In reply to a post by baby_frogmella:

Why would you want to change the Openreach CPE (ONT) when it does the job? In case you're unaware, doing so would put you in breach of your CP/Openreach's t&c's as the ONT is supposed to be left untouched.

I can think of a whole slew of reasons why one might want to change the ONT. That said they mostly revolve around wanting an ONT in an SFP form factor.

But to answer your question & from a technical viewpoint, it would be pretty much impossible to use a third party ONT as the Openreach ONT won't be linked to their network just by its serial number - probably by its MAC, Product ID's and some other hidden info as well so I wouldn't bother going to all the trouble. You've probably got more chance of winning the lottery than 'spoofing' all that info onto a new ONT thus fooling Openreach into thinking you're still using their equipment.

One of the methods in the GPON standard is to authenticate via serial number and given that installers are busy scanning the serial number bar code it is a pretty good bet that they are just using the serial number.

So for example the Ubiquiti ONT's are compatible with a range of Huawei OLT's

https://help.ubnt.com/hc/en-us/articles/115009335068

You can also if you so wish change the serial number

https://blog.onedefence.com/changing-the-gpon-serial...

Note the MAC address on the back of the Openreach ONT will be the consumer side MAC, you will be able to double check that very easily if you want.

Though I would be wary of replacing the ONT myself. It would be a big improvement however if Openreach offered an ONT in an SFP form factor.

In reply to a post by jabuzzard:

Though I would be wary of replacing the ONT myself. It would be a big improvement however if Openreach offered an ONT in an SFP form factor.

What are your thoughts on the proportion of users that might be wanting the Openreach product with routers that take SFPs and the desire to use them?

https://blog.onedefence.com/changing-the-gpon-serial...

Kinda ensures that Openreach don't want customers going anywhere near terminating FTTP on their own kit for much the same reasons cable companies either outright reject allowing customers to bring their own kit or, where they are required to by law, they insist on managing the modems themselves.

I'll not reiterate what has been said but having gone from ADSL to FTTP and having had to swap filters, cables and routers when I've had issues I'd say it's better that the ONT is actually part of the access network and that all I have to be concerned with is the batteries in the backup unit. the ethernet cable to my router and my router itself.

If the ONT gives up the ghost it's over to them.

In fact, had putting the ADSL modem into OR's hands been an option when I was on ADSL I'd have probably opted to do it on the basis that I had a few wasted days off waiting for them.

The SFP is the ONT. Then assuming you have a suitable router you just plug the SFP into the router of your choice, plug the fibre into the SFP and bobs your uncle.

Basically instead of the ONT turning it into a 1000BaseT connection and then your router turning the 1000BaseT back into SGMII to connect to the router, the SFP based ONT just pits out an SGMII signal that goes straight into the router of your choice. That is assuming the router of your choice has a SFP cage.

Huawei even do one

https://www.huawei.com/ucmf/groups/public/documents/...

Saves an extra box and cables, several watts and some latency.

I'm sure this post will please those who were complaining about over using acronyms with no explanation.

I understood about half this post

In reply to a post by j0hn83:

I'm sure this post will please those who were complaining about over using acronyms with no explanation.

I understood about half this post

Holds hand up.

In reply to a post by j0hn83:

I'm sure this post will please those who were complaining about over using acronyms with no explanation.

I understood about half this post

There must be a competition that I don't know about, winner is the one with most acronyms with no explanations

In reply to a post by jabuzzard:

The SFP is the ONT. Then assuming you have a suitable router you just plug the SFP into the router of your choice, plug the fibre into the SFP and bobs your uncle.

I know what SFPs are, my point was asking how many people do and how many service providers are knocking on Openreach's door indicating their customers are wanting to connect arbitrary kit to the FTTP network rather than an Ethernet presentation?

The product is GEA FTTP - the GEA bit stands for 'Generic Ethernet Access'. The plan was supposed to be to present the same interface regardless of the technology connecting customer to headend.

On a point to point network absolutely fine. When the security standards are more mature and cryptographic authentication is stronger absolutely fine. Allowing the bloke next door to plug whatever he wants into the network having flashed it with custom firmware and impersonate my ONT doesn't appeal.

In reply to a post by Ignitionnet:

On a point to point network absolutely fine. When the security standards are more mature and cryptographic authentication is stronger absolutely fine. Allowing the bloke next door to plug whatever he wants into the network having flashed it with custom firmware and impersonate my ONT doesn't appeal.

Well GPON uses AES so unless you have knowledge that it is broken it's not something to worry about. Also unless your neighbour is able to gain entry to your house and read the serial number of the back of the ONT it won't help. Even then they would need to disconnect your ONT, you can't have two ONT's authenticated at the same time (unless Openreach are really dumb). Also knowing your serial number won't help them snoop on your established connection. I would like this to any DOCISS connection.

Finally nothing is stopping a bad actor flashing some custom firmware on their ONT and impersonating your ONT today. It's all largely standards compliant stuff and if it where a problem it would have been a problem for years with all those DOCISS cable connections.

In reply to a post by baby_frogmella:

In reply to a post by marcusjclifford:

There is lots of "should" and "may" but limited hard information.

So why don't you ask Openreach and/or your CP for a definitive answer? Its clear no one on TBB has done it.

Ask who?
There are hardly any any resources left. Those few who stayed have no time on educating users.
The mantra is: tickets, tickets. Close as many tickets as possible otherwise managers will not get their bonuses.