FTTP Backhaul / LLU

A friend of mine asked about LLU and when they switch from ADSL to FTTP that has just been installed in their street wether the ISP has an LLU presents in the exchange makes a difference to how the backhaul would be.. Unsure of the answer I'm asking you guys.

So the local exchange has TT & Sky as LLU but they want to go for a Zen FTTP product.. That will just route back to Zen via BTW backhaul correct? Where as Sky or TT would route straight into their respective networks from the Exchange onwards or does the Exchange not really play into FTTP at all?

LLU does not really apply to FTTP. The providers you can use will depend on whether they have cablelinks installed in the Head end exchange where the fibre comes from, this may not be the local telephone exchange. I used to live in a small village with a large shed for the exchange, the Head end exchange was about 14 miles away.

Correct, the LLU providers have their own backhaul network at the terminating exchange, so no matter whether you're on ADSL2+, FTTC or FTTP, the likes of Sky and TalkTalk will use their own network from the exchange onwards, totally independent of BT Wholesale.

In reply to a post by Binary_Digit:

So the local exchange has TT & Sky as LLU but they want to go for a Zen FTTP product.. That will just route back to Zen via BTW backhaul correct? Where as Sky or TT would route straight into their respective networks from the Exchange onwards or does the Exchange not really play into FTTP at all?

Not really.
As pointed out in the 1st reply there is no LLU on FTTP.

The exchange that your ADSL comes from isn't necessarily the same exchange that FTTC and FTTP comes from.

OpenReach split exchanges in to parent and child exchanges, with child exchanges continuing to sell copper services but no fibre services.
A (usually) much larger exchange will handle all of the FTTC/FTTP connections for the local child exchanges.
Parent exchanges are also commonly known as Head-End exchanges or Handover exchanges.

With LLU providers unbundle the local loop by running their own equipment in the local copper exchange.
There's none of that on FTTC or FTTP.

Everyone is connected to OpenReach hardware in the exchange with FTTP and FTTC.
Backhaul providers only need to purchase a GEA cablelink to access all customers on that parent exchange.
This also gives them access to all customers on every child exchange served by the parent exchange.

It means the choice of providers is often much better on FTTC as you don't need your local exchange to be unbundled by all the different providers.
There's a much higher chance providers will have a cablelink installed at the large parent exchanges than they will have their own hardware in every small child exchange.

FTTP may have fewer providers available as some providers have taken the commercial decision not to sell FTTP yet.
Some providers have only very recently started selling FTTP so are still in the process of upgrading their cablelinks in parent exchanges across the country. This means their coverage can be hit or miss.

Edit: added additional details.

Edited by j0hn83 (Fri 23-Oct-20 17:30:12)

In my case the Zen FTTC backhaul from my exchange is provided by TTB according to checks done on the line.

In reply to a post by Realalemadrid:

LLU does not really apply to FTTP.

But for the purposes of backhaul for FTTC/P services, its still relevant. Unbundled exchanges are also connected to the provider's own backhaul network. If, for example, the head end exchange hasn't been LLU'd by TalkTalk or Sky, then all the cable links in the world won't help one bit if someone wants to order a FTTC/P service from one of these providers. However in reality this isn't the case as most (if not all) larger exchanges have been LLU'd by the big non-BTW based providers This is only an issue with the smaller LLU providers such as Orbital and Spectrum who have only unbundled a handful of exchanges in Kent and S Wales respectively. They can still supply FTTC/P services nationwide over BTW tails but charge considerably more, therefore most of their customers tend to be local.