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Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

keithp — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 13:35:13 GMT

Hello

I have decided to go for the full fibre upgrade from BT. Now I am not that techie, so I thought all that happened was someone flipped a switch and you were upgraded, I now find out it is not so easy. Having seen the video I have been sent and read the info, I now realise it is more complicated. So my question to anyone who has done this - just how disruptive is it? For instance, it says I need a double socket free, I have no free sockets near the current phone line. It also says a new cable may have to be laid, how does that work?

Anyone who has had this - could you say what it was like please.

Thanks.

Keith

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

imjolly — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 13:55:57 GMT

the new fibre cable normally follows the existing phone cable - is that from pole or underground? the fibre modem (ONT) need not be at same place as your existing master socket. there are numerous posts on forum just use search

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

WSH — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 14:05:10 GMT

Speaking as someone that had it done 4 months ago, not very.

Having said that, a lot depends on your circumstances. Mine is delivered via ducting, so just a matter of pulling a new cable through the duct. The engineer made the comment that the duct was empty, (effectively), so no problems there. If it is blocked etc., it becomes a bit more complicated, obviously.

Secondly, I already have a wired network in place and the router by the phone socket, so power already laid on (via a ‘plumbed in’ extension lead, which has been in place for 10 years). I was quite happy to have the ONT (Optical Network Terminal) installed next to the old phone socket as that is where my network cables terminate. You do not need to have it there, though. It can be in a different location. Of course, it has to be somewhere they can work with and get done in a reasonable length of time. Giving some thought as to where you want it before the day is very useful. And a couple of alternatives if your first choice is not do-able.

The engineer was here less than an hour and it’s worked perfectly ever since.

If you post on here more detail of where you would like it, there are people here that can advise as to whether they see any obvious problems.

Edit: I'm just off out but I'm sure someone else will pick up any questions.

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

iniltous — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 14:18:25 GMT

As stated , the amount of disruption depends mainly on how the existing copper network is delivered to your home , overhead and ducted underground, usually have very little disruption the same overhead route or duct reused…should your property be ‘DIG’ , the existing copper cable direct in the ground, then excavation needed to get a new optical cable from the footpath to your house wall , in general thats housing built in the 1960’s through to the very early 1990’s .

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

gg30340 — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 15:57:51 GMT

See the following links.

How is Full Fibre installed? | BT Help

Fibre installation | BT Help

What to Expect During Your Openreach Full Fibre Installation

Generally speaking the Openreach installers are very helpful and will discuss with you the best place to install your fibre modem (ONT) and will endeavour to have it placed where you would prefer and if they can not do that they will explain why not.

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

keithp — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 17:08:05 GMT

Ok thanks.

The house is 2006, the landline comes via underground cable to a socket by the from door and then there are two internal phone sockets - one by the front door (now closed off as it was too close to the door), one in the rear room - the lounge. This is the one we use, and has four electric sockets - all in use, one with the router, one TV, one video and one antenna - so none free.

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

chrisjp — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 17:23:00 GMT

"Generally speaking the Openreach installers are very helpful and will discuss with you the best place to install your fibre modem (ONT) and will endeavour to have it placed where you would prefer..."

I'm sure that's true, but quite a few full fibre installations are sub-contracted by Openreach to contractors who generally are on some sort of maximum time per installation control and thus can be significantly less helpful in accommodating a customer's wishes.
It's a matter of chance, it seems, whether you get an Openreach technician or a contractor to do the installation.

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

licquorice — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 17:26:13 GMT

You can use a power strip.

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

iniltous — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 18:08:00 GMT

If the house is 2006 it will be ducted , so the new optical cable will appear where the copper one does on the outside wall , you then can ( within reason ) pick where the ONT is located inside the property , it doesn’t need to be where the master socket is , especially if that location doesn’t have any power outlets .

Your existing sockets will become redundant once FTTP is fitted , if you are getting Digital Voice and want the sockets to be used for that , then that needs you to rearrange the copper extension connections, it’s not done by Openreach

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

keithp — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 19:36:08 GMT

Yes we still need the landline, which is now connected via another box, so are you saying if we have fibre optic we will lose that line?

