Do I need a new phone line for fibre broadband? How much will it cost?

[#1]

My home phone line is via telegraph pole and overhead line, in the past 3 months the contractors (Fibrus?) have been round the area digging up roads etc and the little boxes with loops of wire have appeared on the top of all the telegraph poles although nothing new has been connected to my house. 

I'm currently on Plusnet basic broadband (4-9Mbps, speed check says I'm getting 7) + line rental which is due for renewal next week, looking at the offers available on Moneysavingexpert I can get 7-8 times that speed for roughly the same price I'm paying now but I can't find an answer anywhere online that tells me if engineers will need to visit my property to install a new line from the telegraph pole, and if I'm on the hook for paying the cost? 

Complicating matters is the line goes via my neighbours house then tacked across the wall to mine, we aren't on a shared/party line though.  

Any advice, likely costs if any out there, or do I just sign up with the provider of my choice? (some are wanting a £5-10 setup cost, I assume this is for pressing buttons at the exchange)

Thanks. 

[#2]

@max650 

Fibrus are an alternative FTTP provider who do not use the OpenReach network. I'm not certain if they wholesale their network to other providers or simply offer an exclusive service via their fibre.

PlusNet do not use any other network other than OR so you would have to change provider (to Fibrus?) to get their service. If you are in contract with PN you may / will pay early terminatin charges to move (unless you run two separate connections).

Although they use OR infrastructure Fibrus install their own cable & equipment so a new line would be run to your house in tandem with your current phone line.

Look at the Fibrus website to find any setup / installation charges.

If you want to know what OR are doing (ie is FTTP available) have a look at the following. You'dd be looking for WBC FTTP in the left hand column,.

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

Brian

[#3]

That's just added to my confusion, everyone round here seems to believe Fibrus are contracted to upgrade the network as part of the nationwide scheme, I'll forget about them. It may have been Viberoptix, which was why I question marked it.  

The link to BT says: FTTP on demand - 330Mbps, then at the bottom of the page FTTP not available, confused again:

WBC ADSL2+ 7Mbps

WBC ADSL2+ Annex M 7Mbps

Does that mean the best I'll ever get is 7Mbps? But via postcode checker various providers are offering "up to 67Mbps", are they taking money for something it's impossible to deliver? 

[#4]

Forget the Fibrus/Viberoptics thing, just found an online article which says one is subbied to the other and they're building their own network it seems local gossip is misleading. 

[#5]

@max650 

FTTP on Demand is an extremely expensive way of getting faster speeds - you pay the network installation charges to bring the fibre to you. It's suitable only for those with deep pockets or business users.

Does the Checker mention WBC VDSL at all?

Login to your Plusnet account and look at the Upgrade offers to see if PN can do better.

Brian

[#6]

@max650 It will say that until all the necessary work is completed - if, as you seem to think, Fibrus are doing this on behalf of BT/OpenReach, which I personally doubt.

I'll leave further comment to @bmc , though - he is more in tune with Full Fibre.

[#7]

No specific mention of WBC VDSL but the top 2 columns say: 

VDSL Range A (clean)  80Mbps high & 59.9Mbps low  

VDSL Range B (impacted)  78.7 high & 53.7 low. 

A layman might think that's what the exchange is capable of and actual speeds depend on the distance to the exchange, which in my case is exactly 1 mile, give or take a little for the quality of the wires and connections.

Plusnet want an extra £5 a month for the same as I'm getting if I renew. 

[#8]

@max650 

So FTTC is available to you which is why online checkers are reporting the speeds in excess of what you currently get. As you've spotted the Checker gives a high and low figure so you should get at least 53.7 download speed.

There is one major problem for you if you wish to upgrade - you lose your phone line & services. If this matters then you need to set up a VOIP account with someone and port your number out within 30 days of the change. Look at A&A (apart from pricing they have good FAQ pages about VOIP). There are other providers.

https://www.aa.net.uk/voice-and-mobile/voip-information/

Try phoning the PlusNet Customer Options Team on 0800 013 2632 to see what they say about your options.

For information Fibrus is here https://fibrus.com/ (if you want really fast speeds).

Brian