TPG Telecom/PIPE Networks

Fibre-to-the-Building (FTTB) Broadband for

281-285 Elizabeth Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000

Proposal Overview
TPG Telecom (ASX: TPM), via wholly owned subsidiary PIPE Networks, is proposing the installation of a
next-generation FTTB system which will connect this residential apartment building – Regency Hyde Park –
to an Australia-wide fibre-optic network (www.tpg.com.au/services/fttb-go-ultra-fast); and once operational
will provide the owners & residents with optional access to fast, reliable and affordable high-speed Internet &
digital telephone services from an alternative broadband wholesaler.
Specifically, a high-capacity fibre-optic cable is installed
to connect the Main Distribution Frame (MDF) to the
nearest FTTB “hub-site” datacenter; using existing
ducting, cable-trays & conduits wherever possible.

The high-performance telecommunications equipment

is wall-mounted within the MDF/Comms Room to
convert the fibre-optic “backhaul” into a copper-based
VDSL2 technology which operates over the existing
telephone wires linking the MDF to each apartment. Further installation details including diagrams & photos
will be provided via a Land Access and Activity Notice (LAAN) after a site inspection has confirmed the
building’s suitability for an additional FTTB installation.

The VDSL2 system currently being deployed has maximum download speeds of up to 100Mbps and up to
40Mbps for upload, but the actual customer experience will be determined by a number of factors including
the length & quality of the building’s internal copper wires (further information on pages 7-8).

Proposed FTTB Benefits

For the Owners Corporation and collective property community:
 NO-cost installation of ultra high-speed fibre-optic cable and telecommunications infrastructure
 NO responsibility for the maintenance, management & insurance of the network or equipment
 NO change to the current status quo as existing Internet & telephone services aren’t touched
 NO noisy construction or resident disruption, interruption or disconnection during installation works

For individual residents of the Regency Hyde Park apartments:

 NO obligation on any resident to connect to the optional TPG Telecom FTTB network
 Access to an alternative high-performance VDSL2 system with competitive pricing from 26x Retail
Service providers (RSP’s)…many with Unlimited data Internet connections & home phone plans
 Alternative & affordable source of reliable & fast access to advanced Internet and Cloud-based
services such as audio & video streaming, IP-TV, VoIP telephony, video-conferencing, online
gaming, online health, financial & government services, etc.,
 Improved “address desirability” for tenants & buyers plus potential for increasing property values

NOTE: This FTTB network is an independent project funded by TPG Telecom and its shareholders
…it is in no way related to or associated with NBN or any other fibre-optic roll-out.
 2

TPG Telecom/PIPE Networks – Experienced Fibre-optic Specialists

It’s not commonly known that this organisation
owns & operates one of Australia’s largest
fibre-optic networks…currently managing
more than 25,000Km of cables reaching
from Perth to Cairns.

TPG Telecom-PIPE Networks also owns the PPC-1 Trans-Pacific cable

– the 6,900Km submarine cable linking Sydney to Guam – while also
leasing significant dedicated capacity on the Southern Cross Cable;
redundant paths to ensure Australians will always stay connected
to the Internet and the global community.
 3

This property already has the NBN – WHY does it also need TPG’s FTTB?
Quite simply…to provide the Regency Hyde Park’s residents with more choices for their Internet & telephone
services; and to demonstrate the affordable nature of this alternative Broadband network, the tables below
show how the pricing is very competitive for comparable Unlimited Data plans.

On the PIPE Networks wholesale FTTB network, TPG Internet’s “Large” Bundle with Unlimited Internet up to
100/40Mbps plus Home Phone with Unlimited Local, National & Mobile calls and 100-minutes of
International calls is only $69.99/month…

…versus TPG’s equivalent NBN plan is $30/month more expensive at $99.99/month

NOTE: These examples are current as at the date of this Proposal, but are subject
to change without notice. Minimum Charges are calculated as (contract term x $
FTTB Bundle Monthly Charge) + setup + $20 Prepayment + $10 Equipment Delivery
Fee), and early termination fees apply. Also, actual throughput speeds may be
slower and could vary due to various factors including interference, customer cabling and equipment, and download source.

