Long-term options, if any, for fibre

[jrgb]

I help care for a property in a remote part of Wales which currently has copper DSL with Digital Voice. The property is at least a mile from the nearest highway (and, hence, BT infrastructure or cabinet). The service is entirely underground and, I suspect, laid direct rather than ducted.

I assigned a community broadband funding voucher for the area to BT to aid fibre transition. But, realistically, what are the chances of fibre ever making it to the property? If the service is currently laid direct, is anyone ever going to contemplate trenching a fibre along the same route? There are two services to two properties at the end of it but the economics sound awful.

Is someone going to suggest overhead fibre on poles over a similar distance? The route is over agricultural land, so I don't suppose that will go down well with the landowner.

Fibre would improve the copper speed of 2-3MB/sec and, crucially, make the service pretty much immune to lightning damage, a previous issue. But is there any realistic hope of getting it?

[licquorice]

It is not BT that provide the infrastructure, it is Openreach. You need to direct your queries there. This forum has no connection with Openreach.

[36ULW]

If you’re doing a Community Funded Build speak to the Clerk of Works who manages the PON Build.

You might be able to come to an agreement to do the dig and lay the duct yourself. Although as it’s about 1,600m that’ll need a few joint boxes dropping in on it as well. 

[jrgb]

Thanks. The site's owned by a charity which barely breaks even so options will be limited, I fear. Whilst the copper service isn't great, all the time it works, I'll struggle to get much interest in spending serious money. Mobile alternatives aren't viable - there's no service within 50 metres of the place. Starlink's been suggested but that's not without its own problems - anything outside gets pummelled by Atlantic gales and salt spray.

A case, I suspect, of sitting tight for a bit longer and see what comes along. If the plan is to get rid of all copper at the exchange, then fibre will have to happen somehow.  But, maybe a copper-free exchange isn't viable in situations like this.

[gg30340]

If you can get a mobile phone signal at the location have you considered Mobile Broadband. Most mobile phone companies do it at a reasonable price. 

[jrgb]

That would be a lovely solution but the nearest service from any mobile provider is 50 metres away up a hill on land owned by others. 

[Kimberlin]

@jrgb  If I'm correct, I think you may have misunderstood @gg30340  solution......

[jrgb]

How so?

[Kimberlin]

@jrgb  see the following link. I don't understand what someone else's land has to do with anything, 50 metres up a hill or otherwise.  Unless I'm missing something?

https://ee.co.uk/broadband/mobile-broadband

[jrgb]

Err… there’s no mobile service at the property on any network. Nothing. Zero.  No 2G,3G, 4G or 5G. So a terrestrial mobile solution won’t work. Even AirWave the emergency service uses struggles and that has 99% coverage of UK land mass.

It’s satellite or wired copper / fibre.