This topic

Full Fibre

hubbys — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 02:11:42 GMT

I due to my contract for BT Broadband and EE mobile. Obviously with the migration from BT to EE I will be mire than likely offered EE. My property up to the front external brick wall has been prepared for installation of full fibre. With the main BT joint box across the road and a draw rope run to a connection point in the footpath, the other side of my front brick wall. Om my property side of the front wall is a triangular shaped raised rockery with a small wall about three bricks high. The front brick wall continues down the side of the house as the boundary, separating my neighbour and I . The existing underground cable was provided as a soft dig, some 38 years ago. I an prepared to dig the rockery and remove plants, as well as clear pebbles and the lining underneath, so that a dig can be carried out for duct to be laid, in a straight line, to where the original phone line enters. Fibre cannot be bent at right angles, so this would be the ideal route But my problem is that I require a survey officer to call and give five minutes of his time to confirm if that is the route the engineer would take, If so, I could then carry out the dig for the duct, saving the engineer excessive work The problem is getting a survey officer to call, pre the engineers visit. The survey officer could also leave me the length of duct to be laid. As I retired ten years ago from BT I am not sure how an appointment scheme, for a survey officer is made. Will BT/EE sales arrange it with the order, if I ask them, or do they just let the engineer on the day, do all the work. In the long run it makes sense me laying the duct for the engineer. Customers used to do that in the days gone by.

Re: Full Fibre

peterh0001 — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 08:05:25 GMT

Sadly Openreach do not undertake pre installation surveys on an individual basis. They will have surveyed the area when they installed the full fibre infrastructure and formed a view as to how they will install at your property and if you enter your details at https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/ and read the notes at the bottom of the page it will indicate whether they are expecting a single step install or not.

If you post those details the forum will help you interpret them.

Re: Full Fibre

hubbys — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:01:02 GMT

Thank you for the reply. I have already checked my property for availability. The availability is not a problem. It is the route taken by the engineer that I was more concerned about. Never mind, being as ex BT engineer I’ll ask around to see if anyone has been in a similar situation. What I am trying to avoid is a pole stuck right out my house for the sake of one customer, when a UG feed can be a simple answer, without any complications.

Re: Full Fibre

imjolly — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:11:56 GMT

how is your existing phone line connected - from a pole or underground

the dslchecker link notes should say how openreach intend to connect fibre cable and would normally follow existing copper. does the notes suggest UG dig?

Re: Full Fibre

hubbys — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:02:42 GMT

Hi Distinguished Sage.
The notes state partial soft dig, and the existing UG feed carried out in 1987 was a soft dig. Since 38 years ago a brick wall, androckery has been built, along with pebbles put down, and the front garden is not an open plan lawn, like two houses opposite. But the engineers/contractors must face this sort of thing, day in and day out. A soft dig can be carried out, with the pebbles and lining underneath removed, and coming around the front of the rockery. I was just thinking of making life easier for him, by thinking like an ex-engineer and preparing a straight run, rather then a zig zag one, as Fibre is not flexible. Still , if, as I am informed, that there is no individual request for a surveyor to just call and confirm what route for the soft dig would be taken, then I will just leave it to the engineer on the day to carry out the work. Thank you

Re: Full Fibre

iniltous — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:08:07 GMT

If excavation in your ‘land’ is required to install FTTP because you live in an underground service area and there is no existing duct , no work on your property is undertaken without your permission….so you obviously can suggest a route etc for the duct and if your requirements can’t be met , then you can refuse to allow any work , and then cancel the order .

You are not going to be able through this BT forum get Openreach to preemptively visit without an order , OR are an operationally separate company , so no way to get BT to arrange an OR visit with a view to supplying a duct for you to install , ( after them given you guidance on where to excavate to on your curtilage ) , although that was something that was possible many years ago when there was no such organisation as Openreach, just BT , but as stated it’s not required anyway , and depending on where the FTTP infrastructure is , any preparation you make may be a waste of your own time , if (for example) you provide a trench from your house wall to the right hand side boundary of your garden but the appropriate FTTP network is on the left hand side of your garden and OR or their contractor excavates from that direction making your preparation ‘work’ pointless.

The obvious thing is to order , a first stage visit ( presumably your address is KCI2 installation process ) does the preparation work including a survey with your involvement, if agreement is made , the second stage work is appointed (the contractual date ) and the service is then supplied , presumably through a duct in a location that you agreed to .

Re: Full Fibre

hubbys — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:29:01 GMT

Thank you for the reply. Yes I agree, with the fact that pre installation work may be pointless, but I have looked into the possible provision thoroughly, right from the connection point with the draw wire to the exact point of entry of the existing. (although concealed) underground feed. The route I was implying is a direct straight route, albeit under the rockery, rather than a zig zag route that the engineer may carry out. I am an ex BT engineer with 47 years service and I was just wanting to simplify matters, for the contractor/engineer on the day.

Re: Full Fibre

Kimberlin — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:28:55 GMT

@hubbys

Bear in mind, that your decades long experience, practical thought process and complete common sense, may be totally lost on someone else looking at the job who doesn’t have the same life/work experience as you. I have to deal with people like that on a daily basis who literally have no clue about anything whatsoever.

I wish you luck with your install 👍

Re: Full Fibre

hubbys — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:37:44 GMT

Thank you Kimberlin. I appreciate you kind words and agree that some contractors/ engineers will just do what they think on the day and not for the customer.
All the best for the New Year Kimberlin.

regards Paul

Re: Full Fibre

iniltous — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:48:58 GMT

TBH , if you made your own trench across your garden , ready to accept a duct , the chances are it will be used if it will save the people who turn up time and effort , but it can’t be guaranteed ( especially from anyone contributing on here ) so obviously proceed with that in mind , but as far as a pre order survey with a view to dropping off duct etc , unfortunately that isn’t the policy when it comes to FTTP

Re: Full Fibre

hubbys — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 12:28:42 GMT

Thank you Iniltous.
That is good advice and something that I have considered, as it is the most direct route to the point of entry. It is no problem for me to clear a route for him to use, to lay his duct and cable, and will save him a job.

King regards,

Paul