topic Re: A question about FTTP installation in My Order

A question about FTTP installation

H3len1707 — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:40:20 GMT

Hello Folks,

We're about to switch to Plusnet and FTTP.

We currently have FTTC and presumably copper wire from the cabinet to our house.

My question is, how much physical disruption will this involve?

Currently the phone line comes into the garage and through a hole into the house. Can the fibre cable simply use the same route, or will there be more drilling?

Any information much appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation.

Re: A question about FTTP installation

Baldrick1 — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:45:52 GMT

Moderator's note:
Thread moved from Broadband to My Order

Re: A question about FTTP installation

H3len1707 — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:48:16 GMT

Thanks Baldrick1.

Apologies for the error.

Re: A question about FTTP installation

bmc — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:06:56 GMT

@H3len1707

Have a look at the following

https://www.openreach.com/help-and-support/full-fibre-broadband-installation-checklist#accordion-b43490109a-item-56113228ba

An external box (CSP) is required and an internal box (ONT). The latter needs a power source. Your router connects via ethernet cable.

Thre is a certain leeway as to where the CSP and ONT are located. You speak to the engineer on the day, tell then what you'd like or where you plan to have the router and then agree a route for the fibre.

Brian

Re: A question about FTTP installation

H3len1707 — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 21:17:38 GMT

Thanks Brian.

The site you pointed me to mentions "Both should be positioned close together and near the double power sockets you prepared earlier". Trouble is, there isn't a double power socket either in the garage or in the room where the router needs to be...

I'm attaching an image of the 'box' I believe brings in the current copper wire from a manhole in the road. Will this become redundant and have to be replaced by the CSP?

I'm beginning to wish I didn't need FTTP, but as I understand it, there's no other option once BT switches off the copper network. Is that correct?

Thanks for your input.

Re: A question about FTTP installation

jab1 — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 21:31:07 GMT

@H3len1707 The ONT and router do not need to be 'positioned close together and near the double power sockets you prepared earlier".' So long as you can run an Ethernet cable between them, they can be up to ~100m apart.

Re: A question about FTTP installation

H3len1707 — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 22:10:52 GMT

Thanks John.

So, if I understand this correctly, there needs to be a box on the wall outside and another box on the wall inside. How are they connected? And how is the outside one connected to the cabinet?

Also, is the thing in the image I posted relevant?

I'm finding this all very confusing...

Thanks for your help.

Re: A question about FTTP installation

jab1 — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 22:21:52 GMT

Correct, @H3len1707 . the box on the outside is connected by fibre cable to a CBT (Connecterised Block Terminal) in/on either the underground chamber - for underground feeds, or the top of telegraph poles - for overhead feeds, and the outside one is connected to the inside one with another cable.

FTTP does not go anywhere near the cabinet, it runs direct to a head-end in an exchange.

Don't know what your picture shows, it has to be released by a mod/Super User before it is visible to the forum - I'll request its release.

Re: A question about FTTP installation

H3len1707 — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 22:40:37 GMT

Thanks again John, you're helping a lot.

So when I left the house not so long ago and found two openreach engineers working in a manhole, presumably they were connecting cables from the exchange, not from the cabinet across the road?

Mike

Re: A question about FTTP installation

jab1 — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 22:47:18 GMT

Correct, @H3len1707 if the work was associated with FTTP installation, it may not have been.

Re: A question about FTTP installation

Baldrick1 — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 07:03:40 GMT

@H3len1707 wrote:

The site you pointed me to mentions "Both should be positioned close together and near the double power sockets you prepared earlier". Trouble is, there isn't a double power socket either in the garage or in the room where the router needs to be...

I'm afraid that installing fibre is more complex then just connecting a terminal box as used with copper. If the duct is clear then this will be used. The fibre from here will need to be terminated in the internal ONT box close to a power socket, by either routing it internally or externally around the building. This is something to be discussed with the installer on the day. If this is inconvenient for the router location then you can locate the router elsewhere but you will be responsible for installing an Ethernet cable between the ONT and router.

Re: A question about FTTP installation

jab1 — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 07:27:21 GMT

@Baldrick1 It is true that the end-user is responsible for routing (and supplying) the ONT>router cable, but the same could be said for the one between a router and a desktop computer, if the two were not in close proximity.

(thanks for releasing the image)

@H3len1707 the image you posted in message #5 is a cover over the cable for the current telephone cable into your house, and may be possibly used for your FTTP cable also - the entry point is obviously quite a distance above ground and they obviously thought the cable needed protection. I have seen similar covers previously.

