This topic

Fibre to a flat

mazzalean — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 22:50:21 GMT

Hello,

Viewed a flat today I like the look of, but unable/unsure how to find out if fibre can run through to it. Current owner only uses broadband, but upon viewing the place I noticed there was an Openreach socket that wasn't in use, so there is some sort of foundation already there it seems.

Building was built in 2014, and the immediate surrounding houses that are part of the same development build all have fibre access according to the Openreach checker, but the flat I am interested in as well as the flat next door does not, with no current plans to either.

Any advice on how I can find out whether or not fibre can be installed, or does the Openreach checker saying no plans to sort of limit me? Any help much appreciated, thanks.

Re: Fibre to a flat

jac_95 — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 08:20:46 GMT

Go to https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL and choose Address Checker. Enter the Postcode and select the property address. It will give you a list of broadband services available to the property through the Openreach infrastructure.

Re: Fibre to a flat

mazzalean — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 14:07:32 GMT

Thanks, so here it is saying it does have fibre available? Which in a way just confuses me more as the fibre checker doesn't match up, and unsure if takes into account it is a flat?

Re: Fibre to a flat

jac_95 — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 14:44:20 GMT

Yes the results states WBC FTTP is available and a New ONT can be ordered.

It also knows it's a block of apartments as it states MDU (Multi Dwelling Units) in the record notes

Re: Fibre to a flat

mazzalean — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 15:10:31 GMT

Ah alright that seems promising then, any ideas on the next step about actually getting it ordered if websites aren't saying it is available? Would it be a case of sending off a form to Openreach for them to investigate? Thanks for help so far.

Re: Fibre to a flat

jac_95 — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 15:13:45 GMT

Have you tried using https://www.bt.com/products/broadband/deals?

And select your address? If the BT Wholesale checker shows it as available then BT Consumer's website should too

Re: Fibre to a flat

licquorice — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 15:15:25 GMT

Give the FTTP team a call 0800 587 4787

Re: Fibre to a flat

mazzalean — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 16:23:33 GMT

Alright I'm definitely not going crazy, but I checked that link earlier today with the address and it said broadband only, but now on both that website and the Openreach checker it says Fibre is available!? I did send a form off yesterday to Openreach to query this as well, so unsure if they have realised already or maybe checking that previous link triggered something in their database? Very peculiar, almost don't believe it!

Thanks for the help, seems to have sorted itself out magically as far as I can see. 🙂

Re: Fibre to a flat

licquorice — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 17:28:42 GMT

Databases are updated on Fridays

Re: Fibre to a flat

JamesBand5 — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 19:46:50 GMT

Fridays are Fish and Chips and FTTP database upgrades!

Re: Fibre to a flat

JamesBand5 — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 19:49:57 GMT

That shows you can definitely get FTTP via Openreach which is fantastic. Looks like the ISP database has been updated if you can now see Full Fibre Broadband products as available. Sometimes it varies how long it takes and what speeds show up as available on various customer facing checkers. Which is understandably confusing! Are you now able to see Full Fibre 900 (and other products) on the BT consumer broadband website checker?

Re: Fibre to a flat

mazzalean — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 20:21:59 GMT

Yep, I can now see the full Fibre 900 is available for the address, which is great news as I'll be looking to put an offer on the flat now!

Re: Fibre to a flat

JamesBand5 — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 20:23:59 GMT

That's great! FTTP 900 is wonderful to have!

Re: Fibre to a flat

iniltous — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 09:20:53 GMT

Because the info on the checker shows SDU/MDU external CBT , complex, then unlike some apartments where there is a common internal point where all individual units would be served from your service would appear to be served from an external CBT ( pole or wall mounted most likely ) but the installer may need special tools or assistance to get the fibre into your apartment, AFAIK, you won’t get an appointment as such , but a date for a visit, if it can be done on that day , that’s great…if OR have to arrange something extra ( like long ladders , or someone who is flat roof trained etc ) then the date can slide without compensation being due ( well not to the ISP from Openreach) , it’s like the two stage install where they confirm no issues before committing to the contractual date…what the ISP does with that is between themselves and the consumer

Re: Fibre to a flat

VentifordShaun — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 09:52:43 GMT

Hi Jac,

Not sure if you can help me out here. I moved into a new flat and Plusnet, vodaphone and BT say that my address doesn't exist on the Openreach network. When I go to purchase broadband my address shows up on the BT list but when I go to check out it moves to a house with my flat number down the road.

BT said that they could get me broadband but they would have to put in a phone line and I would only get 3MB/s, so I have ended up going with mobile broadband. I have an Openreach master socket 5c in my living room.

I have done the check that you posted but I am not too sure what it all means.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Shaun

Re: Fibre to a flat

iniltous — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 12:15:21 GMT

There would appear to be a discrepancy with your address , is the DSL checker return for your exact address ( the one held by the Royal Mail ) or you selected one that was pretty close match , but not identical.
Is your flat properly registered, has its own front door , it’s own utilities and is liable for its own council tax ( so not a shared address ) , and if a recently completed conversion of a house into a MDU ( multi dwelling unit ) did the developer register the conversion with the appropriate authorities , so that the address information flows down to the appropriate systems that rely on this information

Re: Fibre to a flat

VentifordShaun — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:31:25 GMT

Thanks @iniltous

I found the UPRN number from a website which shows the same address that royal mail has. If I use a different flat number I get a different UPRN. I also used the address checker using the same format as Royal Mail.

I am responsible for my own council tax, have my own front door and utilities. I believe the building was a purpose built MDU and has 21 flats. The building name did show up as an option for when I was talking to the broadband providers but not with any flat numbers.

I might have to contact the management company then, if they haven't registered it properly. Everything broadband related has been sent to the house down the street with the same number as my flat, whereas all other deliveries have been fine. I have emailed Openreach but it seems they don't respond to anything.

Re: Fibre to a flat

iniltous — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 13:39:24 GMT

It’s probable that your flat , irrespective of the address having inconsistencies, doesn’t have FTTP from Openreach available, generally an area can be made ready for FTTP , so all the SDU ( single dwelling units ) have FTTP available to order , but any MDU are deliberately excluded from the rollout , for various reasons but in the main , it’s because no permission exists to cable inside the common areas of the building, with an SDU , any work on the customer site is obviously granted by the householder ordering the service, and work in the footpath, roads etc covered by the NRSWA ( an act of Parliament ) so no third party permission, someone owning or renting a flat in a MDU cannot give permission for anything other than their individual unit , so it’s not possible to get a cable to the flat without encroachment onto someone else’s property like corridors , risers , footwells etc ( they are the property of the freeholder , property management company, etc ) , hence the decision to ignore MDU in the rollout .
When MDU are given access to FTTP , a separate organisation within OR , will have had discussions, obtained permission and pre wired the common areas , and leave an access point outside each flat within the MDU , if this hasn’t happened FTTP won’t be available, even if the address issues are corrected .
If it’s not FTTP that you want but FTTC ( fibre to the cabinet ) , and you suspect that getting the address data corrected , you will be able to order that , provided the copper pair service into the MDU is via a cabinet and the cabinet has spare FTTC slots

Re: Fibre to a flat

VentifordShaun — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 14:07:09 GMT

Okay iniltous, looks like it is not really worth trying to get the address issue sorted then as I don't think FTTP was installed when the building was built, and I believe FTTC was what the guy at BT was talking about then, as he said he would need to put in a phone line and could then use a copper wire, although he said it would be very bad speeds. I have been using mobile broadband for a month now and it has been decent, hopefully I don't run into any issues with it.

Thanks for all the info though, it is good to know.