Sky FTTP possible with new line?

Hi all,

Long story short, I'm migrating ISP to Sky - they've failed to take over the existing line from TalkTalk due to several issues between Sky's new SOGEA product and Openreach systems not talking to each other well.

In short their solution is to fit a new 2nd line and then I cancel TalkTalk's service separately... They've booked Openreach to attend in the next ~2 weeks to survey & install if possible the 2nd line and master socket...

Now I think this is too easy, but thinking out loud, is there any reason why if I already have FTTC (fibre to the cab) that if they pull a new line through, they can't pull a fibre cable through instead so I could have FTTP?

The technical part of my brain thinks, there is more than just pulling a fibre cable from the cab to my home - even if it is likely cheaper than the copper cable... I imagine there is more kit needed to be in situ @ my cabinet and other fibre nodes along the way - to be able to have FTTP for Ultrafast fibre?

I presume the latter is the actual reality, with the former just being a pipe dream or everyone would be asking for 2nd lines? Lol

Thanks in advance

Edited by Sparx92 (Wed 18-Dec-19 10:55:10)

You are dreaming...this second line is not going to be FTTP unless FTTP is already available to your address, i.e. some people do actually a choice of FTTC and FTTP (but it is a small number at this time)

If Sky orders a FTTC product then that is what gets installed.

Fibre cable may be cheaper per metre in some cases, but there will be spare copper pairs a lot closer to your home already. Also FTTP is not normally built out from the VDSL2 cabinet, but an aggregation node.

Yes you just confirmed what the more intelligent part of my brain was thinking... The younger excited side of my brain was just dreaming away. I thought as much!

Thanks anyway just wanted to throw the idea out of my head into writing for someone to clear up for me lol.

Yes we only have FTTC available for the last 5 years nearly now. No FTTP plans it seems, so stuck with 50Mb I live on a new build estate (6 years old) so wasn't sure if spare pairs are laid in the ducting or not, whether practices change or if it's standard I have no idea.

Frustrating as the other estates surrounding our ~200 homes all have Virgin Media too, stuck on average FTTC for another few years I imagine!

In addition to MrS's response Installing a second line may not require any new cabling to your house - the cable already installed probably has spare pairs and they will just connect a new socket to one of those.

I'm not completely au fait with 'spare pairs', but from what I recall when my master socket was replaced with the NTE5C - I didn't appear to have any spare cables than just 2+5 connected to the socket and the extensions within the house.

To make matters potentially awkward, all of my cable and ducting has been done underground - not even a junction box at the front of my house for some reason for OR to work with either.

Edited by Sparx92 (Wed 18-Dec-19 11:33:40)

Running a single pair of wires to a property is unusual, the copper wirings usually carry 2 or 3 pairs to allow for easy addition of second lines or faulty pairs

Underground wiring is more common than overhead

Each cable to each house should normally have a spare pair in it, sometimes its not obvious, or if a new cable is needed a simple tie it to old wire at one end and pull out old wire while pulling in new one that has two pairs.

Yes I understand underground is more common than overhead.

I meant to highlight the lack of junction box being a problem. As over the years I've had 2 engineers query where it was, so I had to tell them there wasn't one. So I presume it just makes life a touch more difficult to duct cables if necessary.

I'm probably just not versed enough and another pair will be there and easy to sort the 2nd socket anyway!

We shall see

I requested a second line as I was having issues with my first line, so I ordered my new line through BT and cancelled my existing TalkTalk line, when the engineer turned up I didn't have enough spare pairs, when I mentioned I was cancelling my existing line, he suggested using those pairs, when I said yes I thought he was going to hug me!! he was so pleased as all he had to do was swap cables in the local cabinet, took him 10 minutes and he even moved my master socket for me as it was in an awkward place.

I did take a new phone number as i wasn't sure if I could transfer my old one, but we use mobiles for everything so didn't mind.

A single UG direct in ground feed isn�t that unusual in properties, especially in the late sixties and early seventies.

Edited by Zarjaz (Wed 18-Dec-19 18:04:02)