FTTP Install Questions

Hi all,

FTTP isn't available to our property just yet, but the fibre has been partially built (OR are saying that we should be able to order by the end of May).

Currently, our copper drop wire is buried underground (not in a duct). When the time comes, if we wanted the new fibre cable to go via a similar routing, what work would be required? Could it be installed with little digging (without digging up the driveway which the current copper wire goes under)? Or, would the new fibre cable have to go overhead?

Many thanks!

Will

Edited by Grimers (Thu 01-Apr-21 19:37:01)

Openreach doesn't, I believe, install fibre "direct in ground". If there isn't ducting, it will be an overhead feed.

Ah, I see. I wonder who did it many years ago then! Thanks for your reply 😊

For copper it was common.

My house, like yours, had direct-buried copper. When I was surveyed for FTTP on Demand, I was offered overhead or (for £5,000 extra) ducted. ( Amusingly, I paid the £5,000 extra for OR to dig ducts and they never did the digging - they fed the fibre overhead anyway and kept the money. )

They kept the money? What?! That's crazy! Well, I hope it was worth it!

Far more likely to have new duct put in .

Somehow forgot to reply to your post. Was this aimed at me or shortshrift27? Surely a new duct would require digging up the driveway (it is in between the DP and where the ONT would go)?

When I built my own house BT gave me the ducts and I put them in so a saving there.
Soon hoping to get our FTTP feed through them.

Gotcha, yeah I cannot see us having underground FTTP, I just hope they will give us the option to go overhead! Fingers crossed!

In reply to a post by Grimers:

Gotcha, yeah I cannot see us having underground FTTP, I just hope they will give us the option to go overhead! Fingers crossed!

If your street is all UG fed and there are no poles there, then you'll be fed UG and you will not have an option of overhead. They will not put a new pole in just because you don't want your drive dug up. The new duct doesn't have to follow the same route as the copper cable, if as you say the copper cable is under your drive, but you have a lawn next to the drive, then if possible the lawn is the route they'd choose for the new duct anyway, as it's far cheaper to dig through soft ground than tarmac or concrete etc.

My street was left out in the initial FTTP roll out in Londonderry but they came back and installed new ducts to the curtilage across the street (as the underground cables were all buried over to there. I believe if i was to order FTTP they would install a duct from the curtilage to my property.

Not entirely correct .... where my ex in laws live, their copper was fed UG, then had armoured feeds to each property .... a pole was put centrally for their road, ant the CBT put up there.

I’ll agree it won’t get fed overhead just on the customers say so ... well not if they won’t meet any additional costs prior to install

In reply to a post by Grimers:

Gotcha, yeah I cannot see us having underground FTTP, I just hope they will give us the option to go overhead!

If be very surprised if they did.

If the area is all underground and the DP is underground then they won't add a pole because an end user has a driveway.

Options to get under, over or around the driveway would be explored after ordering but I've never seen a pole be an option in such a scenario.

In reply to a post by j0hn83:

Options to get under, over or around the driveway would be explored after ordering but I've never seen a pole be an option in such a scenario.

For the more senior amongst us, back to 1966 and The Yardbirds. Over, Under, Sideways, Down.

Edited by GonePostal (Mon 17-May-21 19:04:37)

I will add on that our village lane is all overhead fed except Mine and maybe one other newish house, we are underground fed

They did build me a 'UG' Underground Chamber (Manhole).

Even put my own 4 x Port CBT ready for my FTTP connection.

Just thought I'd clear things up, the area is all overhead, only the cable from our DP to our house is underground. A CBT is mounted on another pole, slightly further up the lane, I have been told this covers our property.

Edited by Grimers (Tue 18-May-21 21:01:38)

So, I would assume it would be overhead then?

Sorry all, not trying to be impatient here, but I'm confused as to which way the fibre would be provisioned. Would it be overhead as the CBT is mounted overhead or would it have to follow the way the copper comes from the DP, which is DIG?

In reply to a post by Grimers:

Would it be overhead as the CBT is mounted overhead or would it have to follow the way the copper comes from the DP, which is DIG?

I believe it would normally follow the existing route except if its DIG, then if the pole which has the CBT on it is within acceptable reach (or a combination of poles each no more than 67m apart) then they are likely to do it overhead to keep the cost down but you will need to wait and see what they decide to do.

Edit: Corrected typo (CGT to CBT)

Edited by deleted (Sun 23-May-21 10:02:25)

Gotcha! Yes, the CBT does serve us (confirmed by OR Project Manager). There is only one pole between it and us.

In reply to a post by Grimers:

Gotcha! Yes, the CBT does serve us (confirmed by OR Project Manager). There is only one pole between it and us.

If that pole is within 67m of your property and it does not have any aerial/line of sign issues then I would guess that is more likely to be the easy option but don't bet your house on it.

Yes, it's definitely within that distance. Well, I guess we'll have to see, but it would be silly if not, as OR have told me that our house will be served from the overhead CBT in question.

I have just checked, and even the pole with the CBT on is within 67 m. Looking good! May I ask, why does it have to be within 67 m?

Edited by Grimers (Sun 23-May-21 12:22:05)

350 M is the longest connectorised cable they use so should be no problem

The 67m limit is due to it being on a Pole - 350m would be a long drop wire.
My belief is that it's to do with breaking strengths etc over a long span.

In reply to a post by Grimers:

Yes, it's definitely within that distance. Well, I guess we'll have to see, but it would be silly if not, as OR have told me that our house will be served from the overhead CBT in question.

I have just checked, and even the pole with the CBT on is within 67 m. Looking good! May I ask, why does it have to be within 67 m?

Sorry I missed your edit, a fibre span between two points should not exceed 67m (although I was told last year this was increasing to 75m but saying 67m to be safe)

Edit: As stated by others you can have a lot longer connectorised cable which can be used over multiple spans to the property.

Edited by deleted (Mon 24-May-21 18:09:30)

Is 25/17 duct still being used? It looked very similar to 25mm MDPE water pipe which is often moled in. Could that be a solution for driveways, etc?

Thanks, all! I've been told by OR that we will be receiving an overhead feed. Just got to go live, first!