Fttp install - underground instead of overhead

[Dg271081]

• Hi,

I have a telegraph pole on my proeprty at the end of my driveway and my existing copper telephone wire is installed overhead to the top of my house, right to the apex of a pitched roof. 

I recently had my driveway done and as part of it a 50mm twin wall ducting was laid from the base of the telegraph pole right through to next to my house.

If I was to upgrade to fibre, can I ask for them to use this instead of an overhead run? 

The reason for this in short is that ive previously been told they cant put the fibre to the top of the house again due to access issues and so would have to install it lower down the pitch which would lead to a really low drop height on the cable which im not keen on. Id prefer to have it use the ducting and then installed through wall into my lounge - is this possible? 

[iniltous]

You can ask for this duct to be used , will they use it , the answer is ‘possibly’ , there is no way to predict if it’s acceptable to the individual who turns up ….your survey note will almost certainly be ‘overhead’ as that’s your existing service method, so any installer would be ‘primed’ for the installation to be overhead , but running a cable down the pole into duct (although that’s usually Openreach/BT supplied duct ) to the house wall is done in ‘overhead’ areas in some cases ….things that may cause a refusal, if the duct you have supplied isn’t ‘roped’ so pulling a cable through it can be easily done ,or if it were too long to be practical for a one person to do , or if there were other services inside the duct .

There is no point making your preference known at ordering with BT , as ultimately it’s nothing to do with BT , its the Openreach or contractor for Openreach opinion on if it’s ‘doable’ that counts .

[MichaelBrown864]

Yes, it’s usually possible to request fibre installation via existing underground ducting instead of overhead. Most providers are happy to use pre-laid ducts if they meet their specifications and can be accessed from the street to your house.

It’s worth contacting the fibre provider directly and explaining your setup — include duct diameter, path, and entry point to the house. They may need to inspect it to ensure the cable can be pulled through safely. This can avoid low-hanging overhead runs and give a cleaner installation.

[36ULW]

If it’s not Duct Approved by Openreach, i.e. Duct 54, Duct 56 or Gabacom chances are they won’t use it because if it’s needs repairing at some point in the future they’d have to source whatever you’ve put in, which they won’t do.