Fttp broadband is my only option ?

Andybuck1

Has anyone come across companies that will only offer you fttp broadband ? A while ago openreach installed fibre in the street, I still had standard fibre broadband at the time getting around 60mb, which plenty fast enough for me. My contract with Nowtv ends at the end of this month so I started looking around for a new deal, I put my postcode and phone number on this website to check availability, all the offers pop up including deals on the same connection I already have but when I click the link to get the deal, it doesn’t matter which company I go to, they tell me it’s not available, but the more expensive fttp is available, so, thanks openreach, it’s nice to have fttp as an option, but I don’t need a light speed connection and it seems now, I have no choice but to pay more for broadband.

oldernonethewiser

As your minimum term is ending what have NOW offerend for a new contract?

iniltous

A move to a new provider should use the new FTTP network if it’s available , if you want to stay with Now on the FTTC system you are already on you can ( there is no forced move to FTTP ) but obviously the Now out of contract price may be more than you were paying while inside the minimum term .

Most providers charge the same price  for the speed profile  regardless of the network providing it , for example BT F1 ( 55Mb ) is the same price on FTTC or FTTP , what’s more , as  FTTC customers may not get headline speed , but less , because of the distance to the cabinet , with FTTP you get the speed you pay for .

If you don’t want to move to FTTP , don’t , simply stay with Now on an out of contract basis, if that costs more than being inside a minimum term that’s your choice , but there is no reason why FTTP is more expensive than FTTC , you do realise that you don’t need to take a faster speed than the speed you currently take .

Altior

I'm with Now Broadband, and they emailed me a long message with several options at the end of last December, when the last payment of the existing contract was taken. I got it for the same price as the contract with no ll calls, since I have no ll usage it was irrelevant!

The previous year I signed up to Vodafone for a new full fibre contract as our road had been dug up to lay FTTP. At the time I was unaware of this but there is a lot of work needed to complete the installation to the actual property, I found out when they said I would need to book engineers to visit the property, so investigated what work is required. To cut a long story short I live in a maisonette where there is no power in the footwell/front door area so it was going to pretty be invasive whatever they needed to do to make it work.

I called Vodafone to cancel FF within the cooling off, and the agent said that I will need FTTP anyway in the long run as it was going to become mandatory. I don't know whether that is credible or not, however like you all the searches now believe I am on full fibre. Whether there will be a cut off similar to digital from analogue television who knows, most likely they won't want to support the infrastructure for both systems forever. I reconciled most likely I would go with 5G (or whatever the tech is at the time) should that happen. 

oldernonethewiser

I renewed with NOW towards the end of last year and am paying less than I was on a new 12 month contract.

Andybuck1

Thanks for all the replies, the reason I’m leaving Now is the router is of poor quality (only 2 Ethernet ports) and the Wi-Fi range is poor, also no real option to use my own router due to the way it connects to the internet (no username and password available). I have found a deal with Vodafone that suits my needs but as Altior has said, an engineer needs to come and pull a new wire in, plus power will most likely be needed near the socket, which I don’t currently have, I’ll just wait and see what happens when the engineer turns up.

oldernonethewiser

I have a NOW router and agree it is poor which is why I have added an ethernet switch to accommodate extra gear and a Mesh system to fully cover my property for WiFi.

Are you having an issue accessing the router?

username : admin

password : nowtv

Or is there a different issue?

iniltous

The FTTP ONT doesn’t need to be where the existing master socket is ,  unless that’s what you want it  but it does have to be near a power outlet , if you want to use an power extension lead so that power is available at your preferred ONT location, that up to you 

JSmithy45AD

oldernonethewiser said:

I have a NOW router and agree it is poor which is why I have added an ethernet switch to accommodate extra gear and a Mesh system to fully cover my property for WiFi.

Are you having an issue accessing the router?

username : admin

password : nowtv

Or is there a different issue?

Or just connect a better wifi router with ethernet ports to the Nowtv router and turn the wifi off on the Nowtv router. Job done. Absolutely no reason to leave a company because you don't like the router nowadays.

danco

Yes, you will need FTTP "in the long run" as OpenReach is closing down the copper lines and replacing them by full fibre. The schedule is for this to be done by 2025 but who knows when it will actually happen.

littleboo

danco said:

Yes, you will need FTTP "in the long run" as OpenReach is closing down the copper lines and replacing them by full fibre. The schedule is for this to be done by 2025 but who knows when it will actually happen.

This is not correct. 2025 is the planned date for the Openreach PSTN switch off. That is separate from the FTTP rollout which goes beyond 2025.