Engineer visit lead time

[#1]

Is there any information on the sort of lead time when booking an engineer for upgrading to full fibre.

We're frequently away from our house, sometimes for extended periods so we'll have to co-ordinate our travels with an engineer's visit.

[#2]

@fudoka You won't know, until you place an upgrade order, what the engineer availability is.

[#3]

Hi @fudoka 

It depends on the type of installation Openreach have on their records for your property, which you can check here.

If it's a 1-stage installation, then the lead time is usually anywhere from around a minimum of three working days, but when you go through the process online, it'll give you a list of provisional appointments.

Alternatively, if it's what we call a KCI-Assure order or stage two order, then there's further external work Openreach will need to do to provide you with service before they can commit to an installation date

[#4]

That's going to be really awkward if the only time I can get an engineer is when I'm not there.

What I'm looking for is some sort of idea of timing in terms of days, weeks , months. If I've got at least a vague idea I can start the process rolling while I'm away from the house and arrange an engineer for when I return.

When signing up for the upgrade to FF can I break out of the break out of the process if I can't schedule an engineer's visit in the timespan I need?

[#5]

Not being a BT engineer I  don't know whether it would be a 1-stage install.

Can you take a gander at the screenshot and let me know what you think please?

[#6 · Accepted solution]

Thanks @fudoka 

The screenshot confirms it's a one-stage visit, which means they should be able to do it all on the day.

When you go through the signup journey, I believe you should be able to choose up to around 28/42 days in advance, and you can back out before putting the order through if any of the dates doesn't suit you.

[#7]

Not being a BT engineer I  don't know whether it would be a 1-stage install.

@fudoka Matthew has answered the question but for completeness , its what is shown in the 'FTTP Install process' column on the availability results you posted. 

[#8]

Many thanks for your input 😁

[#9]

Thanks for the info.

As usual, once pointed out, it's obvious (like the spelling mistakes in an email you spot AFTER you hit send) 😖

[#10]

@fudoka 

I believe you're able to change an appointment to a later date if the one given is not suitable. Note you'll be given a provisional date first before it gets confirmed.

Brian

[#11]

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@fudoka wrote:

Is there any information on the sort of lead time when booking an engineer for upgrading to full fibre.

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This is a very good question.

One extra point worth making is, if you are in a PN non FF contract and elect to change to FF, to do so well before your existing contract end date. Otherwise you may end up paying out of contract charges before the new FF contract is 'GO'. The PN systems do not seem to allow for this eventuality.

I was changed from FTTC with landline phone to FF and, despite the physical FF work proving in practice to be very easy, simple and straightforward it actually involved visits by different Openreach engineers on three separate dates (one without an appointment), plus a delay by Openreach ("...due to high demand for fibre in your area.") and took over 6 weeks to complete from the end of the old FTTC contract. 

Don't ask!

[#12]

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@MatthewWheeler wrote:

Thanks @fudoka 

The screenshot confirms it's a one-stage visit, which means they should be able to do it all on the day.

When you go through the signup journey, I believe you should be able to choose up to around 28/42 days in advance, and you can back out before putting the order through if any of the dates doesn't suit you.

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@MatthewWheeler not true at all. I order my FTTP with my other ISP on the 21st December 2025 - We have now received confirmation that your FTTP broadband service has been committed to start on 5th January 2026 between 8.00am until 1.00pm (AM Appointment).

The engineer did turn up unexpecting on the 29th December 2025 for pre-visit check as I wasn't at home at the time. Openreach send me text to book appointment for 2nd January 2026, ISP say it will be 1 stage job and FTTP will be activated on the 2nd January 2026. The engineer did turn up yesterday (January 2nd 2026) he only do the first stage job to drop fibre cable from the pole to my back wall in the house and then he say it won't be activated have to wait for 2nd stage appointment. Got text from Openreach and ISP confirmed it now push the date back to January 9th for final stage for FTTP activation.

The BTw Checker did say 

Featured Products	Downstream Line Rate(Mbps)	Upstream Line Rate (Mbps)	Downstream Range (Mbps)	Availability Date	FTTP Install Process
WBC FTTP	Up to 1000	Up to 220	--	Available	1 Stage

Our records show the following FTTP network service information for these premises:-Single Dwelling Unit Residential OH Feed alternate L2C solution required.

FTTP is available and a new ONT may be ordered.

It's was actually 2 stage say openreach engineer. BTw got it wrong!

[#13]

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@goldenfibre wrote:

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The engineer did turn up unexpecting on the 29th December 2025 for pre-visit check as I wasn't at home at the time.

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Not surprising with Openreach, had exactly the same earlier in 2025, site survey booked with a confirmed date via text, engineer turned up 3 weeks early when I wasn't in. 

Openreach then confirmed date via text for outside work to run cable to house, no one showed up on the day but Openreach reported back to Plusnet that outside works completed. 

Good luck with your install, be interesting to see if anyone turns up on the day. 

[#14]

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@PowerLee wrote:

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Not surprising with Openreach, had exactly the same earlier in 2025, site survey booked with a confirmed date via text, engineer turned up 3 weeks early when I wasn't in. 

Openreach then confirmed date via text for outside work to run cable to house, no one showed up on the day but Openreach reported back to Plusnet that outside works completed. 

Good luck with your install, be interesting to see if anyone turns up on the day. 

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Yeah I really hate it as two suppliers is really bad lack of commucation each others with engineer committed date doesn't always spot on. 

I think all ISPs should complaints to both BTw and OPenreach to bring in new app called Customer Engineer Appointment so we can see real time of what was going on with the schedule appointment so we can be aware of it including the ISP as well. 

[#15]

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@goldenfibre wrote:

Yeah I really hate it as two suppliers is really bad lack of commucation each others with engineer committed date doesn't always spot on. 

I think all ISPs should complaints to both BTw and OPenreach to bring in new app called Customer Engineer Appointment so we can see real time of what was going on with the schedule appointment so we can be aware of it including the ISP as well. 

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FWIW - Missus has just moved from BT via Openreach to Vodafone via Cityfibre, she had email confirmation from Cityfibre a week plus again the day before including a brief overview of what will happen on the day. They texted on the morning of install, then turned up on time & within 3 hours of arriving had the new cable & ONT installed plus service went live.