Full Fibre Install... Looking for advice after waiting almost a year for OR

[orksfore]

Hi there community. First post here, so please forgive me for any info I miss (Please just ask)

So, I placed my first FTTP order in July of last year (or some time around then...) it was a while ago. I waited for 6 months with a lovely guy over at EE, who supported me through the whole process... until I was told that the order would need to be cancelled as it was over 6 months old... or something like that... The BT Availability Checker updated from KCI2 Assure in an MDU... To Fibre not being available...

Anyway, placed another order in April of this year, which was outright refused by the freeholder (because of course it was, knowing how they are in this country)... BUT I placed another order on the 6th May which somehow got approved... EE CS Stated this and I've seen Openreach working outside the property over the past few weeks. Around a month ago, linked to the second order (which was refused) they ran a Red and White sheathing with a black cable inside, to the boundary of the property. When I placed the next order on 6th May, they FINALLY started working on the actual property... They appear to have taken the external build route and run fibres around the block... However I'm struggling to understand a) what the actual work they have done so far means, and b) how close I am to actually getting fibre in to my flat.

I've attached photos of the work they've completed so far. There seem to be these large grey boxes, one with the black cable (marked with the yellow and white label) that's been pulled from the ground. There is a second identical box which isn't hooked up to a cable in the ground, and this fibre appears to run to another area of the block...  The one which is attached seems to go to 4 non-open reach branded rectangular boxes. They are all next to each other and daisy-chained.

BT Broadband Checker still shows KCI2 Assure

Can anyone provide more insight on what this means, how long I can expect to wait based on experience, and what the next stages likely are.

[XRaySpeX]

Are you saying that all those boxes & cables are there just to serve your flat? All you need is 1 external box & 1 routing of cable thro' it to serve 1 line. Which were there before you ordered Full Fibre on May 6th?

[orksfore]

Hey there, so sorry for the confusion!

So I’m saying, these have all been installed in the past few days. There are 6 flats in my ‘block’, but quite a few more around the place in the same structure (but technically speaking different building areas, you can only access a few flats from the one main door to my building)

Again, prior to these all showing up outside, the freeholder of the building had explicitly refused an install because ‘it’s all just internet’ or whatever his excuse… so I’m assuming that’s why I’m seeing things outside? or does it still need to come in to a central location and be broken out inside?

To specifically answer your Q… @XRaySpeX The only cables that were there before the 6th were the red and while ones in the dirt. Everything else is new 🙂

I’d just like to know what these boxes are for, if this is a good sign (and if so, an estimate of how long it may take for me to get FTTP from EE… I have an open order!) and if there’s a reason that there would be 4 rectangular boxes placed here (when there are 6 flats in my portion of the building)!… Is there supposed to be, for example, one box per flat? There are 4 more further down the building, and 2 that were routed yesterday all the way to another area of the building… but there are about 36 flats total and only 10 rectangular boxes

Hope that makes sense! 

[XRaySpeX]

Sound like Combined OPs. Maybe the landlord has just given his permission for all the other flats simultaneously.

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@orksfore wrote:

and if so, an estimate of how long it may take for me to get FTTP from EE

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Why, haven't you been given an installation date by EE?

[orksfore]

Haven’t been given an install date as of yet, and also can’t access the order tracker… Trying to piece together as much info as possible if anyone has any experience or knowledge of how this type of install is done an an MDU… When I Put in the order no on the tracker, and post code I just get an empty red error message box…  No updates via text or email., no updates on the BTB Wholesale site (not sure if this would update at all)…

[JimM11]

@orksfore From the pictures you posted, the 2 larger Multi Tray CSP points would appear to be three separate splice point connection tray boxes, so you may have 2 separate Fibre feeds out going, each covering three flats, MDU cabling is way different from other installation procedures and the reason that MDU's take longer and more complex time for the installation.

Once the External and Internal are all completed you will have the better idea on timescale. 

The OR Fibre checker using your postcode and address may give you the better update. Link is below.

Fibre Checker

[orksfore]

Hmmm okay! It does look like they’re taking the external install route though, right? OR Fiber Checker states ‘Available Now’ but nothing from EE about any install other than their last text, stating OR are planning to provide service.. but can’t access order tracker any more…

[JimM11]

@orksfore It does look like it, only people who can answer that for you is the Installation team, they will know what they are doing. The OR surprised it is indicating ready but they have jumped the gun before, and who even knows if EE are all geared up in the Exchange side, if you cannot see the order tracker, then you have to make the call to EE CS to find out the state off play.

[orksfore]

@JimM11 @XRaySpeX  - I had a further text update today, stating: 

Our specialist team is working on getting you connected.

If you or your managing agent have any queries regarding permissions, please contact us quoting the property address at mdu.landlord.information@openreach.co.uk

This was from Openreach directly.

Though of course the install is already on the external of the building now…? Is this a good sign or just more waffle?