Flats/MDU's are a different issue, and they may want to see a minimum level of demand for flats.

For on demand FTTP Openreach need to replace your copper line to the cabinet with fibre. To do this they probably need to dig up some part of the road and/or pavement. Does that mean they will dig and re dig the road every time a new customer on the cabinet wants FTTP? That doesn't seem likely even if Openreach were happy to do it the local council and residents would object to the disruption. So how will it work in practice, can they put fibre down the whole street in one go but terminate non subscribers outside their premises?

If they we're going to did up the road/pavement (due to no existing ducting) then I expect they would put ducting in. That way they would either T off of it for other customers, or simply extend it.

This would be the most sensible idea, but BT does not always do sensible otherwise there would all ready be ducting where BT has underground cables

They'll do it as they do FTTP now. That is, build out to the pole/joint box and connect end users ad and when they order

1. They DO NOT replace your copper line. This is only happening in a couple of trial locations, known as Fibre Only Exchanges.

2. There is an option to take voice over the fibre if you want and your provider supplies it.

3. They use existing ducting where at all possible, or tubes for overhead wiring.

4. Most UK telephoning is on a pole or more likely in a duct. So very little actual digging required, just a slow process to put the tubing into the duct and then blow and splice the fibre together.

5. The doing a whole street and connecting when you order, is the pure FTTP product. FTTP on demand is done on a per order basis from the cabinet. Pure FTTP does not use the cabinet, but rather passive components all the way from the NGA Handover (an exchange) that could be many many miles away.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

1. They DO NOT replace your copper line.

When I wrote above about replacing copper to the cabinet (for FTTP on demand) I meant from your house to the cabinet

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

1. They DO NOT replace your copper line.

When I wrote above about replacing copper to the cabinet (for FTTP on demand) I meant from your house to the cabinet

But they don't do that!

FTTP is in addition to the existing copper loop until the fibre exchanges have been trialled.

Point 1 still applies.

The full FTTP like the 15 exchanges have already also does not use a cabinet, it will reuse the existing ducting, but needs no mains power, and the components fit into underground chambers usually.

For FTTP on Demand, the telephone line is UNTOUCHED.

For Fibre on Demand your phone connection continues to use the copper. You get an additional fibre feed for the FTTP broadband.

In a few years I expect the phone service will be supplied over that fibre, but the others have already explained that. Presumably as much copper as is economically viable will then be recovered.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

For Fibre on Demand your phone connection continues to use the copper. You get an additional fibre feed for the FTTP broadband.

In a few years I expect the phone service will be supplied over that fibre, but the others have already explained that. Presumably as much copper as is economically viable will then be recovered.

Openreach are offering Fibre Voice Access now so the copper doesn't necessarily have to be used. There was a bit of a sticking point a while back with regards to the battery backup of the ONT because you have to be able to make phone calls if there is a power outage.