Fibre install options with external tiles

Hi all

Wondering if anyone with technical knowledge or previous experience would be able to tell me if fibre install is possible. Essentially, Virgin Media rocked up for the pre-install and said they couldn't drill through tiles but the engineer would speak to his manager after sending some photos. I phoned up customer service on day of appointment and was told they had rescheduled for a few weeks later (no further notes), which I presume means it's not an actual 100% no; however was a little cheesed so cancelled with VM.

I've since booked with BT as I can see there's two Openreach boxes on the outside already. Unfortunately the appointment is not for another two weeks and I'd rather save some heartbreak if it's going to be impossible!

This is the block - I am on the top floor: https://cdngeneral.rentcafe.co.uk/DocumentManager/3/...

Any advice/help would be much appreciated.

How do the current OpenReach cables get into your premises?

So your flat is entirely in the fully tiled top floor ?

An external feed through that ? I’d decline … add to that the issues that the ladder safety system brings (Tetra)

In reply to a post by ian72:

How do the current OpenReach cables get into your premises?

The junction box is on the ground floor, and the cables trail up (along the black pole) to the gutter just before the tiles.

In reply to a post by Zarjaz:

So your flat is entirely in the fully tiled top floor ?

An external feed through that ? I’d decline … add to that the issues that the ladder safety system brings (Tetra)

Suppose going through the back wouldn't be a possibility?

How are the other flats on the top floor serviced? Has your flat never had a phone line before?

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

How are the other flats on the top floor serviced? Has your flat never had a phone line before?

There's only one other flat on my floor - haven't been able to confirm with them what they do for internet yet. I haven't officially moved in yet, so had limited chances to investigate however there seemed to be BT and EE connections on my phone with full signal strength.

There is a phone line port in the front room. Can't say whether it's been used before however.

In reply to a post by ian72:

How do the current OpenReach cables get into your premises?

Looking at the picture again … it appears the flats appear to be pole fed ??

Was there a reason VM couldn't do the same route?

In reply to a post by ian72:

Was there a reason VM couldn't do the same route?

Can't say as I didn't actually see anyone in person and hadn't examined the outside myself until yesterday. I had my appointment booked for Saturday, and an engineer did the pre-install examination at 5pm Friday and verbally explained over the phone he didn't think I would be getting anything installed because of the tiles. The only other thing he asked was which side of the flats I'm on which I don't think is particularly relevant?! I only know they rescheduled, because I called 8am Saturday and the customer service rep said there were no notes on file so pretty much in the dark.

Edited by hopeful87 (Mon 14-Jul-25 14:57:00)