Openreach to test customer self-install ONTs on UK FTTP broadband lines UPDATE
In a potentially quite significant development. ISPreview has learnt that network operator Openreach (BT) are tentatively proposing to conduct a new Proof of Concept (PoC) trial, which in certain situations would allow end-customers to install their own Optical Network Terminal (ONT) on FTTP broadband lines and to also connect the PSU (power supply).
The ONT (or optical modem) device is usually installed inside your home or office, near to where the fibre optic broadband cable physically enters your property, and its primary job is simply to take the optical signal and convert it into an electrical one that can then be connected to your broadband router via an Ethernet (LAN/WAN) port. The standard ONT is usually a very small single port device for one FTTP line.
At present it is the engineer’s job to install a new ONT, which makes sense given the work and safety aspects involved (drilling, digging, handling an optical cable with laser light etc.). But sources have informed ISPreview that Openreach have begun exploring interest in a new Proof of Concept (PoC), which would enable customers to install the ONT when it only involves a Box Swap service (i.e. replacing an existing / older ONT with a new model).
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The information suggests that Openreach are proposing to conduct a 3-month long PoC of this approach, which would start at some point before the end of 2026 (calendar) and probably only involve up to around 200 orders (subject to demand). Selected customers offered this option would be those upgrading from an older Nokia ONT on 1Gbps (or slower) lines and moving to a faster multi-gig tier (1.2Gbps or faster), which often requires a new ONT on older full fibre lines.
The trial area would encompass most of the UK, except Northern Ireland, but is obviously restricted to only a small number of orders (i.e. you shouldn’t expect to be offered this by your ISP – it’ll be an invite only basis). The primary goal is naturally to see how customers handle such a DIY deployment and whether they’re able to connect the service correctly. Welfare/telecare customers and those without good mobile service will naturally be excluded.
The expectation is that customers who do take part won’t have any connection/regrade charges to pay, although upgrades like this will attract a longer lead-time (c.2 weeks) in order to enable the new ONT to be posted to the property (house/business). In theory, if they can make this work, then it could save time and money on engineers, as well as some costs for end-users.
The flip side is that not everybody will have to basic DIY skills needed to install an ONT properly on the wall (we think a plug-n-play approach to future casing or slot-on wall brackets might help here – just our idea). But we half expect that some of those taking part might just leave the ONT to sit on the floor instead and connect it up from there (higher risk of dirt disrupting the optical signal etc.). Either way it’s an interesting idea and we hope it does progress to a proper trial.
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UPDATE 15th Oct 2026 @ 1:32pm
Openreach has informed us that they won’t be asking trial users to do any drilling – there will be absolutely no tools required. The operator also remarked that many of their FTTP provisions today don’t need an engineer visit (i.e. they already have approaching 12 million ONTs out there), but ISPs do have the choice of requesting an engineer appointment.
On the trial itself, Openreach confirmed the following details:
- The Proof of Concept will be on a CP opt-in basis
- Openreach are aiming to start the trial in Q3 (date tbc) and run it for three months
- Triallists will be volunteers/employees with an active FTTP service; Nokia 1G ONT, but will exclude vulnerable/welfare, telecare customers and new sites
- The trial area will be across the UK, excluding N.Ireland.
- Openreach expect CPs to determine an appropriate subset of employees/customers on a trial register and contact them to agree participation.
- A dedicated PoC trial team will provide help desk support
- The operator will be ready to send engineers the same or next day if help is needed
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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>> we think a plug-n-play approach to future casing or slot-on wall brackets might help here
Or mount with Command strips – no DIY skills needed.
I had to look to see what on earth command strips were. So sticky stuff then. Fine on painted walls, but not on wallpaper walls as it will pull the paper off.
Are the mounting screw centres the same distance apart on the older and newer ONTs?
I went from Nokia 1 gig to 2.5 gig and the mounting slots where the same, at the time I asked if I could do the swap myself as long as I promised not to look directly down the cable, was told it was being looked into and here we are.
Im an OR engineer reading this and sceptical of this. The screw hole distances are different between the old style ont and new ones. And the worry of breaking the fibre cable that plugs into the ont would make me nervous. Would potentially allow another revenue stream from damages.
Mostly echo the above. My ONT, which was installed by a bonafide OR employee and not a contractor, has less slack than I’d like. I’m not sure how that’d cope if I had to swap the ONT and the fibre port is in a different location to where it is now.
The internal fibre is “bend insensitive” and some manufacturers have videos showing just how much abuse their cables can take, but having seen the messes that can be made with copper cable, I’d still worry about how the end user can mess this up.
I did wonder if OR would eventually switch to wires only and replace the ONT with a socket (actually just a wall mounted coupler for the existing fibre).
