Fibre cabinet being installed, but I have aluminium lines to the house

[LDoggett]

Hi all,

Hoping you can help me out. 

Fibre is being installed as I write this - estimated to be completed in a week according to the contractors.

The issue is that we have aluminium cabling to our houses on the street. The cabinet is being installed at the end of the street, but my understanding is this will still have a significant impact on the speeds.

Is there anything I can do to get these replaced for copper?

Many thanks for the help.

[-Richie-]

It's doubtful the lines will be replaced, my old street was aluminum, we were the last on the cabinet and had speeds of around 35 mbps, which was far better than the 6.5 mbps on standard, it did us although since moving my line is much faster now.

[LDoggett]

Thanks for your input. I have no doubt they will leave the aluminium lines in if OpenReach/BT aren't prompted - but is there a way to prompt them?

[licquorice]

There is no way your aluminium cables will be replaced. If the cabinet is very close you may be surprised at the speeds you achieve.

[gg30340 · Accepted solution]

There is nothing you can do. Unfortunately Openreach will not replace cables that are not faulty just to get better broadband speeds.

When the cabinet goes live make sure that you do an estimated speed check and go for the correct package.

Don't go for a higher speed/priced package if your estimate is lower than the highest speed of the cheaper package. You won't get a higher speed just because the package's advertised speed is higher/faster.

[LDoggett]

Fantastic advice - thank you very much.

Would paying to get the lines replaced be an option? The street is fairly small, and since the cabinet is only at the other end this wouldn't be a big job from a layman's perspective at least.

[licquorice]

I very much doubt it, the cost would be thousands rather than hundreds in any case. Wait and see what speeds you get.

[Starwire2000]

You could ask them really nicely.

[Techwizz]

LOL, it would have to be really nice, like a gesture of money!