topic Re: removing copper cable after fttp install in Everything else

removing copper cable after fttp install

keeka — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:48:02 GMT

I have overhead connections to a pole in the street immediately outside my house for both copper and fibre. The copper telephone cable has come away from the external wall, more so following the fttp install. I don't want to bang any more clips in the pebble dash just to re-fix what's now a redundant cable. Can I cut this away myself: from the tensioner/eye at the eaves down to where it enters the property on the ground floor? I asked the OR guys (3 of them!) to remove it but they declined.

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

Baldrick1 — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:00:50 GMT

Moderator's note:
Thread moved from Full Fibre to Everything Else.

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

jab1 — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:46:11 GMT

@keeka Sorry they weren't as helpful as my Quinn installer (1 person). You shouldn't really do a DIY job, but I can't see why you can't take out of your property entirely and leave it coiled at the foot of the pole.

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

keeka — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:54:59 GMT

My install was done by Kelly Communications 😞 It took less than an hour! Even with 3 of them, they insisted on drilling a rawl bolt, in the brickwork near the front door, to secure the ladder. Understandably they were wary about banging clips in pebbledash but they had no choice due to ladder access. They arrived late, outside their appointed time, and were obviously in a rush.

The fibre runs down the same section of wall as the copper and I suspect that it will also come free sooner rather then later. The copper is hanging free over a section from the eaves to the point where it enters at the side of GF bay window frame. I'm not advocating removing cable all the way to the pole! Just from the eves bracket, down my wall.

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

RobPN — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:12:12 GMT

@keeka wrote:

... Just from the eves bracket, down my wall.

@keeka

I would.

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

jab1 — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:03:44 GMT

@keeka wrote:

The fibre runs down the same section of wall as the copper and I suspect that it will also come free sooner rather then later. The copper is hanging free over a section from the eaves to the point where it enters at the side of GF bay window frame. I'm not advocating removing cable all the way to the pole! Just from the eves bracket, down my wall.

Fair enough.

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

bmc — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:18:12 GMT

@keeka

Apart from yourself who's going to know you've cut and removed the cable down the wall?

Brian

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

mystreet1 — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:53:51 GMT

We all know now 😀

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

keeka — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:07:45 GMT

I forgot to mention, I was asking on behalf of a friend 😉

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

mystreet1 — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:28:38 GMT

@keeka, whilst your "friend" is removing the redundant cable, how about them just adding some strong glue to the fiber cable to help it stick to the pebbledashing.

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

Champnet — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:51:32 GMT

@keeka Be aware of any legal implications regarding removing cabling that is not owned by your friend but by Openreach even though it's on your friend's land..

Best action for your friend is to apply pressure on their ISP to arrange further visits by the engineers.........

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

mystreet1 — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:02:31 GMT

I, sorry my friend has removed and moved position of several master sockets in my their time. BT or openreach have never done anything. In fact, one OR engineer said what a better location for the socket, better than in the hallway

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

Champnet — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:10:42 GMT

@mystreet1 The threads about redundant external cabling, bit different to an internal master socket.

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

Ian06 — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:37:54 GMT

This link to a thread on ISPReview might be of interest/relevance... Remove Old Cables

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

mystreet1 — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:50:53 GMT

@Champnet understand that it is about external cable, but OR own the internal cable up to the master socket as well. Only OR are allowed to move the master socket.

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

keeka — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:30:48 GMT

@Ian06 I came across some older info pointing to something similar, but the form was removed or down. The one that post refers to looks good. Thanks for pointing it out.

Re: removing copper cable after fttp install

Stoker — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:21:55 GMT

I asked a similar question some while ago. In the end I followed the Openreach "remove equipment" page Outcast posted in that thread, and they removed the overhead copper a week or so later.