FTTP, timing and pricing

[#1]

Hello. I've been a PN customer for ages and mostly have been very happy with the service. My contract is up in January next year.

FTTP is now available to my address and I'm prepared to not have  landline anymore so it's time to get FTTP. I think 300 mbps seems like a sensible speed to go for.  My last contract renewal was a pretty competitive price covering phone and broadband. My 2 Questions

1. Roughly how long should I expect it to take between placing the order and the FTTP going live. I know this will vary between different parts of the country based on how busy OR are but some sort of average would be handy to know. I'm in Norfolk but not to far from the fine city of Norwich and am not aware of anything too challenging given where the pole is and where my house is.
   
   
2. Should I be expecting to pay the price advertised via the Plusnet member portal or should I be expecting to get that down by a bit. Sky for example advertise a service including VOIP for a few £ less than PN.   

[#2]

@the_groundsman 

You can upgrade at any time with PN. If going elsewhere you need to wait until January to avoid ETC's.

It all depends on your usage but if you're reasonably happy with your current speed then FF145 might be a good starting option. PN will happily upgrade you mid contract (at the cost of a new contract) but would charge to downgrade unless at the end of your contract.

As to how long you wait for the install that is unknown until you get a confirmed date. Up to 2 weeks might be a reasionable guesstimate.

You could phone PlusNet Customer Options Team on 0800 013 2632 to see the lay of things.

As to other ISP's offering a better price then that's a personal choice you have to make to stay or go. If you use PN e-mail then you lose that on the day you leave.

Brian

[#3]

Just to add on the price front, it could go either way comparing now to waiting to January.  Plusnet might see it as an opportunity to upgrade you and lock you into a new contract now and therefore offer you a decent price now, or they may think that they've got you for a few more months so the deal might not be great.  Also it potentially depends on where the COTs agent is upto with sales in the current period.  It's sometime worth calling back another day if you're not happy with the deal offered.

At the end of the day, Plusnet should give you an offer to upgrade that you can then decide if you want to take it or not.  The offer next month, or December or in January at renewal will be a new offer at that time, so there's no real harm in trying.  It's also Black Friday in just over a month.  There might be some deals to be had then as well.  Equally they might be able to pre-empt some of those deals now to stop you looking around on Black Friday.

[#4]

Thanks a lot for the insights. Much appreciated

[#5]

@the_groundsman - I went from FTTC to FTTP just last Monday. 🙂 My journey was this, that I waited until my final payment was taken for my FTTC BB/Home Phone and then waited for the OFCOM email that is sent from Plusnet with their Best Offer price under rules. 

Because FTTP was priority at my exchange (I`m in Scotland by the way), I was offered that in the email to consider. It was 145mbps for £26.99p a month over two years. It is actually a bit cheaper than renewing again for FTTC! So knowing the Home phone would have to go as Plusnet don`t/won`t be offering the phone service anyway for too much longer, I went for it. 

When I called Plusnet Customer Options and mentioned the OFCOM email, I got the ball rolling. The emails came though while I was on my mobile speaking to one of the team and a few weeks later (three I think?) my engineer arrived mid-day, got the new FF line installed to the pole outside (so overhead) and then drilled the small hole through the wall and fitted the ONT. My HUB 2 router was already there, so once that was wired for sound! The engineer just asked me to open whatever device of my choice (I chose my Samsung phone) connected it to the Home WiFi and he touched a few things on the screen settings and that was it. 

You will have options in your account page too but I`ve always waited for the OFCOM email to arrive and see how that compared to the offers page in accounts. I`ve loved being with Plusnet so it was a no brainer for me to stay. Better the devil you know....and all that. 

Finally, if/when you agree your FF and an engineer date is given, they are great at staying in contact with you and will send you text messages reminding you they are coming on X date and if you agree, text back YES. They also give you the option to change the date if the one given is suddenly not viable. 

Hope this helps. 

[#6]

Thanks @plusmouse 

That's a few pounds cheaper than the advertised price and sounds like it's worth a negotiation. 2-3 weeks seems reasonable too on the timeline. 

On my current FTTC I use a BT hub 6 using the excellent guidance prepared by @Baldrick1. I have a PN Hub2 unused in my garage so will probably swap out to that when the new connection arrives. I assume it will update itself to the latest firmware on connection. I might get another from PN so I have one to hand if there's a hardware problem. The routers of old used to die after a couple of years so a working spare was important. 

[#7]

Ordered today and booked for 7th November.

Just had a text to say order delayed 😞
Bt broadband checker says
Our records show the following FTTP network service information for these premises:-Single Dwelling Unit Residential OH Feed potential Line of sight problem.

I know my neighbours have had to run between 2 poles to get the fibre connected.

Just have to be patient I guess. Any idea how long it takes to resolve?

[#8]

@the_groundsman 

I've two pointers for you.

1) The price you get offered in the Plusnet "portal" varies from week to week so it's worth watching the variation in prices.

2) The "standard" increase in April is quite significant. If you can hold off renewing until the price offered would rise in April 2026 (not April 2025) that would be worth doing.

Haggling on the phone has historically been needed but full fibre (only) prices may not be as negotiable as the previous line rental and broadband service. Having said that, saying I could get it for X from Vodafone, Onestream etc. is worth a go but remember the April price rise.

[#9]

Aah, just seen you have ordered!

Perhaps useful comments for others.

[#10]

@the_groundsman 

You would have been given a provisional install date before OR confirmed. I suspect they've seen the potential line of sight issue and delayed it for a survey.

Hopefully it'll be a short wait.

Brian

[#11]

@the_groundsman 

Hope you do not find the need to kick yourself when the BLACK FRIDAY deals emerge in a couple of weeks...

[#12]

Well that's almost a certainty

I'm still waiting for an update from Openreach on the practicalities of the install and a date. I'm glad it hasn't happened quickly though as half the houses in my village have had no broadband for the last 24 hours (on going).

The half that are on FTTP.

[#13]

Near Chesterfield per-chance?

[#14]

Norfolk

[#15]

I just thought I'd post an update on my experience so far. I placed my order on 24th October and during the following week I had a lot of texts and email updates, mainly saying things would be delayed.

On Saturday 2nd Nov we had at least 5 Openreach guys in the road to repair the fibre connection as my neighbour across the road managed to cut the cable running up the pole on his land, while cutting back his hedge. One of them called in and we had a quick chat about how they would do the install. As with other people nearby they need to run from One pole, to another and then follow the existing line to my house. He said they would have a cherry picker here on the next day (Sunday) to tidy things up following the hedge clipping fiasco. The plan was to do the outside cable work and then I'd get another appointment for an engineer to drill etc.

I saw the van arrive and 30 mins later the cherry picker turned up too but then headed off down the road never to be seen again. Since then in contrast to the first week I've heard nothing.

I have my FTTC all working fine so its not too urgent tbh. I just wondered if this was typical