Plenty of poles being installed by Alt Nets that have nothing to do with OR.

And where is the pre-pole notice posted?

If there is no pole in the vicinity then it can't be stuck to a pole.

When it’s Openreach pre pole notices , it could be on a lamppost, a street sign post , a wooden stake driven into the ground with the notice stapled to it , the notice doesn’t need to be at the exact location of the pole , but reasonably close to it , there is always a chance that 5 mins after the notice is placed , a passer by removes it anyway that’s why it’s required to take a photo of the notice in situ and attach it to the survey return, it then becomes part of the pole application and the job pack for the pole erecting people.
TBH , if the notice had ‘outside No.7 Coronation Street’ that may still leave a certain amount of uncertainty for anyone with an interest, at survey the exact location is noted and recorded with a photo , and the survey tools also use a OS map reference to pinpoint the location although it’s always possible that buried services could mean the location changes slightly when the installation team visit .

Should someone complain because of the pre pole notice and get a visit from the planner , this will probably be the first time they know for sure the exact intended location ….it’s also possible the ground will be marked with biodegradable paint ( x marks the spot ) .

Edited by Iniltous (Sun 19-Nov-23 19:41:41)

I currently have a copper VDSL based broadband and I am beginning plans for switching to a fibre to the premise.

I have used the BT Checker link kindly provided by @PCJM40 and it indicates what I suspected, that OpenReach would intend to run the fibre cable from the telephone pole in my street. This is indeed how my current copper landline reaches my house.

I would however much prefer that the new fibre cable be run underneath my footpath to my house. This is partly down to the fact that the copper cable goes to a location in my house that I do not want to use for all this equipment, sockets, etc. and partly as the fibre connection once installed is likely to outlast me if not the house! So getting it the way I want is likely to be a one time opportunity.

Whilst as discussed in this thread getting a new telephone pole is a virtual impossibility - and not what I want, is there anyway to get OpenReach to install via underground duct despite the fact I do currently have a telephone pole connecting to my house?

The underground route to where I want the ONT etc. is next to my front door and the route via my front path underground is short and straight and internally ends up in my under stairs cupboard where I want it. The current route from the telephone pole goes to the upper floor of my house, along the righthand side of my house, and along the back of my house to an upstairs bedroom. Whilst this location is possible it is not desirable to me. Furthermore even if we try going from again the top-right of my house and then down to the ground and try going across to the font left, either this will be a longer route or harder to do underground as it would need to go around a bay window and under the entire width of the front garden and then along the left hand wall past the front door.

If you have a few thousand to spare and several months, you might get OR to run an underground cable but don't hold your breath.


You might be able to get the dropwire termination point moved and from there straight down the wall and then through to where you want the ONT.