New Year surprise

Had a nice New Year's Day surprise... chap from Quinn was here yesterday to install FTTP; he did the internal work but the externals weren't as simple as usual so he passed the buck back to OR.

So, come this morning, browsing away happily on the old 80/20 FTTC and there's funny noises from outside... there's a chap from OR investigating (on overtime ). An hour later I'm up and running on FTTP

Nothing outstanding, only 100-odd Mbps, but that's what I'm paying for; decided I don't need anything faster. Light level at the internal box (ONT?) is -17dBm, very happy with that.

Happy New Year all!!

Happy New Year

Nice one Bill, and yes, that’s the ONT.

Congrats on being ONT'd

OR will have people working today ... just in case of major faults or those which have a 4 hour response time. And I woud guess that if here are no faults to deal with they are given tasks such as yours.

Like you, I went for a 300Mbps service as it was plenty for our business and domestic needs and not much different to the lower tier. Moved to 500Mbps at a renewal - cheaper than I was paying before!

You're the first person Bill to report a brand new FTTP connection in 2026

Happy New year to all

In reply to a post by MHC:

Like you, I went for a 300Mbps service as it was plenty for our business and domestic needs

Yeah- the old FTTC usually ran at a bit over 70Mbps; it could handle 3 simultaneous 4K streams without breaking sweat (I tried it!) and I can only watch one at a time

Biggest d/l I ever have is when Apple issue a new OS... it takes around 6-8 minutes, depending. I could probably get that down to under a minute with a Gigabit connection, but it's still going to take the thick end of half an hour to install the damn thing so what's the point? I can always upgrade if needs change.

I'd expected some issues with the install- I'd had some fairly heavy hard landscaping done over the cable route resulting in the ducting being about 6" deeper than it used to be and going under a path of paving slabs leaving a gap of only about 3" from the house wall. The Quinn engineer simply couldn't reach it, he (and I) thought it likely some slabs would have to be lifted..

The OR engineer couldn't reach it either, but (with my agreement) took a different tack- the copper cable was moving freely enough so the duct was probably in reasonable nick, he disconnected it at the house and used it to pull a rope through; the idea being that if it got stuck he could pull it back and reconnect me.

But it didn't get stuck and everything went swimmingly after that, so it was completed quite a bit earlier than I was expecting- well done OpenReach

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Nice one Bill, and yes, that’s the ONT.

I was a bit surprised at the size of the ONT, the photos I'd seen didn't really give any scale and I assumed it would be about the same size as the HG612 modem.

But it's a diddy little thing, isn't it

In reply to a post by billford:

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Nice one Bill, and yes, that’s the ONT.

I was a bit surprised at the size of the ONT, the photos I'd seen didn't really give any scale and I assumed it would be about the same size as the HG612 modem.

But it's a diddy little thing, isn't it

That they are …. so small as to be underwhelming IMO. I liked the original Huwawei ones that were installed, 4 ports, plenty of flashing lights, it looked like the future !

In reply to a post by billford:

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

Nice one Bill, and yes, that’s the ONT.

I was a bit surprised at the size of the ONT, the photos I'd seen didn't really give any scale and I assumed it would be about the same size as the HG612 modem.

But it's a diddy little thing, isn't it

yeah both the new csp and onts are dinky, that said the nokia xgs-pon ont seems to be cd sized ..........

In reply to a post by billford:

but (with my agreement) took a different tack- the copper cable was moving freely enough so the duct was probably in reasonable nick, he disconnected it at the house and used it to pull a rope through; the idea being that if it got stuck he could pull it back and reconnect me.

But it didn't get stuck and everything went swimmingly after that, so it was completed quite a bit earlier than I was expecting- well done OpenReach

I have to say all credit to the Openreach guy for getting the job done, when my fibre was pulled through I asked them to pull a spare blue rope as well. My reasoning was should an issue occur within the life span of that blue rope it may come in handy for the next engineer.

Really pleased it got sorted for you

In reply to a post by Taras:

... the nokia xgs-pon ont seems to be cd sized ..........

Some googling (to find out what the Alarm LED was for) showed that the ONT I got is an Adtran SDX611. Seems a nice enough piece of kit, and more than capable of keeping up with any speed I'm likely (or unlikely) to upgrade to!

