Openreach Community Partnership

I've collected a hundred interested households for fibre in my area, and wish to express that interest to Openreach. I'm intending to submit a request through the community partnership scheme. All parties are interested but not committed, and the build cost will be huge if we had to pay it given the area is urban and largely ignored by Openreach (we have no idea why).

Can I assume that if I submit the interested parties, someone will contact me and outline whether Openreach can do this project as part of their standard build, given the clear expression of interest?

Given that its a large amount of sign ups, have you checked https://www.openreach.com/fibre-broadband/where-when...

Also its worth looking at the Open Market Review which are going down to postcode levels in their review

In reply to a post by mags__:

Can I assume that if I submit the interested parties, someone will contact me and outline whether Openreach can do this project as part of their standard build, given the clear expression of interest?

Nope. That would be a huge assumption.

They would be happy to discuss a Community Fibre Partnership but I'd be very surprised if they just built you FTTP for free simply from showing people wanted it.

Most people would like FTTP.

Edited by j0hn83 (Tue 24-Aug-21 15:54:44)

In reply to a post by mags__:

I've collected a hundred interested households for fibre in my area, and wish to express that interest to Openreach. I'm intending to submit a request through the community partnership scheme. All parties are interested but not committed, and the build cost will be huge if we had to pay it given the area is urban and largely ignored by Openreach (we have no idea why).

Can I assume that if I submit the interested parties, someone will contact me and outline whether Openreach can do this project as part of their standard build, given the clear expression of interest?

I've seen this many many times, everyone is interested if its free and people quickly back away once people need to put their hands in their pockets.

You have done well by getting a hundred interested household so why don't you get a quote through an Openreach community fibre partnership and go from there as you may be surprised its not as much as you think.

you need to work out why it not been covered already is it in a fibre city or not is there virging media or someone else already there . how many of the hundred already get over 30 megs as that affects the commecials

where abouts in the uk are you and has anyone tried to get a quote before

There’s of course no harm in asking, but don’t expect to receive an answer on the commercial rollout. Showing willingness won’t unfortunately magic them into a build.

However as said, they will be willing to engage on a CFP request. It may take several months or longer to get a final quote, and the build process could take many more months, so you could be looking at 12+ months, from the initial request to the build being complete.

I live in a block of flats and I got an Openreach Community Fibre Partnership quote to have it upgraded to FTTP. The first thing I did was ask if we would be covered as part of the standard rollout since the rest of the neighbourhood (e.g. adjacent and opposite streets) are already available to order.

The community partnership contact couldn't provide me with any information on that and directed me to:
https://www.formwize.openreach.co.uk/run/survey3.cfm...

The answer from them was to fill out this form (specific to MDU)
https://www.formwize.openreach.co.uk/run/survey3.cfm...

And the MDU Desk said "no" but without explanation.

So to answer your question, I don't think the community partnership team contacts/considers what else is going on with the nationwide rollout.

In reply to a post by Cockroach:

I live in a block of flats

Does it matter how high the block? I am interested as I live in a 2 story block and virgin cabled outside to each directly.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Does it matter how high the block? I am interested as I live in a 2 story block and virgin cabled outside to each directly.

I think if it's 2 stories, the cable route will likely be external and access can be provided through just the apartment getting service. MDU issues arise when access is needed to shared risers and communication cupboards. Best to check the existing route for copper service.

In reply to a post by Cockroach:

Best to check the existing route for copper service.

Through walls (in concrete!) and visible in the corner of some meter cupboards in communal areas. Block built in 1970 and many in the block have given up VDSL services due to unreliability and slow speeds.

In reply to a post by Cockroach:

I live in a block of flats and I got an Openreach Community Fibre Partnership quote to have it upgraded to FTTP. The first thing I did was ask if we would be covered as part of the standard rollout since the rest of the neighbourhood (e.g. adjacent and opposite streets) are already available to order.

The community partnership contact couldn't provide me with any information on that and directed me to:
https://www.formwize.openreach.co.uk/run/survey3.cfm...

