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Hi.
Just got an email from Openreach backtracking from putting fibre into my mother's village in Devon:
We’re getting in touch to update you on our Ultrafast Full Fibre build. We’ve reviewed our build plans, and currently we can’t deliver Full Fibre to [road].
There are lots of reasons for why our plans change - from engineering hazards to access permits. We review our build plans regularly as circumstances change. We hope this is just a temporary setback and that we can bring [road] back into our Full Fibre build plans in the future.
We'll keep you updated and let you know immediately if anything changes.
There are still works due to start in a few weeks which were FTTP-related, but this is obviously gutting news. When this has happened to others in the past, has this been a short delay or is it curtains for now?
Thanks
Will
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Hi.
Just got an email from Openreach backtracking from putting fibre into my mother's village in Devon:
We’re getting in touch to update you on our Ultrafast Full Fibre build. We’ve reviewed our build plans, and currently we can’t deliver Full Fibre to [road].
There are lots of reasons for why our plans change - from engineering hazards to access permits. We review our build plans regularly as circumstances change. We hope this is just a temporary setback and that we can bring [road] back into our Full Fibre build plans in the future.
We'll keep you updated and let you know immediately if anything changes.
There are still works due to start in a few weeks which were FTTP-related, but this is obviously gutting news. When this has happened to others in the past, has this been a short delay or is it curtains for now?
Thanks
Will
I had the same, Openreach recently emailed me to say that they were rolling out FTTP in my area and that I was in the build plans then the next day emailed to say that I was no longer in the build plans.
The day they emailed first it said "build planned between now and Dec-2026" when I checked my address but it now says "Not yet available" when I check my address here.
I'm hoping it's a glitch or something on Openreach's end as every postcode in my town says "Not yet available" with no future date mentioned but Openreach also say they're "building in my exchange" on this page and I've seen a lot of Openreach work at the exchange recently. I also have a phone pole in my garden and Openreach checked it last year to make sure it was still in good condition and they mentioned FTTP at the same time so I figured we'd be getting it soon.
If we've both have been removed from their plans I'll be gutted with you, I've been wanting FTTP for ages!
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It’s deeply frustrating when this happens. I’m in the same position. Will be surrounded by FTTP but my road will not be done. No chance of an AltNet for such a small fill-in (14 homes) so will probably need a BDUK contract - as happened for a larger area to receive FTTC.
The road was built in 199 and is fully ducted with no blockages. It’s the access route that I suspect is the problem. The surrounding area appears to be fed from a different direction. That being said the nearby industrial area would benefit as well, but Openreach just aren’t interested in investing here now.
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It's strange that it's not just one road, isn't it? I checked 4 or 5 postcodes in the immediate area and they're all the same now: "not yet available". But the work is still scheduled for April...
I'll update here when I hear anything.
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That is rubbish, i wonder if it is more to do with Open reach realising that there are not enough people in the village to make it viable.
Adrian
Desktop machines Mac mini pro with macOS Ventura, also pc Ryzen powered with windows something or other.
Plusnet FTTC
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Surely the feasibility studies were agreed a long time ago...the village is small, but it's not a hamlet. Two pubs, every house is lived in, must be 500+ people there. Who knows.
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It’s deeply frustrating when this happens. I’m in the same position. Will be surrounded by FTTP but my road will not be done. No chance of an AltNet for such a small fill-in (14 homes) so will probably need a BDUK contract - as happened for a larger area to receive FTTC.
The road was built in 199 and is fully ducted with no blockages. It’s the access route that I suspect is the problem. The surrounding area appears to be fed from a different direction.
I am presuming it's not actually a Roman settlement... 
I'll just note that the topology of the FTTP network does not always follow the topology of the copper network. In my case, copper spans out from the local exchange due roughly South, whilst FTTP is fed from a fibre aggregation node to the West.
I know this because my FTTP was installed as FTTPoD, and I saw the route plans held by one of the engineers - and the various duct repairs which took place along the FTTP route.
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Sometimes it just comes down to unexpected over costs, even doing some duct clearing can be extremely expensive once you add the civils, permits and TM costs. A project will have a cost limit and when they get to that limit they pull the project. Its not to say they won't be back at some point to complete it. I am assuming from your post it was a commercial rollout and not BDUK.
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I am presuming it's not actually a Roman settlement...
The copper may be antique, but not that antique. I meant 1999.
