In reply to a post by GonePostal:

And if you move to another network provider you are not allowed to remove the remaining Openreach kit so end up with two (or more) fibre connections on your wall.

No different to the copper era. Why people ripped Openreach master sockets off walls and cut away cabling is really frustrating to the next owner.

In reply to a post by squarecrumpets:

There are several companies selling fibre extension kits for this task (moving ONT).

Anyone selling these kits specifically advertised for moving ONTs I would not consider reputable as they know moving an ONT its not permitted by the infrastructure owner. Selling a box and fibre patch lead in itself is not breaking any rules but using them to do it is.

Long tale but illustrates issues with ISPs and contractors:

A couple of weeks ago I spent 1h 20mins on online chat trying to terminate a business mobile broadband contract with Vodafone.

After convincing him that we were leaving the building and didn't need a cheaper/different service he wanted to sell something so said he could get the broadband in our main premises (also with Vodafone) cheaper. I asked him about copper service termination so he offered FTTP instead of our current FTTC. I told him I wasn't convinced they could get fibre in but he said they could and it would be cheaper. He booked an appointment for the install.

btw - at the end of the conversation he confirms the mobile bb contract would be terminated 12 days before I had asked for in my opening sentence. No it had to be exactly 30 days from the conversation - did I want to cancel the termination?

I later got an email asking me to complete an online form asking questions about the building and existing installation. I included information about it being in a Conservation Area and the existing copper via poles across private land.

Lots of confirmation messages on install date and that MJ Quinn would be doing it.

Well into the 5 h appointment slot a guy from Quinn turns up, takes one look at it and says he can't do it - it'll take four guys from Openreach to complete it.

Next day: another appointment booked for 3 days later. One Openreach engineer turns up . Looks around, confirms the pole that it needs to come from. Minor problem that he can't do the ladder work as there are spiked railings adjacent. Goes on to their voice chat; nearest spiked railing cover 40 miles away but he gets on with the internal work. Before he's finished a message comes through that a supervisor is returning with a spiked railing cover and between them they finish the installation.

Three days later we still don't have the FTTP connection because of an upstream problem but the Openreach intsallers did a good job and were there until 6:15 pm finishing off and trying to get a connection.

I've only ever had subcontractors work on my copper line, except when I've filed a fault, when it has always been Openreach engineers that have turned up. I suspect the same will happen with the fiber install.

On a side note: I'm guessing they will not touch the copper when they come to do the fibre? There's no PSTN on the line anymore - it's actually been disconnected now - the line only has VDSL2 on it. Once fibre is installed to the property, there should be no need to ever revert back to copper - right? I'm thinking about disconnecting the copper at the wee junction box where the black drop wire connects to the internal cable, so I can remove all the internal cabling, as it is tacked onto the skirting / architrave so doesn't look great. The fibre will (almost certainly) be entering the flat in the same room, but I'm going to get them to terminate it there too, and build a wee cabinet for my OPNsense router and a server I'm building.

Edited by andrum99 (Thu 05-Jun-25 18:50:55)

If you want rid of the copper then I would ask the engineer to remove it to the demarcation point and then you can remove the internals.

After we went completely fibre (Zen/CF) we were left with the original 50-year old incoming copper in the hall. I contacted OR via their website and they readily agreed to remove it at no charge. The guy arrived, disconnected the incoming cable, and asked if I'd like him to remove the wall box that the builders had nailed in place. I then filled the hole, redecorated the wall and it's now gone without trace.

Wow - didn't realise they actually did that. Thanks - I will give that a go once I get the fibre installed and working.

In my case the demarc is after some internals, hence the question. It enters in one room via a junction box which connects the drop wire to internal cable, then there's internal cable tacked onto the architrave / skirting through that room, another room, then into where the NTE is.

Update: FTTP is now available to order at my address, so I will be looking to order fairly soon. I'm going to be building a new enclosure to house the ONT, router and some other kit and the jump to FTTP gives me some good motivation to finally get that project built. It will also increase my storage capacity in that room, and make the storage space more flexibly at the same time. I have a problem that any time anything needs done or inspected in the electrics, which is at least once every 5 years (rented flat), it's a major hassle to move stuff out of the way. The new layout will make it much easier to do that occasional shift.