One vendor – Genexis – has an interesting “twist” ONT design where the fibre is retained in the wall bracket and the ONT literally twists into it, connecting the fibre in the process. An ONT swap is thus very simple.
@Ivor – this is pretty much exactly what happened to me. Had an OR engineer install the original ONT (or rather re-install, as it was knocked about by a ham-fisted electrician who snapped the fibre). He did a very neat job, looked great.
But when I upgraded to 2.5Gbps and had a visit (from a contractor) for an ONT upgrade he said that there wasn’t enough slack on the fibre cable due to the port being on the other side so he had to re-splice.
I guess they could ask customers for a photo of the install to see whether this is likely and plan accordingly maybe.
This will be a problem and as others have said, the port may be in a different place, so the fibre would not reach it.
There are in some countries providers who seems to have the ONT built into the router, an all in one type of thing, not sure if that is a good idea either. My ONT being behind the TV is out of the way, not sure if i would like fibre running around the room to a router.
The idea of allowing people to install their own ONT, no, not a good idea. I expect Openreach think it will save money, until they have more call outs for broken fibre.
Absolutely prefer this.
Well done, Openreach!
And you just know the first customer to ring the helpline will announce:
“I’ve installed it exactly as instructed!”
“Are there any lights on the unit, sir?”
“No, but there weren’t any lights on the old one either.”
“Old one, sir?”
“Yes. The little box I threw away to make room for this one.”
Openreach: bringing the engineer’s visit forward by eliminating the engineer’s visit.
I wonder if this is anything to do with XGS eventually being rolled out.
If you can get the customer to swap their ONT themselves its much cheaper for you as the network operator.
It has to be. I could get an OR FTTP line now but I’d rather wait for an XGS-PON service and didn’t want to have to have another engineer visit, although I’d hope they’re installing the new ONT’s as a way of future-proofing
With any luck! I’d rather install the stuff myself. Did for my virgin internal equipment.
Me personally, I think it’s a stupid idea because I have somebody breaks a fibre by accident then they have to Re-splice the fibre
If they can also enable us to send out replacement power supplies instead of booking an engineer just to plug something in, that’d be nice.
I agree 100% with this. The ISP i work for demands agents get team leader authorisation to get an engineer out to fit a new power supply. It’s crazy that one, the company makes the staff do this and two, that Openreach won’t just let us send out a power supply.
As an IT engineer with 1gb looking to upgrade, I welcome this approach, like the old days of wires only ADSL
Great idea. Most of openreach’s subcontractors use sticky tape anyway. Most of the concerns mentioned here seem fairly low risk, given PON is typical low power (class 1 lasers?) and it’s fairly hard to damage a bend intensive fibre. Besides, no different to copper really, 90% of the population probably wouldn’t have had the kit to enable a proper repair.
Two things that stand out to me outwith any DIY-related competencies.
— Who’ll be liable for any future faults due to a dirty end face after the end user has swapped the ONT.
— The potential for claims of eye issues after pointing (or worse still, looking into) the live connector aimlessly.
We have non OpenReach Jurassic Fibre (aka now cuckoo) – and no ONT at all, just a fibre termination box on the wall, and a fibre from there to the combined Nokia router. Why did open reach never go down this route, so much neater and only one PSU needed.
Because Openreach (as with CityFibre) is a wholesale network. Multiple ISPs are in play. Makes more sense to provide an ONT that they control and the ISP just needs to provide a router with an ethernet port. Especially useful for ISPs that use both Openreach and one or more altnets. An ISP can also provide a “wires only” service for use with the customer’s own router.
The router is MINE, the ONT is THEIRS, It makes great sense to have them separate. Done that way, I can arrange my wireless SSID’s as I want, have my own IP ranges and not be stuck with the ISPs 1 size fits all solution. If you want a single power supply, it would be good if the Network Operators were to supply PoE capable ONTs
I have the same set up from Jurassic, but use the Nokia ONT/Router in Bridge mode so I can use my own router. I have since moved to Olilo (still on APFN network) and this allowed me to do the move with no hardware changes or new ONT, the Nokia router acting as a modem.
you have a ONT-wifi-router……
Its an all in one jobbie. For many including myself, its a non starter.
There is too many ethical and security reasons why you would not want this……
In my opinion should do a questionnaire to see if the person is capable enough to do it over the phone and if not doesn’t get the option and send out an engineer if they think they are going to break it so do it on a case by case basis and also based on their ont as the newer 2.5 gig ones are actually bigger than the 1 gig and some instances I have the atron one and that is quite small compared to some of the 2.5 ones that I’ve seen
Moving to a fibre socket on the wall and the ONT as an SFP module or integrated with the ISP CPE with an API to register it with Openreach seems like the more sensible way to go longer term.
I guess this is in preparation for XGS-PON, needing an engineer to visit each home will slow the process down. Every little helps.
For once I say well done Openreach.
