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Telus Fibre Optics (FTTH)

54K views 95 replies 41 participants last post by  LD500 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Telus just set up fibre optics in my city to each house. Now there sales person has been coming by and pushing me to switch over from shaw telling me how the fibre optics blows it away. Tv,Internet and phone package from telus comes out to the same price as shaw. Is fibre optics worth the switch? Our internet is high speed 10 he is offering telus 50. Shaw phone has had huge issues lately disconnecting calls. Im just worried about going from shaw tv to telus.

EDIT by Dr.Dave - useful link for checking addresses:
www.telus.com/en/bc/internet/fibre/new/areas
 
#2 ·
You should really find out if it's just a promo price for a short term (3 or 6 months) and what the regular price will be. If it goes way up, you can possibly downgrade your internet speed or channel packages after that. I hear that cable is sometimes on par with fibre speeds these days, so it might only be the change of tv interface you'll have to get used to. I like the Microsoft Mediaroom interface so much easier to read from far. I've seen Shaw's menu/guide. Not well laid out, and some text is TINY!

I still think landline phone (especially fibre) has better quality and reliability than cable phone. Highly debatable subject, though. Cable telephony can suffer from lag, breakup, etc. I don't know if I've ever had any issues with fibre phone.

It's so tough to make an apples-to-apples comparison with two different technologies.
 
#3 ·
Telus Fibre is supposed to provide up to 100 mbps service where you get the fibre to the home. I'd go talk to the store, since the sales guy doesn't seem to know much. They say Telus 50 will give you 20-50 mbps regularly, and Telus 100 will give you 90-100 regularly. Because the TV is IPTV, bandwidth you're not using (e.g. when you're not watching TV) gets used by your internet service, boosting your speed even more.

TV wise, you can record 3 shows, instead of 6, but otherwise it's pretty similar. Channels were more expensive with Telus previously, but it seems to be about the same now that Shaw raised their rates.
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
Telus optic receivers run off internet,I have three receivers a security system two tablets and a desktop computer and a laptop and run all the receivers on HD channels and the wife on her laptop son on computer me on tablet and I run a speed test and still get 22mbps and I'm on a 25mbps plan,with nothing running except security system I get 29mbps and 8.5 up speed

Now you can record more shows with t1200 or the t2200,I just signed up for 50mbps and more storage.
 
#5 ·
Wow! Trying to find out if Fibre to the Home (FTTH) is available at our location is really an adventure.

Online check says no. (https://fibre.telus.com/)
Door to door rep says yes. (I never trust them)
Fran from Customer service chat says yes. (should be accurate, had all my info and my question was clear)
Phone call to Telus says no. (also should be accurate as they also had all my info.)

I want to get Telus internet, but only once they have FTTH.
 
#6 ·
I'm in Kelowna and there is a Telus web page at the Telus web site /kelowna that has a map of Kelowna with coloured areas saying when service should be available. My area says March 2015.

The latest from Telus advising on this web site was a plastic cover for today's Kelowna Daily Courier with a Telus blurb on the Telus Fibre Optic Network and the URL for the Kelowna information.
 
#7 ·
^ Nice map! Tried doing the same with /Penticton. No page found :(

There are pages for Osoyoos and Oliver, but not Penticton. I guess they skipped us and went up to Kelowna. I do recall reading that the Towns of Oliver & Osoyoos kicked in some cash or other perks for Telus to get them fibre ready.
 
#9 ·
We had FTTH in my area a few months before it said on the website! The rep came door-to-door. I eventually signed up for phone, internet, and TV. Saving $85 per month for the first year, then basically the same as I was paying for the next two years. Pretty much a no-brainer to save over $1000 this year. If I break the contract after that, it will be $10 per month, or max $240 breakout fee. So even if I cancel after the year of great promo pricing, I will still save over $750.

I called my current provider to see if they could match or come close, but they couldn't. I have switched Phone and TV providers a few times, but I have had Shaw for my internet since it was first available. I guess all things change.

The one thing that we do noticeably miss is the Shaw Open WiFi hotspots. Didn't realize how much we used those.
 
#13 ·
downbeat said:
Are there Internet packages available with Telus Fibre that are not generally advertised to the public? (In other words, is the only benefit to Telus Fibre the ability to subscribe to the Internet 100 package?)
There are three benefits to Telus Fiber (vs copper):

1. It's faster. For example, with the Internet 50 plan, with copper you get the advertised ~50 down / ~10 up. With fiber you get ~72 down / ~17 up.

