Openreach contractor installed new cabinet

Last weekend openreach contractor workers has been removed old cabinet (PCP8) and installed brand new cabinet (PCP8) as I did asked the contractor workers why it replaced and they say to me 'Openreach want this cabinet to be replaced on preparing for G.Fast pod to be adding on the left side of this new cabinet next month'.

Sound like G.Fast is coming but I rather to have FTTP instead

New cabinet from old cabinet here: https://ibb.co/2j3VThp

In reply to a post by adslmax:

New cabinet from old cabinet here: https://ibb.co/2j3VThp

They did the same with my cabinet a month or two back, but it wasn't for G.fast - it was to enable expansion of FTTC capacity. They did a bit of duct digging, and the nearby FTTC cabinet gained an extension which overhangs on the side.

The cabinet was on waiting list for FTTC capacity, which I could see if I searched for my property by address on the wholesale checker (but not by phone number).

Still, if the engineers told you it was for G.fast, it probably is.

Last I heard they are targeting 5.7m homes for G.fast, by March 2021 - scaled back from 10m homes. That's still nearly a quarter of properties, so lots of cabinets to upgrade.

You're welcome to pay Openreach for FTTP if you aren't happy with what they are providing

Can't afford to pay for FTTP as it not available. Only FTTPoD which it will be very expensive!

But if G.Fast come along, I wouldn't bother to upgraded. I am staying with FTTC 80/20.

Okay. No real difference between FTTP and G.fast as long as close enough to the cabinet and line reasonable but to each their own.

I do remember way back to last year as BTw checker estimated for my line g.fast as planned below before they are removed off completely for my cabinet to my house via telephone number:


G.fast Range A 246.5 217.0 35.9 16.1 181.3 Planned
G.fast Range B 180.5 124.8 22.7 11.4 112.7 Planned

In reply to a post by Ignitionnet:

No real difference between FTTP and G.fast as long as close enough to the cabinet and line reasonable but to each their own.

Personally wouldn't agree with your comment, there is a lot of difference regardless of how near to the G.fast pod people are and how good the copper between that and the property is. FTTP wins every time for me.

There is work ongoing for cabinet 18 in my area right now

Description: CUCKOO OAK - 18 - DSLAM - 608615 - Install cabinet and approx 3m duct in fw/verge
Permit status: Permit Granted
Works ref: BC006MU1WGFASTIBY2KAKT01
Current status: Work in progress

In reply to a post by dect:

Personally wouldn't agree with your comment, there is a lot of difference regardless of how near to the G.fast pod people are and how good the copper between that and the property is. FTTP wins every time for me.

If you can tell the difference between 300Mb downstream, 49Mb upstream depending if delivered over FTTP or G.fast assuming both performing perfectly then all power to you.

In reply to a post by Ignitionnet:

In reply to a post by dect:

Personally wouldn't agree with your comment, there is a lot of difference regardless of how near to the G.fast pod people are and how good the copper between that and the property is. FTTP wins every time for me.

If you can tell the difference between 300Mb downstream, 49Mb upstream depending if delivered over FTTP or G.fast assuming both performing perfectly then all power to you.

Your initial comment was that there was no really difference between G.fast and FTTP but now your latest response is based on speed only.

The main and most important difference for me is future capabilities. G.fast pods will be demised long before full fibre is so that must tell you something.

Fair enough, I should probably have been more specific despite the context.

My comment was in response to rejecting upgrade of G.fast because it's not FTTP. By that token why not remain on ADSL given it's not FTTP? FTTP will arrive eventually.

GFast means no digging up my drive. I prefer that option.

In reply to a post by partial:

GFast means no digging up my drive. I prefer that option.

Do they need to dig under your drive? We recently had them mole under the end of our drive for some wayleave works. Openreach contractor knocked on our door to ask if OK if they got started, and as they were mole-ing no problem. A couple of hours later he had gone and no mess, no disruption, new duct now in place.

For our FFTPoD order we did all the trenching and duct laying on our land (150m) as it would be cheaper and tidier than openreach doing it.

Edit:
Pic of our ducting going in. Existing line was direct in ground. Turf was removed with a turf cutter prior to trenching.
http://i.imgur.com/WQaqak5.jpg

Edited by F00tS0re (Tue 26-Feb-19 12:14:50)

In reply to a post by partial:

GFast means no digging up my drive.

Not always the case. I certainly didn't have my lawn or front drive dug up during my FTTPoD install. In fact nothing was dug up all the way to the aggregation node, ie Openreach used existing ducts to lay the fibre for my install. So, depending on how old and what method of u/g infrastructure exists in an area, Openreach may not need to do any digging for full fibre.

Your pic was interesting, I assumed the 54mm BT ducting would be completely rigid and straight just like the 110mm drainage ducting is but from the pic it looks somewhat flexible. Is that your experience?

In reply to a post by dect:

Your pic was interesting, I assumed the 54mm BT ducting would be completely rigid and straight just like the 110mm drainage ducting is but from the pic it looks somewhat flexible. Is that your experience?

See attached a few more images. For Openreach it comes on a drum and can be forced into a quite a tight radius on the drum, although unlikely to be used in this extreme, this was for their part of the duct work i the lane. For self install they provided 3m lengths with flared push fit joints at one end, this change in diameter provides a bit more rigidity than in a single drum roll. But yes it bends. To be honest I'd rather have had a drum but probably in the minority of self installers for that! They can also provide ready made bends if need be but a sweeping bend from lengths would be better if room. None of the bends were held in place so it could bend more if required.

Marking out - https://i.imgur.com/f09BHBI.jpg

Drum Roll - https://i.imgur.com/34Nue3P.jpg

Turf Rolls - https://i.imgur.com/pPnrtu6.jpg

Thanks for uploading those extra pics they were very useful.