Quick question about City Fibre Onstallation
Discussion
CF have recently ran a fibre optic cable into the street (25 houses) through existing conduits and stopped at the four BT manhole covers that allow distribution to individual houses again through conduits to each house.
That was completed a couple month ago or so.
Not withstanding that I Just got another email informing me that CF will be coming to the street, stating “ We're getting ready to build our brand new network in your area”.
Is this the completion of the network to each house, with the box being mounted on the wall outside and inside, or something else?
I was under the impression the actual service provider that you contract with for internet access did the final bit of the install from manhole to house?
Anyone throw a light onto what that email actually means please?
That was completed a couple month ago or so.
Not withstanding that I Just got another email informing me that CF will be coming to the street, stating “ We're getting ready to build our brand new network in your area”.
Is this the completion of the network to each house, with the box being mounted on the wall outside and inside, or something else?
I was under the impression the actual service provider that you contract with for internet access did the final bit of the install from manhole to house?
Anyone throw a light onto what that email actually means please?
Where we are, they blew the fibres down the Openreach conduits in the street and then disappeared for ages. They then reappeared, installed some small green cabinets at intervals along the street and also blew fibre down the conduit to every house. We have a box recessed into the outside wall that the BT cables came in through and they just left a loop of fibre in there. I think this second bit might be where you are now. They won't put anything inside the house at this point.
It was then a couple more months before Vodafone started putting things through the door saying it was available for connection. Vodafone had an exclusive period where they were the only option to connect with. I waited until my own ISP was offering the connection and then had it installed. Installation comprised someone from Kelly Communications turning up, drilling a new hole and feeding the fibre through. Then install the ONT and plug everything in. They considered it done once it had three lights on as that shows the ONT is connected. Getting the router connected was down to me and my ISP helpdesk (as they sent it with an incorrect setting so wouldn't sync).
It was then a couple more months before Vodafone started putting things through the door saying it was available for connection. Vodafone had an exclusive period where they were the only option to connect with. I waited until my own ISP was offering the connection and then had it installed. Installation comprised someone from Kelly Communications turning up, drilling a new hole and feeding the fibre through. Then install the ONT and plug everything in. They considered it done once it had three lights on as that shows the ONT is connected. Getting the router connected was down to me and my ISP helpdesk (as they sent it with an incorrect setting so wouldn't sync).
I didn’t think CityFibre were allowed to touch any BT infrastructure? Certainly where I am, they did a massive bodge job digging up the pavements, laying fibre cable direct under them at a depth of about an inch (so guaranteeing they’ll get screwed the first time someone digs a pavement), and branching off to a small box in the pavement at each house. To connect each house they’ll need to further run the cable across to the houses whatever way they can depending on the property.
After seeing the state they left the place in after running the cables, plus reading their reviews, I wouldn’t touch CityFibre with a barge pole. It’s been a bit of a pain for me recently, as I wanted to switch from BT FTTP due to contract end, and it was a right pain finding out which ISPs used BT infra and which were s
ttyFibre. They all just tout ‘Fibre 500/900/whatever’. Went with Sky in the end.
After seeing the state they left the place in after running the cables, plus reading their reviews, I wouldn’t touch CityFibre with a barge pole. It’s been a bit of a pain for me recently, as I wanted to switch from BT FTTP due to contract end, and it was a right pain finding out which ISPs used BT infra and which were s
ttyFibre. They all just tout ‘Fibre 500/900/whatever’. Went with Sky in the end. CheesecakeRunner said:
I didn’t think CityFibre were allowed to touch any BT infrastructure?
They are definitely in the Openreach conduits here, they didn't dig anything up at all and they had the Openreach covers up. They haven't (so far as I know) got anything in the Openreach cabinets.Ofcom made them open up access 5 or 6 years ago under something called Duct and Pole Access
Curious they didn’t do it where I am then. Certainly the year before, BT came and just blew fibre lines down their existing ducts in a matter of hours to connect up the whole street, so it’s not like there isn’t infra there they could have used if permitted.
But hey, I love the wiggly uneven patched lines of cheap tarmac down every pavement and jauntily fitted connection boxes. Its artistic.
But hey, I love the wiggly uneven patched lines of cheap tarmac down every pavement and jauntily fitted connection boxes. Its artistic.
They definitely used the Open reach conduits in my street, nothing dug up at all. When I spoke to one of the workers he said they would run a fibre cable through existing conduits to each house at some point…. I guess that’s about to happen soon.
I’m picking up they will run a fibre cable from the hatch where they ran the fibre cable to, to the house and put an external box on or coil it in the existing small grey box where the phone line currently comes in. Then a service provider will do the rest when I eventually take out a contract with somebody who uses City Fibre….
I’m picking up they will run a fibre cable from the hatch where they ran the fibre cable to, to the house and put an external box on or coil it in the existing small grey box where the phone line currently comes in. Then a service provider will do the rest when I eventually take out a contract with somebody who uses City Fibre….
There are a couple of steps to the build out, the fibres going down the ducts is the first bit, next they need to terminate the fibre to the distribution points that are underground. That will be a more specialist team.
Once that is done they are then capable of connecting houses to the distribution point and in to the network.
There is no box on the house until BT or a contractor turns up to fit the fibre to the property, it's not like when Virgin did a role out to the edge of everyones property.
Once that is done they are then capable of connecting houses to the distribution point and in to the network.
There is no box on the house until BT or a contractor turns up to fit the fibre to the property, it's not like when Virgin did a role out to the edge of everyones property.
