Landlines are going digital

[#1]

Hello all,

My current BB and landline contract ends in August 2026.

I have received an email from Plusnet informing me that landlines are going digital.

I do not use my landline so I am not bothered about that.

I get about 6 MBPS speed on the BB which is fine for me and it is reliable.

Full fibre 74 is coming up as my best deal.

My main concern is reliability, I do not want to shoot myself in the foot and change early to Full fibre and have an unreliable connection, that loses connection or I cannot even get connected.

Also I have a small Bungalow, the master socket is in the lounge, pretty much in the centre of the building which I think is the perfect place.

My neighbour has had fibre installed and the connection (not sure what it is called) is on the front wall, I am concerned that I wont be able to get connected in the office or other rooms if mine were to be installed on the front wall.

Would it be possible to have the connection where my current master socket is? It is about 9 feet or 2.8 metres from the front wall.

[#2]

@greengrass 

My neighbour has had fibre installed and the connection (not sure what it is called) is on the front wall

Openreach will install a CSP ( Customer splice point) grey box on an outside wall to which the external fibre is connected.

They will then drill a hole in the wall, install an ONT (Optical network termination) box internally and connect that to the CSP. They can supply up to 10m of internal fibre from the CSP to the ONT but will only be prepared to clip the fibre to skirting boards etc, they will not go through internal walls.

The ONT is about the same size as a master socket BUT does need mains power and so must be within 1M of a power socket. The ONT is connected to your router by an ethernet cable.

[#3]

I see, thank-you for the information.

I suppose it depends on if the installer is able to install the CSP so that the ONT can be fitted in line where the master socket is.

The internal fibre cable could then be fixed to the skirting board for about 2.8 metres. No walls to drill through.

I have a double electric socket there where the master socket is, so I could plug in the Router and ONT.

Still a bit nervous about the change over in case there are reliability issues.

[#4]

@greengrass Full Fibre is inherently much more reliable than FTTC, due o the technology involved.

[#5]

Still a bit nervous about the change over in case there are reliability issues.

Full fibre is usually much more reliable than a connection via the phone line. There can sometimes be problems with the installation but once completed it is extremely reliable. Fibre optic cables dont deteriorate like copper wires.

Check with the BTwholesale checker https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome to see if Full fibre is available and if there may be potential install problems.

Post the results (redacting any address information) with particular reference to the notes below the availability matrix

[#6]

I was not able to cut and paste, I hope this screenshot is ok.

Let me know if it is ok and I will post 1 more screenshot.

Thanks.

[#7]

@greengrass thats fine.

The good news is that FF is available and (in theory) it should just need one visit from an Openreach engineer ( Install process - 1 Stage)

The bad news is that the narrative says the feed is underground and the duct is congested. This probably means that when they come to install, it MAY need some digging to replace the duct. That usually means the first engineer can not complete the install and a 'dig team' is requested. That can mean a significant delay , especially if the duct needs pavement or road dug up to access it.

[#8]

@greengrass 

You can wait a couple of months if you wish but I would move by the beginning of July at the latest just in case of install problems.

The Checker shows you are on a Fibre Priority Exchange so you have no choice but to move the Full Fibre when the landline is withdrawn.

The following video gives some idea of what to expect.

https://www.openreach.com/help-and-support/full-fibre-broadband-installation-checklist

Note that the Router is connected via ethernet cable so can go anywhere you're happy to run cable. The video states you need two power sockets - you don't if you want the router elsewhere.

There is some leeway in the location of both the CSP and ONT - you talk to the engineer on the day and discuss your options / preferences.

Brian

[#9]

A neighbour with a similar setup has a suspended floor and no external BTOR gubbins at all.

The CSP is under the floor in the void near where the duct comes up, and the ONT where the master socket was directly above it.

[#10]

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

[#11]

Thank-you for the helpful reply MisterW.

My neighbour did have a trench cut in her front lawn. I just had a look and she has an Openreach small black cover on the pavement directly outside her property.

I have uneven stones (no lawn) which maybe more difficult for the engineer. I also cannot see an Openreach black cover outside my property.

If the engineers need to dig up the pavement to get to outside my property I assume I will still be able to use my BB that I am currently using?

[#12]

Thanks for the video link bmc, very informative.

[#13]

If the engineers need to dig up the pavement to get to outside my property I assume I will still be able to use my BB that I am currently using?

Yes, they should leave your existing connection working. There is one possible situation where that MAY not happen. If they think the duct is not badly congested, they MAY try to use the existing copper cable to pull the fibre through, thus eliminating any need for digging. If they want to try that, they SHOULD ask for your agreement because, obviously, if it fails you're left with no connection!  

[#14]

@greengrass 

The "black box" is probably a "Toby Box" - a small chamber for accessing cables. You can find more information online.

Can you post a picture of your front garden in case any of the resident experts can spot any potential problems?

What router do you currently use?

Brian

[#15]

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@greengrass wrote:

My neighbour did have a trench cut in her front lawn. I just had a look and she has an Openreach small black cover on the pavement directly outside her property.

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From this description I would assume that Openreach have installed a new duct from the property to the Toby box, where it links with the service duct.