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New Broadband deals - Full fibre only?
I'm looking to get a new Broadband and home phone contract. I've just come to the end of my BT contract which is Fibre 2 ( part fibre not FTTP). I've used several online comparison sites and it seems like the providers will only offer Full fibre deals because it is available here.
Will they not accept a new customer on the old part fibre system?
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It is unlikely you'll be able to remain on part fibre if you switch as full fibre is available in your location.
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Check for your address.
Likely the answer is NO: FTTC with phone line 'unavailable' and the no phone line, broadband only SOGEA equivalent only as an 'exception' where FTTP can't be got to your home for some technical reason…
ADSL, ADSL2+ and SOADSL availability: If shown at FTTP or SOGEA premises,ADSL, ADSL2+ and SOADSL are not available to order due to WLR Withdrawal stop sell rules. CPs should order FTTP or SOGEA. Copper products are only available by exception.
You'll have to stick with current (until they 'force' a change) or move to one that offers a "digital voice" VOIP product via FTTP. (Technically, VOIP can work with a SOGEA install, but not usually offered by the ISPs).
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That change to FTTP will have to happen at some point.
Any reason why you are reluctant to allow an install?
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You’re in an area where you can’t switch to a FTTC deal. You will need to switch to an FTTP plan or pay out of contact charges. If you switch it means an openreach engineer or a sub contractor will need to fit the optical cable and modem. You need a router that supports FTTP.
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When FTTP from Openreach becomes available in an area , it becomes the default network for ‘new’ or re-contracting customers using Openreach (via their provider) , generally they are required to use FTTP , however unless the area is a FTTP priority area , this is when an area is 75% covered by OR FTTP , then FTTC is still available if you can find a provider that will forgo the financial inducements on offer from Openreach to use FTTP , and from Openreach’s point of view it clearly makes sense to get consumers off copper and into FTTP , to assist in the eventual copper pair switch off , do the reason why it’s difficult is because yiur ISP gets a kick back off OR to use FTTP once it’s available, this is perfectly reasonable BTW .
If there is a genuine reason you can’t have FTTP installed, say you were a tenant and your landlord refuses to allow FTTP , you can still ask the provider you want to use, to use FTTC , but of course much like you can pick and chose the company you want to use , the company to a certain extent can decide you are not the type of customer they want.
If not having FTTP is more important than cost , approach a relatively small niche provider that is less likely to consider the money they lose out on by selling you FTTC , because they charge more in the first place and because their volumes of orders are much smaller than mass market brands , they probably will arrange a FTTC service for you ,as they have less to lose , that’s assuming the 75% penetration criteria doesn’t apply in your area, if it does then it’s FTTP regardless of the ISP
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Just the whole hassle of it all when I am perfectly happy with the speed and set up we have.
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As detailed in the posts above you MAY be able to continue with your BT connection 'as is' but it will be at out of contract month-by-month rate. At some point in the future that may not be possible.
Perhaps when you consider the potential savings when taking a new FTTP contract (it doesn't have to be an increase in speed but such an increase is unlikely to cost significantly more) it might make the hassle more bearable.
Any particular reasons why you think a FTTP install might be fraught? How does the current copper connection enter your house?
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I can't answer your question as I don't know . Our house was a new build on a small estate 30 years ago. There are no telegraph pole connections to any houses and there are no visible cables on the outside of the house. I assume that means that they went underground and are in the wall cavity?
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Not "in the cavity" no, they'll be in UG trunking outside the property and come in via a trunk spur. That's how your current FTTC gets to your house.
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A 30 year old property (so built around 1996) will be ducted , as that was the standard method of provision by BT (as it was back then ) so in reality the upgrade to FTTP will be minimal ‘hassle’ , a new optical cable put in the duct the copper cable is already in , the only potential hassle is if the duct has been damaged in the intervening years .
It’s pretty easy to see the evidence of BT/Openreach on the external wall ,looks like this ( the items are lighter grey in colour than these images suggest )
If your house has these then it’s a ducted feed , you can put your address in here and check the survey notes if it says
Our records show the following FTTP network service information for these premises:-Single Dwelling Unit Residential UG premises served by 2.5 Inch plastic duct 56.
https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome
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