Learnt something new as well- I'd always assumed that the light in the fibre was in the red part of the spectrum, but turns out it's in the infrared- Rx @ 1490nm, Tx @ 1310nm. Always a good day when something new is learnt

I want OR to offer an SFP ONT which would plug straight into my gateway.

In reply to a post by billford:

I'd expected some issues with the install

I'm really hoping for the same smooth experience as yours with the final part of the installation here, Bill, as months of local area work both above and below street level now has the whole area ready to go very soon - but this property is not simple access.
There is ducted fibre and a TOBY box now half way to the house from the road, it's the next channelled part which I wonder about.

However I'm very clear how cumulative ongoing experience of solving similar problems in many skilled occupations often boosts resolutions - so it may be good luck to be so far down the route of completing this changeover.

In reply to a post by s_h:

it's the next channelled part which I wonder about.

How far do they have to channel from the toby to the house?

How far do they have to channel from the toby to the house?

It's around a further 20 metres to the house, which is on the other side of the drive to the toby box which is sited on an adjacent footpath, and will serve no other house. Fibre must cross the several mains services which run down the length of the gravelled drive plus a narrow paving slab path round the house. The entry point for the old copper cable is no longer accessible due to a shed built by previous owners.

Would it be OK to believe there's already a plan in the offing, following on from this toby installation.

Edited by s_h (Fri 02-Jan-26 13:09:48)

In reply to a post by s_h:

Would it be OK to believe there's already a plan in the offing, following on from this toby installation.

I honestly wouldn't say they have a specific plan for your property but there is always a solution and the guys doing the civils will find a way without causing any major issues to your services. I would suggest once these guys are on-site you are best letting them know about anything lurking under the ground.

Edited by PCJM40 (Fri 02-Jan-26 12:46:56)

Further to what PCJM40 correctly posted, the best ‘driver’ of getting stuff like this sorted is to raise an order. (Not sure if you have done this already)

No point in trying to second guess what’s required IMHO, place your order, no need to give the sales bod what you believe to be salient details, they will make supportive noises ‘yes, well put notes to that effect on the order’ etc etc …. I can assure you the chances of these getting anywhere near the task the installer receives are slim to none.

Don’t plan some huge online task based of the install date being the day it’s in service, pessimists get more pleasant surprises in life.

The installer (hopefully OR staff) will arrive, see what’s required, discuss options etc, get wayleaves signed if required, and so forth.

It to might needs civils, it might need a second pair of hands, who knows … but the installer is the best judge of this.

Good luck.

Many thanks for replies - I think orders will go in early February, which is the best way to check this?

In reply to a post by s_h:

Many thanks for replies - I think orders will go in early February, which is the best way to check this?

Pass.

In reply to a post by billford:

Light level at the internal box (ONT?) is -17dBm, very happy with that.

Someone saying anything below -25dBm is good one.

Google search say:

Technicians measure in dBm (decibels relative to one milliwatt), with acceptable residential ranges often between -14dBm and -26dBm, depending on distance and equipment. Lower negative numbers (e.g., -10dBm) mean stronger signals, while higher negative numbers (e.g., -28dBm) mean weaker signals

Glad you got it, not sure if you would notice any difference between 80Mb/s and 100, but they may give you better prices. If i did not have Zzoomm and if I was pushed onto a Openreach FTTP service, I would have gone for something like 70-100Mb/s.

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

not sure if you would notice any difference between 80Mb/s and 100

You're right, I don't, but in a way that's the point. The FTTC was fast enough for all my needs, what's the point of paying a lot more for a much faster service that isn't really going to make any difference to me?

TBH, I'd have been perfectly happy to stick with the FTTC indefinitely, but I knew that wasn't going to be an option... and one day the whim suddenly took me and I bit the bullet

In reply to a post by MHC:

I want OR to offer an SFP ONT which would plug straight into my gateway.

Just buy one. GPON SFP ONTs are pretty cheap.

In reply to a post by billford:

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

not sure if you would notice any difference between 80Mb/s and 100

You're right, I don't, but in a way that's the point. The FTTC was fast enough for all my needs, what's the point of paying a lot more for a much faster service that isn't really going to make any difference to me?

