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How many CBT

Obiwan

Member
Hi

In May, Openreach (quinn) installed a CBT on our pole and fibre from it into a duct presumably to wherever it all gets connected back to. It isn’t live as yet. Today I found another company feeding fibre to the same pole (joul for Digital infrastructure), it isn’t connected to a CBT but they have left a long loop of cable on the pole. The chap said we could end up with 3 or 4 different CBTs on the pole for different providers - does this sound right? If so, how will that work for us?

many thanks
 
You would simply have several distributions points on the pole. A CBT is a particular type distribution point that is mostly used by Openreach, that uses a pre-connectorised drop cable assembly from the pole (where it screws into the respective external CBT port) to your home, where it typically terminates in a CSP (customer service point), usually on the outside wall - although there are variations on a theme.

Other Alternative Networks (AltNets) may also mount their own respective distribution points on the same pole if they have permission to do so from Openreach using a process called PIA (physical infrastructure access) where they effectively rent duct and pole space from Openreach to mount their own gear/run their own cables. A popular choice of distribution point, used by several AltNets, is the AFN from HellermanTyton which looks like a smooth-fronted black box (usually) with all the optical connectors hidden inside.

Whoa so anyway...basically if you are passed / served by a particular network, be that Openreach or an AltNet they would serve your property with a discrete drop cable to your property which would lead to a dedicated point at which they would mount their active equipment (ONT and possibly a router) to serve you. All separate basically, no sharing of drop cables etc.

Hope that ramble all makes sense.
 
You would simply have several distributions points on the pole. A CBT is a particular type distribution point that is mostly used by Openreach, that uses a pre-connectorised drop cable assembly from the pole (where it screws into the respective external CBT port) to your home, where it typically terminates in a CSP (customer service point), usually on the outside wall - although there are variations on a theme.

Other Alternative Networks (AltNets) may also mount their own respective distribution points on the same pole if they have permission to do so from Openreach using a process called PIA (physical infrastructure access) where they effectively rent duct and pole space from Openreach to mount their own gear/run their own cables. A popular choice of distribution point, used by several AltNets, is the AFN from HellermanTyton which looks like a smooth-fronted black box (usually) with all the optical connectors hidden inside.

Whoa so anyway...basically if you are passed / served by a particular network, be that Openreach or an AltNet they would serve your property with a discrete drop cable to your property which would lead to a dedicated point at which they would mount their active equipment (ONT and possibly a router) to serve you. All separate basically, no sharing of drop cables etc.

Hope that ramble all makes sense.
Thanks that’s really helpful. Sorry if this question is dumb but…If I started as a BT FTTP customer then switched to another provider, would that mean they’d need to change the physical connection from our house to the pole?
 
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Thanks that’s really helpful. Sorry if this question is dumb but…If I started as a BT FTTP customer then switched to another provider, would that mean they’d need to change the physical connection from our house to the pole?
It's not dumb and very relevant, since some areas will have a choice of several FTTP networks. I'd expect that, unless the ISP you're switching too is on the same Openreach network, then you'd not only see another fibre being run (most likely to the same point in your house) but also an additional ONT being installed inside your home. Some homes could get quite cluttered with different ONTs.
 
It's not dumb and very relevant, since some areas will have a choice of several FTTP networks. I'd expect that, unless the ISP you're switching too is on the same Openreach network, then you'd not only see another fibre being run (most likely to the same point in your house) but also an additional ONT being installed inside your home. Some homes could get quite cluttered with different ONTs.
Thanks very much. That’s really helpful. I had no idea it would work this way. Much appreciated. I must admit I’m surprised - as you say it could be pretty cluttered, I’d imagined for some reason you’d only need one connection and all ISP would have access. Sounds like it could get messy.

i get the impression it might make moving between ISPs somewhat less smooth than we’re used to?
 
Thanks very much. That’s really helpful. I had no idea it would work this way. Much appreciated. I must admit I’m surprised - as you say it could be pretty cluttered, I’d imagined for some reason you’d only need one connection and all ISP would have access. Sounds like it could get messy.

i get the impression it might make moving between ISPs somewhat less smooth than we’re used to?
Yes and no. There are a lot of ISPs present/available on the Openreach network. It’s a wholesale network. A choice potentially of dozens and dozens of ISPs from the same fibre connection and ONT. Moving between ISP is very easy.

Most independent AltNet networks (with the rare exception like CityFibre) are single retail ISPs - ie just themselves - rather than a wholesale network. So a very limited choice of just one from them typically.
 
Yes and no. There are a lot of ISPs present/available on the Openreach network. It’s a wholesale network. A choice potentially of dozens and dozens of ISPs from the same fibre connection and ONT. Moving between ISP is very easy.

Most independent AltNet networks (with the rare exception like CityFibre) are single retail ISPs - ie just themselves - rather than a wholesale network. So a very limited choice of just one from them typically.
Thank you. I appreciate your advice. Most helpful.
 
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