Fibre provision in new housing development

Hi all,

Came across this forum and the excellent advice trying to figure out what�s going on with broadband options at a new build property I�m thinking of buying. I'm not having lots of luck with the developer so thought I'd check if anybody here could shed some light on the situation.

When I first looked at this property (a few months ago) I did a quick broadband check at the time and I�m sure it was flagged as VDSL enabled. The sales rep also mentioned the whole site is �superfast enabled� which I presume meant VDSL.

I�m now at the point of wanting to purchase so I�ve checked again. However it now shows only standard broadband, with a speed range estimate of 5-15 MBs and the Openreach tracker shows as �exploring solutions.� I�m chasing this up with the developer but not getting very far yet. Off the back of advice from this forum I did some more digging and found:

- There has been a new PCP cabinet installed outside the development, with what looks like a FTTC cabinet right next to it. Can see it here on google maps streetview: link
- I think the broadband checkers I�m using are identifying the right location, as cabinet #13 is the ones the checkers return, and 13 is clearly marked on the PCP cabinet.
- Local exchange is enabled.
- Property is 0.4 miles from the cabinet.
- Nearby properties (not part of new development) all seem to be VDSL enabled, albeit they are served from a different cabinet. I�ve checked a number of addresses in the new development and they all come out the same.
- The development has been there for some time (2 years) and is now in its 4th phase.

I�ve checked with the developer but so far nothing yet and I�m at a bit of a loss as to where I can check next. I can�t get my head around why a FTTC cabinet would be installed for the development, only for nobody to offer it. Is it possible the databases are out of date as these are new homes? Or was superfast offered but all connections sold out? Or was the sales rep just talking rubbish?

Thanks in advance.

My guess is you used AL6 9FU as the postcode originally when looking up and cabinet 8 that this postcode was linked to is live, but with the development being built lines on properties appearing will be from cabinet 13

Looks like cabinet is stood, but not live yet, i.e. may be waiting on a power connection (though should be easy as sign has power to it), or the fibre being ran out to it has not happened, or something broke and its waiting to be fixed.

For now can only see ADSL2+ speeds on the estate from actual tests http://tbb.st/1490181818525878955

Great thank you!

So just to check I'm interpreting this correctly: There's a good chance that this will be provisioned soon pending a fix / powering on, but there's also a chance there's a bigger issue e.g. fibre never got laid to the cabinet. So the timeframe for going live could be anywhere between a month and never?

Cheers,

Xander

Potentially, if the road is very quiet you might be able to hear the cabinet humming (i.e. has power) if you listen at one of the vents.

Gaps of a couple of months is not that unusual, as standing cabinets and doing the roadworks seems to be what Openreach have more people available for. The running the fibre appears more limited staff wise so it can be a long queue

expect to see this cab live and ready for service in the next 3 -4 months at latest -- bearing in mind it has been stood over nearly a Year ag0 !!!!!!

Is that a silver lock I spy on the google picture on the cabinet?

the cab is not live and has never been live yet

Is that a silver lock I spy on the google picture on the cabinet?

No.

In a similar "easy-access" power situation, the "traffic signs" and associated lamp had to be removed, before the FTTC was connected up, leaving a bare pole pointing sky-wards, now for over three years.

Fortunately the "traffic signs" were of lesser importance than the "Give Way" sign in this AL6 9FU example.

One of the removed signs was attached to the similar pole on the other side of the junction - BUT resulting in such traffic being guided away at right-angles to the intended - in to a Dead-End/Cul-de-sac!.

I suspect that the removal had something to do with charging for the electricity used - but as that is apparently on a fixed-agreement arrangement, was there any need for that removal?

this can have never been live in any shape or form (nor sure its powered either

this can have never been live in any shape or form (nor sure its powered either

Indeed. Do you think it being privately funded could be a factor?

I can assure you absolutely that this happened, with the bare pole still there - even this evening, over three years from March 2014, one of around 28 in town when it/they was/were installed, starting November 2013.

The FTTC is only 10 Metres from my front door; and I can see inside it from my lounge window, when its doors are open.

I actually watched as the mains connection was made from the FTTC to the foot of the pole.

Most of the site/structural work was carried out by KELLY, the mains wiring by Scottish Power at the pole end specifically, the FTTC-PCP links by Openreach.

And having studied on the same courses as the Telephone Boys (not Telegram Boys) of the 1950s, I have an interest in such matters, although I have never worked "in the phone industry".

My employment has generally been on aero-space projects and latterly in computing, networking etc.

But its not relevant to the OP.

Hi all,

Thanks for your help so far.

I�m concerned that the cabinet has been there for over a year, has never been live (even after residents moving in) and the openreach fibre checker is stuck at �exploring solutions" rather than indicating any plan for progress. I�ve got a suspicion this has been abandoned and may not be done any time soon (ie within a year or two).

Is it possible this is the case, or just a very slow process of sorting out? Am trying to look for a way to contact a person at Openreach who can share detail beyond just doing the same DB check I can do online.

I'd suggest asking the developer direct .

The OP mentions that he thinks it may not be "live" yet.

My initial posting was intended to show the complications that can arise, even when a mains supply is definitely available, in this case within 2 Metres, with no obvious physical obstructions!

It may not be specifically the cause of that delay - but it may help TBB Forum users to see the complications that can arise.

Thanks everybody for your help on this.

Just to close out the thread and for others looking who had similar problems I've now got a response from the developer.

Provision of VDSL has been delayed due to a long dispute between the developer and Openreach about payment. The developer argued that the scheme agreed between the government, home builders federation and BT in Jan 2016 should mean they don't pay for the provision, with Openreach arguing the housing development plan sign off pre-dated this.

This was sorted a few weeks ago and the cabinet is planning to go live in a few weeks.