How to get FTTP for a self-build

We have built a new farmhouse 1km out from a village in Sussex. I have contacted Openreach and they have offered a copper fixed line. The cabinet is FTTC.

I have asked about FTTP, but this is only possible for plots with 2 premises. In this case the installation would cost £6,344, but we don't have two plots. I could look at getting a new address (on the barn behind) allocated by the council but I assume they would need a new planning consent before they would do this. And then we would be left with a fibre line installed that we wouldn't ever use.

Another option I thought of is that we have some BT infrastructure on our land (I've found a manhole cover so far) without a current wayleave agreement (I've checked with the historic wayleaves team). Does anyone know if Openreach will install a fibre line in exchange for a wayleave being granted?

Or, has anyone installed the cabling themselves and knows what sort of costs I would need to consider.

Any advice would be gratefully received!

Why don�t you see what kind of quote you are given for FTTPoD ?

There�s a massive thread re just this a little way down the page.

Telecoms operators do have certain rights when it comes to routing their cables, so the absence of a formal wayleave may be less of a bargaining chip than you would like.

See

Thanks Zarjaz, I've sent out a couple of requests for quotes, will add them to the FTTPoD thread when I get them.

Thanks Michael, it may still be worth looking at, as they would have to go to court to enforce their code rights in the absence of a wayleave agreement with us. I just don't know if Openreach is the sort of company you can negotiate with, or if it's all 'computer says no'...

I suspect you would have to defend the court case and that might be expensive if you lose.

If much of a fibre cable run is on your land you might be able to do the work yourself. You could approach Openreach. Laying fibre cable in the ground, perhaps in a duct is not difficult. Joining the stuff is the problem and requires special equipment.

On self digs in partnership with Openreach the usual thing is the partner (Developer) digs the ducting and appropriate chambers required, installing draw ropes and then Openreach rock up and do the actual fibre bit

I wonder if Openreach will �rock up� so readily after they realise it�s the same bloke who tried to take them to court over a wayleave issue

You only get a wayleave payment if the plant feeds other than you. I think you are more likely to severely delay your chances of getting a copper service rather than forcing a subsidised fibre service if you withdraw wayleaves.

Bear in mind there is a temporary hold on new orders, and when they do start taking new orders you will need to pay the £250 to get a meaningful price, desktop quotes have been way out.

https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/8184-temporary-h...

In reply to a post by Michael_Chare:

I suspect you would have to defend the court case and that might be expensive if you lose.

If much of a fibre cable run is on your land you might be able to do the work yourself. You could approach Openreach. Laying fibre cable in the ground, perhaps in a duct is not difficult. Joining the stuff is the problem and requires special equipment.

The requirements for new-build fibre installs are clearly documented here: https://www.ournetwork.openreach.co.uk/resources/sit...

It specifies everything you need to do, including how to lay ducting and joint chambers.

I'd guess your original quote of £6K+ (for two properties) assumes all this preparation work has already been done.

In reply to a post by crawlenj:

I have contacted Openreach and they have offered a copper fixed line. The cabinet is FTTC.

In reply to a post by crawlenj:

Thanks Zarjaz, I've sent out a couple of requests for quotes, will add them to the FTTPoD thread when I get them.

Have you actually had a copper line installed already? Because if you haven't, then you won't be able to get a quote for FTTPoD.

In reply to a post by crawlenj:

Another option I thought of is that we have some BT infrastructure on our land (I've found a manhole cover so far) without a current wayleave agreement (I've checked with the historic wayleaves team). Does anyone know if Openreach will install a fibre line in exchange for a wayleave being granted?

Are you absolutely certain that the BT chamber isn't feeding an existing/historic line on the property?

Have a read of

https://www.ournetwork.openreach.co.uk/altering-our-...

particularly

Wayleaves archive searches
We also provide an archive search service which allows us to search for existing wayleave agreements from our extensive archive. If this is required please forward the location details to the team in Shrewsbury at [email protected] who will be pleased to help. This is a chargeable service for those other than the landowner.

I strongly advise against mentioning that you think you have wayleave leverage over them when attempting to order FTTP via ANY method.
Any Wayleave issue would be resolved entirely separately to any quote for work.
You're more likely to p*** people off than have them bending rules for you.
Especially since your 1st response was that you don't qualify for FTTP as a developer.

Oh dear, I haven't come across well. I wasn't intending on using blackmail !

I just wondered if anyone had experience of getting the wayleave department to talk to the new installation department within Openreach. Openreach pay for a new wayleave where there is existing equipment (serving sites other than the landowner). Would they offset this against the cost of providing a new line to the landowner? So they get a wayleave for free and we get a cheaper installation. I'm guessing not from your responses, but I would be interested if anyone has managed to get Openreach to think outside the box.

Thanks frogmella.

that's very useful. No there is no line at all at the moment, so that doesn't look like an option.

Thanks Michael and Saffron,

We could do the trenching etc ourselves, but at the moment I don't think Openreach will connect fibre even if we installed it. Their policy is not to provide a fibre connection to a single unit.

If there was a requirement for them to pay for a wayleave then they would pay it to the owner (presumably you) which you could then use to offset installation charges. It wouldn't require any internal discussion in Openreach.

No worries. You may also want to consider a fibre leased line as you have a choice of providers other than BT (eg Virgin Media, SSE, TalkTalk Business, Vodafone et al) who may decide to do things differently than BT/Openreach. Well worth getting a quote from linebroker.co.uk

Crawlenj

If you have no copper line, then you may be able to get the USO copper provision moved to Fibre provision IF you go the right way.

Try explaining your situation simply in an E-mail.

1. Apologise for contacting him but you do not know who to direct this query to as there appears to be no channel to cover single new build sites.
2 You have no Copper provision to a new build house.
3. So rather than having a USO copper provision at OR cost ( plus any Excess cost) you wish to have Fibre provided at USO cost plus Excess costs.
4.You are willing to sign an affidavit renouncing the right to Copper USO provision ( and include this in a Covenant if you sell the business) This covers OR until OFCOM replaces the Copper USO in your area ( like FTTP only areas)

Thank him.

Send this to [removed by tbb]

He will pass it on to someone who will contact you to deal with. The above is best long term solution for OR and you and may achieve what you want as a win-win.

You may still have to pay excess costs but you may for a copper provision as well!

Edited by seb (Mon 02-Feb-26 22:04:30)

Hi Kitcat,

thank you so much - email sent & fingers crossed