OpenReach fibre infrastructure / property question

[Blown2CV]

We live rurally, in a barn conversion that formed part of an old stately home estate. The barns are large, and have 10 properties within. The barns are in the middle of working farm today.

Our only internet options are starlink or 5G. We could get FttC, but the speeds are a lot worse than 5G so most people use that. It is kind of tolerable, but has lots of outages, stability issues, weather dependent etc.

I have had a long-running case with the local council to bid for extraordinary funding to build FttP to our properties, which I have successfully done.

However, I am now thinking ahead to what the install might look like, as i hear horror stories of how much of an eyesore of a build or install people get saddled with, as a direct result of the need to accelerate the fibre roll out across the country.

We currently have underground copper BT lines, where the access hatch for which seems to be on my part of the land. I am told however that OpenReach may not or will likely not use that route, and instead will follow the overhead wires route and maybe install an extra pole to carry that... due to the design of the properties in a U-shape, and the direction I know the exchange is broadly in, basically it could end up looking pretty awful if they do it the easiest way....

what are peoples' experiences, and what can people tell me about what to expect or to fight for...?

thanks

[2172cc]

If the existing copper service is ducted rather than buried armoured cable and has sufficient duct space then that might be worth getting a blue draw rope through ready for them to pull the fibre in. I'm imagining that the exiting copper will eventually go to a joint box in the road at some point where the fibre network may already pass through. I've been retired from BT/Openreach for a couple of years now but most of the network stuff round my way is done by sub contractors that will always go for and easy option.

[ozzuk]

We just had full fibre installed, we went for the 500mb service (vodaphone) and don't get anywhere near that and it seems to vary a lot. I'd say 50-100mb average. Also, current copper was below ground but they refused to match it and ran a new cable from nearby pole. When queried he said it was standard approach and they don't even consider below ground.

[RotorRambler]

Around my way, Openreach contractors are making a right mess. Putting up new poles and mounting their stuff in the sky for fibre. Boxes and all sorts of crap on the poles.
A real eyesore.
City Fibre buried theirs. A proper company.
Openreach don t seem to give a monkeys.
They should pay to use the fantastic Cith Fibre infrastructure my way.

One new pole borderline obstructs a pavement.
A month ago I raised a complaint & have a reference number via https://www.openreach.com/help-and-support/object-...
No reply of course.. I will follow up.

I would go elsewhere given the choice

Edited by RotorRambler on Monday 13th April 16:17

[pghstochaj]

How does the cable currently get to your house (and when was it installed)?

[POIDH]

Openreach are the biggest shower of ill-planned, poorly delivered, bad customer service people I know. Avoid ANYTHING to do with them for as long as you can.

Thank you for your attention in this matter.

[Jeremy-75qq8]

Cut out the middle man. Starlink. No fight. 2 days and you are done.

Fast. Stable. I have it in my boat. Speed normally 400mb down.

[Snow and Rocks]

My parents in rural Aberdeenshire recently had FTTP installed by openreach at no cost and it's all underground. The line running alongside the b road through open countryside is buried in the verge and the 75m or so spur to their house was also buried.

Nice tidy job. Guess it might be contractor/location dependent but seems a bit strange.