Cabinet waiting list

Evening all, im about to move into a new house and started setting up various bits, one of which is the Internet.
After looking on all the main providers websites (sky, Bt ect), I was shocked to see i could only get basic ADSL with around a 3mb guaranteed speed which is not great as I like to game and stream TV shows.
On the BT checker, the area does have 30mb fibre but it states "waiting list" and After a bit of digging I understand this means the cabinet is at capacity.

Is there anything I can do to get on the waiting list or is my only option to keep checking the site each day?
The area postcode is WV50NH, door number [removed]. I believe its on cabinet 5.

I can't find any info that says if and when the cabinet is due an upgrade but I'm not sure how to check this sadly.

what is my best course to take here? AdSL sadly won't cut it so I may have to use 4G for now but I would like to be on the waiting list so I can get fibre as soon as a slot becomes available.

(Side note, I did check out IDnet and after putting in my postcode and door number, they do have 30mb fibre available but is this likely an error and the order will be cancelled? I don't want to pay out if its just going to get cancelled days before its due to be installed.)

Thanks all!

Edited by seb (Thu 06-Jan-22 17:15:15)

Some ISPs actively participate in the waiting list. Aquiss is one that says they do. That is, you can place your order, and when you get to the top of the list you'll get the port. I don't know whether IDNet do this - talk to them. Otherwise, like you say, you can check daily.

In reply to a post by Lem1winks:

I can't find any info that says if and when the cabinet is due an upgrade but I'm not sure how to check this sadly.

https://www.telecom-tariffs.co.uk/codelook.htm
It's updated every few months. Search for your exchange, then list all cabinets.

Given your postcode, then like you say I think you are on Wombourne cabinet 5 (the BTW checker will tell you this too), which gives you:
https://www.telecom-tariffs.co.uk/codelook.htm?xid=9...

It's not showing any planned expansion at present unfortunately. There are other people on this list with more direct access to the internal systems who may be able to give a more up-to-date answer.

In reply to a post by Lem1winks:

what is my best course to take here? AdSL sadly won't cut it so I may have to use 4G for now but I would like to be on the waiting list so I can get fibre as soon as a slot becomes available.

Been in the same situation. You need to take ADSL from an ISP who will put you on the wait list. Not all do AFAIK but I do know Zen will.

I was advised to take ADSL rather than nothing (and rely on 4G) otherwise it would be hit or miss if I ever got a port in the cabinet. That's what I did and I did get FTTC after only a couple of months. Zen upgraded me without fuss.

I think I had a fairly low 3 or 4 MB connection as well. But I was able to stream Netflix, so it may not be all that bad and hopefully a slot will become free before long.

If your are into gaming phone or email this gaming ISP (they are a part of Trunk Networks, who are very helpful as I found out with my Business connection with them.)

https://www.leetline.co.uk/

They may be able 'bond' Two ADSL connections until you can get FTTC.

Thank you, I've looked at Aquiss but sadly they are not currently supporting waiting lists due to lockdown reasons. I have messaged a few other such as zen and idnet to see if they do and waiting for a reply.
I have also messaged open reach to see if they can provide any info on upgrading the cabinet but I know this is likely a dead end.

Thank you for the reply. I have messaged Zen asking if they support waiting lists and explain my situation so hopefully they can help too. If I know I can get a slot within a year then I'm kind of happy as I canbjust use 4g with Three to hold me over as well as having the ADSL.
its more expensive for those months until its upgraded but at leastbill have semi decent speeds

Thank you, I have sent a message to them to ask if this is possible for me or at least if they can add me to a waiting list for fibre if I take out ADSL.

To prevent any misunderstanding I think you need to specify the Openreach waiting list for the cabinet. Otherwise you may be talking to someone at the ISP who doesn't know there is such a thing.

Edited by pluralist (Thu 06-Jan-22 11:33:21)

In reply to a post by Lem1winks:

Thank you, I've looked at Aquiss but sadly they are not currently supporting waiting lists due to lockdown reasons.

