Exchange questions

I looked up my exchange to see if I could get FTTP but it's not currently available. A nearby exchange is FTTP enabled and isn't much further away (imho!)

My questions are: 1. Can I request to move exchange or is it based on the cabinet? 2. Is there a distance limit to the range of FTTP?

Thanks and sorry if I've posted this before.

When you ‘look up’ your current exchange, that will very likely be the local copper PSTN and ADSL exchange. Any FTTP (or for matter the fibre that feeds the local FTTC cabinet) will not originate from that exchange - typically it will come from a larger ‘headend’ exchange via a nearby aggregation node.

The headend exchange will serve a much wider geographic area with FTTP and FTTC than your local copper exchange.

For FTTP you can’t request another exchange. It’s fixed and predetermined. There is a distance limit for GPON based FTTP and it is up to 20 kilometres, though in practise less than that.

openreach will not move premises for improviement of broadband experience (normally that is onyl done in expectional circumstances and normally if you could not make a telephone call would be the only reason)

distance is measured in many forms ie as the crow fllies or as the cable runs )both are distance of measurement both have wildly differing outcomes)

BrizzleRocker

Looking up the exchange is inaccurate especially as many of the platforms that tell you are no longer up to date.

You can use the map under info at the top of the main page to see how close it is to you or use the Openreach checker to see whether anything is planned in the short term

Or post you exchange and postcode here and someone may have more info.

Edited by kitcat (Wed 15-Dec-21 18:01:49)

Any FTTP (or for matter the fibre that feeds the local FTTC cabinet) will not originate from that exchange

Unless of course they are connected to the head end exchange anyway...

It is highly likely that the ducting runs a route from a specific place. Essentially to connect to a different exchange could require all new ducting put in as there could well not be a route in that direction at present. I don't believe BT would even entertain it but if they did they would most likely charge you a large amount of money for the work.

In the end even for people on an enabled exchange (and the exchange you would use for FTTP may well already be enabled) it doesn't really make any difference if BT aren't currently planning to roll out to you - the only option to make it faster would be FTTPoD which is a relatively expensive option (and seems to normally take about a year).

Yes. Roughly four fifths of exchanges will not be GEA handover exchanges and will eventually disappear (as will some handover exchanges). Won’t get into the pedantry of subtended OLT headends either as they are so rare.