Can individuals place an order for FTTP On Demand?

I live in rural Scotland in an area where the maximum available broadband speed is 1Mbps, and installation of FTTP is "currently not planned" according to Openreach (postcode KA18 2RR).

This has led me to look into alternatives. I understand Openreach has a Community Fibre Partnership scheme but it is currently closed to new applications.

I then came across Openreach's FTTP On Demand product. Their published price bands for this product are not outrageously high when considering that the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme gives up to £5000 per property for the installation of superfast broadband.

So my question is, how do you actually go about ordering FTTP On Demand?

Does it have to be done via an ISP or can individuals (or groups of individuals) order via Openreach directly?

As usual, the information available via government websites like Scotland Superfast is not very helpful. Most of the suppliers listed there do not make mention of FTTP On Demand.

Does it have to be done via an ISP or can individuals (or groups of individuals) order via Openreach directly?

VIA an ISP. Not many accept FTTPoD orders due to the complex nature of it, but Cerberus is usually recommended

Hi

FoD is ordered via an ISP. I believe Cerberus is probably the most popular ISP when it comes to FoD, so I would make enquiries with them. They will use BT Wholesale for backhaul connectivity so should be available at your parent (FTTP originating) exchange.

I wouldn't pay much attention to the published 'book' prices. The reality is far different. You can expect a minimum price of at least £8,000 on average, and quite possibly much higher since the latest price revisions (upwards) of the product.

Openreach wanted to pull the product completely earlier in the year, but were persuaded by their ISP customers to keep it as a niche alternative offering. Openreach relented and have kept it, but as said made it far more expensive. It was already very expensive.

A couple of other caveats. A desk based estimate is the first step. If you're still upright and want to proceed to the next step and physical (paid for) survey is then carried out. Once the final costs are determined you will have 30 days to accept - and pay in full up front.

Then the build can commence which can stretch up to 18 months (and longer) in some cases to fully complete and activate. Not a quick thing at all, and all the more painful as you have paid for it and receive cryptic, often contradictory "updates" (been there got the t-shirt).

Good luck in any event.

Edited by Pheasant (Sat 31-Dec-22 08:10:44)

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

A couple of other caveats. A desk based estimate is the first step. If you're still upright and want to proceed to the next step and physical (paid for) survey is then carried out.

To be precise: you place your order for FTTPoD and pay a non-refundable £250+VAT fee to cover the cost of the survey. When the survey is complete, you'll get your final costing, which may be far higher or lower than the desktop estimate. Then as Pheasant says, you have 30 days to pay the entire balance, otherwise your order is cancelled and the survey fee is lost.

This thread has one person's recent experience:
https://forums.thinkbroadband.com/fibre/f/4726933-ft...

In reply to a post by zeppelin7:

I then came across Openreach's FTTP On Demand product. Their published price bands for this product are not outrageously high when considering that the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme gives up to £5000 per property for the installation of superfast broadband.

What published price bands is that? Are you talking about monthly rental or installation costs?

I think you may have been looking at some old installation pricing if they are shown in bands.

The cost of FTTPoD installation used to come in fixed price bands that depended on your distance from the nearest Openreach NGA Fibre Aggregation Node.
They scrapped that pricing model a few years ago and the installation cost is now based on a physical survey that cost £250+vat, though that will be deducted from the build cost if you proceed.