Altnets Gain Ability to Replace Openreach Copper Lines with Fibre on Poles UPDATE

Network operator Openreach (BT) has announced that engineers working for alternative UK broadband networks (altnets) have finally gained a limited ability to replace existing copper drop wires with fibre optic lines on their telecoms poles. Previously, altnets had to wait on the incumbent’s own engineers before this work could be done.

One of the problems with poles is that they can only handle so many cables and related kit before weight becomes a problem (example), which can create a localised capacity issue that may also cause delays with connecting new customers (this can sometimes require the deployment of additional poles). One way of balancing this is by removing an old copper line as you add in a new fibre.

Openreach’s Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product also allows altnets to run their own fibre via existing cable ducts and poles, but it does have limits. For example, until now, it hasn’t allowed altnets to replace existing copper drop wires with fibre. This is understandable (copper is not part of an altnet’s network), but it can slow some deployments while the altnet waits for Openreach to do the work.

A couple of years ago CityFibre requested a change to this approach, which would allow their own engineers to conduct this work too. In response, Openreach launched a drop wire replacement trial, which aimed to help reduce failed installations caused by a pole being deemed defective (‘D’) after an order has been accepted.

“[This] should ensure no end customer is left waiting for the six months or so it can take for Openreach to replace a defective pole,” said Sarah Parsons in 2022, CityFibre’s then Director of Compliance. The good news is that this has finally left the trial stage.

Openreach Statement

This briefing is to inform PIA established CPs that we are moving the current drop wire replacement trial to business as usual (BAU). Moving the trial to BAU enables PIA CPs to replace existing Openreach drop wires with fibre drop wires on Openreach poles where it is necessary and would qualify as a Network Adjustment, where the poles are classed by Openreach as either a ‘Policy D-Pole’ or ‘Non Policy D-Poles which are at full loading (as defined in the Overhead Engineering Principles CP08).

The process will also be applied reciprocally, i.e. where Openreach needs to remove a CP drop wire under the same engineering circumstances. The corresponding CP must adhere to the same process.

This will be available to PIA CPs from 1 November 2024.

As above, this only covers situations where a Network Adjustment will be needed to allow a drop wire addition in normal circumstances of a defective pole, which means it’s impact will be fairly limited.

UPDATE 5pm

We’ve had a comment from Openreach.

A spokesperson for Openreach said:

“We’ve worked closely together with 16 of our Communications Provider customers throughout the trial phase of this new PIA product feature over the last 2 years – to make this as seamless a process as possible, which is why we’ve now moved from trial to fully integrating into our standard operations.

We’re proud of the positive impact PIA has had on the industry and remain committed to supporting our partners in bringing faster, more reliable connectivity to every corner of the country.”