Not sure this is a great idea per-se. However openreach allowing end users to install would possibly open up for ISPs to contract their own engineers to do the work. A half way option which might increase flexibility and reduce costs as well as tie in other services like connecting the router and setting up wifi etc all in one.
Hopefully the kit sent will have a wipe in it (usually Isopropyl alcohol) to clean the fibre top before inserting into new ONT and be clear in instructions to open and use it just before you insert the cable. Otherwise, a lot of fibre tips will pick up dust/hair from floor where people put the cable to rest whilst they mount new ONT and any spec of dust/dirt/hair on it would affect fibre connection like dropouts for example.
This is likely for XGS-PON swap-outs and possibly some older ONT’s and failed ONTs.
This possible opens the path to moving the ONT to where you actually wanted it, rather than the other side of the exterior wall that was drilled through.
Question is how will it help customers with no fibre overhead from the pole to the house or bungalow does the customer has to climb up the laddrer on the pole to get connected fibre to the CSP (Customer Splice Point) self install?
Think it impossible to do it? Who is gonna to activated ONT?
Very good question.
I too have a bungalow, which is served O/H from a Pole and via a sub-pole.
Who is going to extend a fibre from this pole set up and feed it into my house ?
Who is going to drill my outside wall to feed the fibre into my office ?
Who is going to install the fibre extension from the cabinet to my distribution pole.
It all sounds like pie-in-the-sky to me, much the same as all the other promises that B T. / Openreach have made me over the past 3 years.
Try reading the article again.
The problem is an ONT needs to be identified by the OLT. This would make sense if OR published a SIN for ONT requirements as it’d be far better if we could choose which ONT to use. I’d prefer to just use an SFP+ ONT rather than have a box and rely on copper to my router.
Why is it a problem? Openreach know the old and new ONT serial numbers and can manage it accordingly.
You are asking for something totally different, and I doubt Openreach has any interest in letting people connect random junk to their PON. If “wires only” happens it’ll likely require a stricter version of what ISPs and manufacturers have to do for FTTC/G.fast, where they send their equipment to Openreach’s labs for testing and approval. You won’t be permitted to plug in AliExpress’s finest.
It’s quite common across Europe for providers to allow customers to use their own ONT, often integrated into the router. I have a Fritz!Box with a GPON SFP+ and entered the serial number on the provider portal to authorize it, connecting it to the socket with a self-cleaning LC connector.
I suppose that will also mean that users will have to rod all those “Blocked Conduits” that are reported on BT Wholesale website . . . and then discover whether they are actually blocked or whether its a BT ploy to discourage competition . . . . and all that from a monopoly supplier with only 80% of the “Market”. . . . OFCOM.
Congratulations on both failing to read the story and making no sense with your comment. BT trying to prevent competition by making it harder to sign up for their full fibre service is quite the accusation. I’m sure Ofcom will be all over it.
I guess you were told the duct to your property was congested then? Shame you prevented the cable company from passing you with spurious complaints, they’ve been upgrading your area to full fibre recently.
All BT have got to do is convince OFCOM and government Ministers that fibre sprouts out the ground like newly planted grass seed . . . . shouldn’t be hard with this lot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zam8bg7fT2c
Confirming IVORS comment: Genexis true DIY FiberTwist requires no tools or training to upgrade, and the fiber is never touched. Check out the Youtube video to see Selma 2 years 🙂
And why not include the ONT ‘modem’ into routers and have the fiber go directly to the router..0_0 ?
Would be even better if all the FFTP was consistent (ooer one standard) build… a biy like a national [critical]utility..
Or just make some of those Openreach CBT’s atop existing Openreach Telegraph poles into 5G units and beam a high bandwith broadband service to customer’s 5G modem/routers . . . suggested by some on here, including me, years ago. That wouldn’t have done though, as it would have involved putting customer satisfaction on an equal footing with the “Needs” of shareholders and their labour force.
Much better for an organisation with control of 80% of the UK telecomms market, at this late stage in the national installation “Programme” (Huh !), to ape the behaviour of some of the alt nets and to cherry pick FTTP installation, as allowed by the faulty national governmental broadband installation schemas and legislation.With the result that where costly technical barriers to installation, or the alt nets are already established with an FTTP product in a particular sub-district area then, unless the areas well-to-do and the prospect exists of a quick return on capital spend, the declaration of “Stop-sell” on all other areas is no promise that it will be followed-up with FTTP installation. In fact, if my recent experience is representative, BT try to compel their customers in those areas to leave before Openreach/BT become liable for the full cost of FTTP installation. So the schema of the national installation “Programme” and its legislative framework has incentivised BT to avoid competition and reject totally feasible installation alternatives which would be cheaper for them !
BT should have been broken up as a preliminary to broadband installation. Now, we get the worst of both Worlds.