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Underground upgrade install

rickspark — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:33:51 GMT

Hi all, through Open Reach (I guess), BT have a September 2026 appointment to upgrade our line from copper to fibre. In anticipation, some years back, I installed ducting in the hope this could accommodate this upgrade. Such a change will remove ugly overhead clutter and help maintain a resilient connection. Through BT's online order processing, I see no (other than a telephone call with a call centre) opportunity to discuss the potential to impliment this change. Can you see how I might best proceed?

Re: Underground upgrade install

licquorice — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:12:06 GMT

There is no way to discuss this with anyone before placing an order. It is entirely in the hands of Openreach who are not customer facing.

No idea how you could know where to run the ducting to in any case as the location of the Openreach CBT would be unknown to you.

Re: Underground upgrade install

iniltous — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:36:26 GMT

How is the current copper service delivered ? , if it’s overhead from a pole , it’s a waste of your time and effort putting duct from your curtilage to your house wall , the FTTP service will be the same as the existing overhead , so from the pole …..if you are in a underground but no duct area (so DUG cabling) and you have installed your own duct , it may be suitable or you may (for example) have put your duct entry further away from the direction the excavation will come from , in respect to the CBT jointbox and to use it woukd add extra metres of footpath excavation to reach it , in which case it’s of no use .
You can’t discus this with BT (presumably BT your choice of provider) it has nothing to do with them , you order , Openreach visit , if you can’t agree to a provision method (this is only if it’s an underground area with no duct ) the order will be cancelled, if it’s overhead and you don’t want that , don’t order , you’ll only be wasting everyone’s time , including your own.

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome
Put your address in here , if FTTP is available it will show the installation method and network notes .
I can’t yet see your image as it’s still quarantined so it may show the return from the above link

Re: Underground upgrade install

rickspark — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:37:00 GMT

Thanks for those replies.

Re: Underground upgrade install

36ULW — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:08:10 GMT

What kind of ducting have you used?

If it’s not BT Duct 54 and or Duct 56 then Openreach won’t use it as they wouldn’t be willing to adopt none standard duct.

Also where have you ducted up to?

Re: Underground upgrade install

iniltous — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:02:23 GMT

The OP did post an image, which they subsequently asked to be taken down but it showed a black corrugated plastic duct , not an Openreach duct , so as stated not likely to be acceptable to Openreach .

Re: Underground upgrade install

rickspark — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:11:18 GMT

Thank you 36ULW, it's 65mm drainage ducting so if there was any chance to pursue this, I'd need to check if BT Duct 54 will fit through the existing ducting.

Duct is from the road curb edge (there's no footpath on this side) to inside the garage adjacent to where the existing overhead broadband enters the building.

Re: Underground upgrade install

licquorice — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:19:38 GMT

So how are you expecting Openreach to provide the means to supply a fibre to your duct that simply terminates at some random roadside point?

Re: Underground upgrade install

iniltous — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 06:23:55 GMT

So the area is overhead service and you have laid incompatible duct to the edge of the carriageway that has no footpath…how did you imagine this ever being used ? , Openreach paying for excavation from the pole with the CBT , through at least some carriageway surface to meet up with your duct , would you be prepared to pay for this work ?

Re: Underground upgrade install

gg30340 — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:41:36 GMT

Obviously when the OP put in the ducting he thought he was future proofing to hide cables etc and given that he does not have the knowledge that others on this forum have he was unsurprisingly unaware of all the issues that have been thrown at him.

There is no point in giving him a hard time about what was done. He would be better served to see if there is some information that can be given to help when the installation does take place, such as speak to the installers to see what they can suggest and until then don't do anything else.

Re: Underground upgrade install

rickspark — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:01:04 GMT

gg30340, thank you for your positive and helpful response.