Noob Question

Hi,

My son is moving to a new property (rental). FTTP is available in the area, but we do not think it is actually connected to his flat. There is a "normal" Openreach branded phone socket with a standard BT socket.

All the Broadband providers in the area are offering Ultrafast FTTP connections and none of them are quoting for Superfast connections.

Is there any way for sure to see if the flat actually is connected to FTTP before signing up for a service as we'd rather know before committing ourselves whether or not it will require holes being drilled in his new flat so we can seek the landlord's permission first.

For Openreach-based service, put the address into the wholesale checker:

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/...

If FTTP is available it will tell you so.

Thank you for that.

That checker says WBC FTTP is available and says "FTTP Install Process 1 Stage". So does that mean it is actually connected, all the wires running to the flat, no holes to drill etc, or does it mean that we can request it, but then once requested the wires will need to be ran to the property and the physical connection made?

The second option I suspect

In reply to a post by Fidney:

Thank you for that.

That checker says WBC FTTP is available and says "FTTP Install Process 1 Stage". So does that mean it is actually connected, all the wires running to the flat, no holes to drill etc, or does it mean that we can request it, but then once requested the wires will need to be ran to the property and the physical connection made?

The real meat is the text beneath the box with the purple coloured headings.

If the flat is already connected up to FTTP, then typically in the first or second paragraph there it would say something like, “ONT exists with active service”.

I suspect though it doesn’t yet, which is why you can only find a regular copper socket in the flat.

As a renter, your son would have very little clout in getting FTTP installed.

He may or may not be able to persuade the 'landlord' to allow a hole in the flat for cable entry, but the issue might be bigger than that. Specifically there might be no fibre cables in the building, and as well as persuading the cable company to add the building to their build plans, the permission of the owner of the building would be needed to run the fibres through the building to the flats.

At least in England & Wales the building owner (freeholder) is often a different entity from the flat 'owners' (leaseholders), and rarely can the leaseholders compel the freeholder (their landlord) to grant a wayleave. Unless (at the risk of complicating things) the leaseholders share ownership of the freeholder...

You could put the addresses of the other flats into the checker. If none has fttp, that may be the situation; but if at least one does, that would be more promising.

In reply to a post by Thinker27:

[...] Specifically there might be no fibre cables in the building, and as well as persuading the cable company to add the building to their build plans, the permission of the owner of the building would be needed to run the fibres through the building to the flats.

I doubt this is a problem given the installation is showing as "1 stage". This typically means that the internal cabling in the communal hallways of the flats is complete and the only work required is for the fibre to be brought into the flat and connected to an ONT.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

In reply to a post by Fidney:

Thank you for that.

That checker says WBC FTTP is available and says "FTTP Install Process 1 Stage". So does that mean it is actually connected, all the wires running to the flat, no holes to drill etc, or does it mean that we can request it, but then once requested the wires will need to be ran to the property and the physical connection made?

The real meat is the text beneath the box with the purple coloured headings.

If the flat is already connected up to FTTP, then typically in the first or second paragraph there it would say something like, “ONT exists with active service”.

I suspect though it doesn’t yet, which is why you can only find a regular copper socket in the flat.

As this, the FTTP enabled house I'm posting this from says " ONT exists with active service", another house which has copper line only, says "FTTP is available and a ONT may be ordered"
Both show '1 stage' install despite that fact one house has the fibre actually installed and the other has fibre a couple of poles away.

In reply to a post by burble:

Both show '1 stage' install despite that fact one house has the fibre actually installed and the other has fibre a couple of poles away.

Indeed. As noted if the text beneath the box says the magic words "ONT exists...." then one is home and dry.

Otherwise it remains to be seen precisely what cabling works are needed to bring the fibre actually into the flat and hence what the landlord / freeholder / managing agent blah blah situation could be. There are so many possible permutations and combinations, it's not worth speculating that with the OP. Best that they investigate for themselves, as required.

Being the sitting (owner) occupier is one thing. Trickier situation as a prospective tenant.

Thanks everyone. For all flats at the property (luckily there are only 6!) it shows the 1 stage FTTP install process and all also shows "FTTP is available and a new ONT may be ordered" so looks like none of the flats have it yet.

We've asked the landlord and fingers crossed he says yes.

Guess that no-one is offering Superfast connections because it is old tech and will only be around for the next couple of years, but will be annoying if the landlord does say "no" as that would only leave the option of going with mobile home broadband.