NOTES:
TPG can match the $69.99 price for an NBN plan but the speed drops and all calls are PAYG
iiNet also has a range of FTTB pricing plans comparatively cheaper than their NBN equivalents
TPG FTTB systems are operating concurrently with NBN FTTB systems in over 760-buildings

Will the installation process disrupt current services?

“NO”…installation of the fibre-optic cable and FTTB equipment is a simple process performed by
experienced, professional technicians who will ensure there’s no negative impact on the current Internet &
telephony services. There usually shouldn’t even be any need to dig trenches or disrupt footpaths &
driveways as nearly all the cable ducts & conduits required are already in place.
 4

How much will the proposed FTTB installation cost?

No-charge…this fibre-optic infrastructure upgrade will be completed at $0 capital cost to the Owners
Corporation, lot owners, property managers and/or residents. TPG Telecom will cover all costs associated
with installing, maintaining and supporting the fibre-optic cable and telecommunications equipment –
including insurance – and as the “owner” of this infrastructure, TPG Telecom is also responsible for all the
ongoing management, maintenance, support & repair of the FTTB system.

However, those residents who choose to use this new service will pay a monthly subscription fee for their
new high-performance connection…just as they do for their current Internet and telephone account(s).

NOTE: There is an operating cost as the FTTB equipment requires 24x7 access to a common property
power outlet. The average operating power consumption is 120-140watts (approx. 3kWh/day), which
on current tariff rates is less than $1/day. In exchange for this electricity TPG Telecom will provide
the Owners Corporation with either $365 p.a. financial compensation, or a No-charge high-speed
Internet account (further details are provided in the Power Compensation Option Form).

Does the Owners Corporation have to sign a Contract?

“NO”…the Telecommunications Act 1997 and the Telecommunications Code of Practice (the Act & the Code
– copies available upon request) set out the rules and procedures for telecommunications carriers to install
equipment and upgrade infrastructure as well as providing protections for property owners. The Land Access
and Activity Notice (LAAN) is an integral part of the process that licensed telecommunications carriers need
to follow to install Low Impact facilities.

What is a Land Access and Activity Notice (LAAN)?

This document is an official notice providing specific details of the proposed installation. The following
information was provided by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) to assist Owners
Corporations and Strata Managers to better understand the LAAN document & process:
Low impact facilities are the communications equipment and devices listed under the
Telecommunications (Low Impact Facilities) Determination 1997 (the Determination). These include
in-building subscriber connection equipment.
Schedule 3 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 (the Act) provides telecommunications carriers with
powers to access land for the purposes of inspection and to install and maintain low impact
facilities. The effect of Schedule 3 is that, for these facilities, the carrier is not required to obtain
state, territory or local government planning approval, and is also not required to obtain the consent
of the owner or occupier of the land. The Telecommunications Code of Practice (“the Code”) sets out
conditions that a carrier must comply with when undertaking activities covered by Schedule 3. For
example:
- A carrier must provide the owner and/or occupier of the land with a land access and activity
notice (LAAN) specifying certain matters relating to the proposed activity;
- An owner and/or occupier can object to the proposed activity for certain reasons specified
under the Code;
If an owner and/or occupier remains unsatisfied with how the carrier’s response to an objection, the
owner and/or occupier may request that the carrier to refer the objection to the TIO. There are strict
timeframes for raising objections – for example, if a land owner/occupier has a valid objection, it
must give the carrier written reasons and any detail on the objection in writing at least 5 business
days before the access start date proposed in the LAAN.
Where a valid objection has been made and referred to the TIO, the Ombudsman will make a
decision on whether to direct the carrier to conduct the proposed activities in a particular way, or to
allow the carrier to proceed as proposed. In reaching his decision, the Ombudsman will have regard
to the law, good industry practice and what is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances. One
factor in reaching a decision will be whether the parties have complied with the land access process,
including the strict timeframes under the Act.
 5

