Building a new home

Trenching work

In most cases when building a new home, it's necessary to dig a trench for lead-in cabling when telephone services need to be provided to a new site. Under our policy, whenever practical, underground (rather than aerial) lead-in cables will be installed. However, there may be circumstances or particular locations that prohibit the use of underground cabling. A Telstra Approved Contractor will determine the appropriate installation method at the site of your new home.

If you're not the building owner, you are responsible for obtaining permission from the building owner before starting any trenching, internal wiring or telephone socket work.

For an underground lead-in cable, you'll need to dig and backfill a trench. A pole will need to be erected for an aerial lead-in.

You can dig and backfill the trench yourself, hire your own contractor, or we can refer you to a Telstra Approved Contractor. They'll discuss the details of property alignment, specifications and the route of the trench with you. Or you can get this information from your Telstra Approved Contractor if you're digging the trench yourself.

If you choose to dig your own trench, make sure you get the location of underground pipes and cables before you start. Call Dial Before You Dig on 1100 or visit Dial Before You Dig.

The open trench should extend from your property boundary to the house. The trench may be shared with other utilities, such as electricity, gas and water, as well as the phone line (contact your builder to find out). However, you'll need to comply with our specifications. If you need a separate trench dug, have your telephone needs assessed early to minimise disruptions to other features, such as landscaping and driveways.

If you're unable to successfully determine the trench path based on the instructions provided, you can request a Telstra Approved Contractor to locate and/or mark the trench for you. This may incur a site visit charge.

Where the trench is dug and backfilled by your chosen contractor, you must contact a Telstra Approved Contractor to arrange for the provision of the lead-in pipe and cable. Only a Telstra Approved Contractor can install telephone cabling into the pipe of an open trench.

Note: Trenching costs on your property are not included in the Telstra connection fee. You may be responsible for additional charges, which you should discuss with your contractor. It's important to discuss and clarify trenching requirements prior to digging the trench to avoid unnecessary rework and extra cost if the trench is provided in the wrong location or to the wrong specification.

Lead-in Cabling

You'll need to arrange the installation of a lead-in cable and pipe into your trench (this must be done by a Telstra Approved Contractor) before the trench is backfilled. The Telstra connection fee1 includes the costs of the cable/pipe in your trench from the Telstra network in the street to the Network Boundary Point - usually the first socket in your home. To find out more, ask a Telstra Approved Contractor before the trench is opened.

Aerial lead-in cable

A Telstra Approved Contractor will determine the requirements for an aerial lead-in cable, and ensure the aerial lead-in is ready before the date of your service connection.

A Telstra Approved Contractor will supply the Telstra poles and cables on your property. You'll need to pay for the erection of Telstra poles, including clearing, digging and reinstatement of land and pole holes on your property.

Where a Telstra Approved Contractor provides aerial lead-in cable before the date that your service is ready for connection, a Telstra Communications Technician will connect the aerial lead-in cable to the pole on the day your service is connected.

Contact us before you start construction. We'll put you in touch with your local Telstra Approved Contractor who can explain what's involved at each stage

Internal wiring and telephone sockets

Internal wiring for telephone sockets should be completed before the sheeting of internal walls. The phone point/socket must be fitted prior to the connection of your service - after the internal walls of your house are finished. Please contact a Telstra Approved Contractor to make an appointment for this work.

If you need extra phone points/sockets, please discuss your requirements with a Telstra Approved Contractor, or another licensed cabling provider.

The cost of the first socket is included as part of your Telstra connection fee. Larger buildings with multiple telephone connections may require a Distributor. In these cases, the Distributor will be classed as the Network Boundary Point.

Contact us before you start construction. We'll put you in touch with your local Telstra Approved Contractor who can explain what's involved at each stage.

Information you'll need to supply Telstra or a Telstra Approved Contractor

• The approximate distance (in metres) from your property boundary to the front of your house.
• Your street number.
  Note: If you only have a lot number, you will need to obtain the street number (if available), rural number or Registered Property details. Your local council can help.
• The construction stage/status of your house (for example if the house is at frame stage with the roof tiles on).
• The approximate building start and completion dates for your new home, or any changes to the timing of construction. Let Telstra know when you're expecting to move into your new home and your preferred date of connection for your telephone service.
• The number of lines/services you require (fax, internet, telephone, etc).
• The number of additional socket points required.
• Trenching arrangements and whether an underground lead-in cable is needed.

Listing of Telstra Approved Contractors

List of Approved Telstra contractors for line installation

Location	Contractor Name	Phone Contact
Melbourne South and East	Service Stream	1800 773 776
Melbourne North and West	Visionstream	1800 303 085
Victoria East	Visionstream	1800 303 085
Victoria West & Tasmania	Service Stream	1800 773 776
Queensland Metro	Silcar	1800 081  205
Queensland North	Silcar	1800 081 205
Queensland South	Service Stream	1800 773 776
Sydney North	Silcar	1800 081 205
Sydney South	Service Stream	1800 773 776
New South Wales Central	Silcar	1800 081 205
New South Wales South and West	Silcar	1800 081 205
New South Wales North and East	Service Stream	1800 773 776
South Australia (North)	Service Stream	1800 773 776
South Australia (South)	Visionstream	1800 303 085
West Australia (North)	Visionstream	1800 303 085
West Australia (South)	Service Stream	1800 773 776

New connections

The charges below are for standard installation. Offers on installation may be available to customers signing up to BigPond® and FOXTEL from Telstra for the first time. Check the BigPond and FOXTEL from Telstra websites for the latest offers.

Home Phone	Connection charge for first service	Connection charge for each additional service/outlet1	Pensioner concession for first service only2
Telephone line connection (a) New telephone line connection - a telephone service has not previously been connected at your new address (although we may have previously installed cabling and you may be able to hear a dial tone); Or (b) Telephone line connection with a technician visit and cabling work - a previous telephone service has existed at your new address and a technician is required to install and / or work on the cabling up to the first socket.	$299.00	$179.00	$194.00

BigPond® Broadband	Connection charge for first service	Connection charge for each additional service/outlet1	Pensioner concession for first service only2
BigPond ADSL connection New connection with professional installation.	Refer to BigPond ADSL connection charges website	Not available
BigPond Cable connection New connection with professional installation.	Refer to BigPond Cable connection charges website.	Not available

FOXTEL from Telstra	Connection charge for first service	Connection charge for each additional service/outlet1	Pensioner concession for first service only2
New FOXTEL from Telstra connection. Standard metro installs only. Additional costs may apply in Western Australia.	6 Month Contract: $240.00 12 Month Contract: $190.00 24 Month Contract: $140.00	$25.00 per outlet	Not available