Can't get fibre from new supplier even though I have fibre now at same address.

M00NST0NE

With my current broadband connection I am getting 27Mbs. My contract is due for renewal soon and when checking for a better deal I am being told that the fastest connection I can get is up to 3Mbps because fibre is not available at my address. I am baffled.

giraffe69

Is it possible your exchange has all the lines for fibre assigned thus none free and only a basic ADSL service available. Can you renew with the same supplier (can understand why you might not wish to if they aren't competitive)?

matelodave

As giraffe points out, the number of connections available within your cabinet may have reached capacity and until OpenReach install some more, possibly requiring a new cabinet and associated civil works you might get downgraded to an ADSL line if you change suppliers.

It can take some months to get a capacity increase especially as a lot more people are using broadband this year due to the CV19 situation.
You may be better off staying where you are for the time being and keep checking to see what the situation is like in a month or two's time.

I guess you'd be pretty miffed to be cut across to another provider who cant supply the sort of speed you are presently getting.

glennevis

Don't just check BT for fibre broadband and assume that's the end of the matter. Due to local loop unbundling (LLU) some broadband providers have their own equipment installed in exchanges and may have spare capacity.
Check Sky, TalkTalk and Vodafone for fibre broadband availability.
You can check broadband providers on your exchange here:
https://availability.samknows.com/broadband/

And before you take up a new contract, check the minimum guaranteed speed which will relate to your specific line.

M00NST0NE

Thanks for your replies. Looks like I will have to bite the bullet and accept the 25% hike in price with my current ISP

bhjm

M00NST0NE said:

Thanks for your replies. Looks like I will have to bite the bullet and accept the 25% hike in price with my current ISP

have you made an inquiry with another provider if they can provide you broadband? 

The_Fat_Controller

@glennevis, LLU in the exchange is only for ADSL and phone, not fibre.
FTTC is provided by Openreach from their kerbside cabinets to all the ISPs and if there is not spare capacity with a particular company you are out of luck.
@M00NST0NE, search for the "new customer" price on comparison sites and then haggle with your ISP, they won't know their rivals have no ports free !

brewerdave

As an example of the lack of availability of "fibre" currently - I was on an FTTC waiting list in my area for several months ; Checked one morning on BT Wholesale to see that there was now availability - but by the time I had got thru to my ISP I was back on the waiting list! Obviously home working is saturating availability.
As we are currently being cabled up for full FTTH, they are not expanding FTTC availability ,so it's a case of "dead man's shoes" -you have to have a bit of luck to grab a connection if someone moves and cancels!!

macman

M00NST0NE said:

Thanks for your replies. Looks like I will have to bite the bullet and accept the 25% hike in price with my current ISP

Why? Give them a call and negotiate a deal to match what you are paying now.The call centre drone will have no idea that you cannot switch without potentially downgrading to ADSL.