Full Fibre upgrade - how disruptive is it?

[keithp]

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

[imjolly]

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

[WSH]

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.

[iniltous]

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 .

[gg30340]

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.

[keithp]

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.

[chrisjp]

"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.

[licquorice]

You can use a power strip.

[iniltous]

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 

[keithp]

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?