show.

join:2000-01-05
Quincy, MA
·Verizon Online DSL

Why Not?

If I lived there, I'd pull out my shovel & dig. Or get a neighbor who works @ a cemetery to do it!
--
No keyboard present or keyboard error. Press <F1> to continue....

ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Bridgeport, WV
clubs:
·VOIPo

Re: Why Not?

said by Madness See Profile :

If I lived there, I'd pull out my shovel & dig. Or get a neighbor who works @ a cemetery to do it!
Nah, spend $100 for the day and rent a trencher. Put in some other needed lines while you have it.

jmn1207
Premium
join:2000-07-19
Reston, VA

Day Labor

Too bad Norway does not have Spanish-speaking day laborers hanging out at 7/11's in droves. Customers could get their houses wired for $20 each. I suppose this would only work in the summer. There isn't much "day" in the winter at that latitude.
BVirulent

join:2008-09-25
Grants Pass, OR

Re: Day Labor

Ha!

GOLFnSUN
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast

Stupid idea since vendor has trenching tools

This is NOT a good idea. The ISP and/or their installation vendor have purpose built trenching tools that make very short work of laying a trench on customer property. Very few homeowners would have those tools. Also, how many customers will contact the One-call authority before digging, thereby exposing other underground utilities to damage.
--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page

jmn1207
Premium
join:2000-07-19
Reston, VA
·Verizon FIOS

Re: Stupid idea since vendor has trenching tools

I just had an unmarked van pull up to my house the weekend before the scheduled install date with a crew of non-English speaking gentlemen with some shovels. Real high tech stuff, I tell ya.

Who needs to call before you dig? If you get wet, you found a water line; if you get shocked, you found a power line; if it smells like a fart, you hit a sewer line; and if it smells like a fart and then you explode, you hit a gas line. Oh yeah, and in my particular case, if the phones in your home lose their dial tone, then a telephone line was cut. Hmmm? Perhaps Verizon should have sent out a better trained crew after all?
andyross

join:2003-05-04
Schaumburg, IL

Re: Stupid idea since vendor has trenching tools

said by jmn1207 See Profile :

Who needs to call before you dig? If you get wet, you found a water line; if you get shocked, you found a power line; if it smells like a fart, you hit a sewer line; and if it smells like a fart and then you explode, you hit a gas line. Oh yeah, and in my particular case, if the phones in your home lose their dial tone, then a telephone line was cut. Hmmm? Perhaps Verizon should have sent out a better trained crew after all?
I hope you are joking. By calling a marking service (here in Illinois outside of Chicago, it's J.U.L.I.E) and you hit something that is NOT marked, they take responsibility. If you hit something and didn't have the area marked, you can be fined and sued.

grcore
New and Improved

join:2003-12-06
usa

Re: Stupid idea since vendor has trenching tools

Friend of mine was putting in a deck, called JULIE before augering the post holes. Still hit the power line feed into the house (was just on the 18" limit of the marking).

ComEd came in and hand dug a new feed, for free. Guy that came out said, if they get the marking done they don't bother charging you for the repair if you do hit the line anyway.

Tsume

join:2004-02-23
Johnson City, TN
·ViaTalk
·Comcast
·Cox HSI

said by andyross See Profile :

I hope you are joking. By calling a marking service (here in Illinois outside of Chicago, it's J.U.L.I.E) and you hit something that is NOT marked, they take responsibility. If you hit something and didn't have the area marked, you can be fined and sued.
I'm pretty sure he was pointing out how stupid it was of Verizon to have used (likely illegal) untrained day laborers who couldn't speak the language and didn't call before they dug.
--
"Did you know that when one little panda pulls on another little panda's underwear, that's sexual harassment? That makes me a sa-a-a-a-ad panda." --Sexual Harassment Panda

jmn1207
Premium
join:2000-07-19
Reston, VA
·Verizon FIOS

Re: Stupid idea since vendor has trenching tools

said by Tsume See Profile :

said by andyross See Profile :