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

imjolly — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 20:25:09 GMT

When you get FTTP your will probably be moved to DV and you just connect your phone from existing socket to the green socket on back of the SH2

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

iniltous — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 21:08:33 GMT

As stated , once on FTTP , if you asked to keep your landline number it’s delivered via the router phone socket , not the existing wall socket ( neither the blanked off main socket or extension socket where you presumably have your router connected at the moment ) …when the ONT is fitted (if it’s not close to the current phone socket ) and that makes the router position not suitable for the phone , BT can supply a DV adapter to make a corded phone connect to the router , but the router basestation is a DECT basestation so regular cordless phones can connect to it , or if you have a cordless home phone already connect the basestation to the router.

If you wanted to reuse the existing sockets after connected to FTTP that’s possible, search voice reinjection , but the extension wiring needs modification to connect to the hub , I’d imagine most that keep telephony don’t bother with reinjection and use cordless phones instead .

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

keithp — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 22:28:26 GMT

Ok thank you all.

On reflection and listening to you all - our best option is to cancel. We dont have free sockets and we dont want the lawn dug up for new cables. I also think BT need to make sure their sales staff actually explain how this process will work at the time you place an order, as if they had explained all this we would never have agreed.

Anyhow thanks again.

Keith

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

licquorice — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 22:31:44 GMT

You don't need spare sockets and it's very doubtful your lawn will need to be dug up.

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

WSH — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 22:48:01 GMT

That’s a shame as full fibre is brilliant.

At circa 2006 your cable will almost certainly be in a duct. They don’t dig anything up unless it is really seriously blocked. Minor blockages they can clear with rods. All they usually need to do is push another cable through.

Socket-wise, the router and ONT use very little current. Even both together you are talking in the region of a third of an amp. It is quite acceptable to plug a 4 – way extension strip in and use that, so all that is required is a minor rearrangement of the existing socket usage.

Your choice though.

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

chrisjp — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 23:07:18 GMT

At some point, BT and/or Openreach will force a change to full fibre because it is intended that, as each area is converted to full fibre, everyone in that area should have it if they want broadband. That way all the older copper cables can be taken out of use.
So you won't be able to decline it for good, and it may be better to bite the bullet and get it done now.

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

Kimberlin — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 07:26:07 GMT

@keithp

It’s a shame you’ve reached the conclusion that FTTP is not for you. Honestly, the difference coming off copper and being on full fibre, can be night and day. I’ve been on FTTP for almost 5 years (I live on a 5 year old ‘new development’) and I remember just how glitchy my previous FTTC broadband was at my former home.

You’ve had some great advice here, I honestly wouldn’t worry about the installation aspect. I think you’ve unnecessarily introduced doubt into your own mind.

Unfortunately, call centre staff are what they are. They are not engineers, they’re there to sell a product. Most of whom I highly suspect don’t have a clue about what it is that they’re selling. They’re script readers, there to make BT/EE money.

I hope you reconsider. Just also be aware that if you take the plunge, you will probably with almost certainty, be shifted off BT’s books onto the EE product. It’s literally just a change of name, no difference in the actual product, though EE customers do at least get a more up to date router, though migrated BT customers I understand, are often left with BT’s somewhat archaic SH2.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

gg30340 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 08:13:51 GMT

Having recently moved to FTTP, you do not get moved onto EE unless you ask to be moved or agree to be moved. I stayed with BT.

The Customer Service sales person may try to move you to EE. You may find there are advantages to moving such as a new router and perhaps a slight difference in price but as I said, it is your choice.

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

iniltous — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:26:26 GMT

Obviously cancel if you want but apparently you haven’t actually appreciated anything that’s been said , the age of your property is such that it’s ducted (no digging the lawn ) , the existing phone can either connect directly to the hub or with a DV adapter (so new equipment needed or provided for free ) and the ONT can be positioned where you have a power outlet .

You presumably realise that you can’t renew your contract or change provider and stay on copper as FTTP installation will be part of that contract renewal or change of provider, so you in effect will , if not already , be on a poor value ‘out of contract’ basis with no alternative that doesn’t require FTTP anyway .

Re: Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

keithp — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:42:05 GMT

I have appreciated - thank you. But as I have said we do not have a spare power socket and we do not want an extension. Also the phone line/ ducting comes in via the wall at the front of the house, the only spare sockets are in a room at the front, near the lawn, so if they wanted to use that room they would need to lay the new cable in that area - there is no current phone socket. So - as I say I have listened. Thank you.