Not really for lockdown reasons. We just have seen no movement on anyone who has been on our waiting lists for over 12 months. The timeframe and setting customer expectations are impossible presently.

We are being told BT OR/BTW that no cabinets are getting upgraded now, as focus has moved to FTTP builds and where possible pressure on FTTC cabinets will drop, once areas/customers move over, thus freeing up cabinet space.

We may then be able to look again at offering support.

I think you'll find that that side of CodeLook hasn't been updated since 5th November 2020.

Thank you for clarifying.
I'm sad to hear that its looking very doubtful i can get fibre until FTTP rolls out, which is due between this year and 2026 ( given my area, I assume it will towards the end of the time frame)
that's a long time to go with just adsl which sadly won't be enough for what I need.

in that case I think my only option is to go with 4g which I'm sure will come with its own set of problems. Fingers crossed the speeds are semi decent though. ( id be happy with 20mb+)

thank you for the taking the time to reply though, I get its out of your control and you are doing the right thing for your customers.

From experience, I would suggest using the BT checker three times a day and be ready to order if it shows available.

I had to do it recently, grabbed the opportunity, placed order and then an hour later not available. Someone had moved housae, service terminated and I got te order in quick. Possibly those waiting to move in would have been too busy with te move to worry about ordering at that moment.

Thank you, I think this is my plan for the time being (pretty much checking every hour haha)
if you don't mind me asking, what provider did you go with when a slot did open up? I'm only asking as I'm wondering if some providers take a while to update their site or take a while before requesting the free space, resulting in someone else jumping in before me.

It was actually with PlusNet ...

Not my choice but the elderly person had been with them for years and did not want to change when we renewed the contact for them ... and we just had to wait.

As soon as it was on the BT/OR checker, went to PlusNet website, logged in and ordered.

Thank you, inwill check with them if I'm struggling elsewhere if and when a slot opens. Did you already have adsl with them and just upgraded?
Nice to know this method worked for someone and I'm not wasting my time, hopefully the 4g will do fine to tie me over

As I said we had just renewed a contract - so yes ADSL. And being 200 miles away it was also easier to just recontract rather than new ISP with modem/hub/router. Once FTTC was scheduled, we vistied for a week to ensure we were there at changeover - which did not go well as a sub-con to OR left the old jumpers in! PN got OR round te following day to resolve that.

It worked, but having ADSL and an account already made it a 1minute task, not a 30 minute one. From memory, I did need to call after to get a price resolved.

Brilliant thank you.
in that case I may take out an adsl line in addition to 4g. It'll be a waste of 20 quid a month but at least it may help to have when a slot does open.
I'll see how the 4g does first and if not great then ill sort out getting the adsl line.

thanks again for all your help!

In reply to a post by aquiss:

In reply to a post by Lem1winks:

Thank you, I've looked at Aquiss but sadly they are not currently supporting waiting lists due to lockdown reasons.

Not really for lockdown reasons. We just have seen no movement on anyone who has been on our waiting lists for over 12 months. The timeframe and setting customer expectations are impossible presently.

We are being told BT OR/BTW that no cabinets are getting upgraded now, as focus has moved to FTTP builds and where possible pressure on FTTC cabinets will drop, once areas/customers move over, thus freeing up cabinet space.

We may then be able to look again at offering support.

Couldn’t be a more sure sign that Openreach want out of the copper broadband business. Break fix now.

It makes financial sense for OR; but it's going to be a real a pain for those users caught in the no-FTTC trap.

FTTP coverage over the next 5 years is expected to increase from ~20% to ~80%, but the roll out is lumpy. Looking at individual cabinet areas, many won't see any FTTP at all until late in the programme. Meanwhile, demand for FTTC continues to rise.

4G becomes the necessary stop-gap for those people who can get it.

And some may stay with 4G, and possibly 5G if the upload on that is any good and they need significant upload.

In reply to a post by pluralist:

And some may stay with 4G, and possibly 5G if the upload on that is any good and they need significant upload.

5G uploads should improve over time, as the networks roll out changes and improved hardware.