topic Re: Optical Network Termination in Full Fibre

Optical Network Termination

JohnFol1 — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:20:39 GMT

Hi there, 1st engineer visit to house done and "cable" to outside of house is now in place. I can see from PlusNet the next visit is to fit an Optical Network Termination "socket" inside the house.

The original phone line enters the house under the stairs however I've diverted it to my garage.

However there's no ducting so I'm anticipating Openreach will place the ONT in the house and I assume it'll be under the stairs.

Given there's no power or possibility of power in the cupboard, do I have any options or do I need to cancel the order?

Re: Optical Network Termination

mike600 — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:39:40 GMT

You need to think of some alternative location(s), as if there's no power, it will not work.

Re: Optical Network Termination

JohnFol1 — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 22:05:52 GMT

Thanks Mike.
Would Openreach route cable through the house?

Re: Optical Network Termination

MisterW — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:49:22 GMT

They will supply up to 10m of internal fibre and will clip to skirting boards/door surrounds etc but will not drill through internal walls.

Re: Optical Network Termination

TheRealDabhand — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:59:30 GMT

They did eventually drill through my wall when I had the 2 month problem of trying to get mine done, I think this was because there was literally no other way to do it to get it into the house, and if others in my block 2 floors above me need it it has to go through the ceiling of my cupboard into theirs and further to give them it too. Just based on the layout of my home and where the cable came into the building from outside.

So maybe there is a bit of hope for the OP?

Re: Optical Network Termination

mwwagain — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 22:36:43 GMT

@JohnFol1 wrote:
Hi there, 1st engineer visit to house done and "cable" to outside of house is now in place. I can see from PlusNet the next visit is to fit an Optical Network Termination "socket" inside the house.

The original phone line enters the house under the stairs however I've diverted it to my garage.

However there's no ducting so I'm anticipating Openreach will place the ONT in the house and I assume it'll be under the stairs.

Given there's no power or possibility of power in the cupboard, do I have any options or do I need to cancel the order?

What is through the wall from where the incoming 'cable' ends - I assume at a grey CSP box ?

That would be their first choice - drill outward to just above the CSP.

You don't need your router/hub there - just one mains outlet and then to run your own ethernet to where you want the router.

Re: Optical Network Termination

markhawkin — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 07:44:23 GMT

@JohnFol1

You need to work out an achievable way of getting what works for you.

The ONT needs power and as the engineer will leave it the router will probably need to be nearby and powered.

You can run a cable from the ONT to a different location for the router but that's for you to arrange (an electrician may be able to run network cables).

If the phone line master is in the garage and that's a sensible fibre route and has power you could try getting the ONT there. You then either need to have the router there or extend the ONT to router cable to wherever you want the router.

Re: Optical Network Termination

JohnFol1 — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:13:18 GMT

Thanks Mark

As long as the fibre cable ends up somewhere with power I can handle the router.

Sounds like my only option is for OpenReach to extend the outside cable to the garage.
It's about 4m and I guess I'll need to put some ducting in to protect the fibre cable.
Also sounds like I need to tell PlusNet so engineer is expecting the work

Re: Optical Network Termination

JohnFol1 — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:17:59 GMT

mwwagain, inside the house where he fitted the grey box is the back of a cupboard with no hope of any power.
I think I need them to extend the external fibre to the garage where there is power.

Re: Optical Network Termination

mwwagain — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:35:26 GMT

A 4m ground level trip around the outside should be fine - the 'cable' comes in a few specific lengths with the ONT-end plug fitted and they have a stock in the van. I do not see any need to tell PlusNet unless you were over say 10m.

I can see plenty of far longer CSP to 'hole in wall' runs on neighbours houses, like 5m up and 7m to rear at height.

I had an in-garage instal for just the ONT. On the day I had a mains extension for a laptop and the PlusNet Hub sat on top of the freezer to get the setup proved.

As the OR chap did the fibre bits, I was wiring in the LAN dropper.

Re: Optical Network Termination

bmc — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:42:08 GMT

@JohnFol1

You can always get an electrician in after the event to install a new wall socket beside the ONT. An extension lead would work to get you up and running.

Same with the internal cabling. Do whatever is required to get you up and running and then sort out the cabling afterwards. A recent thread had both the CSP and ONT inside the garage and the OP looking to sort out ethernet cabling afterwards.

You just need to look at all possibilities and then talk to the engineer on the day to see what's possible. They'll work with you if they can. The attached picture shows an external duct run in advance where the engineer was happy to run the fibre through it into the loft where both the CSP and ONT were installed. It saved them having to run the fibre to ground level and drill though a wall. The OP also had run ethernet from the loft to his router location.

Brian

Re: Optical Network Termination

bmc — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:35:58 GMT

@JohnFol1

In post #9 you say the CSP (grey box) is inside the house in a cupboard. Is this correct?

This may help with the ONT location. If you install internal ducting to where you want the ONT (with draw string in place if required) the engineer will almost (???) certainly be happy to use it as there's no power source beside the CSP.

Just be aware they could still say no, not happy so your work would have been in vain.

Brian

Re: Optical Network Termination

RobPN — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:08:38 GMT

@bmc wrote:

Just be aware they could still say no, not happy so your work would have been in vain.

Not necessarily.

The ONT does not have to be powered by a nearby mains socket, it can be powered via PoE or even by extending the 12v power lead by a few metres and that conduit could be used to route such cables.

There are threads on the forum describing how members have achieved this.

e.g. https://community.plus.net/t5/Full-Fibre/ONT-Power-over-the-Ethernet/m-p/2044948/highlight/true#M30668

and

https://community.plus.net/t5/Tech-Help-Software-Hardware-etc/ONT-extension-DC-power-cable-and-Fibre-cable-used/m-p/2005948/highlight/true#M97768

Edit: swapped second link to go straight to relevant post

Re: Optical Network Termination

bmc — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 13:24:15 GMT

@RobPN @JohnFol1

Agreed re the power options.

The OP could also consider relocating the ONT after the install.

https://www.premitel.uk/consultancy/expert-advice/how-to-relocate-the-ont-fibre-termination-point/

Brian