Altnet FTTP install question (underground wiring)

Hey all

FTTP Installation from HeyBroadband Pic

First question, can anyone tell me what this is highlighted in the red box? I've noticed Altnet's tend to have this ... I think I've seen CityFibre have this too.

Second question, does BTWholesale based FTTP also have the same method of installation i.e the equipment highlighted in the red box located on pavement level?

TIA!

Edited by Bobby_Valentino (Mon 24-Jun-24 11:08:46)

It’s called something like a Tommy Pot, or Toby Pot (or similar) if you order from the equipment owner, then they will come dig from the pot to your property.

Most Openreach FTTP does not use this method (there are some exceptions)

It’s a toby box and as can be seen , their is a scar in the footpath from an Openreach JRF4 footway jointbox to the Alt Net toby box ,the Alt Net obviously uses Openreach PIA , to gain access to Openreach ducts and jointboxes in that area and adds their own final section to potential customer’s properties.

….chances are it’s an underground DIG served area and that particular Alt Net has chosen to continue to use an underground method of service instead of putting up poles , but obviously they have to provide the last part of the underground network themselves …if the address that the toby box is outside orders service from the Alt Net an excavation from the toby box to the property is undertaken once that’s done cabling is installed using the duct and Toby box the Alt Net provided and the existing Openreach infrastructure to get to wherever the Alt Net equipment is located.

In the past , areas like this ( underground DIG no existing duct to houses ) Openreach would have also provided their own toby boxes in the same way as this Alt Net has done ( when they upgraded a DIG area to FTTP) but doing this without a customer order simply makes the Alt Nets job even easier when they rock up , so now , OR would only excavate from a jointbox like the one in the picture to the house wall once an order for FTTP has been received, the area will show FTTP available but the toby boxes won’t exist , in fact they don’t use them anymore , the duct they provide when an order is received goes from the jointbox to the house wall .

If an Alt Net provides a toby box it’s exclusively for their own use , if Openreach provides a toby box it’s available to competitors via PIA often even before Openreach can get the benefit of it themselves ( , if an Alt Net signs up the householder first) , hence the change in policy

Edited by Iniltous (Mon 24-Jun-24 13:13:49)

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Most Openreach FTTP does not use this method (there are some exceptions)

Really?! So the fibre wire goes from the BT underground manhole to the customers outside CSP via the existing duct (the one that's currently used for the BT copper phone line)??

Edited by Bobby_Valentino (Mon 24-Jun-24 13:23:15)

ONTs are not on the outside but the inside of the property , it’s a CSP on the external wall

Edited by Iniltous (Mon 24-Jun-24 13:18:25)

In reply to a post by Iniltous:

ONTs are not on the outside but the inside of the property , it’s a CSP on the external wall

Yes sorry, the CSP!

Edited by Bobby_Valentino (Mon 24-Jun-24 13:28:46)

In reply to a post by Bobby_Valentino:

So the fibre wire goes from the BT underground manhole to the customers outside CSP via the existing duct (the one that's currently used for the BT copper phone line)??

If the property has a lead-in duct and it's in serviceable condition, then yes, that's the preferred way in.

A key benefit of ducting is that it allows cables to be replaced, or new ones to be laid alongside existing ones. Altnets can rent space in them too.

In reply to a post by candlerb:

In reply to a post by Bobby_Valentino:

So the fibre wire goes from the BT underground manhole to the customers outside CSP via the existing duct (the one that's currently used for the BT copper phone line)??

If the property has a lead-in duct and it's in serviceable condition, then yes, that's the preferred way in.

A key benefit of ducting is that it allows cables to be replaced, or new ones to be laid alongside existing ones. Altnets can rent space in them too.

Here's a pic of my CityFibre CSP showing the CF microduct emerging from the BT duct:
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AkhvgPvXD0_1tqh5j5PuKodW_GVulQ?e...

Here's a pic of my CityFibre CSP showing the CF microduct emerging from the BT duct:

They’ve brought that out from the duct below ground level, not exactly smart practice. Allowing egress of dirt and muck to the duct, and ruin it for all. Also they’ve made a pinch point where the tubing is coming up through the clart.

In reply to a post by candlerb:

In reply to a post by Bobby_Valentino:

So the fibre wire goes from the BT underground manhole to the customers outside CSP via the existing duct (the one that's currently used for the BT copper phone line)??

If the property has a lead-in duct and it's in serviceable condition, then yes, that's the preferred way in.

A key benefit of ducting is that it allows cables to be replaced, or new ones to be laid alongside existing ones. Altnets can rent space in them too.

Forgot to mention but the ducting I have isn't all the way to the external CSP ... it's goes from the BT manwhole and past the front wall into the start of the front garden - from there it runs from the ground along the side of the wall to the external CSP on the property. The ducting is like a hose pipe type of thing. See pic here

Edited by Bobby_Valentino (Mon 24-Jun-24 21:28:50)