And yes the FTTP routes appear to come in from the opposite side of the surrounding estates. FTTC cabinet is about 250m away. If the FTTP route was followed then they’d be looking at about 300m of new fibre for the Close. Given there will be about 100 commercial premises then there might be a justification, but Openreach aren’t looking at that for now I suppose.
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Same thing here in Honiton, Devon. Before Christmas the checker was showing between now and December 2022. Then in January the checker was showing between now and March 2023. Then got the same email "We’ve reviewed our build plans" now the checker now just shows not yet available.
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How does FTTP work, does it just take fibre from your cabinet to replace the last run of copper with fibre? My cabinet is just round the corner from me (like 200 metres by road) and the phone pole is in my garden which services 2 streets, it feels like skipping us but giving other people in town FTTP would be weird but I don't know how these things go. My cabinet was the first to get FTTC back in 2014 but I'm guessing that means nothing for the FTTP rollout. I'm right beside the local school though which I assume would be a priority for it?
As I say though every postcode I've checked now says "Not yet available" so going by that no-one in town is getting FTTP but "they're building in the exchange" and there are roadworks listed here saying Openreach are laying new ducts this month so who knows, it makes no sense😅
I'm guessing (well, hoping!) that we'll all get e-mails soon-ish saying fibre is available 🤞
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How does FTTP work, does it just take fibre from your cabinet to replace the last run of copper with fibre?
Unlikely. Some areas are fed from the cabinet using a remote headend in a pod , then onto the GPON splitter , then to the CBT in a footway box , wall or pole mounted near the serving premises. But the vast majority are fed directly from an aggregation node which is a large fibre node that connects back to the headend exchange, bypassing the cabinets completely
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Not surprising, been late in a rollout is risky as purse strings tend to get tightened late on.
VM Gig1 - AAISP L2TP
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How does FTTP work, does it just take fibre from your cabinet to replace the last run of copper with fibre?
Unlikely. Some areas are fed from the cabinet using a remote headend in a pod , then onto the GPON splitter , then to the CBT in a footway box , wall or pole mounted near the serving premises. But the vast majority are fed directly from an aggregation node which is a large fibre node that connects back to the headend exchange, bypassing the cabinets completely
Ah that probably explains why the new ductwork they're laying is outside of town coming into town, they're probably taking new fibre in from somewhere else? No idea if that makes me less likely to get it or not, I'll just have to wait and see 😅
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How does FTTP work, does it just take fibre from your cabinet to replace the last run of copper with fibre?
No.
The Openreach FTTP network runs like this:
| Text | 1
| Headend exchange ===> Fibre Aggregation Node ===> Splitter node ===> Property |
The FTTC network runs like this:
| Text | 1
23
4 | Headend exchange ===> Fibre Aggregation Node ======> Cabinet ------> Property
^ |
Local exchange |
where ===> indicates fibre and ---> indicates copper.
Fibre Aggregation Nodes and Splitter Nodes are completely passive, i.e. unpowered. They are usually underground - although splitters on poles or on outside of buildings are also used. But the important thing to note is that the (Openreach) FTTP network almost always does't use cabinets(*). The FTTC cabinets themselves *are* also fed from fibre aggregation nodes, but when the copper network goes, eventually those cabinets will be removed - and the local exchanges too.
To be more accurate, "cabinet" is often a pair of cabinets: a passive Primary Connection Point which is the original connection between the local exchange and the distribution network; and a separate powered cabinet that contains the electronics for the FTTC/VDSL. However, it's also common to have an all-in-one cabinet that does both jobs, or a PCP with a side pod for the electronics.
(*) The exception is in a few ultra-rural areas, where a cabinet contains a "subtended headend" - essentially the same sort of electronic equipment that lights the fibre that you'd find in a headend exchange, but in a much smaller form. It's only used when the property is too far from the head-end exchange to light the fibre directly. This is in the order of 20km+
Altnets are a mixture: some use passive cabinets, some use active cabinets, and some don't use any.
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Just to be clear, subtended headends are not confined to ultra rural or rural areas, there are quite a few in urban areas where they are used to save on spine fibres.
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The same thing has happened to us, on 7th March we were told they've added our building to their plans, and a week later on 15th March they said they cannot provide a FTTP service.
The thing is, we're already running on a fibre leased line (100Mbit over a 1Gbit bearer) that was installed last year by Openreach. When the engineers were installing the service, it took longer than expected because they said our connection went from our building to the local exchange (Hawarden), then to the Connahs Quay exchange, then back to the Hawarden exchange.