2. It's lower latency. This is important for any sort of real-time application (online games, Skype, etc).

3. You don't need to mess around with the Actiontec hardware. I've got my "fiber modem" directly plugged into a Asus RT-N66U. Apparently that Actiontec hardware is a real PITA for a lot of Telus subscribers.
 
#14 ·
I like #3 in your list. I have an RT-N66U and want to continue to use it when fibre becomes available to me. Right now I have it connected to my Shaw modem and that system does create some limitation that I can't be bothered to resolve. Maybe some of those will go away with the connection to the "fibre modem".
 
#16 ·
As fresh Telus Internet 50 + Optik TV customer I can say that
  • Telus uses two copper lines for "bonded" connection
  • They over provision line to about 78 Mb/s (assuming that 50 Mb/s will cover your Internet plan, and the rest will cover 5HD streams)
  • New Actiontec modem is only one click away from "bridging" mode where you can simply plug in your existing router into it and it's business as usual

So, in recent months they did a lot to make them fit better into existing setups with copper only. Even latency with bonded lines hovers around 15ms (not as good as fiber, but plenty good for VOIP and such)
 
#17 ·
Some one came by my house yesterday to sell me on it. I had some horrible experiences with Telus in the past, particularly customer service, so I'm not sure I'm willing to give them another chance yet. That said, the year discount was tempting, and after that my package would be similar to what I have with Shaw.

I found it amusing how they offer a $400 TV or cheapo iPad, OR over $800 discounts in the first yea.r He told me most people take the TV or iPad...

How are their PVR's compared to Shaw's?
 
#18 ·
^ When I switched my service from Shaw to Telus May 2014, I did not signed the 3 years contract to get free stuff. I purchased a refurbished PVR and a HD box with 3 year warranty from BestBuy for $100 with $100 activation bill credit. The internet modem/router was a free rental.

The internet speed test is constant during the peak evening hours. I ran my freephoneline VOIP service on Optik internet 25 without any problem.

Comparing with Shaw Gateway, Optik TV PVR and HD boxes lag a bit when switching channel. But it does not bother me as I watch TV using my XBMC/Kodi most of the time. I am considering to disconnect Optik TV service and watch local news OTA and shows on Kodi box.
 
#20 ·
Official Press Release

TELUS is investing $1 billion in Edmonton to connect more than 90 per cent of homes and businesses directly to the company’s state-of-the-art fibre optic network over the next six years.

The TELUS fibre optic network is among the most advanced communications infrastructure available in the world today. When the service is launched in Edmonton later this year, local residents and businesses will be able to take advantage of Internet speeds of up to 150 megabits per second – a dramatically faster service made possible by a direct fibre optic network connection. In coming years, TELUS plans to offer families and businesses in Edmonton increasingly higher speeds over this gigabit-enabled network. Importantly, local healthcare providers, educators and technology companies will also be able to draw upon the network to completely reimagine how they deliver existing services and develop entirely new solutions.

“Our $1 billion investment in Edmonton will create Canada’s largest urban centre with nearly ubiquitous access to the fastest and most reliable Internet services to dramatically improve the way Edmontonians live, work and socialise in a digital world,” said Darren Entwistle, TELUS’ Executive Chair. “TELUS is committed to better connecting citizens by linking homes, hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacists, businesses, schools, libraries and municipal governments directly to our fibre optic network, bringing advanced broadband services and unparalleled security to the entire connected community. Indeed, with less than 10 per cent of North Americans currently linked to a fibre optic network, TELUS is providing a distinct advantage to the city and its citizens who will ultimately have superior access to economic growth opportunities, critical healthcare solutions, world-class education programs and exciting social applications to enhance their fast-moving consumer lifestyles.”

“Today's announcement helps enhance Edmonton's reputation for being an innovative city and it will enable us to achieve more of the goals outlined in our Open City Initiative, including greater citizen engagement,” said Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson. "We are excited about the economic development potential that fibre to the premises offers, including opportunities to build on Edmonton's strengths in the areas of new technology, health care and education.”

“This investment represents a major vote of confidence in our economy that will help ensure Alberta remains a top choice for businesses to invest and create jobs, and for families to live, work and play,” said Premier Rachel Notley. “Our government looks forward to working with the City of Edmonton to realize the full economic and quality-of-life potential of this new communications infrastructure.”

