Underground copper being replaced by overground fibre

[sthca]

When the new installation is complete I assume that the copper system underground will be shut off. Will the copper cables belonging to BT be removed? If they aren't being removed can I remove them after they become obsolete?

[WSH]

If your current delivery is underground in a duct, the same duct will probably be used for the fibre.  As I understand it, they'd only switch to overhead if there was a serious problem, (such as the cable being directly buried, DIG, instead of in a duct).

I've recently been told that there is a Copper Recovery Project planned for sometime after 2032.   And they belong to Openreach.  A separate company to BT.

[Kimberlin]

@sthca  The copper cables are probably the property of Openreach not BT (they are separate entities). Rule of thumb is, if they don’t belong to you, leave them be, after all, they’re not your property, and let Openreach remove them when they eventually get round to doing so.

[iniltous]

You need to be a little more specific, who is undertaking the new installation ? , is it Openreach or an Alt Net or Virgin, if it’s not Openreach then this other organisation shouldn’t remove the Openreach network , if it’s Openreach , depending on the circumstances they may or may not remove the old copper cabling , in the majority of cases even with Openreach doing the new installation, external copper cabling will be left in situ as  it takes time to remove and that keeps the tech from doing other installations ( especially if its contractors, time is money ) .

Inside your home , what you do is your own affair, but if it’s an Alt Net or Virgin you are using and no FTTP from Openreach is available , then removing the copper connection makes ever returning to that copper pair network more complicated, you may decide the chances of that being necessary are slim.

[sthca]

Openreach are doing the installation. Several new poles have gone up and only a few houses have been linked. Some new underground cables have been laid in specific places.

My copper comes into the house through the concrete base in what looks like a cable reinforced with a nylon outer cover. The connetion box is on the 1st floor.

My understanding is that fibre will come from the new pole opposite my house. My terrestrial service (Plusnet) comes to an end in in early November.

[iniltous]

Areas with DIG (direct in ground) armoured copper cabling , typically used in 1960’s to early 1990’s housing , is challenging for Openreach to upgrade to FTTP , poles are the easiest and most cost effective solution , but generally problematic  as complaints about the aesthetics often stop this solution being undertaken, and the alternative of putting in duct to each address is normally too expensive to be considered.

If your area is one where poles are now to be used , then the buried armoured cable is effectively abandoned, inside your own property , if you want to remove any cabling /master socket yourself, no one will know or care , obviously it’s sensible only  to do this after FTTP is installed.

[chrisjp]

But why would the OP want to go to all the trouble of digging up his land to recover an armoured copper cable that would have no value to him? It surely just makes sense to leave it in place - it won't do anything any harm!