Why? They told me that's just how it's been designed by the department in charge of infrastructure.
Down the road from us, the council building has a fibre terminal box (similar to the ones at top of the poles) attached to the building outside, with a single fibre coming from the manhole and another from the terminal to an Openreach CSP around the back.
Further down the road, half of Hawarden/Ewloe has the fibre terminals on the poles with a reel of fibre cable left dangling half-way down each pole. I'm guessing they are awaiting connection, or could those poles be subject to the same restrictions that we face?
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What is your postcode? I am CH5 3HS and just about every pole has a coil of fibre on it, other than the new poles only recently put up.
On Gladstone Way (A550) a pole at the junction with Fieldside, had the ivy removed leaving a naked pole, just a couple of weeks ago.
Keep an eye on https://bidb.uk/
Cheers!
Clive
Andrews & Arnold Home::1 FTTC DrayTek Vigor 2762ac Cisco ATA191 for A&A VoIP together with a HUAWEI E5776 with O2 Data SIM
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The thing is, we're already running on a fibre leased line (100Mbit over a 1Gbit bearer) that was installed last year by Openreach.
The leased line network predates, and is completely separate from, the FTTP network - except that newer leased lines are apparently now able to use the same fibre aggregation nodes as FTTP.
It's likely OR will want to stop using local exchanges for leased lines, so it makes them easier to close down.
In that case, maybe your leased line actually goes to a fibre aggregation node *near* Hawarden exchange, and from there to Connahs Quay - so that it can avoid the local exchange itself.
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So in the last couple of weeks i have now received 3 emails from openreach.
First one on the 9th saying
"we've started the build in your area and Full Fibre should be available soon."
Then on the 14th
"We’ve reviewed our build plans, and currently we can’t deliver Full Fibre"
Now again today another email
"we've started the build in your area and Full Fibre should be available soon."
Have seen build dates before Christmas of between now and end of December 2022 and again in January it said between now and end of March 2023
Checker still says not available with no build date so who knows whats going on.
Edited by charliehorse101 (Sat 18-Mar-23 16:12:55)
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We're CH5 3DG.
I emailed Openreach and had a response today, as follows:
"Our engineering work is due to start from the beginning of April 2024 and will take several months to complete. I’m sorry we can’t give you a more specific date at this time but once the work is completed you’ll be able to place an order with your chosen service provider."
Sounds like they have put rolling out FTTP in Hawarden/Ewloe on hold for whatever reason.
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That's annoying. The recent activity was all around the Upperdale area (where CH5 3HS is located).
The only yellow labels on poles that I have seen suggesting that FTTP/FTTH is present is to the school on Cross Tree Lane fed from by the Doctor's surgery (which also has fibre) plus on a newish pole by the railway bridge for the offices opposite. I would expect Hawarden High School to have a leased line. There is some fibre down Moor Lane and Chemistry Lane as well.
Looking on bidb there is some works scheduled for tonight on the Lower Aston Hall Lane A494 junction.
Strangely nothing shown for Broughton's residential roads other than some fibre works on the junction of Flint Road with Chester Road.
Cheers!
Clive
Andrews & Arnold Home::1 FTTC DrayTek Vigor 2762ac Cisco ATA191 for A&A VoIP together with a HUAWEI E5776 with O2 Data SIM
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The same thing has happened to us, on 7th March we were told they've added our building to their plans, and a week later on 15th March they said they cannot provide a FTTP service.
The thing is, we're already running on a fibre leased line (100Mbit over a 1Gbit bearer) that was installed last year by Openreach. When the engineers were installing the service, it took longer than expected because they said our connection went from our building to the local exchange (Hawarden), then to the Connahs Quay exchange, then back to the Hawarden exchange.
Why? They told me that's just how it's been designed by the department in charge of infrastructure.
Down the road from us, the council building has a fibre terminal box (similar to the ones at top of the poles) attached to the building outside, with a single fibre coming from the manhole and another from the terminal to an Openreach CSP around the back.
Further down the road, half of Hawarden/Ewloe has the fibre terminals on the poles with a reel of fibre cable left dangling half-way down each pole. I'm guessing they are awaiting connection, or could those poles be subject to the same restrictions that we face?
Unfortunately the presence of a pre-existing fibre connection for a EAD service (leased line) won't speed or for that matter slow down the delivery of native FTTP to your area or premises.
Openreach will design and construct the new FTTP network completely independently of what is there already for legacy EAD services.
