LLU operators with Fibre broadbannd.

I don't know if this actually an option but can I get a fibre broadband service from other than Openreach.

The Term 'LLU' springs to mind but does this apply to Fib re broadband?

That depends upon where you are.

In reply to a post by Sandgroundor:

I don't know if this actually an option but can I get a fibre broadband service from other than Openreach. The Term 'LLU' springs to mind but does this apply to Fib re broadband?

LLU really only existed when the service was from the exchange and the “local loop” of copper wire from your home/premises to the exchange. With FTTC this stopped working.

In the full fibre days its down to the companies whom have installed fibre in your road. Openreach, CityFibre, nexfibre are the big ones, along with Virgin Media whom have high speeds mostly over coax. Then you have the more local ones, often in the Thinkbroadband news, such as Toob, Brsk, and others.

Try the Better Internet Dashboard (bidb.uk) to see what is in your postcode.

Possibly, but they are referred to as altnets (Alternative Networks)
Try one of the broadband switching sites for options as they are location dependent.

LLU is only relevant for ADSL services, which hopefully you're not limited to.

Also pre-emptively do not use the Samknows checker, it's over a decade out of date now and won't give you any useful information.

Edited by jpm (Mon 16-Dec-24 19:48:51)

In reply to a post by Sandgroundor:

The Term 'LLU' springs to mind but does this apply to Fib re broadband?

No. For Openreach FTTP, they provide a wholesale lit GPON service, and you have to buy it through an ISP that uses the Openreach network.

The only unbundling is at the level of passive infrastructure (ducts and poles) which other operators (altnets) can use to install their own fibre.

You'll need to do some research to find out if any altnets are available in your area.

Of course, if the altnet fibre goes through the same duct as the Openreach fibre, and the duct is badly damaged, it could affect both equally.

In reply to a post by Sandgroundor:

I don't know if this actually an option but can I get a fibre broadband service from other than Openreach.

The Term 'LLU' springs to mind but does this apply to Fib re broadband?

As noted above - this analogy in the world of fibre to the premises does not apply in the UK.

You would need to be somewhere like Switzerland where they effectively have “unbundled” fibre infrastructure to the premises aka dark or unlit fibre.

Openreach does not provide this. What they do provide are two alternatives
- GEA FTTP which is described above, a PON based service for other service providers to run their own service over. Openreach maintain the end to end leg from the premises to their headend / handover exchange, not necessarily closest / local exchange either.
- leasing of their duct and pole infrastructure, via the PIA facility to proscibed communications provider to install their own fibre infrastructure be that FTTP broadband or other products such as Ethernet.

In reply to a post by candlerb:

You'll need to do some research to find out if any altnets are available in your area.

It's worth noting that, almost beyond belief, there is no single location you can go to to find out which providers can provide service to your house. If you're coming to this cold, then it can actually be quite tricky to work out if there are providers (beyond Openreach-servers ones) operating in your area. Ultimately, you might have to go and physically look at the poles to see what's hanging from them, but this gets much harder when it's all underground and you can't see anything!

I tried a few from a simple Google of "which fibre internet is in my area", based on my home address which has no OR fibre and a single altnet (Youfibre), as well as sluggish VDSL:

* Openreach only show OR services
* MoneySuperMarket offered BT fibre (not available), Onestream (not available), Fibrely (not available) Sky (Also openreach, not available) and Youfibre (this one was actually correct but a long way down the page!). All of the others were either OR or just plain wrong.
* Ofcom offered me VDSL only and reported no fibre available
* USwitch actually got it right, and offered Youfibre at the top of the list, with other offers being various OR VDSL-based options
* cable.co.uk got it wrong and only offered VDSL
* GoCompare got it wrong and offered several providers that are not even in the vicinity of my house. They did offer Youfibre, but again a long, long way down the list and as most of the others were wrong, you'd be lucky to pick the one correct answer from the list

In short, it's a mess. The best way round here would be to ask people, but as few even seem to know about our single altnet, and fewer still have signed up, you're likely to get bad information. Honestly, the best way would be to look at a pole, and note that there's a few "Netomnia" labelled junction boxes. Quick google will soon put you onto a likely provider.

Edited by daern (Tue 17-Dec-24 15:00:15)

Did you check on bidb too? Often a very helpful resource.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

Did you check on bidb too? Often a very helpful resource.

Only when in build, it seems, as it's mostly sourced from public works notifications. Once the network is in and stable, you'll see very little activity. e.g. for my house there's absolutely nothing reported in the local area, and the only two service providers it says are available are hyperoptic and fibrenest, neither of which is actually present. Youfibre who actually do cover most of the area aren't even shown.

That said, it was a useful resource 12 months ago when I was watching their deployment progress as they extended towards my area, so it's certainly not without value. But if you move into a house 5 years from now (or are even interested in buying a house and don't want to get stuck in an internet backwater), it's a bit of a minefield.