Is this FTTP in-progress or something else?

Our village (Lamberhurst - Exchange is NDLAM) finally got up and running with FTTC late last year (Only 1 of the village's 2 cabinets was given a daughter).

Codelook has suggested FTTP is on the cards for those on the non-FTTC cabinet (2) but I'm not sure where that's gotten that info (I take it with a pinch of salt as the map shows cabinet 2 in an incorrect location, actually in another village rather than just up the hill from the exchange).

The superfast-openreach.co.uk checker comes back with the "Exploring Solutions" result on my number and I've checked a number of other postcodes/addresses that are on cabinet 2.

Recently, roadworks.org has shown some BT/BDUK stuff going on, and what appears to be fibre cable has started appearing coiled up on a few telegraph poles in the area. I've taken a few pics (apologies for quality, the light was bad and I had an unruly toddler pulling me along!).

Telegraph Pole
Close-up

Does anyone with any experience know if this is a positive sign that FTTP or a variant is eventually coming or perhaps just that it's some other infrastructure stuff happening?

maybe, as it looks like it has the fiber pot thing at the top of the pole

It looks like what has been happening in my neck of the woods, though I did manage to read the wrting on the cable and it said something like FTTP brown.

Unfotunatly the BTOR when and where side is useless when it comes to FTTP, it doesn't even tell you something like

Good News we are working to bring FTTP to you area however at this time we are unable to provide any fither information.

WOnder how many fewer complaints/questions that BT/MP's etc.. would receive from people who get that Exploring Solutions message when in fact they are getting FTTP.

Yep, that looks like a manifold for FTTP at the top of the pole to me.

Yes FTTP looks to be on the way

Cheers for the feedback folks. What sort of distance does FTTP run to properties from the pole with the manifold on?

The road it's on is fairly long with properties on either side, most of which are semi detached or detached - I was thinking FTTRN was more likely given that the furthest properties on the road are probably 300+ meters away.

Final drop can be almost any length technically

Each manifold can serve 8 to 12 properties.

Broadly the same as wherever your DP is now. However you are served now by copper basically.

In reply to a post by Icaras:

Broadly the same as wherever your DP is now. However you are served now by copper basically.

Well not for long, because that's an FTTP distributing thingy at the top of the pole, so it's FTTP.

Edited by deleted (Mon 22-Feb-16 02:36:01)

If it is the case, I'm surprised they've opted for FTTP really, especially if a single manifold can only supply so few properties, there's probably 30+ along the road, and some set back too.

Is it unusual for FTTP to be supplied through existing underground ducts and then back up a pole, then on to a DP? We happen to be on the other side of the road, essentially 2 poles along - our existing copper then goes underground and emerges at another pole that supplies the properties in our cul-de-sac (probably 60m if everything is in straight lines).

In reply to a post by gazzyk1ns:

In reply to a post by Icaras:

Broadly the same as wherever your DP is now. However you are served now by copper basically.

Well not for long, because that's an FTTP distributing thingy at the top of the pole, so it's FTTP.

Well that depends on how long it takes them to complete the install, it could be days, months or years.

In reply to a post by MilesPortent:

If it is the case, I'm surprised they've opted for FTTP really, especially if a single manifold can only supply so few properties, there's probably 30+ along the road, and some set back too.

Is it unusual for FTTP to be supplied through existing underground ducts and then back up a pole, then on to a DP? We happen to be on the other side of the road, essentially 2 poles along - our existing copper then goes underground and emerges at another pole that supplies the properties in our cul-de-sac (probably 60m if everything is in straight lines).

Keeping an eye on the FTTP install around my area, not every pole had it appearing at the same time, sometimes weeks would pass before another pole would have the cable coiled behind it.

All depends on how existing lines get to the properties, since to keep costs down they use overhead when a property has existing overhead feed and ducted if ducting is present.

I have had my FTTP installed for 6 months through new ducting. Some who have poles were installed 6 months before that while other poles still have the black tubing rolled up at the bottom of the pole with no manifold. Go figure.

I think this is all evidence of what anybody who cared to think about it would think inevitable. That is the pure fibre deployments were bound to come later in the cycle as, in order to meet targets, it was necessary to hit the easier (FTTC) targets first. I have a suspicion that nobody new the full scope of what will be FTTP as a lot depends on the money left in the budget and detailed planning work. The evidence seems to be (from the BT accounts) that there is still a very large sum of BDUK money unspent so far, even if BT is paid in arrears.