Moving from FTTC to FTTP, few questions?

[#1]

So I've had a search through some forum posts, and it's been a while since I've last properly been on here (quite a lot going on).
Background: I've been with PN now since 2014, and have had a static IP since pretty much then.
Now, I'm still on FTTC and my current contract ends in Feb '27, but obviously come renewal, I'll need to move to FTTP given the PSTN switch off.

So... Few questions really...

If I upgrade to FTTP from FTTC which I'm on now, do I actually retain my Static IP? I know this stopped being offered to new customers, but I've seen a few posts when searching where people have queried the transition of their existing static address when upgrading from FTTC to FTTP? At least that's how it reads?

Can I still run my own hardware when upgrading to FTTP? Currently I've a Draytek Vigor 130 acting as a PPPoE bridge to a pfSense VM. I assume that I can just simply connect to the ONT & configure the connection details in pfSense and completely bypass the need to use the Hub Two?

And as for where the ONT is installed, can this be routed to a different room/location? Or would it be best for me to run a fibre cable with SC/APC connectors and just couple it to the point where the OpenReach installer would likely come into the property at?

Cheers!

[#2]

@ErTnEc 

You keep your static IP address - it's tied to your account. However, it is worth checking after the upgrade just to make sure you've still got it.

Yes, you can connect directly to the ONT. Can't comment on your equipment though.

There is some leeway as to where the ONT is located (as there is the the external CSP). You discuss with the installer on the day. Your equipment connects via ethernet cable so can go anywhere your happy to run said cable. You can also get ONT relocation kits if so desired. Have a look at

https://www.openreach.com/help-and-support/full-fibre-broadband-installation-checklist#accordion-b43...

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

Brian

Edit : Forgot to mention you lose your landline.

[#3]

@ErTnEc If you upgrade to FTTP (at any time) you should retain your static IP - if, for any reason it gets 'lost', a request on the forum to recover it should solve the problem fairly quickly.

Yes, you can continue to use your own equipment.

Are you on an underground or overhead feed. The FTTP cable will follow the same route, but there is some flexibility as to where the ONT is sited - you would need to discuss this with the installer on the day.

[#4]

1) Yes you keep the static IP address

2) Yes you can use your own hardware. Remove the Draytek (which I expect is just used as a modem) and the ONT plugs directly into your PFSense VM. You don't need the VLAN tags (which I would guess iare set in the PFSense) but beyond that it's all the same.

3) Personally I would get a Hub 2 just in case you need to do some fault finding

4) The ONT needs to be somewhere which is the other side of an external wall ideally. I suggest you run a copper Cat 6 cable from that location to where the rest of your stuff is.

Openreach don't plug and socket the ONT connection (it's essentially a captive tail with an external splice in a small grey box).

It would be possible to use a SC/APC "back to back" connector and extend the incoming fibre but I don't believe that is allowed or supported!

My guess is that you would be able to upgrade to fibre and start a new 2 year contract now without penalty. Given the timing of the annual price increases now isn't a bad time to start a new contract.  

[#5]

Cheers. The main concern really was the static IP. I've not really had any bother with the service & having to update everything tied to it would be a nightmare if I had to move providers.

As for the house, it's an underground feed at the front, house is a mid-terrace townhouse but the room I want the ONT at (where the master socket is), is at the rear of the property on the 1st floor. I should be able to run a an extension kit or something down to the kitchen at the front where the current copper line does come in, I just wasn't sure they OR might be fussy with the other fibre run.

The power to our house does often suffer with little 'flaps' which causes all the alarms on the estate to go off & also does knock a few things out inside. I have a UPS set up in the office at the back where I have stuff running, so would much rather the ONT be positioned there & protected ideally.

The Draytek is just a modem (Vigor 130), so simply just operating as a PPPoE bridge. The setup for the switch/VM host does use tagged VLAN but that's just more so with running a virtualised pfSense instance, it makes life easier to move between hosts without having to mess about with dedicated nics & such. But yeah, as far as the modem is concerned, there is no VLAN config in place for it.

[#6]

---

@ErTnEc wrote:

Now, I'm still on FTTC and my current contract ends in Feb '27, but obviously come renewal, I'll need to move to FTTP given the PSTN switch off.

---

To clear a popular myth. There is no connection between the switch of of the PSTN and the roll out of full fibre.

However, if you have a phone you will be receiving a message giving the option of giving up the phone and staying with Plusnet, starting a new contract, or be moved to EE for the remainder of your current contract. This is ongoing at the moment, not in Feb 2027.
Whichever option you choose you will be encouraged to move to Full Fibre if it is available at your property. If you are connected to a fibre priority exchange then you have no choice, you have to move to Full Fibre.

[#7]

Yeah I've checked and not had anything yet relating to that. I don't see an issue at all us dropping the land line, we very rarely use it as it is. When we first moved into this house, mobile reception was virtually non-existent, but over time it has improved, and with wifi calling now, it works just fine.

My exchange had a Stop Sell put on it in March 2025, and FTTP is available at our house since OpenReach ran the supply through our estate way back in 2021, so we would 100% need to transition to Full Fibre.

[#8]

@ErTnEc 

If your copper cable comes in at the front of the house than it's highly unlikely OR would install the ONT in a rear upstairs room.

The kitchen may not be the most suitable place for the ONT either. Is there a front room beside it - OR could run the cable along the outside of the house and bring it in to the there.

Either way, I think you would be resonsible for running a cable from the location of the ONT to your chosen location. Whether it's fibre or ethernet would be up to you.

Brian

Brian

[#9]

@bmc no, the front of the house is just the kitchen and downstairs toilet. The living room is at the rear, but being the middle of 3 houses, I can't even just run a cable around the side on the outside. The master socket originally used to be on the wall which is between the hall and the kitchen (but kitchen side), and then just extensions throughout the house.  Apparently that's what Persimmon thought was a good idea when they built it back in 2007...

The only other option for an external run would be to go up & over the top, but that in itself would just be a bad way to do things.

[#10]

@ErTnEc One thing I forgot to mention - there must be a mains socket within 1m of the ONT.

[#11]

@ErTnEc 

This looks like one of those that you just won't know until the day.

Another option might be to run the cable up the outside and bring the fibre into a front upstairs room for the ONT.

Do you have easy access to the loft? Potentially you could get someone in to run an external ethernet cable up the outside, into and across the loft, out the other side, down the wall and into your desired location. Just thinking out aloud.

With regards your phone. If you want to keep your number for old times sake have a look at A&A for VOIP. £1.50 pm month (I believe) + number port fee. You can set your account to divert to answer phone and A&A email you a copy of the message. https://www.aa.net.uk/voice-and-mobile/voip-information/

Finally, although you may not have had notification yet about your phone it won't be long coming. PN are actively moving people from their landline service. You've nothing to lose by placing an order for FTTP as soon as you're happy. All it costs is a new contract.

Brian

[#12]

@ErTnEc 

At the risk of being the bringer of bad news I can't think of a nice answer to this.

Townhouse suggests 3 storeys, so as I read it, you want service on the other side of the house to the fibre entry point and on the middle floor.

You haven't mentioned a garage (which might have been a location for an ONT) and a typical 1970s house doesn't make me think "easy cable routes".

[#13]

Regarding the siting of the ONT, my vote would be to ask for it to be installed in a first floor bedroom. The router doesn’t need to be located next to the ONT so you could run cat 5e or better Ethernet cable from the ONT around to the back bedroom yourself.