The answer from them was to fill out this form (specific to MDU)
https://www.formwize.openreach.co.uk/run/survey3.cfm...

And the MDU Desk said "no" but without explanation.

So to answer your question, I don't think the community partnership team contacts/considers what else is going on with the nationwide rollout.

The CFP team will look at the national roll out before letting you proceed with a CFP, especially if it's in the immediate future / BDUK earmarked etc.

When the network is at a design phase, it is the same OR planners who do the national roll out.

cockroach

CFP is primarily a programme of last resort where openreach are not covering those premises by an commerical or public procurement intervention, (so in this case the premises close to and outside of the MDU are already covered so no CFP would be available or needed for any of those premises - by asking the MDU team to check (as the MDU might not have been there or might have been converted into a MDU since build or there was not agreement with the landlord or developer or managing agent about the MDU when it was built) it enabled the MDU team to have a 2nd look - the fact that you have confirmation that no expect commercial build is anticipated by MDU team means that only the premises in the MDU would be able to form part of a CFP , depending on how many premises there are in the MDU the cost of deploying that CFP is likley to be signifcantlly expensive (due to the small amount of premises in the MDU (i assume we are somewhere beteen 4 and 8 at minumim . I would seriously speaking to the managing agent or developer to see if they would fund out out of the management fee residents probably already pay rather than asking the community / residents to fund it themselves

In reply to a post by Fastman3:

CFP is primarily a programme of last resort where openreach are not covering those premises by an commerical or public procurement intervention, (so in this case the premises close to and outside of the MDU are already covered so no CFP would be available or needed for any of those premises - by asking the MDU team to check (as the MDU might not have been there or might have been converted into a MDU since build or there was not agreement with the landlord or developer or managing agent about the MDU when it was built) it enabled the MDU team to have a 2nd look - the fact that you have confirmation that no expect commercial build is anticipated by MDU team means that only the premises in the MDU would be able to form part of a CFP , depending on how many premises there are in the MDU the cost of deploying that CFP is likley to be signifcantlly expensive (due to the small amount of premises in the MDU (i assume we are somewhere beteen 4 and 8 at minumim . I would seriously speaking to the managing agent or developer to see if they would fund out out of the management fee residents probably already pay rather than asking the community / residents to fund it themselves

Hi Fastman3, we already discussed my building in another thread (though prior to obtaining the CFP quote and checking with the MDU team).

It's a new building (2016-19 construction) and the fibre network "wasn't ready" when Openreach got involved. That doesn't explain why it's not part of their commercial rollout now. 51 units and the quote isn't silly money (around £350/flat). I find it more likely they haven't bothered following up / chasing the managing agent and landlord than it actually not being commercially viable.

Anyway, I'm making good progress with Hyperoptic so will only circle back to Openreach if I hit a dead end.

so if the Gap is £350 per premise the the price per premise over and above the commercial case of deployemnt (and is no the cost of deployment) which is why the build fails the commercial build

In reply to a post by Fastman3:

so if the Gap is £350 per premise the the price per premise over and above the commercial case of deployemnt (and is no the cost of deployment) which is why the build fails the commercial build

I'd love to know how they calculate the commercial case, given they connect new blocks of 20+ for free... And what the install actually costs them. Find it hard to believe it would cost much more than £350/unit...

cockroad

because developer get paid to have infrastructure in them which is why 20+ are Free (its called the Sod Payment so when you add the sod payment and the commercial case is works

under then amount it does not work which is why there are stories on think broadband and other places of small developement (sub 20 plots) who have have had a fibre offer (and rejected it as they do no want to pay the fibre charge then leaving the new home with copper only which the residents them complain to BBC / Openreach / MP the world) -- . The actual cost of delivering is driven by A where is the fibre , how much of it do you need and how much is available and B how many premises and does it make your commerical case -- Bearing in mind your payback on your commercial case investment is probably covering your outlay by about mid 2030s or later -- Openreach only gets the line rental -- hyper for example sells you the service and you pay all your money to them