Fibre installation query - Pole fed, anchor point no longer accessible by ladder

[smithm36312]

Hi All,

My elderly parents are currently with Plusnet and have recently been contacted about the PSTN switch off and offered the option to move to EE in order to keep their landline phone with Digital Voice. They have requested my assistance in helping them through the transition.

They currently have an FTTC copper connection, provided via a pole in the street outside. Their broadband is not particularly heavily used, the greatest demand being occasional iPlayer streaming, and they are happy with their current speeds. They also want to keep the router and cordless phone base station where it is, in the hallway next to the main entrance door.

Openreach fibre is available and, having checked the options presented on EE's website using the discount code provided by Plusnet, they are all full fibre options.

The issue I foresee with a fibre install is that, since the copper line was installed, a UPVC porch has been added, and flashing has been laid over the top. The anchor point on the property for the cable from the pole is no longer accessible from ground level using a ladder and I suspect a cherry picker would be required to get to it.

Can this be dealt with as part of the Openreach installation? Alternatively would they be able to stick with an FTTC/SOGEA service using the existing copper, even though a full fibre connection is available?

[Schockwave]

@XRaySpeX , it is still all there, no idea whether the copper one would still work, nothing taken down, it was not Open Reach, but one of their other companies they send round, cannot remember the name right now. Have not actually tried the copper one since upgrading, so the same as you, I suspect.

[XRaySpeX]

@Schockwave : No, you won't be the same as me. I've got a Dedicated Landline Service which I call "DV from the Exchange". Your DV, if you want it, will be from the router.

What you might have for a short period is your old FTTC & analogue landline, if you had it, on the copper line. I did for about 3 weeks when I went FTTP; DV came later.

[smithm36312]

Yes, from other experiences I was reading yesterday it seems it's quite common that the old cable is left in place. If they can't get at the existing anchor point and cable route it may have to be left in place. I'll go have a look with them and see where would be most suitable for an accessible anchor point and cable route for fibre.

I'm assuming the CSP will have to be on the outside of porch. I'm not sure if they have power in the porch, but we can probably get it within a 10m cable route of a suitable location for the ONT even if that is in the hall where the existing NTE is.

My mother-in-law is also going through the same process, albeit without the pole feed and access complications but she is on an FTTC service with full fibre available. Hers is about six months ahead and she opted to do nothing and let Plusnet transfer her remaining contract over to EE. From what she's been told, it looks like EE are only going to provide a new router to swap out on the switch date so that does seem to be a route to remaining on copper in the short term.

That said, from what I'm seeing I suspect my parents are actually still on ADSL so I think my advice will be to accept a switch to full fibre sooner rather than later which will be cheaper and probably with a lower risk of issues impacting quality of service on the Digital Voice.

[XRaySpeX]

Ah, yes, the BTw Checker confirms your parents are currently on 14 Meg ADSL.

[Schockwave]

@XRaySpeX , I do not have a landline, have not had it for years now, not needed, use my mobile, have done for years. I know about the DV via the router for digital phones, not something I need.

[XRaySpeX]

Now I think of it the Full Fibre installing eng. wanted to remove the copper line & I had to warn him not to touch it as I still has a service on that line.