Edmonton residents can expect to see the TELUS team across the city neighbourhood by neighbourhood, knocking on doors to discuss connecting homes and businesses directly to TELUS’ fibre optic network and installing infrastructure. There is no requirement to be a current TELUS customer to be connected to the network, nor are there any conditions to purchase services once the network construction is complete.

This significant commitment is part of TELUS’ plan to invest an additional $4.2 billion in Alberta through 2018. When combined with operational expenses, this will bring the total TELUS investment in Alberta over the next four years to more than $11 billion. By 2018, TELUS will have invested more than $45 billion in Alberta since 2000 to further extend advanced telecommunications infrastructure and services, ensuring sustained innovation and fueling economic growth.

TELUS’ dedication to Edmonton extends well beyond the company’s investments in operations and infrastructure. Since 2000 the TELUS team in Edmonton has volunteered 730,000 hours with its hearts and hands and contributed $38.5 million to numerous charitable and community organizations.

In celebration of today’s announcement, on behalf of the company’s more than 6,200 employees and retirees in Edmonton Mr. Entwistle also announced TELUS is making a $120,000 investment at the Edmonton Public Library. This investment will establish the TELUS Health Innovation Fund to help create healthier outcomes, and also provide needed funding for the library’s “epl2go Literacy Vans,” thus helping to ensure a brighter future for the community.

For more information on the TELUS Fibre Optic Network and how you and your community will benefit from it, visit telus.com/edmonton or call 1-855-595-5588. Business owners are invited to call 310-3100.

TELUS Press Release.

FAQ: https://fibre.telus.com/media//2015/06/Edmonton-FAQ.pdf
 
#25 ·
Telus bringing fibre-optic internet to Vancouver

Excerpts from the Oct. 2 press release:

TELUS is investing $1 billion to connect the majority of homes and businesses in the City of Vancouver directly to the company’s state-of-the-art fibre optic network over the next five years. Once complete, TELUS’ fibre build will add more than 400,000 homes, businesses, hospitals, community centres and municipal offices to the fibre-lit landscape.

When the first Vancouver neighbourhoods are fully connected early next year local residents and businesses will be able to take advantage of home Internet speeds of up to 150 megabits per second. TELUS plans to offer families and businesses in Vancouver increasingly higher speeds over this gigabit-enabled network in the coming years, as demand continues to increase.

Vancouver residents can expect to see the TELUS team across the city neighbourhood by neighbourhood, knocking on doors to discuss connecting homes and businesses directly to TELUS’ fibre optic network and installing infrastructure. There is no requirement to be a current TELUS customer to be connected to the network, nor are there any conditions to purchase services once the network construction is complete.

In celebration of today’s announcement, on behalf of the company’s almost 7,000 team members and retirees in Metro Vancouver Mr. Entwistle also announced TELUS is making a $100,000 investment in the Vancouver Public Library.

This significant commitment is part of TELUS’ plan to invest an additional $4 billion in British Columbia through 2018. When combined with operational expenses, this will bring the total TELUS investment in British Columbia over the next four years to more than $11.5 billion. By 2018, TELUS will have invested more than $47 billion in British Columbia since 2000 to further extend advanced telecommunications infrastructure and services, ensuring sustained innovation and fueling economic growth.

For more information on the TELUS Fibre Optic Network, visit telus.com/vancouver or call 1-855-595-5588.

More links:

Here is the rollout map: https://fibre.telus.com/vancouver/availability/
Generally, the area west of Laurel is scheduled for 2016 as well as the SE corner of Vancouver.

FAQ: https://fibre.telus.com/media/2015/07/TELUS-Fibre-FAQ_o.pdf

TELUS Fibre will extend into apartment buildings. Strata or condo board approval is required to begin the connection process.

Kitsilano and Shaughnessy will be the first neighbourhoods to have the fibre-optic network installed, and are expected to come online in March 2016.
 
#26 ·
TELUS investing $14 million to connect Williams Lake homes and businesses directly to advanced fibre optic network

TELUS is investing $14 million to connect more than 90 per cent of homes and businesses in Williams Lake directly to its fibre optic network. TELUS began initial construction work in the community in August, and expects to have the final homes and businesses connected in the coming months.

TELUS’ build is nearing completion, and local residents and businesses can expect to see the TELUS team throughout the community in the coming weeks completing their work connecting homes and businesses directly to TELUS’ fibre optic network.
 
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