1Gb FTTP, other than Virgin

[nickd01]

We're finishing a house refurb in West London, so am now turning to connectivity.

We can get Virgin 1Gb, and I need to call them about whether they'll run fibre down some ducting to our cellar, but I'm struggling to find other options. Surely I can get other providers?

Spoke to A&A and they said there is FTTP available but I'd need to talk to OpenReach - but they don't seem to want to talk to an end-user.

Has anyone got any pointers who I could contact?

[TownIdiot]

nickd01 said:

We're finishing a house refurb in West London, so am now turning to connectivity.

We can get Virgin 1Gb, and I need to call them about whether they'll run fibre down some ducting to our cellar, but I'm struggling to find other options. Surely I can get other providers?

Spoke to A&A and they said there is FTTP available but I'd need to talk to OpenReach - but they don't seem to want to talk to an end-user.

Has anyone got any pointers who I could contact?

In theory they will get it into the building and you are responsible from there. You can buy the cable easily.

When I did it last year the installer (Virgin) was really helpful and came back and ran the cable to where we wanted it. He gave us his mobile but before then there was no way of contacting them

[nickd01]

I've just spoken to Virgin, and they claim they'll use the plastic tube with a pull-cord to our cellar. But can't do anything until I book an order; which is fair enough.

If there's an alternative supplier that'd be good but I'm struggling to find someone.

[pokethepope]

Have you looked at Community Fibre?

[paulrockliffe]

nickd01 said:

I've just spoken to Virgin, and they claim they'll use the plastic tube with a pull-cord to our cellar. But can't do anything until I book an order; which is fair enough.

If there's an alternative supplier that'd be good but I'm struggling to find someone.

There probably isn't anyone else, but there are websites you can put your postcode in and see. The Government give them money to put the fibre in, but obviously they only pay once, so if Virgin take the coin, no one else is going to bother and the other way around too.

I looked into this a few weeks ago because I'm in the same boat, Virgin put fibre in next to my drive last week, and I'm a bit annoyed about it because I don't really see why I should be left with whatever price Virgin think they can get away with, when everywhere Virgin aren't it's a competitive market with everyone using Open Reach's fibre.

Does anyone know what legal brakes are on Virgin price-gouging?

[megaphone]

If Virgin have their own cable in the street they'll likely use that. They are moving over to fibre but they'll still use their own cable where they can.

The installers want an easy life, so if you prepare a route for them with draw wires etc they'll use it.

Edited by megaphone on Tuesday 28th May 12:41

[lonny]

What does https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/ say for the address?

[nickd01]

lonny said:

What does https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/ say for the address?

Virgin with 1Gb, then all the other providers at around 80Mb

I wish it was as easy as it is at work, 3yr deal for 1Gb up/down via Talk Talk. They even install fibre for you!

[megaphone]

nickd01 said:

lonny said:

What does https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/ say for the address?

Virgin with 1Gb, then all the other providers at around 80Mb

I wish it was as easy as it is at work, 3yr deal for 1Gb up/down via Talk Talk. They even install fibre for you!

Looks like FTTP is not available yet, just FTTC. I'd go with Virgin cable, just make sure you haggle every contract. Why do you need 1Gb down?

[bunchofkeys]

Take a look here.
https://www.thinkbroadband.com

Plug in your post code, and it will return all the ISPs that supply to the area.

[nickd01]

megaphone said:

Looks like FTTP is not available yet, just FTTC. I'd go with Virgin cable, just make sure you haggle every contract. Why do you need 1Gb down?

I don't need 1Gb, but the Virgin deals are pretty good. There are 4 kids at home with various devices, but I'm fully aware even a lower tier package (eg 250Mb) would easily keep the peace at home. I run an office of 40 on a 1Gb connection so I realise it's overkill. And the downside of Virgin is no fixed IP address unless you go for a business package.

One of the kids does game a lot, and the updates are often chunky downloads. I've never worked out (Or tried that hard) to see if it was the connection / crappy WiFi that throttled the download or the game servers themselves.

[srappy]

I'd stay away from Virgin if I were you. Fine when it's working but that's when it's working. Most unreliable service provider in my experience, especially in London.

[Lucas Ayde]

nickd01 said:

We're finishing a house refurb in West London, so am now turning to connectivity.

We can get Virgin 1Gb, and I need to call them about whether they'll run fibre down some ducting to our cellar, but I'm struggling to find other options. Surely I can get other providers?

Spoke to A&A and they said there is FTTP available but I'd need to talk to OpenReach - but they don't seem to want to talk to an end-user.

Has anyone got any pointers who I could contact?

Openreach are contracted by most providers to do the physical Fibre install. You only get to contact them once the installation has been arranged, to liase with the engineer about the install. I think Virgin might have their own dedicated infrastructure/installers depending on where you live.

When I upgraded to the 900meg BT Fibre, the Openreach guy was pretty friendly. He would have been willing to route the fibre from the pole through the attic and down the far side of the house to the living room but I actually preferred to get it installed upstairs in a bedroom which was a much easier run as it happened. I think there are limits as to how far they will go in terms of routing cables/location of socket but should be fine for most installs.

The installation was quick and efficient - less than three hours all in - and the old copper FttC connection stayed active the whole time so I didn't even lose internet connectivity during the install. It wasn't deactivated until it was confirmed the new Fibre was working 100% (might have helped here that both the old and new broadband had BT as the provider).

[nickd01]

I'd be happy with using OpenReach fibre, but it's only showing as 80Mb - maybe I'm too far from the exchange?
I can't see a FTTP option with anyone that'll get over the 80Mb - even 200 or so would be fine.
I feel I'm stuck with Virgin for anything over 100Mb.

[FlossyThePig]

nickd01 said:

I'd be happy with using OpenReach fibre, but it's only showing as 80Mb - maybe I'm too far from the exchange?
I can't see a FTTP option with anyone that'll get over the 80Mb - even 200 or so would be fine.
I feel I'm stuck with Virgin for anything over 100Mb.

The OpenReach fibre of 80Mb will be FTTC (Cabinet) not FTTP (Premises), and it's the distance from the cabinet not the exchange. I had an FTTC connection when it was first available for me and your 80Mb would have been stupendous.

A couple of years ago OpenReach strung fibre between the poles down our lane so I have upgraded to FTTP (just as I retired and no longer had need to WFH).

[Captain_Morgan]

Take a look here,

https://bidb.uk/

[119]

Openreach own the network, that is rented to BT wholesale that is then rented to the various providers.

However, they were forced a few years ago to open up the ducts etc for alternative networks to install their own fibre (we are on an alt net) as many of them are infilling where openreach didn’t bother.

The only problem with that is you are then stuck with the alt net until others are installed or OR run their network along side.

[paulrockliffe]

Captain_Morgan said:

Take a look here,

https://bidb.uk/

That's really interesting, it shows the first bits of what has been installed in our village, so it's quite up to date. It suggests that it is Nexfibre that are doing the work and lists a fair few options that will be available, including Virgin Media. Perhaps the jungle drums are wrong.....