Openreach vs BTWholesale checker

I’ve been waiting on FTTP coming available and it’s very close now.

I’ve noticed this week that on recently activated post codes, the openreach checker still says “build by Dec 2023” while the BT Wholesale checker says WBC FTTP is available.

This seems to manifest itself in talktalk and Vodafone showing no availability whereas BT and EE will offer it.

Does anyone have any insights into how the checkers work? I would expect them to be in sync and all offering service at the same time.

In reply to a post by Kr1s69:

I’ve been waiting on FTTP coming available and it’s very close now.

I’ve noticed this week that on recently activated post codes, the openreach checker still says “build by Dec 2023” while the BT Wholesale checker says WBC FTTP is available.

This seems to manifest itself in talktalk and Vodafone showing no availability whereas BT and EE will offer it.

Does anyone have any insights into how the checkers work? I would expect them to be in sync and all offering service at the same time.

No, FTTP is available to you today via BT Wholesale (EE, BT) backhaul. Talk Talk and Vodafone typically use their own backhaul which could be days/weeks/months/years away. If you want FTTP today then you need to use one of the ones who says its available.

Edit: BT Wholesale checker only shows availability via their own backhaul cable links to the OLT that you are connected to at the handover exchange.

Edited by PCJM40 (Mon 04-Dec-23 08:56:29)

Incidentally, lots of the smaller ISPs also use BTW backhaul, so those should show as available too.

EDIT: since you mentioned Vodafone and Talktalk, it suggests you're looking at the cheap end of the market. If that's the case, and you don't care about voice service, then check Plusnet. I would expect them to be available too.

Edited by candlerb (Mon 04-Dec-23 09:19:50)

I can see at least BT, Plusnet, Sky, Now and Vodafone being offered full fibre and this is the same exchange.

The first I knew that fibre was available to me was was a mailshot (snail mail!!) from Vodafone!

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

No, FTTP is available to you today via BT Wholesale (EE, BT) backhaul. Talk Talk and Vodafone typically use their own backhaul which could be days/weeks/months/years away.

Around me i've seen the opposite, fttp conustruction finished around april, and voda and tt going live first with OR live in October .That said it could have been a db issue

Is that backhaul not from the head end exchange though?

Post codes that have been enabled for some time in the same town (same head end exchange) correctly show talktalk and Vodafone as available.

I’ve just moved away from plusnet when my contract expired. I didn’t want to pay £54 a month for FTTC whilst not in a contract and wanted to be able to select an FTTP provider once service was available. I also have the potential for Nexfibre/VM soon too so that was another reason not to commit.

My current order of choice is Talktalk then Vodafone then EE - mainly all based on the routers they offer. They’re all about £44-50 per month.

In reply to a post by Kr1s69:

Is that backhaul not from the head end exchange though?

Its not that simple, your OLT may not be connected to a Talk Talk or Vodafone cable link whereas other OLTs may be. It may also be a timing issue where individual ISP availability databases haven't updated yet, its up to you how long you wait to see.

Thanks, that’s the bit I was missing. I had expected Openreach and the BTW checker to be in sync or that the Openreach showed availability first but it seems not - I guess Openreach is a customer facing check whereas the BTW is less so.

So far I’m only using a neighbours property to see what packages are available. It’s annoying that providers hide all their packages behind an availability check so you can’t actually see in advance what they actually sell!

In reply to a post by Kr1s69:

It’s annoying that providers hide all their packages behind an availability check

No, *some* providers hide their packages behind an availability check. There are decent providers that don't.

e.g. https://www.aquiss.net/home-broadband-packages/

(Speaking only as a happy customer, no other connection)

Surely availability is extremely important when looking for a provider and package, whats the point in knowing what packages a provider sells if they ain't available to you. Imagine the chaos of not having an availability checker and still being able to place an order for any package a provider sells.

Edited by PCJM40 (Mon 04-Dec-23 15:54:32)