FTC to FTP Upgrade Procedure

[#1]

Open reach have installed fibre in my cul de sac 9 months ago.  It is installed/terminates at the end of my drive (10 metres from my house) and is marked in the road with a 2 inch disc on the ground.  I am now considering ordering an upgrade to fibre.  If I do so do Plusnet / Openreach first come and do a survey to evaluate how they are going to reach the property or do they just rock up on installation day and figure it out from there.  The existing telephone line comes underground from a chamber at least 15 metres beyond the cul de sac in the main road connected to the cul de sac. No telling where it runs in relation to the new fibre.  Would prefer a survey to be told how it will be done before starting the work.

[#2]

Overreach will come out to see if there is a usable duct through which to run the fibre optic cable if necessary. If no suitable duct, they arrange for a new duct to be installed.
Then they come out again to install the fibre, install the external splice point, the internal ONT and test your router connects OK.
(That's my experience anyway)

[#3]

@Melltt what does the availability checker https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome say as the Install process for FTTP ? Its either 1 Stage, 2 Stage or KCI2 Assure.

Also what does the narrative below the results say ? it may have comments regarding the ducting

[#4]

@Melltt 

The narrative might read 

Our records show the following FTTP network service information for these premises:-Single Dwelling Unit Residential OH Feed with no anticipated issues.

or

Our records show the following FTTP network service information for these premises:-Single Dwelling Unit Residential UG Proven Clear.

OH - Over head

UG - Underground

HTH

[#5]

Not sure if this answers it?

[#6]

@Melltt, think that it means this

The fibre cable is routing underground, however there is no duct in place to your property, and the existing copper cables are directly buried in the ground. There may be some works required to install a duct or the cable underneath grass (soft dig). Depending on the location of the works, this may require 3rd party permissions, local authority permits, and there are lead times with the planners and civil engineering teams. The installation could take a long time depending on the complexity.

[#7]

@Melltt 

I believe "kci2" indicates a survey is required to establish what work is required for the install.

As stated "soft" may mean a trench through grass. Is there a path from the disk in the pavement to an external wall that is grass only.

The "disk" may well be a "toby box" - a small undergroung chamber for cables allowing access to them. Look up pictures online to see.

Brian

[#8]

Moderators Note

This topic has been moved from Full Fibre to Everything Else

[#9]

I believe "kci2" indicates a survey is required to establish what work is required for the install.

KCI is the acronym for 'keep customer informed' and relates to the messages that Openreach send to their customer (plusnet in this case) at various stages of an order. KCI2 is the stage at which a 'committed' install date is given. KCI2 Assure means that Openreach will survey to establish the exact work required before committing to an install date and issuing the KCI2

[#10]

The marker in the roadway, presumably indicating buried Toby box. Will have to drill through kerb to get into garden

[#11]

Route to house through rockery mound and under shale. Existing underground BT cable at side of porch just past bush.

[#12]

@Melltt 

Thanks for the pictures. The disk may, or may not be a Toby Box.

I suspect they would still need to dig a small hole where the disk is to come under the kerb stone. They may be able to tunnel under or drill through if not. Apart from that, it looks like a straight forward trench dig with no tarmac or concrete to disturb. Easy to re-instate.

At the house a box would be installed on the external wall. This a called a CSP (Customer Splice Point). From there, the fibre cable is brought inside to an ONT (Optical Network Terminator) which requires power. There is some leeway as to where this goes. If possible, the installer will work with you on this.

The router is connected via an ethernet cable so can go anywhere you're happy to run said cable.

All in all it looks a pretty easy install. I suspect it would be done in two stages. An OpenReach ground works team would dig the trench (and probably install the CSP). Then the actual install could be booked.

Brian

[#13]

Thanks all for the input it’s cleared a few things up for me.  Currently the incoming copper terminates in a box at the side of the porch then an extension line runs up the wall, over the front of the roof line above the porch and then into the garage.  This then feeds through the internal garage wall to provide the BT phone socket in the hall where the phone and router plug in.  Nice and central to the house for WiFi distribution.  I can see them easily running the fibre and putting the CSP on the side wall but then ideally I would like an extension from this following the old copper run with EZ fibre to the garage and through the internal wall to give an ONT in the hall.  Fibre not so flexible as copper.

Guess I’ll just have to see what the install survey says.  At least I learned I am marked for KCI Assure and what it means.  Thanks for all the input, most useful 

[#14]

@Melltt 

I can see them easily running the fibre and putting the CSP on the side wall but then ideally I would like an extension from this following the old copper run with EZ fibre to the garage and through the internal wall to give an ONT in the hall. 

A standard install allows for up to 10m of fibre from the CSP to the ONT, however its designed to be run internally.

You ideally need to talk to the surveying engineer and/or the installation engineer to see whats possible.

If all else fails its possible to get diy extension kits https://www.premitel.uk/consultancy/expert-advice/how-to-relocate-the-ont-fibre-termination-point/

[#15]

@Melltt 

As I understand it, the survey is for work required to get the fibre cable to the property. From your pictures, it probably wouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. It won't check the internal install.

You may, or may not, see the Surveyor.

Your ideall location may not be doable from an OR point of view. While they'll work internally to locate an ONT anything that requires serious extra work is probably a no no. However, you just don't know.

Remember that not only does the ONT require power, so does the router. If the ONT ends up in the front room you could, once you've checked what the WiFi is like, run an ethernet cable from the from room to the hallway for the router.

Brian