Where is the FTTB equipment located and what’s involved in the installation process?
Every building is likely to have unique requirements, including access to power points and physical space
limitations, but the ideal location is within the Main Distribution Frame (MDF) area or Communications Room
– or as close as possible. The LAAN document will provide specific details on the location of the equipment
within the Regency Hyde Park building and the usual installation process is as follows:

1. The PIPE Networks fibre-optic cable (approx. 7mm

diameter) is brought to the MDF/Comms Room via the
existing “lead-in” conduit & cable trays – following the
same route as Telstra’s main copper phone lines.
This underground conduit is usually of sufficient diameter
to allow additional telecommunications cables to be
installed and is our preferred route to bring the fibre-optic
cable from the street to the MDF; usually there’s no digging
required and the risk of property damage is very low.
However, in those rare circumstances where the lead-in conduit is full, damaged or blocked then it’s likely
we’ll have to dig/drill a new channel to either bypass the problem or install a new conduit. In this situation
it’s always discussed with the property’s nominated representative before any works are undertaken, and
when completed we ensure these areas are returned to their original condition (the Telecommunications
Act specifies our obligations and the owners’ rights for us to “make good”).

2. Two (2) PIPE Networks enclosures are mounted as high

as is practical on the Comms Room wall. The smaller unit
– Fibre Termination Box – just 300 x 355 x 115mm
(W x H x D) is where the main fibre-optic cable connects.

The FTTB Wall Cabinet is slightly larger – about the size

of a large microwave oven (540 x 380 x 375mm) – and
houses the fibre-to-copper telecommunications equipment.
NOTE: The FTTB Wall Cabinet has a maximum capacity
of 192-connections; so should the FTTB service
prove popular and more than 192-apartments
require a service, then installation of another Wall
Cabinet may be required in the future.

3. The Fibre Termination Box is connected to the FTTB Wall

Cabinet by a conduit containing a fibre-optic cable, and
the FTTB Wall Cabinet is connected to the new A-Side
Krone block installed on the Main Distribution Frame by
several copper cables housed within another conduit. All
newly installed conduits are securely fastened and
arranged to appear as tidy as possible.

4. The telecommunications equipment inside the Wall Cabinet effectively operates as a mini-telephone
exchange and requires 24x7 access to a common property electrical supply via a standard 240V-AC
10AMP GPO; the average “operating” power consumption is only 120-140W (approx. 3kW/day). Also
inside is a small Battery Back-up device which will maintain up to 2-hours of telephone services in the
event of a power failure.

5. The on-site works usually involve two or three separate installation visits and will take about 6-8 hours
total. Usually the only power tool used is a drill, and it’s extremely rare for residents to experience any
disruption during the installation process. Also, standard practice is for installers to take property photos
both before and after the installation and to provide a Dilapidation Report for the owners & managers.

Included on the last page of this proposal are photos from a “live” installation to provide an insight into what’s
located in the MDF/Comms Room. In this particular case it’s a large building with 160x apartments and it can
be noted that the TPG equipment takes up much less space than the Telstra equipment also installed here.
 6

Will TPG be installing new cables around the building?

“NO”…the proposed FTTB installation is usually restricted to the Comms Room/MDF area. A new high-
capacity fibre-optic cable is brought in from the street – via existing conduits & cable trays as much as
possible/practical – and a new cross-connect copper cable is installed for a new A-side Krone block on the
MDF. Delivery of the high-speed services to the apartments is via the building’s existing copper telephone
wires with the B-side Krone block connections from the MDF to the residential units remaining unchanged.

What happens if property is damaged during the installation works?

Every precaution will be taken to prevent property damage, but just-in-case it does happen PIPE Networks is
a licensed telecommunications carrier operating under the Telecommunications Act 1997 framework, so the
Owners Corporation can be assured their property is protected by this Federal legislation…including:
Make good
Clause 9 of Schedule 3 obliges PIPE Networks to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land is
restored to a condition that is similar to its condition before the activity began, and that the
restoration begins within 10 business days of completion of the inspection, installation or
maintenance activity, unless otherwise agreed with the owner or occupier.

