fibre cable the same for different provider?

I'm thinking of switching from Plusnet fibre to YourFibre are they are in my area and seem to have pretty good deals.

The question is, will the actual fibre cable that goes from the small grey box on my outside wall, to the small Plusnet box (that then goes into the router) be the same cable as that which Youfibre would install?

I have recently renovated, and the Plusnet fibre cable is now behind skirting and actually routed through a small wall, so replacing that cable could be problematic to say the least!

YourFibre will install all their own cable and equipment from the street to the router, the Plusnet/Openreach cable and equipment will remain untouched

so are you saying that they can use the plusnet optical cable, so I don't have to try to hide their cables within the property??

In reply to a post by ukmgranger:

so are you saying that they can use the plusnet optical cable, so I don't have to try to hide their cables within the property??

You need to read my post again fella as I said the total opposite.

YourFibre and the Openreach network (used by Plusnet) are completely separate. You will have two of everything once YourFibre install their service. None of the Openreach fibre cabling can be reused by YourFibre.

Edited by PCJM40 (Mon 01-Sep-25 15:26:29)

So they even have a different type/spec of fibre optic cable that runs from their external terminal box to the internal ONT? Surely it's the same tech??

In reply to a post by ukmgranger:

So they even have a different type/spec of fibre optic cable that runs from their external terminal box to the internal ONT? Surely it's the same tech??

You're missing the point as its not about tech, YourFibre WILL install their own fibre cabling, ONT and router all the way from the street to where you want the router located. You may have done a good job of hiding the fibre cabling installed by Openreach but YourFibre will not use it as its owned by Openreach. You're not the first person to switch from an Openreach ISP to a Altnet and find this out.

Hmmm. May have to rethink this and find a decent openreach based provider. Just can't go through the pain of hiding cables again. As mentioned newly renovated (but very old) property so really need to use the fibre cable that is currently installed behind skirting / through walls.

@PCJM40
Thanks for taking the time to clarify all this though - extremely helpful!!

If its a switch of Openreach ISP then everything you have apart from the router will be reused.

Probably doesn’t need stating now , but it’s not a compatibility issue it’s an ownership issue , competing networks cannot simply use each other’s assets (well not ones like this anyway ) even if the customer would like it to save ‘clutter’ on the house walls .

Edited by Iniltous (Mon 01-Sep-25 19:36:23)

Running the fibre like that could also cause you issues in future if Openreach need to do any work. They won't be able to easily replace that cable if it got any damage. I am not sure how Openreach engineers tackle a job where their cable has been buried behind skirting.

In reply to a post by ian72:

Running the fibre like that could also cause you issues in future if Openreach need to do any work. They won't be able to easily replace that cable if it got any damage. I am not sure how Openreach engineers tackle a job where their cable has been buried behind skirting.

Badly, certainly if it is one of their contractors, in theory, it should not go bad, if it fibre, it is supposed to last for years, but the one, was told about, the fault happened outside, where the fibre spliced, and they had to replace the internal fibre, the fibre was behind the skirting board and that was more or less ripped off and the owner was told it was their problem. Complaining to their ISP did nothing.

I did say to them, it was a silly place to put it.

Calling BS on this one , in this case the householder would have to remove the skirting in advance and then replace it themselves if the same method to replace a faulty cable was wanted , or almost certainly that faulty cable would be left abandoned in situ and the replacement cable surface wired to the ONT location , it’s frankly laughable to suggest someone without the householders permission simply started removing skirting boards, it’s risible nonsense.
Seemingly your anti Openreach/BT commentary has no bounds.

Edited by Iniltous (Tue 02-Sep-25 12:51:43)

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

the fibre was behind the skirting board and that was more or less ripped off and the owner was told it was their problem.

Agreed, it was a silly place to put it, but ripping off the skirting board looks a bit gratuitous. If that bit of fibre was bad and the had to splice in another length between ONT and CSP, why didn't they just adopt a new route?