TBH, I'd have been perfectly happy to stick with the FTTC indefinitely, but I knew that wasn't going to be an option... and one day the whim suddenly took me and I bit the bullet

When speaking to SiL about internet at a new to them property, I said just get 150FTTP, she said "we don't need fibre, we aren't gamers", my reply was " At that address copper will be slower, less reliable, and cost more", I'm not sure she believed me, but a few days later she said "150FTTP was the cheapest we could get".

In reply to a post by burble:

When speaking to SiL about internet at a new to them property, I said just get 150FTTP, she said "we don't need fibre, we aren't gamers", my reply was " At that address copper will be slower, less reliable, and cost more", I'm not sure she believed me, but a few days later she said "150FTTP was the cheapest we could get".

Common challenge, people assume the technology type is speed, same happens with “I don’t need 4G, 3G is all I need”…. They actually need enough internet speed to do emails, WhatsApp and light browsing. It unfortunately gets confused with technology.

Don’t some ISPs offer the VDSL/FTTC 80/20 product over Openreach FTTP ?

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Don’t some ISPs offer the VDSL/FTTC 80/20 product over Openreach FTTP ?

We can't once we move to FTTP then Openreach won't let you order SoGEA/FTTC & G.Fast anymore. Any placed an order you get rejected from OR if you already got FTTP live.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Don’t some ISPs offer the VDSL/FTTC 80/20 product over Openreach FTTP ?

You can get 80/20 FTTP from Plusnet.

40/10 also

Whilst slower speeds such as 80/20 and 40/10 are available, 150 generally is a lower price. I think OR have an 'offer' on this speed to ISP's.

In reply to a post by adslmax:

We can't once we move to FTTP then Openreach won't let you order SoGEA/FTTC & G.Fast anymore.

I wasn't clear in my post, but I meant the same level of speed. As others have responded Plusnet do this, which for some people would be quite dramatic if they only managed 30 Mbps on a VDSL, they could actually get the full 76/80 on an FTTP connection... maybe for the same price.

It would be in Openreach interests to make that possible, to move people off copper faster.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

It would be in Openreach interests to make that possible, to move people off copper faster.

this is the challenge that OR has with the exchange clousres. Some who can get fttp just won't move (some obviously has equipment that isn't upgradable and thats semi understandable)

The reality even without exchange closures there is little reason to stay on copper.

For those taking the BT social tariff, only 40/10 or 80/20 are available options on FTTC or FTTP

In reply to a post by burble:

Whilst slower speeds such as 80/20 and 40/10 are available, 150 generally is a lower price. I think OR have an 'offer' on this speed to ISP's.

Its a shame not ever ISP offers the lower speeds as it would be an easier sell to get punters off of copper.

Would be good to see a joint campaign between Openreach and the large ISPs selling the benefits of moving to FTTP (not just the usual stuff about lighting speeds).

In reply to a post by Taras:

this is the challenge that OR has with the exchange clousres. Some who can get fttp just won't move (some obviously has equipment that isn't upgradable and thats semi understandable)

And hence the "stop sell" on new orders, migrations, and modifies in certain areas. As soon as someone moves out, it forces FTTP on the newcomers. Ditto if the existing occupant wants to change ISP or change speed.

After a few years, natural churn will get rid of most of the copper users. The last remaining few - well that's what the exchange closure trial is all about, how best to mop them up.

If you tell people they have to pay more to stay on copper, I think that'll make most of them move. For example, if you tell people they have to take FTTP to recontract, and conversely if they choose to stay on copper, they pay out-of-contract rates.

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

In reply to a post by burble:

Whilst slower speeds such as 80/20 and 40/10 are available, 150 generally is a lower price. I think OR have an 'offer' on this speed to ISP's.

Its a shame not ever ISP offers the lower speeds as it would be an easier sell to get punters off of copper.

Would be good to see a joint campaign between Openreach and the large ISPs selling the benefits of moving to FTTP (not just the usual stuff about lighting speeds).

I last checked 'offers' for ISP's who have 'landline' option, just before Black Friday, IIRC EE, BT, TalkTalk, Vodafone, and Sky all had 150 as the cheapest option (excluding social tariff), checked again just now and TalkTalk, and Sky still have it as cheapest, I think Vodafone might also still offer it as cheapest as well.

