Openreach FTTP via old metal hollow pole

Finally, it appears my property on exchange Failsworth is planned to get Fibre in the form of FTTP. We are on a cabinet that only serves around 70 addresses and is the only one in the area that was never upgraded to FTTC. It's only 400m away and typically a few doors up are on the next pole along which is fed by a different cab which is FTTC enabled.

Long story short, the Openreach checker now states my address is planned for FTTP and I've already seen large parts of the area go live for FTTP with the service being delivered via the multiple port modular Fibre blocks at the top of the pole.

The question is that we are fed via one of those older galvanised metal poles that was probably a lamp post in the past. Do those modular FTTP connector blocks still get used for these and are they clamped around in the absence of anything to screw in to?

Or do you think they will use the nearest next wooden pole, or go via underground?

Thanks!

Edited by deleted (Mon 18-Nov-19 09:49:55)

It was never a lamp post, they are �hollow poles�.

The current copper DP is housed in its guts behind the plate about a metre and a half up.

I�ve not seen a fibre CBT installed in a hollow pole, and suspect there is not enough room to house the CBT and subsequent connections inside. I also guess there will have to be a work around used ... maybe fit the CBT in the nearest footway box associated with the hollow pole, following the current copper cable through the duct.

Hollow poles were usually erected when some safety issue near the location would make a normal pole unsafe to climb, a railing fence maybe. The original hazard may now have gone, so a normal wooden pole could be used instead .....

All conjecture on my part of course. Please update with the final solution when it does happen please.

Interesting. Looking at it I would assume there is no reason why it couldn't be converted to a normal pole. Just looks like any other in terms of its on a street with nothing obvious around it:

https://i.imgur.com/2lTgMEE.jpg

The BT footway box (to the right of the pole) is old too (PO) so would probably need updating too.

What do you think?

Thanks

From the photo, it would appear the original reason for the hollow pole is no longer there.

As for the footway box ... an old lid does not imply that the contents needs updating.

I believe they would most likely put a manifold in the footway box with fibre tails run into the base of the hollow pole

How does the fibre then get to my property from the tail at the base of the post? Is the a connectorised block or some joint that then goes up and out the top of the pole as per a normal copper line?

I belive a pre made cable is pulled from the pole using the existing drop wire.

Thanks.

Does that mean the copper drop wire is no longer used or do they pull a new one at the same time as the Fibre? I do have an existing copper line to the house from the pole, but it's not active.

Thanks

Think it's a hybrid copper and fibre cable

In reply to a post by witchunt:

Think it's a hybrid copper and fibre cable

correct

Just as a general point of interest, do you expect any of this discussion to have any impact on the service you may be offered when/if installation takes place?

Nope, I just wanted to understand if Openreach have plans for providing FTTP from hollow poles and don't just miss them out. It's been way too long since FTTC was rolled out to every other cab in the area. ADSL only here!

Hollow poles only comprise around 1% of the estate,

CBT are installed with the hollow pole in a similar manner that a copper DP is.

It's a very old thread / second to last post to be fair 😎

For information see
https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/8620-a-walk-in-a...

Item 9 Hollow pole manifold.

Has a nick name of an 'octopus'

OP hasn’t posted in nearly 3 years….a zombie thread brought back to life. Not quite sure why yet..?