Compensation
Clause 42 of Schedule 3 obliges PIPE Networks to provide compensation if a person suffers
financial loss or damage in relation to property that person owns or has an interest in because of
anything done by PIPE Networks during its inspection or installation. The amount of compensation
payable is to be agreed between the parties, or if not agreed it will be as determined by a court.

Will there be technical issues if two-or-more FTTB systems are installed here?
Possibly…because on current technology if more than one carrier installs and uses independently vectored-
VDSL2 in a building there is the potential for crosstalk interference. Detailed technical information available
at: https://techzine.alcatel-lucent.com/vdsl2-vectoring-multi-operator-environment-separating-fact-fiction. In
saying that, please be aware that TPG Telecom-PIPE Networks:
a. is not currently using the vectoring technology in our VDSL2 FTTB installations;
b. has successfully installed FTTB systems in a number of properties where NBN is already present,
and vice versa – there are now over 760-buildings operating both NBN & TPG VDSL2 services
concurrently; and
c. is working co-operatively with other carriers in the industry and regulatory authorities to manage the
potential issue of interference, and an industry code is also currently being drafted which all carriers
will need to follow (www.commsalliance.com.au/Documents/all/codes/c658).

If Crosstalk interference does occur you can be assured PIPE

Networks will liaise with the other carriers delivering services
to the building to work out how best to manage the problem.

It may be that adjustments or different equipment is required,

or it may also be that the interference isn’t caused by our
FTTB system but by another service provider, then it will be
determined between carriers on what the appropriate solution
should be. In such circumstances all the carriers involved would want to ensure these issues are managed
as soon as possible to minimise impact on their customers.

Plus…telecommunications is a technology industry that’s constantly subject to evolution & revolution and the
systems employed today don’t necessarily reflect what will be used/available in the future; as clearly
demonstrated by NBN’s plans to use the new G.Fast technology in Fibre-to-the-Curb (FTTC) deployments.

With time there’s also good reason to believe the telecommunications R&D engineers will come up with
further practical solutions to overcome the issue of Crosstalk; details on just some of the progress that’s
already been made can be seen by visiting:
www.assia-inc.com/best-practices-for-mitigating-the-effect-of-uncancelled-crosstalk-in-vectored-vdsl2/
www.assia-inc.com/technology-media/knowledge-center/industry-articles/Vectoring-Compatibility-CISS-
2012(Web).pdf
www.broadband-forum.org/technical/download/TR-320.pdf
 7

Finally, with +760 buildings around Australia operating both TPG and NBN VDSL2 FTTB systems there’s a
growing body of comments on the Whirlpool forum (https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/) from residents who live
in some of these buildings that demonstrate the value of having TPG’s as an alternative supplier…
“I have never seen a negative comment about the TPG non NBN product. Unfortunetly this thread
often has posts that relate to NBN. The NON NBN product which is only available in selected blocks of
units (not private home) is normally very well liked and I just ran a speedtest 1 minute ago results
95/38.” machunter – 24Jan18
“If your building has both cables, I'd go with TPG's FTTB (NOT the NBN) – should be faster and more
reliable.” Murt – 13Nov17
“We have had both services in our apartment block (60 apartments) for more than 18 months. TPG
was the first to install followed by NBN. Both FTTB VDSL ISAM's are active and there has been no
degradation in service. I am connected to the TPG platform and prefer their product offer. There
appears to be no congestion as the full traffic of their fibre is available to their customers (not a limited
CVC), there is no volume or bandwidth limit and their pricing is very competitive. I get synced at
95Mbps down and 35Mbps up and speed tests confirm this as throughput. There is no risk in having
both and upside in the offerings to the residents. instead.” BobBobBob – 27Oct17
“We have both TPG FttB and NBN in our apt building. The TPG customers are chuffed during peak
hours, while the NBN customers (via various resellers) are all pissed off with night-time congestion.
But we have some residents who are welded to the hip to either Telstra or Optus and won't move
across to TPG FttB – they just bitch about speeds on NBN instead.” Vaypers – 06Sep17
“Can confirm that TPG FTTB is pulling the same off peak speeds as NBN TPG FTTP but during peak
times the FTTB is about 2-3x faster than NBN!” Lawrencep93 – 26Aug17
“If you have a look around Whirlpool you'll find plenty of happy TPG FTTB customers. Most people get
a rock solid 100/40 connection and from what I've read it doesn't slow down at peak times because it's
all on TPG's own network. They don't have to pay AVC, CVC to NBN.” Mjshackl – 14Aug17
“I've had my FTTB for more then a year now and it is flawless still. So happy. NBN scrambled to put
their equipment into the building and from the reports i've heard from my neighbor it's crap. Drop outs
and poor speed. I told him to move to the FTTB with TPG and he has been happy since :)” Scott –
26Jul17
“IS it just me or does this seem like the best internet service in Australia? I've been on it for a year
now, full 100/40, no dropouts, no congestion, no speed issues, no outages that I was awake for
anyway. Feels too good to last.... I can stream 4k Netflix easy, have the missus on youtube while I'm
gaming with no interruption and download as much as I want all for $69.99. Plus I was setup in less
than one business day. Feels like we've won the broadband lottery guys!” Lammiwinks – 23Mar17
“There have been few (if any) people on TPG FTTB that get less than 90 mbps / 35 mbps. Typical
max speed is 93 mbps down, 38 mbps up. I've been on it for a few years now, and I have yet to
experience any congestion.” d-m-z – 30Jan17