I work for them.
We use OpenReach where we can, and where we can't we build our own ducted or pole based network.
The company have slowly transitioned from using the sewage network years ago(?!) to building their own to now using a varying mix of their own and OpenReach...
Openreach based stuff, normally ends with a subducted route to the last manhole/chamber before your property, or at a distribution point on an existing pole.
Our own network stops a "toby" at the boundary of your property or a distribution point on a new pole which has line of sight to your property.
We use OpenReach where we can, and where we can't we build our own ducted or pole based network.
The company have slowly transitioned from using the sewage network years ago(?!) to building their own to now using a varying mix of their own and OpenReach...
Openreach based stuff, normally ends with a subducted route to the last manhole/chamber before your property, or at a distribution point on an existing pole.
Our own network stops a "toby" at the boundary of your property or a distribution point on a new pole which has line of sight to your property.
CheesecakeRunner said:
I didn’t think CityFibre were allowed to touch any BT infrastructure? Certainly where I am, they did a massive bodge job digging up the pavements, laying fibre cable direct under them at a depth of about an inch (so guaranteeing they’ll get screwed the first time someone digs a pavement), and branching off to a small box in the pavement at each house. To connect each house they’ll need to further run the cable across to the houses whatever way they can depending on the property.
After seeing the state they left the place in after running the cables, plus reading their reviews, I wouldn’t touch CityFibre with a barge pole. It’s been a bit of a pain for me recently, as I wanted to switch from BT FTTP due to contract end, and it was a right pain finding out which ISPs used BT infra and which were sttyFibre. They all just tout ‘Fibre 500/900/whatever’. Went with Sky in the end.
Thats what they did in MK. Just channeled new cables in under the pavement making a mess and to each house it terminated with a little plastic box outside each property. Then when you sign up they run the cable from the box to your house and put a box on the outside of your house. Only annoying thing was when we had BT they had run their cables via a conduit under the house so it came out in the lounge which is where all the routers and switches now are. They said they couldn't touch it and so ran it in the to front of the house. I then ran an ethernet through the conduit myselfAfter seeing the state they left the place in after running the cables, plus reading their reviews, I wouldn’t touch CityFibre with a barge pole. It’s been a bit of a pain for me recently, as I wanted to switch from BT FTTP due to contract end, and it was a right pain finding out which ISPs used BT infra and which were s
ttyFibre. They all just tout ‘Fibre 500/900/whatever’. Went with Sky in the end. I have the 900mbps service via Vodafone and its been great
Went with CityFibre via Vodaphone a few months ago to replace Virgin cable who seemed incapable of offering a sensible price to replace an expired fixed contract.
Painless, 2 guys turned up, ran the cable down the garden from the connection box, made a neat enough job of it and mounted the external box and drilled through for the internal connection. Took them a morning. I had it connected to my own router and wifi mesh system in about 2 minutes. Been perfect since, no down time at all and 900+ down AND up.
Looking around the area when they were wiring the streets, as noted above, if your street has lampposts they'll use those and run high wires across, if not they dig up the pavements and place a small connection box outside every property ready for the final run to be done if and when a customer signs up.
ETA: OP, you'll know when the service is actually ready to sign up to when you start getting letters from CityFibre listing the various suppliers that you can use to access the CityFibre service. For us this was about a month or 2 after the wires had been laid in the street.
Painless, 2 guys turned up, ran the cable down the garden from the connection box, made a neat enough job of it and mounted the external box and drilled through for the internal connection. Took them a morning. I had it connected to my own router and wifi mesh system in about 2 minutes. Been perfect since, no down time at all and 900+ down AND up.
Looking around the area when they were wiring the streets, as noted above, if your street has lampposts they'll use those and run high wires across, if not they dig up the pavements and place a small connection box outside every property ready for the final run to be done if and when a customer signs up.
ETA: OP, you'll know when the service is actually ready to sign up to when you start getting letters from CityFibre listing the various suppliers that you can use to access the CityFibre service. For us this was about a month or 2 after the wires had been laid in the street.
Edited by Piersman2 on Wednesday 24th May 09:30
stemll said:
Not everywhere, I am in MK and it is in the Openreach ducts. Guess it depends on whether there is space or even if there is a duct where they want to go.
Seems to be very inconsistent. My street absolutely has Openreach ducts down it, because Openreach themselves blew fibre down them. But Cityfibre still dug the street and laid their own cables direct, and not in ducts. Future-proofed it was not. Depends when the network was done.
Direct bury suggests it's older, prior to Openreach inclusion...and/or Openreach operate using a RAG report..R for red which is full with no capacity, A for amber meaning it's approaching full, and G for green, meaning it's relatively clear and good to go. CF predominantly only use G...
This also might also have contributed to CF not using them where you live...
Direct bury suggests it's older, prior to Openreach inclusion...and/or Openreach operate using a RAG report..R for red which is full with no capacity, A for amber meaning it's approaching full, and G for green, meaning it's relatively clear and good to go. CF predominantly only use G...
This also might also have contributed to CF not using them where you live...
CheesecakeRunner said:
stemll said:
Not everywhere, I am in MK and it is in the Openreach ducts. Guess it depends on whether there is space or even if there is a duct where they want to go.
Seems to be very inconsistent. My street absolutely has Openreach ducts down it, because Openreach themselves blew fibre down them. But Cityfibre still dug the street and laid their own cables direct, and not in ducts. Future-proofed it was not. Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff