topic Re: Not on Openreach Schedule for any fibre connection in Everything else

Not on Openreach Schedule for any fibre connection

UKAlfie — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:14:12 GMT

I have been told by Openreach that the distribution point (dp) is not scheduled for fibre at all in the near future/ before 2027. As the mobile signal is also very lousy in my area I was wondering if anyone has any answers/recommendations/ideas so that I will not be left without broadband and home phone.

Re: Not on Openreach Schedule for any fibre connection

jab1 — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:23:36 GMT

@UKAlfie Are there any other fibre networks in your area? Use this link to check:https://checker.ofcom.org.uk/en-gb/broadband-coverage

Re: Not on Openreach Schedule for any fibre connection

Mav — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:46:30 GMT

Moderator's note(s):

Thread moved from General Chat to Everything Else.

Re: Not on Openreach Schedule for any fibre connection

pvmb — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:08:11 GMT

@UKAlfie
As far as I know, full fibre (FTTP) is not a prerequisite for a VoIP home phone. Fibre broadband (FTTC) should be adequate.

Re: Not on Openreach Schedule for any fibre connection

jab1 — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:12:43 GMT

@pvmb That is perfectly true, as SOGEA will be around for a while in non-Fibre areas, but if you are switching one component of the service, why not switch both together, if possible, and save hassle later?

Re: Not on Openreach Schedule for any fibre connection

pvmb — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:16:17 GMT

...Or has the OP only got ADSL available?

Re: Not on Openreach Schedule for any fibre connection

jab1 — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:19:12 GMT

No idea - maybe I should have asked what their current service is. However, until they reply, we are just assuming, which I find a little unhelpful.

Re: Not on Openreach Schedule for any fibre connection

Townman — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:28:36 GMT

@jab1

There is an abundance of misunderstanding around. The withdrawal of WLR / PTSN and the consequential need to adopt VoIP for voice services DOES NOT mandate FTTP. SoGEA (FTTC without voice) is an adequate platform for the delivery of VoIP services.

There is though a chasm where the current provision is ADSL and FTTC / SoGEA / FTTP (provided by BT Openreach) are not available now or forecast to be so before Jan 2027. There are transitional Openreach products over full copper, but as things stand these are only available direct from BT Retail.

In some such areas, Alt Net provisions are available, but Plusnet does not deliver service over such networks.

Re: Not on Openreach Schedule for any fibre connection

jab1 — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:34:06 GMT

@Townman I am aware, as you should know, that VoIP is going to be needed post the PSTN switch off, and that it can be delivered easily over FTTC/SoGEA connections.

As I said above maybe I should have worded my initial response slightly differently, but maybe waiting until the OP comes back with further information/questions would be a good idea?

Re: Not on Openreach Schedule for any fibre connection

Baldrick1 — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:32:16 GMT

@UKAlfie wrote:

........... I was wondering if anyone has any answers/recommendations/ideas so that I will not be left without broadband and home phone.

It appears to me that there are two separate issues here:

1. Primarily, assure @UKAlfie that the lack of Full Fibre in his area does not mean that he will lose access to his broadband and a more modern version of his current home phone. However, this may need a move of ISP.

2. Advise that Plusnet will be in touch with their preferred option to ensure that his service continues, or, based on the results of the requested database, advise on alternative solutions.

It is also important that he should seek further advice here without delay if the landline contract is with say, BT, and broadband with Plusnet.

Re: Not on Openreach Schedule for any fibre connection

paul_blitz — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:05:29 GMT

Of course, one advantage of VOIP is that (a) if you move house, then you just plug your VOIP kit into the new broadband and (assuming that it's IP address etc are ok) it will just work; (b) if you go on holiday, you could also take your VOIP service with you (but why would you? 🙂 )