Will an FTTB VDSL2 connection really download at 100Mbps?

“YES”…but…when any Internet Service Provider (ISP) quotes connection speeds it’s usually always
"Theoretical Maximum Network Performance". Why can’t “Actual Performance” figures be quoted? Because
although the system is technically capable of delivering these speeds there are too many factors that fall
outside an ISP’s control impacting on the user experience, including:
 The quality of the copper phone wires in the building, and the length of those wires between the
apartment and the MDF/Comms Room
 The hardware used to access the Internet – including the number of computers, smart phones,
tablets, gaming devices, etc., connected to the Local Area Network (LAN), and also the type of LAN
connection; e.g. Ethernet cable or Wireless
 The software used on these devices to access the Internet and how it’s configured
 The source or destination of the data; e.g. if the website being accessed is busy or congested, then
data can NOT be downloaded any faster than it can be uploaded…the slowest link always
determines the overall performance
 Internet contention points and system overheads
 8

Within FTTB-connected apartment buildings the customer experiences we’re seeing are typically above
90Mbps download and 30Mbps upload as demonstrated in the attached document – Actual Customer
Speedtests with a few examples shown below – however these speeds cannot be guaranteed, particularly
for those apartments at the further most extremities of the property.

H.S. of
Melbourne

J.D. of
Ultimo

T.H. of
Concord

K.A. of
Mascot

Will a TPG installation limit the residents’ choice in telecommunications providers?

“NO”… the addition of another FTTB system – a competitive
alternative to the NBN – will actually increase the range of choices
and provide residents with the ultimate opportunity to choose a
pricing plan & service provider that best suits their needs & budget
from these two independent networks.

It also needs to be understood this proposal is about providing an

additional telecommunications service for the Regency Hyde Park
building and its residents – not a replacement – and this FTTB system will operate in parallel with the
copper-based Telstra & NBN infrastructure, but totally independent from them. During neither installation nor
operation of the FTTB system do we turn-off, disconnect or interrupt the current Internet/telephone
connections or service providers using the building’s copper network.

And just like the NBN – as required by law – TPG Telecom-PIPE Networks has made our national fibre-optic
network available to other carriers on an open-access/non-discriminatory wholesale basis with a layer-3
iFTTB product available via AAPT (https://aapt.com.au/wholesale/products/aapt-wholesale-fttb), and layer-2
services from FTTB Wholesale (www.fttbwholesale.com.au).