I hope you are joking. By calling a marking service (here in Illinois outside of Chicago, it's J.U.L.I.E) and you hit something that is NOT marked, they take responsibility. If you hit something and didn't have the area marked, you can be fined and sued.
I'm pretty sure he was pointing out how stupid it was of Verizon to have used (likely illegal) untrained day laborers who couldn't speak the language and didn't call before they dug.
There was no need to call before they dug. The survey had been done a week before, and the backyard was all marked-up with paint. I did want to let it be known that I would be keeping my POTS line for the phone and my FiOS fiber for internet and TV. Trying to explain this to the digging crew was more difficult than the King of the Swamp Castle trying to get the guards to keep the prince from leaving the Tall Tower in Monty Python's "Holy Grail".

"Look Alex (Erbert!), ummm, Erbert, it's really quite simple. Just make sure that when you install the fiber that you don't disconnect the copper. Got it?"

It didn't help to have an unmarked van pull up with a bunch of strangers walking around to the back of the house. They did ring the doorbell, but by the time I got to the door they had already moved on to the back and left a note on the door...a generic FiOS note, not something written by the installers/diggers. I guarantee the people that hung the FiOS sign could not read what it said, which is obviously not an issue a majority of the time, otherwise Verizon would not conduct their business in this manner.

I'm a customer, and I don't like it. Just something to think about.

baineschile
2600
Premium
join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI
LOL (i actually did laugh out loud at that post)
LJGoose

join:2008-08-31
Middle Island, NY
·Optimum Online

said by jmn1207 See Profile :

I just had an unmarked van pull up to my house the weekend before the scheduled install date with a crew of non-English speaking gentlemen with some shovels. Real high tech stuff, I tell ya.

Who needs to call before you dig? If you get wet, you found a water line; if you get shocked, you found a power line; if it smells like a fart, you hit a sewer line; and if it smells like a fart and then you explode, you hit a gas line. Oh yeah, and in my particular case, if the phones in your home lose their dial tone, then a telephone line was cut. Hmmm? Perhaps Verizon should have sent out a better trained crew after all?
I laughed my ass off at this. I can't stop laughing.

a333
A hot cup of integrals please

join:2007-06-12
Rego Park, NY
·Cingular Wireless
·Verizon Online DSL

said by jmn1207 See Profile :

I just had an unmarked van pull up to my house the weekend before the scheduled install date with a crew of non-English speaking gentlemen with some shovels. Real high tech stuff, I tell ya.

Who needs to call before you dig? If you get wet, you found a water line; if you get shocked, you found a power line; if it smells like a fart, you hit a sewer line; and if it smells like a fart and then you explode, you hit a gas line. Oh yeah, and in my particular case, if the phones in your home lose their dial tone, then a telephone line was cut. Hmmm? Perhaps Verizon should have sent out a better trained crew after all?
xDxD.... that was good
expert007

join:2006-01-10
Buffalo, NY
Thank you for making my day.

Hpower
Roflmao

join:2000-06-08
Glendale, CA
·Charter Pipeline


1 edit
LOL! Funny stuff hahaha "if it smells like a fart and then you explode, you hit a gas line" ahaahahhaahhaah

No but seriously, I wouldn't bother putting my own fiber lines. Rather have someone do it professionally and if they mess up, they can fix it themselves. No worries for you.

FiL
Premium
join:2005-08-16
Silver Spring, MD
the hell did we need to know non-English speakers came out? lol.

Eat Me

join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ
·PenTeleData
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VOIPo
·Vonage


1 edit
Are you a carpenter? Because you hit the nail on the head.

To trench and run the cable myself I will have to rent a backhoe or ditch witch for $600/day. Not to mention I'd either have to hire someone to do it or do it myself.

Paying the utility $400 to do it is a bargain, especially since they'll get the job done right and be liable for any damage they do to other utilities.
halfelite

join:2007-09-11

Re: Stupid idea since vendor has trenching tools

said by Eat Me See Profile :

Are you a carpenter? Because you hit the nail on the head.

To trench and run the cable myself I will have to rent a backhoe or ditch witch for $600/day. Not to mention I'd either have to hire someone to do it or do it myself.