Ironically however if you have new FTTP infrastructure in place - then as @candlerb has noted - it is possible for Openreach now deliver new EAD services using part of that 'converged' fibre infrastructure, rather than building a separate parallel network. So having pre-existing FTTP infrastructure *can* speed up the delivery and make it easier/cheaper to deliver EAD services in certain circumstances.
Unfortunately this is wrong way around for the service that you want now - FTTP.
Good luck.
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The planned works in her village are still scheduled for April 18. Will update when I hear/see more then.
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Openreach sighted working. So the planned work's still going ahead...good news.
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Just got the exact same email. Not sure what exactly that means for me, the poles here have had CBTs on them for months now.
My street had fibre pulled through the chambers this time last year. All the properties on my street have blue pull ropes in the conduits. It seems like they did 90% of the work and then pulled the plug.
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It seems like they did 90% of the work and then pulled the plug.
It has been seen many times before.
But equally, some of those E-mails have been sent out in error. You'll just have to wait and see; you won't know until it's finally available to order.
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I've just had the same, Openreach have done half the town and Lit Fibre are connecting me on Monday. I am fairly sure these messages are being sent out in error or as the rollout projects change around.
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Same e-mail here in SK10 5--
OR site shows local exchange as in current build but detailed check now changed from 2026 to not planned.
Almost get the impression that they have decided to close my local exchange and supply FTTP from Macclesfield where FTTP rollout is still occurring.
Some work has been done on poles, new poles installed and chambers cleared but not much recent activity.
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Had the same email today. Completely out of the blue as we've had the Openreach engineers working our street for the last 2 weeks including attaching a new cable to the pole outside my house.
They actually accidentally cut through a cable in error and I lost my broadband last week, when the engineer came round on Saturday he said it wouldn't be long before I could order the full fibre.
I'm really hoping the email was sent in error
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Judging by the number of people that also go this email, and was seemingly out of the blue. I think that the chance that these emails were sent in error is quite high. Unless Openreach has decided to do a massive scale back of deployment?
Only time will tell. I will be very disappointed if it's not.
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If I were forced to bet I'd go with "properties moving between different projects internally" and someone has for whatever reason linked up the system responsible for emailing consumers to it.
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Myself and my neighbour had this email also in S80 3QX.
Sincerely hope it is a mistake as been waiting patiently for FTTP, they already rolled it out for about half our estate last year.
Less than 500m away they have it and pretty certain I've seen them doing work recently on the estate so no idea why they would suddenly decide to not finish doing the rest of the estate.
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Almost get the impression that they have decided to close my local exchange and supply FTTP from Macclesfield where FTTP rollout is still occurring.
FTTP isn't served from local exchanges anyway, only from larger "head-end" exchanges. Whether or not your exchange *area* is in line for an FTTP upgrade, is different from what exchange will serve it.
When the copper network is (eventually) retired, something like 5 in 6 exchanges will close.
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I had the same email a couple of weeks ago. Today i have had another email from Openreach saying the last email was sent in error and now my street is back on their build plan. I have checked today and now full fibre is showing available.
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Interesting! Thanks. I'm sure that's what's happened. Openreach have been busy in my mum's village and area for a few weeks, clearly doing pole-related work, so I'm sure at worst it's just a delay.
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Got the following from Openreach today...
'We're really sorry it looks like you've recently received one or more emails from us in error saying that you've been removed from our Ultrafast Full Fibre broadband build plans.
We've identified and fixed some issues with our data and systems that caused these emails to be sent out by mistake, and we're pleased to confirm that you're still in our build plans.'
The web checker has also changed back too.
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I had the same email a couple of weeks ago. Today i have had another email from Openreach saying the last email was sent in error and now my street is back on their build plan. I have checked today and now full fibre is showing available.
Mark at ISPReview got the same thing so queried it with Openreach and they found the bug in their system.
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2023/04/a-comi...
Looks like it has affected a lot of people.
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The checker is back showing the 'correct' result for coming soon now, looks like they've undated the database.
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FTTP has gone live to order in the CH5 3HS area since last week and have just placed an order with A&A.
I understand that FTTP is also now available for part of CH5 3DG.
Cheers!
Clive
Andrews & Arnold Home::1 FTTC DrayTek Vigor 2762ac Cisco ATA191 for A&A VoIP together with a HUAWEI E5776 with O2 Data SIM
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Would you mind sharing which email address you used?
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