In reply to a post by Iniltous:

Calling BS on this one , in this case the householder would have to remove the skirting in advance and then replace it themselves if the same method to replace a faulty cable was wanted , or almost certainly that faulty cable would be left abandoned in situ and the replacement cable surface wired to the ONT location , it’s frankly laughable to suggest someone without the householders permission simply started removing skirting boards, it’s risible nonsense.
Seemingly your anti Openreach/BT commentary has no bounds.

Just going by what I have been told, my hatred for BT/Openreach have no bearing on it.

In reply to a post by DFScale:

Agreed, it was a silly place to put it, but ripping off the skirting board looks a bit gratuitous. If that bit of fibre was bad and the had to splice in another length between ONT and CSP, why didn't they just adopt a new route?

Just what they told me, happened a while back.

Perhaps they have a similarly propensity to make sh*t up , birds of a feather and all that , and because it fits with your world view you chose to believe it ….frankly I don’t believe it , as neither of us were present your opinion and mine carry the same weight , however your continued negative perspective towards all things BT and Openreach hardly set you up as an honest broker

Edited by Iniltous (Wed 03-Sep-25 09:20:20)

In reply to a post by Iniltous:

Perhaps they have a similarly propensity to make sh*t up , birds of a feather and all that , and because it fits with your world view you chose to believe it ….frankly I don’t believe it , as neither of us were present your opinion and mine carry the same weight , however your continued negative perspective towards all things BT and Openreach hardly set you up as an honest broker

I don't really care, just saying what I was told and to be honest, seeing the contractor's Openreach uses, It would not surprise me one little bit.

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

You need to read my post again fella as I said the total opposite.

Untouched could be misread by some as will remain in place (and used by new circuit)

In reply to a post by ukmgranger:

Hmmm. May have to rethink this and find a decent openreach based provider. Just can't go through the pain of hiding cables again. As mentioned newly renovated (but very old) property so really need to use the fibre cable that is currently installed behind skirting / through walls.

You should use ducting if so but bear in mind bend radiuses. I have done something similar though through needs so understand the difficulty.

In reply to a post by seb:

Untouched could be misread by some as will remain in place (and used by new circuit)

I expect better from you Seb, you need to read my whole post and its very clear what I meant so its not ambiguous.

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

YourFibre will install all their own cable and equipment from the street to the router, the Plusnet/Openreach cable and equipment will remain untouched

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

In reply to a post by seb:

Untouched could be misread by some as will remain in place (and used by new circuit)

I expect better from you Seb, you need to read my whole post and its very clear what I meant so its not ambiguous.

In reply to a post by PCJM40:

YourFibre will install all their own cable and equipment from the street to the router, the Plusnet/Openreach cable and equipment will remain untouched

people don 't always read posts carefully.. I'm just pointing out there's no point being annoyed.

In reply to a post by seb:

people don't always read posts carefully.

Clearly not, I'll leave it there rather than say more that you can criticise.

In reply to a post by ukmgranger:

I'm thinking of switching from Plusnet fibre to YourFibre are they are in my area and seem to have pretty good deals.

The question is, will the actual fibre cable that goes from the small grey box on my outside wall, to the small Plusnet box (that then goes into the router) be the same cable as that which Youfibre would install?

I have recently renovated, and the Plusnet fibre cable is now behind skirting and actually routed through a small wall, so replacing that cable could be problematic to say the least!

how many meters is this "plusnet fibre"?

is this it really fibre or ethernet?

In reply to a post by seb:

You should use ducting if so but bear in mind bend radiuses. I have done something similar though through needs so understand the difficulty.

I tend to use "swept bends" rather than 90° or elbow and for 45° or similar, bend the conduit.

For the uninitiated - not you Seb!
Swept Bend
Elbow

an Inspection Elbow such as This can be a little tighter and the removable cap allows you to ease the fible or cable round.