Paying the utility $400 to do it is a bargain, especially since they'll get the job done right and be liable for any damage they do to other utilities.
Were do you live. I can rent a diesel powered ditch witch for $200 with trailer included.
yabos

join:2003-02-16
Ingersoll, ON
Why do you need a backhoe? My phone line is buried about 6" deep. There's no reason you have to dig so deep for a fiber line. The only reason gas and electric lines are down so far is because they're dangerous if you hit them.
Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ
from my experience in tech support, most customers would call in asking how to use a shovel...
--
[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports

tschmidt
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
·Hollis Hosting
·Verizon Online DSL
·Fairpoint Communic..

I disagree, think it is a great idea from vendor/customer cost saving and marketing perspective. I'm surprised DIY customer take rate is as high as reported. I would have thought once folks look at what it takes to bury the cable they would decide to let the vendor do it. Even if customer decides not to DIY it's still a great way to defuse resistance to high one time construction cost.

When we built our home we were responsible for digging the trench and back filling with utility approved material. Phone company just dropped off a spool of direct burial cable.

I agree about the potential Dig-Safe (that is what we call it in NH)problem prior to digging.

/tom

joe01880

join:2007-10-26
Wakefield, MA
·Verizon FIOS

said by GOLFnSUN See Profile :

This is NOT a good idea. The ISP and/or their installation vendor have purpose built trenching tools that make very short work of laying a trench on customer property. Very few homeowners would have those tools. Also, how many customers will contact the One-call authority before digging, thereby exposing other underground utilities to damage.
One would also need to make crystal clear perfect that the trench meets code for their area. You can bet that if you dig your own the vendor is going to have it inspected and if needed you best have a permit or your efforts were for nothing.
Core0000
Premium
join:2008-05-04
Somerset, KY
·Windstream

Listen I don't need someone to dig a hole for me, I have been digging holes since I was a kid. Digging holes and burying things.. I excel at it, well if the number of spankings are anything to go by. XD

The utilities thing is important, but state side we have a number you can call.. (although I forget what it is right off the top of my head.. )

Anyways, common sense will go along way.

Thespis
I'm not an actor, but I play one on TV.
Premium
join:2004-08-03
Keller, TX

Re: Stupid idea since vendor has trenching tools

said by Core0000 See Profile :

Listen I don't need someone to dig a hole for me, I have been digging holes since I was a kid. Digging holes and burying things..
As my dad used to say as he sat in the pickup watching me dig, "The world's greatest ditch has never been dug".
Whatever that means...
wentlanc
You Can't Fix Dumb..

join:2003-07-30
Maineville, OH

Yeah... because burying a non-electrical line several feet above any hazardous gas and electric lines is really such a big deal?! Home depot sells a purpose built trenching tool for about $9. It's called a shovel. It saves the company a person running equipment, drive time, gas, etc... Not to mention it could save the consumer some money.

Are you really just opposed because a corporation would give up that line of revenue, and possibly affect the stock price?

You really do think that all consumers are just stupid, and we should trust companies to tell us what is best for us, don't you?

cw

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T DSL Service
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest

That's not the point tho TK. The company can save money by not deploying their workers--- and they are willing to pass some of the savings onto you.

I know a lot of people who would dig their own trench to save $400 in install charges.
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
Skippy25

join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

How about this....

You allow me to dig a trench all the way back to the CO or remote terminal so I can get fiber.

Seph83
Gone Insane
Premium
join:2004-04-29
Blairsville, GA
·Windstream

Re: How about this....

I'll drink to that one! The local power company told me they'd run fiber to my house, and give me up to 200 feet for free... too bad they charge $1 a foot for the other 1300 feet from their node. I almost asked them if they'd give me a deal if I dug the ditch myself. Backhoe rental is about $100 a day, so it'd be a heck of a lot cheaper.
--
"I've Gone to Find Myself. If I Get Back Before I Return, Keep Me Here!!"
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
Amen to that! I'll get some of those day laborer folks and dig a mile or two if that'd mean I'd get fiber to here!

John Keels

@bellsouth.net

Backhoe?

