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Openreach FTTP build: completion time?

signalsearcher

Pro Member
Hi.

My area has slow FTTC broadband. We have started an Openreach Community Fibre Partnership to try and get FTTP installed. This is at around 60% of the target.

Today, I look outside and see three Openreach vans and lots of cable. I asked the engineer if it was FTTP and he said: "We are building the network, including the CBTs, for your estate at risk as construction here is low cost. The network for more rural properties will not be installed until the grant is complete."

He didn't know the timeframe for activating the network.

I've included some pictures of the stuff that's been done today. Has anyone experienced anything like this? Will it ever be activated if the grant doesn't get to the target number of commitments or will it just be left forever disconnected? If the grant isn't an issue, how long until something like this usually goes live?

Thank you.

20240428_142024.jpg
Screenshot 2024-04-28 at 14.23.43.jpg
 
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Is that at risk of a competitor coming in? :D I bet you any money if you get to the target for CF, OR will finish it.
 
Is that at risk of a competitor coming in? :D I bet you any money if you get to the target for CF, OR will finish it.
Only Openreach FTTC here, sadly. What if the Openreach Community Fibre Partnership doesn't get to the target? Do you think they will just leave the infrastructure up unactivated?
 
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They'll activate the network they are building so your estate will be enabled. This will invalidate the CFP. The person building the network isn't likely to have all the details.
 
They'll activate the network they are building so your estate will be enabled. This will invalidate the CFP. The person building the network isn't likely to have all the details.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. I'm glad it'll be activated - wouldn't be a very good return on investment otherwise - but nothing would surprise me with Openreach :LOL:.

Any ideas what the piece of equipment with the yellow and black wires on the bottom photo is? Guessing it's new as I haven't seen it before. It's underground opposite my house.
 
Looks like a fibre jointing box, the yellow and black 'cable' is a tube which they blow fibre through. The first image is a fibre manifold.
 
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The first image is of a CBT :)

There's a cable going up my telegraph pole from the duct underground that then goes across the street to the one with the CBT. I'm guessing the CBTs for the one serving me and the others will be done soon.

Today, Openreach have been up on the main road in the manhole covers, gradually getting closer. I'm guessing they're pulling the fibre down to us, as a Redrow estate up there already has it.

How long is it usually from this stage to completion?
 
It could be weeks, it could be months, they may even stop just before it goes live. Until you can place an order, it's very uncertain. Sorry that I can't be of more help.
 
There's a cable going up my telegraph pole from the duct underground that then goes across the street to the one with the CBT. I'm guessing the CBTs for the one serving me and the others will be done soon.

Today, Openreach have been up on the main road in the manhole covers, gradually getting closer. I'm guessing they're pulling the fibre down to us, as a Redrow estate up there already has it.

How long is it usually from this stage to completion?
My fathers pole had the CBT fitted in August, we ordered as soon as it was live - December, got installed Jan 2nd.
 
It could be weeks, it could be months, they may even stop just before it goes live. Until you can place an order, it's very uncertain. Sorry that I can't be of more help.
My fathers pole had the CBT fitted in August, we ordered as soon as it was live - December, got installed Jan 2nd.

Thanks for the information everyone. It's much appreciated. I'm happy that the situation is progressing, and there's fibre getting closer - rather than just seeing copper everywhere. Can't wait to move to FTTP from my current 4G router.

Additionally, the checker is now saying that "all eligible addresses have pledged for this postcode" for the streets with the CBTs going up. Hopefully that's a sign of them building despite the target not being met :)

Screenshot 2024-04-30 at 18.53.53.png
 
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They'll activate the network they are building so your estate will be enabled.
Maybe - but there are no guarantees. There have been plenty of examples reported where Openreach have part-installed FTTP and then abandoned the build.

In short, it's not available until it's available.
 
OR took 6 weeks from cables going in to the point of me being able to order.
I was 6 weeks from cables going in to actually having a service - so good to see it's not taking long in other places!
 
This has appeared at the top of the lane near the Redrow estate which currently has full fibre, I'm hoping this is part of the process of connecting the CBTs on my lane to the existing network. 🤞

IMG_9075.webp

(Apologies for the bad photo, I was on the bus)
 
The Openreach website is telling me that "Build planned between now and Jun-2024"

Not sure if that means they are going to start between now and then or will be finished by then, but it feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel.
 
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The Openreach website is telling me that "Build planned between now and Jun-2024"

Not sure if that means they are going to start between now and then or will be finished by then, but it feels like there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I imagine it will begin soon. The CBTs started going up here on the 28th April, and I have just had a reply from Openreach saying FTTP should be ready to order by September.

From what I've read, it seems that there is variation across the country, but, I'd guess 4-6 months from when the CBTs go up.

I'll keep this thread updated with build progress here and am interested in hearing other people's experiences too!
 
I’ve seen work going in by KN Circet. Somebody was working on fibre in a chamber and across the road a couple of guys were up a pole. I would say they are starting to run fibre now.
 
I imagine it will begin soon. The CBTs started going up here on the 28th April, and I have just had a reply from Openreach saying FTTP should be ready to order by September.

From what I've read, it seems that there is variation across the country, but, I'd guess 4-6 months from when the CBTs go up.

In our case, the CBTs went in almost 2 years before it went RFS.
 
Openreach have been busy over the course of this week. They added this box to the existing fibre cabinet, have dug a trench along the main road from it, and connected the fibre from the pole at the top of the lane to something in the trench.

An engineer says 2 months till the fibre is expected to be live. Anyone know what the purpose of this add on box is?

Screenshot 2024-06-27 at 19.35.09.jpg
 
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