Openreach Launch Advanced Install for Standalone Broadband

Openreach has announced that they will finally introduce their new ‘Advanced Managed Install’ option for standalone UK broadband products (i.e. SOGEA – FTTC and SOGfast – G.fast) on 1st July 2023, which will give UK ISPs another option that can be offered to those with more complex installation requirements.

Just to recap. Single Order Generic Ethernet Access (SOGEA) enables ISPs to sell a physical hybrid fibre line just for broadband (i.e. not everybody needs a fixed voice line today and analogue voice services will be withdrawn from December 2025), while anybody who still wants a voice service will need to take a Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) style solution instead – often as an optional product from your ISP (e.g.  Digital Voice from BT).

At present, the Standard engineer install on a SOGEA line tends to cost ISPs £96.80 +vat, which increases to £116.90 for their Premium install product – that includes some extra tests and work. But if you require a New SOGEA Line to be installed from scratch, then that tends to cost a little bit more.

By comparison, the new SOGEA and SOGfast Advanced Managed Install option will cost £251.80 and that increases to £262.20 if you need it to be a New Line installation. The reason for the big price difference is that this product has been designed to address the more complex requirements of business and public sector customers, which tend to go beyond what a typical user may need (although some non-standard homes might benefit from this too).

Advanced Installation Capabilities:

· Up to 100m wiring from where Openreach network is presented to the premise.

· More complex cabling

• Through multiple walls
• On existing cable trays running horizontally or vertically using cable ties (may include through multiple floors)
• Through ceiling or floor tiles that are removable and accessible

· Connect to existing in-building structured cabling e.g. in comms rooms

· X-Marks the spot to indicate preference for NTE install location

· What3Words to indicate preference for NTE location, and

· Unattended install – Speed test results in KCI 3 to confirm install.

Openreach has been piloting all this for several years, although the rapid move to FTTP will probably ensure that there aren’t too many takers. But it’s still good to have the option.