Why not a ditch Witch. Those things will cut a trench in a hurry. Typically the phone company just drops the cable in the trench and moves on.

wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace

join:2004-08-07
New York, NY
·Verizon FIOS
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·RoadRunner Cable
·BroadVoice

Never in America

The are two reasons this could never happen in America. Number one is the 'sue happy' climate and the lawyers, and number two are the "advocate groups" such as the ACLU.

Some jerk would start digging up his lawn and hit a gas main, thus blowing himself (and two other houses) up. Because he was a minority (or left handed, or red headed, or short, ACLU garbage categories....) a $20 billion lawsuit is immediately launched on behalf of his family (at the behest of the ACLU et al)). Then the ISP goes out of business, and every person on the local government who approved letting the ISP operate in that town is dragged into civil court for a wrongful death case.

Yeah, that sounds EXACTLY like what we need here......
--
When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat.
-Ronald Reagan-


See 33 replies to this post

BucknRusty

join:2006-08-18
Blooming Grove, TX

WHAT?

I hear next they are going to allow people in Norway to pump their own gas!
alchav

join:2002-05-17
Palm Desert, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC

I dug my own Gas Line Trench!

Back in the '70's on my first home, to save money putting in a swimming pool, I did my own Gas and Electrical. The Electrical was easy, my neighbor was an Electrician. Now the Gas was a different story, I had to run an 1 1/4" Gas Pipe 2 or 3 hundred feet and had to be buried 6". So who do you think did the Trenching?.....You got it Me! This was in South San Jose, Ca., hard clay and mud based soil. I started with a rented Trenching Tool, and finished with Pick and Shovels. I did it, and it was all tested and inspected. What a job, it was informative and rewarding, I really enjoyed that Swimming Pool!

heat84

join:2004-03-11
Fort Lauderdale, FL
·Comcast
·AT&T Southeast


1 edit

Re: Dig your own trench

20 years ago or so, me and my dad put in the plumbing from our house to the new sewer system (we were required to hook up to the sewer system or have a lien put on the house). So this would be easy compared to that. All the utilities ran under or on poles in the back yard so we didn't have to worry about hitting anything. As long as your only gonna use shovels and not machines to dig I don't think you have to worry about getting stuff marked.
Does the ISP give them the fiber to lay or do the have to buy it at RadioShack
Core0000
Premium
join:2008-05-04
Somerset, KY
·Windstream

FIOS for a trench

I'd dig a trench all the way to my mail box if I could get fio's installed. And my mail box is about 150' away from my house.

Anyways I think this is a very cool idea. And as long as people used common sense, basic stuff, they'd be fine doing this.

tschmidt
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
·Hollis Hosting
·Verizon Online DSL
·Fairpoint Communic..

Re: FIOS for a trench

said by Core0000 See Profile :

I'd dig a trench all the way to my mail box if I could get fio's installed.
I'd do the same and in our case it would be about 600 feet.

/tom

tim_k
Buttons, Bows, Beamer, Shadow, Kasey
Premium
join:2002-02-02
Stewartstown, PA

give me the chance

I'd run it all the 3 miles to the CO if they let me.
bobb4jesus

join:2008-12-09

I'd do it in a heartbeat!

I'd run the fiber about 4-5 miles if I didn't have to buy it. If I could run it from where they have it to my house, I'd do it a heartbeat. I'm sure we could get a couple neighbors to help since they'd benefit too.
wentlanc
You Can't Fix Dumb..

join:2003-07-30
Maineville, OH

Re: I'd do it in a heartbeat!

I don't know... apparently this trench digging business is a lot more technical than we know... at least some people are saying so...



cw

jfarmer

@bellsouth.net

So...

When I was a kid, I was always told, "Son, get an education. You don't want to grow up to be a laborer digging ditches all your life."

So we've come to the point in the US of A that digging a ditch is too technical for most people?

Rather, I think it's spelled L-A-Z-Y....

Or our Education system really does s&ck...
u3912974

join:2007-07-31
San Francisco, CA

trench of fiber optic fttc

Let's see a picture of this
Forums » Dig Your Own Fiber Trench, Save $400


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