Re: A question about FTTP installation

bmc — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 11:31:27 GMT

@H3len1707

If you looked at the Checker I referenced what does it say for the FTTP installation below the results window. Mine said something like "UG Duct provan clear"

I knew this anyway as the chamber is in my neighbours garden and I watched them check the duct and leave a draw rope in place.

The first image (when it clears moderation) is of my cabinet with the Connectorized Block Terminal (CBT) in place. The fibre cable plugs into this and is then run through the duct to the property. You can see the blue draw ropes left in place. The incoming fibere cable is protected with the yellow spiral cover.

The second picture shows both an ONT (center) and a CSP (right of image). It so happens on this install it was done in the loft from an overhead feed so the installer was happy to do both indoors. The grey box normally sits on a wall outside. You can aslo see an ethernet cable running downstairs to the router (installed by the property owner).

The pricture you showed is of an "elephants foot" (a nice non technical term). It covers the top the the duct with the copper cable in it. This is your starting point with the fibre coming up the duct so the CSP will probably be beside this though you can speak to the installer on the day about location.

As already mentioned the router can go anywhere you're happy to run ethernet cable. A recent install that was discussed ended up with both the CSP and the ONT inside the garage with the home owner looking to to sort out his internal cabling afterwards.

Brian

Edit : I was also going to mention the backbone fibre cable goes nowhere near any phone cabinet. It runs all the way back to a Main Exchange which may not be your local Exchange.

Re: A question about FTTP installation

H3len1707 — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 22:24:39 GMT

@bmc

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "what does it say for the FTTP installation below the results window. Mine said something like "UG Duct provan clear". Where can I find the results window?

However, having read carefully everyone's responses and watched the video, I'm fairly confident I know what connects to what and why.

My problem is understanding how the physical connections are made. As I said, the current copper wire comes into the garage, presumably from the underground chamber outside the driveway, then immediately goes through the wall into the hallway, crosses the hallway at floor level below the front door and through another hole into the dining room where the router lives.

I assume that the CSP would replace the elephant's foot/copper cable either inside or outside the garage and fibre would replace the copper cable crossing the hall into the dining room, where the ONT would be installed (hence the need for a double socket serving both the ONT and the router).

There is only a single socket available at present, with a four way adapter powering the router and a lamp, so two free spots available for the ONT to use.

Please feel free to tell me if I'm being stupid, or whether this scenario would work. It's physical disruption I'm hoping to avoid.

I appreciate everyone's input and thank you all..

Re: A question about FTTP installation

njay — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 22:52:22 GMT

I am happy to be corrected by others but believe OR will not go through internal walls. I.e. whichever external wall the fibre comes through from the CSP will be the room in which the ONT is located and the distance of fibre between csp and ont is usually max 10m

Re: A question about FTTP installation

H3len1707 — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 23:30:48 GMT

@njay

That would be the worst case scenario!

No electrical sockets in the garage, so the obvious (and neatest) solution would be to install through the dining room wall.

But how to route the cable under the driveway???

Re: A question about FTTP installation

jab1 — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 06:15:02 GMT

@H3len1707 The fibre cable will go through the current conduit, the same way as your copper cable does, and if you get a reasonable engineer they will use your already available drilled holes internally to route the internal cable. To be honest, you will have to see what the installer says on the day. Most of them will do their best to complete the job.

Re: A question about FTTP installation

Baldrick1 — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 07:36:30 GMT

@H3len1707

In all the noise it appears that post #11 has been ignored, maybe because you do not like the answer to your question?

You do not need two fixed mains sockets, an adapter or extension lead will work fine.

Re: A question about FTTP installation

H3len1707 — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 08:29:22 GMT

@Baldrick1

Thanks Baldrick1.

It's not a case of my ignoring or disliking answers.This is all new to me and I'm just trying to make sense of it.

I've seen two references to a requirement for a double socket and was hoping that an extension lead would be ok. Thank you for confirming that.

I'm just being cautious because if I get it wrong I'm going to be offline for an unknown length of time... to be honest I wish BT wasn't switching off the copper network. I'm perfectly happy with the way things are and I'd rather not be going through this learning curve.

Re: A question about FTTP installation

Baldrick1 — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:06:27 GMT

@H3len1707

By far the biggest risk there is to you finding yourself without a connection is if the duct is blocked and the installer tries to get the fibre through by attaching it to the copper and pulling it through with that. This is fine providing the two don't separate underground ore the copper gets damaged. I would be watching and considering refusing this to be tried if it is suggested by the installer.. Have you got a decent mobile connection that could be used in an emergency?

Regarding the switch off of the copper network. If you have an hour to spare this gives a really good explanation of the reasons, be there some techy input as well: https://youtu.be/KkL-9O-FAzo?is=X4Sn7C54a9lwsviR