topic Re: What happens to the copper feed after FTTP? in Full Fibre

What happens to the copper feed after FTTP?

Stoker — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 14:30:23 GMT

FTTP installed several weeks ago and all working absolutely fine. The OR installer said another team would remove the redundant copper wire "soon" but it's still there (it's overhead to the pole).

It's really not a big deal. I'd quite like to get rid of the old NTE5 master socket but not while there might still be 50v present.
How long to they normally take to "tidy up", and do they just chop the cable where it goes through the wall?

Re: What happens to the copper feed after FTTP?

jab1 — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 14:49:58 GMT

@Stoker When my FTTP was installed, the installer, a very nice guy, actually asked me if I wanted the copper disconnecting outside, to which I said 'yes'. He chopped it off as close to the external wall as possible and coiled it back to our pole, hanging it up out of the way. About 5/6 weeks later, the full copper run was disconnected from our auxiliary pole, back to the chamber.

I don't think they normally bother (at the moment) removing the copper unless you specifically request it.

Re: What happens to the copper feed after FTTP?

bmc — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 15:38:28 GMT

@Stoker

At the present it appears the copper cable isn't removed as standard. If getting an install you could always ask (too late for you!).

As for the master socket you could always carefully disconnect the incoming copper wire and tape it up. Then either remove the box and m/s completely to allow re-plastering or simply put a blank face plate on.

Removal of redundant equipment has been occupying my mind for a coupe of days due to another thread. My estate never had FTTC due to incompatible feeds (the incoming copper cable to the PSTN cabinet was some form of glass fibre) Nor was ADSL available. Around 2005 test equipment was installed next to the 4 cabinets affected. We went from dial up to (fast!!) "up to 8". And that was that. With neither ADSL or FTTC being compatible we were stuck. Until FTTP came along in late 2017 / early 2018.

Given we've had FTTP for 7 and a half years I would consider all 4 test cabinets are probably redundant. When PSTN is finally terminated all 4 original phone cabinets plus the 4 test cabs will definitely be redundant. So will they be removed?

Brian

Re: What happens to the copper feed after FTTP?

outcast — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 15:57:25 GMT

@Stoker wrote:

The OR installer said another team would remove the redundant copper wire "soon" but it's still there

Well don't hold your breath waiting for that, as it unlikely to happen (unprompted) before 2030 when copper lines are retired.

However, several people have successfully managed to request Openreach remove their redundant copper line, at no cost, by completing this form which is referred to here - Openreach : We can help with changing, moving or removing equipment

Re: What happens to the copper feed after FTTP?

Gel — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 09:55:20 GMT

After I dumped my landline, OPENREACH disconnected overhead wire from pole in hedge, but couldn't be asked to remove from their junction box; see picture. Had to get builder to remove.

Re: What happens to the copper feed after FTTP?

Stoker — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 10:00:49 GMT

Thanks all. I just thought OR would want all the redundant copper in their network as it must have considerable scrap value.

Re: What happens to the copper feed after FTTP?

bmc — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 15:10:20 GMT

@Stoker

I seem to recall a press article 2 or 3 years back on this subject.

The real value is in the large core copper cables from the Exchange to the PSTN cabinets. The house cables may not have much value after recovery costs. Having said that, I'm suprised OR are not removing o/h wires. Apart from tidying the landscape it takes weight pressure off the poles.

Brian

Edit : Add link

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2023/06/openreach-to-extract-200-tonnes-of-uk-copper-cable-in-2023.html

Re: What happens to the copper feed after FTTP?

MisterW — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 15:15:23 GMT

Having said that, I'm suprised OR are not removing o/h wires

The problem could well be administrative. Most if not all FTTP installs are done by contractors, paying them to remove cable and return it back to OR would probably cost more than its worth.

Re: What happens to the copper feed after FTTP?

jab1 — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 15:28:04 GMT

Think I said this above: When MJ Quinn did my fibre install, the engineer cut my O/H cable as close to the wall as possible, coiled it back out to our pole and left it high up on there, out of the way. A few weeks later, OR themselves came and removed the cable between our auxiliary pole and the one at the side of the U/G chamber. What they did beyond that I don't know, but it was certainly removed that far.

I didn't ask the guy to remove it at my end, he volunteered.

Re: What happens to the copper feed after FTTP?

mwwagain — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 13:50:19 GMT

Neighbour to left, very long copper run including being knotted to a hook on the electric pole.

Left in situ

Neighbour to right - BT also left it, but on switching to an Alt-Net the contractor offered to remove the BT copper back to the first pole it for a bit of the folding stuff. 'Must have caught it with my ladder - better tidy it up'

Re: What happens to the copper feed after FTTP?

dbriggs1950 — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 15:17:14 GMT

My FTTC to FTTP conversion was carried out by Kelly Communications for Openreach. Almost the first thing he did was cut the overhead wire at the pole end. He cut the other end where it went through my front door frame. That was after he had finished with the fibre install and he was tidying up around the front of the house.

It took a while for my Amazon Fire Sticks to reconnect to the 5GHz WiFi, but they are both reporting over 140Mbps now. I'm on the 145 package, so no complaints there. Now, I'm waiting to sort out the old landline phone number conversion to VoIP.