In reply to a post by burble:

I last checked 'offers' for ISP's who have 'landline' option, just before Black Friday, IIRC EE, BT, TalkTalk, Vodafone, and Sky all had 150 as the cheapest option (excluding social tariff), checked again just now and TalkTalk, and Sky still have it as cheapest, I think Vodafone might also still offer it as cheapest as well.

It must be areas specific as Sky's cheapest package is Full Fibre 100 in my area and Full Fibre 150 is an extra £2 on top of that.

Sky also full fibre 75 (well for me at least) but it's the same price as 100 (£26)

Well I was going by the 'current broadband offers' on this site which shows Sky Full Fibre 150 at £24/m.

Just run a check on Sky's website and they show for me. FF75 £25, FF100 £26, FF150 £24.

In reply to a post by burble:

Just run a check on Sky's website and they show for me. FF75 £25, FF100 £26, FF150 £24.

Interesting to see ISPs doing these price differences across the country.

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

Interesting to see ISPs doing these price differences across the country.

Sky may quote over OR or CF, so perhaps that is a reason. If its all over OR then perhaps Sky's own installers are more easily available in some postcodes?

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Sky may quote over OR or CF, so perhaps that is a reason.

Its a possibility, for me no CF but not sure if burble has CF available?

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Sky may quote over OR or CF, so perhaps that is a reason.

Its a possibility, for me no CF but not sure if burble has CF available?

We had fibre installed in our half of village by OR with BDUK funding, I doubt CF or the likes will ever touch a settlement this small.
p.s. I would note that thinkbroadband list FF150 as being the same price on CF as well as OR.

Edited by burble (Sun 04-Jan-26 16:32:08)

In reply to a post by burble:

We had fibre installed in our half of village by OR with BDUK funding, I doubt CF or the likes will ever touch a settlement this small.
p.s. I would note that thinkbroadband list FF150 as being the same price on CF as well as OR.

Yesterday the FF100 was £26 here and today its now £38 (the same price as FF900).

With FF150 still at £28 and you said its only £24 in your area so it just shows the prices are moving around depending on what parts of the country Sky are looking for more sign ups.

In reply to a post by billford:

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

not sure if you would notice any difference between 80Mb/s and 100

You're right, I don't, but in a way that's the point. The FTTC was fast enough for all my needs, what's the point of paying a lot more for a much faster service that isn't really going to make any difference to me?

TBH, I'd have been perfectly happy to stick with the FTTC indefinitely, but I knew that wasn't going to be an option... and one day the whim suddenly took me and I bit the bullet

I'm totally with you on this. I went from 80/20 (actually 65/16) to 100/20 (actually 110/20). I really didn't need the extra speed I just felt that I ought to switch to the latest technology now that it was available. It did also reduce my monthly bill by £4 which was nice.

To be honest I could have switched earlier to either Swish or Gigaclear but I trust and like IDNet (plus I wanted static IPv4 and IPv6) so waited until OR finally got their kit in the ground.

Edited by Andrue (Sun 04-Jan-26 19:59:51)

In reply to a post by XGS_Is_On:

In reply to a post by MHC:

I want OR to offer an SFP ONT which would plug straight into my gateway.

Just buy one. GPON SFP ONTs are pretty cheap.

How would you register it on OR's network? I don't imagine OR would tell you the (ID? Encryption key?) for your connection.

Edited by Andrue (Sun 04-Jan-26 20:12:09)

In reply to a post by Andrue:

To be honest I could have switched earlier to either Swish or Gigaclear but I trust and like IDNet (plus I wanted static IPv4 and IPv6) so waited until OR finally got their kit in the ground.

Replace Swish with Netomnia and it's ditto

In reply to a post by Andrue:

In reply to a post by XGS_Is_On:

In reply to a post by MHC:

I want OR to offer an SFP ONT which would plug straight into my gateway.

Just buy one. GPON SFP ONTs are pretty cheap.

How would you register it on OR's network? I don't imagine OR would tell you the (ID? Encryption key?) for your connection.

basically, you clone it.