Cabling
Telecommunications cabling is the responsibility of either the network owner (for example NBN Co and Telstra) or the customer, depending on which side of the ‘network boundary’ the cabling is located. The network boundary point is typically the first phone socket within residential premises.
In the NBN environment, the network boundary point will normally be located on the customer side of the network termination device (NTD). The NTD is usually installed inside each customer premises. Cabling within premises connected to the NTD – for example, to connect other devices in the customer’s premises – is the responsibility of the customer. Cabling from the NTD to the street and the wider telecommunications network is the responsibility of NBN Co or other carriers in the case of new developments.
Under the ACMA’s Cabling Provider Rules:
- A person installing and maintaining customer cabling must be registered with an ACMA-accredited registrar before they can perform cabling work; and
- the cabling work must be performed in accordance with the Wiring Rules AS/CA S009:2013
The ACMA is also responsible for enforcement of the requirements in Part 20A of the Telecommunications Act that require the installation of optical fibre in new developments. These provisions apply only in relation to optical fibre installed by persons other than NBN Co. The ACMA may also make technical standards in relation to Layer 2 bitstream services; at this stage, the ACMA has not made any such technical standards.
If a person wants to complain about the installation of network cabling, the matter should first be raised directly with the network owner—NBN Co or other relevant carrier. If this does not resolve the matter, a person may contact the TIO.
More information on the ACMA’s role in regulating customer cabling is available on the ACMA website at www.acma.gov.au
Notify ACRS for change of contact details
It is important to advise ACRS of any change of contact details to ensure compliance with the ACMA guidelines. Change of contact details can include address, phone number and email. By having up to date information ACRS can ensure that a cablers renewal notice is sent to the correct address and you are able to renew your registration on time. To notify ACRS of any changes and ensure your registration remains valid, please contact one of the friendly staff members on 1300 667771 or enquiries@acrs.com.au
Are you ensuring your customers Home is NBN ready?
Many contractors are installing equipment that is promoted as being “NBN ready” but is it really compliant to the specifications outlined by NBN for Home Premise Wiring, if you listen and read majority of the manufacturers information without checking the below Web link you may be performing a disservice to the home owner & your builder, the very people that pay your invoices.
http://www.nbnco.com.au/content/dam/nbnco/documents/key-information-for-builders-and-cablers.pdf
NBN designers have created an enclosure build criteria and it is critical to ensure compliance to this requirement otherwise you might end up with an enclosure designed only as a Home Media Centre where all the field data and voice wires cable back to, if not compliant NBN will mount their equipment next to the non-compliant enclosure not in it. This then creates contractual issues especially in new homes between builders and the customer where an unsightly and inconvenient mess will reside and the builder holds the warranty.
Ultimately you, the contractor that is trusted to be informed and up-to-date on industry requirements installed a non-compliant product.
A few dot points to take note of:
- NTD (Network Termination Device) is a device with a Fibre Optic Connection and RJ45 Ports that connect typically to a wireless router (in NBN fibre to the home areas)
- Do not install an enclosure that is not suitably capable of allowing the wireless to work
- The NTD needs power and heart dissipation properties
- Install an enclosure that has more than adequate ventilation and provision for power, remember Queensland gets a bit warmer than our Southern States.
- The NTD has an option for a (PSU) Power Supply Unit
- Install an enclosure that will provide adequate space and ventilation for any of the future options required
- The customer may have a high requirement for Data/Voice outlets around the home (Small Home Businesses is what the NBN is Promoting)
- Install an enclosure capable of accepting future cabling requirements.
- Check with the home owner for their best location of the enclosure.
- As long as it complies with the install guidelines in the Web link it will be connected
- The garage might not be an appropriate or practical location
In summary:
Ensure you use a fully compliant NBN Enclosure and educate your builders and discuss with the home owners as to the technology being installed and what their requirements will be. Read the current NBN Guides as they will inform you of what is compliant.
For more information on compliant enclosures contact Michael Dyer – Grove Communications. 0408253911. www.grovecoms.com.au
What is the NBN?
The National Broadband Network, or NBN for short, is a high speed broadband network that’s being rollout by the Australian Government owned NBN (formerly NBN Co.)
NBN is in charge of providing a high speed broadband connections to every home and office in Australia. It is also giving telephone and internet service providers access to the NBN so they can deliver services like telephony, entertainment, security and e-health to homes and businesses.
To make this happen, NBN is using a range of broadband technologies, including:
- Fibre to the premises or FTTP
- Fibre to the building or FTTB
- Fibre to the node or FTTN
- Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) or more commonly known as Pay TV cable
- Fixed wireless
- Satellite
For most people only the first three options will be important. However any NBN connection means thinking about where your internet equipment is installed in your home or office so the faster broadband speeds work properly wherever you are in the building.
No matter which type of technology is used to deliver the NBN it’s crucial the home and office wiring has been well planned. If you are cabling a new or renovated home the most important principle is that all cabling should be “star wired” from a central location where the active equipment from the carrier should be installed.
FTTP
FTTP is fibre to the premises & connects to your home on a network termination device or NTD. It allows you to have 2 different phone service providers and 4 different data service providers.
There are 2 sorts of FTTP rollouts. One is in new estates where fibre is the only technology installed to provide telephone and internet services to every home.
The other one is in existing suburbs. Here the fibre being installed piggybacks on the existing copper telephone network.
FTTB
FTTB is where fibre is installed to a building or apartment complex. It terminates at a node that converts the optical signal into one suitable for the existing copper cable in order to ‘extend’ the broadband service to all apartments or offices.
The technology that helps this occur over the copper telephone wire is called vectored DSL or VDSL, a faster version than the more common ADSL broadband. The VDSL modem will be very similar to the existing ADSL modems.
FTTN
FTTN, or Fibre To The Node, is like FTTB except the node is installed outside the premises so it can service multiple premises. The ideal location would be next to an existing telecommunications pillar.
The technology from the node to the Multiple Dwelling Unit (apartment building, townhouses, etc) or Single Dwelling Unit (freestanding house) is also vectored DSL or VDSL. The connection and installation inside the dwelling will be the same as for ADSL. The node needs to be reasonably close to the dwelling so the copper length is kept as short as possible.
HFC
HFC, is where high speed broadband is delivered over the existing pay TV network so the installation inside the home is the same as the existing cable modem. Using the latest technology it is possible to deliver both broadband and telephony from the cable modem.
Fixed wireless
Fixed wireless is where NBN will install radio base stations like the ones used for mobile phones and then install an antenna and a fixed modem (NTD) in the premises. This NTD is only for broadband service, the telephony stays on the existing copper wires for now.
Satellite
The NBN is also using satellites to cover remote areas, installing a satellite dish connected to an NTD. Like fixed wireless this NTD will provide broadband services only.
NBN Rollout and Find A Cabler
The NBN is coming to a suburb near you or your customers this year. This will mean an upsurge in business for contractors who undertake cabling in the next 12 months. Make sure your business doesn’t miss the boat by registering your business on the Find A Cabler website at www.registeredcablers.com.au. To download an application form, click here.
The current NBN rollout map as of 28 May 2015 is here. The current NBN rollout map is at http://www.nbnco.com.au/develop-or-plan-with-the-nbn/check-rollout-map.html.