Full fibre install

[pandaman]

Have had a email from BT saying they are going to install full fibre broadband to my house. First thing. Do I have to have it? Next if so my phone line comes through the wall into my lounge where the master socket is. My desktop pc is upstairs in the boxroom above the garage, the hub is there also, my cctv is also connected to it. I had to run a cable through the lounge wall into the hall then through the wall into the garage and across the garage to the far end the up through the floor to the hub in the boxroom. Is the position it currently is going to be a problem installing the fibre if I have to have it? I have been quite happy with my current package, I and my wife only use the internet for browsing and shopping mainly on our tablets.

[Kimberlin]

@pandaman  See this thread in relation to whether or not you are required to have FTTP:

https://community.bt.com/t5/BT-Fibre-broadband/is-full-fibre-compulsory/td-p/2423215

[imjolly]

@pandaman 

as the fibre modem (ONT) does not need to be in same room/position as your existing master socket you may be able to negotiate with the installer to install the ONT at a more convenient place for connecting to your hub in the boxroom

[iniltous]

You ask do you have to have FTTP ?,  

There is no single answer to this question, many people get an offer to upgrade to FTTP bundled together with the compulsory migration to DV (Digital Voice )and although it’s not particularly clear the FTTP change isn’t compulsory whereas the change to DV is , in this circumstance you can still change to DV but elect to stay on FTTC (copper pair) for the time being by not arranging /refusing the FTTP installation offered by Openreach.

Some  people have to take FTTP as a consequence of renewing a contract or joining a new provider , but that is a condition of the new service , there is the  option to stay as you are by remaining on an uncompetitive out if contract basis with your existing provider , but this has a ‘cost’ , that is you paying more than is necessary  , but you can stay on FTTC , this us unlikely to be the case with you if the notification has come without you instigating any changes .

You can have areas where the copper network itself, not just PSTN telephony is effectively being retired with the local exchange slated for closure, and in those cases remaining as you are is not really an option, you need to take FTTP as the copper service will be removed, this is rare but becoming more of a thing as BT announce more and more exchange closures as FTTP becomes widespread.

In effect without more information, ( and you possibly posting the actual communication you have received from BT )  the answer to do you have to take FTTP is , maybe you do , maybe you don’t , some offers are designed to look like you have no choice when you still do , but even if you don’t have to change now  , it’s simply delaying the inevitable , eventually you will need to change , and because of that , not complying seems a little futile.

[pandaman]

Yes thanks, I saw those posts when investigating earlier today. Thanks again for input

[pandaman]

Thanks for info, will have to quiz engineer when he calls about it.

[pandaman]

Thanks for comprehensive reply. Looks like I may have no choice in having the full fibre install. Will quiz engineer when he calls.

[WSH]

The main issue is likely to be that the ONT, (or Optical Network Terminal), that the engineer will put on the wall will require power and so either needs to be within reach of a power socket or convenient to run an extension lead to.  This is true whether it is installed next to the old master phone socket or in another location.

The point, (which nobody seems to have made here), is that the connection from this ONT to your router is standard cat 5e or cat 6 ethernet cable and can theoretically be up to 100m long, certainly it will cope with 80m.  In other words, (power supply allowing), you could put the ONT next to the old phone socket and just upgrade the cable to your office.  (I’m assuming that the existing cable is four core and RJ11 plugs.  Ethernet is 8 core and RJ45 plugs, so the existing cable won’t do as is).  

Personally, I’d go for the full fibre.  I had it done six months ago and it’s been great.  Much more stable than the old part fibre.  With that you often lost significant speed if the cable to the phone socket was more than a few metres.  As I said, with full fibre it could be up to 100m without loss.

[pandaman]

Thanks, that info is very interesting and answers my queries. Much obliged.

[WSH · Accepted solution]

If you're going to do that then, a couple of further points:

1) Cat 6 has more future proofing.  Cat 5e was enhanced to get it up to gigabit speed, (that's what the "e" stands for), but it is operating with it's accelerator on the floor at 1000Mb/s.  Cat 6 is more up to date.  Still officially 1000Mb/s but it can do that easily.  Unofficially, it is capable of up to 10Gb/s at up to 55m.  As 2.5Gb/s network cards are already starting to appear on the market, cat 6 might be a better investment.

2) Avoid any cable labelled as CCA, (Copper Clad Aluminium).  It's cr*p.  You want pure copper.  Costs a bit more but worth it.