In reply to a post by timcoote:

I believe it's always been in scope (how can I check?)

Since the change to the Openreach Fibre checker I am not sure you can self service the current scope status yourself.

I tweeted OR and got a response within an hour. The case has now been reopened (I hadn't been informed that it had been closed, and it's existence was blocking new case creation).

Let's see if any progress happens.

Looks like the fibre's installed. Needs a check, and I've actually got an estimate to completion!

While looking at this problem, I did check all local FTTP availability and mapped it. There are some very significant holes.

What strikes me is the poor linkage between market opportunity for the ISPs and the planned/achieved rollout by OR. In most markets that I've worked in the head of marketing would have been all over this opportunity to grow.

Openreach are a bit like an oil tanker, delivering a huge amount of FTTP but unable to change course quickly. This means small pockets get missed because they were overlooked or didn't fit into the program at the time.

That would be fine if there were a more direct link from consumers to OR. The ISPs that I tried (Sky and Vodafone), just checked the fibre checker and said 'no'. In Sky's case, they regarded the gap from a missing pole as an area that wasn't going to be connected on any current plans.

Plotting out the distribution, it's clear that many of the gaps are in areas that one might expect to support higher adoption density (new properties, expensive properties).

Order FTTPoD instead

In reply to a post by witchunt:

Openreach are a bit like an oil tanker, delivering a huge amount of FTTP but unable to change course quickly. This means small pockets get missed because they were overlooked or didn't fit into the program at the time.

It seems they don't do enough post analysis to re-asses areas so they fill in areas or don't do it quick enough. But whole oil tanker analogy is accurate for project gigabit as well perhaps for all large infrastructure projects. My area the new forest for instance, my postcode has 12 properties under review and one white. I can't see wessex internet laying fibre for one property. The New forest was separated from Hampshire for the pots because of its unique issues and yet its still being failed. Lets give WI a chance anyhoo.

In reply to a post by timcoote:

That would be fine if there were a more direct link from consumers to OR. The ISPs that I tried (Sky and Vodafone), just checked the fibre checker and said 'no'. In Sky's case, they regarded the gap from a missing pole as an area that wasn't going to be connected on any current plans.

Plotting out the distribution, it's clear that many of the gaps are in areas that one might expect to support higher adoption density (new properties, expensive properties).

This is the other thing, The OR checker will say YAY, but it can weeks/months for the BTwholesle checker to go from Non to YAY and thats why Sky will say no for longer.

In reply to a post by Taras:

This is the other thing, The OR checker will say YAY, but it can weeks/months for the BTwholesle checker to go from Non to YAY and thats why Sky will say no for longer.

Sky don't use BT Wholesale?

You don't need a direct link to OR, you need ISPs that are more competent or willing to put the effort in. They exist, they just aren't Sky and Vodafone.

In reply to a post by Taras:

This is the other thing, The OR checker will say YAY, but it can weeks/months for the BTwholesle checker to go from Non to YAY and thats why Sky will say no for longer.

Sky only need Openreach availability. They can and do provide service without BT Wholesale availability. They don't use BT Wholesale but use their own backhaul instead.

The BT Wholesale checker is only checking availability/capacity for BT Wholesale GEA cablelinks and its backhaul. It's only relevant for providers who use them.

I was able to order FTTP from Sky for over a month before BT Wholesale had everything ready and showed availability. Talktalk were months behind both of them.