Broadband upgrade

[DCOnCommForum]

I reveived an email and letter from BT saying 900mbps FTTP was now available so I ordered it. A week later an engineer from Quinns (subcontractor for OpenReach) came and made a right mess of fitting the ONT box, went outside to connect it and said something about a blockage and left.

Next day an OpenReach engineer comes, fixes the ONT box to the wall properly and again goes outside to connect it.

Turns out there is no blockage, but also there is no fibre. It’s on the database he has access to, it’s on the broadband checkers I have access to, but it’s simply not there.

Later we find out that OpenReach installed fibre in the area but somehow managed to miss my street (and 2 adjacent ones) completely. A few days later various departments in OpenReach had a meeting and decided not to bother coming back to install fibre in the missed streets, so BT cancelled the order.

So while the broadband checkers are probably 99% reliable, there’s a small chance of error.

No idea if we’ll ever get OpenReach FTTP here, if they’ll come back to finish installing it at some point. Another company has installed fibre here but I’ve got a year of contract left with BT so will wait and see where we’re at this time next year. At least I get 58mbps so it’s not terrible, can live with it a bit longer 🙂

[WSH]

Yes, unfortunately these things do happen.

After failing to get a decent upgrade offer from BT, I myself was set to move to Sky and CityFibre was available on paper.  The CF guys turn up and, (as I’m a retired tech), we had a chat.  Turns out that while CityFibre is available on paper the numpties that put it in the street did not position it where it can connect to OR’s ducting, and so they would need to dig up a communal drive, shared by five of us, to put a new duct in…not happening.

I had BT installed when they finally decided to make me a decent offer.  Also installed by Quinn’s.  And I will say the guy did an excellent job.

Interestingly, my neighbour has had CF turn up and go away again three times now, so obviously nobody has bothered to update their database to show there’s a problem.

[Tomg35]

Thanks 

[chrisjp]

"Yes, unfortunately these things do happen."

Indeed they do and mistakes are always a possibility.
But it is not acceptable for Openreach to leave out a street or two by mistake and then not come back to correct their error and instead just walk away without fixing it.

[DCOnCommForum]

I only know they’re not coming back right now, they may have plans/budgets/schedules to sort out and install the fibre at a later date. 

[WSH]

@chrisjp 

Actually, I was referring to the original issue with the ordering databases being slow to update but…

As far as OR are concerned, they are a business not a public service, so what’s acceptable will depend on what the accountants say.

[NigelB72]

@WSH I had the opposite. BT said not available, Sky said it was, BT accused Sky of lying and then said there's no OR appointments for 6 months so Sky won't be able to book an install. I put my order in with Sky, OR turned up within 3 days to do their bit and a chap came on behalf of Sky to do the internal bit the next day... 

[Kimberlin]

The murky world of ISP rivalry…..

[iniltous]

So Sky had connections (cable links) ready into the Openreach  FTTP kit , where BT clearly didn’t, hence BT not offering being able to supply service but Sky could , the BT rep nonsense about 6 months wait ( which is ridiculous in its self ) and Sky ‘lying’  just evidence of a representative not really knowing much about how these things actually work.

Openreach reach trained Sky techs in many places so that Skys own techs can fit and authenticate the ONT inside the customers premises

[WSH]

@NigelB72 

The real issue with Sky was that I told them I wanted OR infrastructure, they accepted that, and then sent CF anyway!  I'm was a little surprised CF couldn't do the install but it suited me anyway, as I didn't want CF kit.

As I said, the interesting point, as far as the OP goes, is that CF still haven't updated their records to show there is a problem, as my neighbour has had them round three times in the past two month and they've just driven off again.  Presumably, no one has had the decency to have a chat with him about it.  I'll speak to him myself next time the opportunity arises.