So, any carrier/ISP could supply VDSL2 services to residents within an FTTB-connected building by adding
their business to the current list of 26x Retail Service Providers (RSP’s) – for example:
TPG Internet www.tpg.com.au/fttb
iiNet www.iinet.net.au/internet-products/broadband/fttb/plans
Exetel www.exetel.com.au/broadband/fttb
Boom Broadband www.boombroadband.com.au/tpg-fttb/
…and coming soon: Internode and Westnet
NOTES:
1. The wholesale structure has Maximum Price and “non-discriminatory” provisions that are determined
& monitored by independent regulatory bodies to ensure there’s a level playing field for all Retailers.
2. TPG Telecom has made the wholesale service available, but we can’t make companies sign-up to
use it. Inevitably there will be ISP’s who choose not to support their customers on this network, but
that then is their commercial decision and not a service restriction/limitation from TPG.
 9

Are there any “independent” referees for a TPG FTTB installation & operation?
The TPG Telecom-PIPE Networks FTTB network became commercially available in September 2014 and
after only 4-years is supporting more than 2,300 buildings (http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/tpg_fttb_buildings and
www.finder.com.au/tpg-fttb) with +45,000 very happy high-speed customers…and with additional properties
around Australia being connected every week.

We understand the importance for everyone involved to feel comfortable & confident that this proposed
installation is of positive value to both the residents and Regency Hyde Park property as a whole, so here
are contact details for people from “Customer Ready” buildings who can discuss their own real-world
experience:

Gary Thompson of 120-122 Saunders Road, PYRMONT 0414 676 806 or

(TPG & NBN FTTB property) [email protected]

Darren Gardner of Walsh Bay Precinct. SYDNEY (02) 9247 7878 or

(TPG & NBN FTTB properties) [email protected]

James Tin of John Street Square, PYRMONT 0466 961 555 or

(TPG & NBN FTTB property) [email protected]

Ron Shaw of 102 Miller Street, PYRMONT (02) 8283 5885 or 0404 097 944
(TPG & NBN FTTB property) [email protected]

Allan Hoy of Hyde Park Towers, SYDNEY (02) 9261 5884 or

and The Pyrmont, PYRMONT [email protected]
(TPG & NBN FTTB properties)

Rhoula Ghosn of 32-34 Bunn Street, PYRMONT 0410 888 898 or

and 93-105 Quay Street, HAYMARKET [email protected]
(HAYMARKET – TPG FTTB & NBN FTTP property)

Symon Aked of 134 Mounts Bay Road, PERTH (WA) 0416 087 037 or
[email protected]

Paul Brouard of 2865-2871 Gold Coast Highway 0424 098 755 or

SURFERS PARADISE (QLD) [email protected]

Brett Hunter of 171-185 City Road, SOUTHBANK (VIC) 0412 376 334 or
(TPG & NBN FTTB property) [email protected]

David Beale of 78 Inkerman Street, ST KILDA (VIC) 0414 209 301 or

(TPG & NBN FTTB property) [email protected]

David Jones of 38 Kavanagh Street, SOUTHBANK (VIC) 0404 500 151 or

and 55-57 Bay Street, PORT MELBOURNE [email protected]
(SOUTHBANK – TPG & NBN FTTB property)

This proposal has been prepared by and can be discussed with:

Timothy Strachan, Manager – Special Projects
TPG Telecom
30 Ross Street
GLEBE NSW 2037
(02) 9162 6071 or 0402 333 456
[email protected]
th
Prepared on: Wednesday, 8 August 2018

This proposal is subject to change without notice and without prejudice – E & O E.
High-density Property – typical wall mounting of two cabinets in MDF/Comms Room

FTTB Telecommunications
equipment plugs into
standard 10AMP GPO;
consumes approx. 3kW/day

New A-side KRONE

Block mounts on the
Main Distribution Frame
130mm W x 360mm H
Fibre Termination Box
300mm W x 355mm H
x 115mm D

Internal view of the main FTTB

Telecommunications Cabinet
540mm W x 380mm H x 375mm D
 2

The TPG FTTB Wall Cabinet requires much less wall space than NBN’s FTTB Cupboard

TPG Telecom

38cm High
x 54cm Wide

NOTE: These two photos are from the Comms Room in a St Leonards apartment building where
both TPG & NBN FTTB VDSL2 systems have been operating since March 2016.

NBN Co.

180cm High
x 55cm Wide