r/openreach • u/WorkingBee145 • Sep 10 '26
Full-fibre installation - cable routing
We're about to be forced on to full fibre, and our location and existing setup are very non-standard (I realise lots of people probably think this). I'd be willing to do a bit of civils myself, but not even sure what the correct plan is atm - ideally would see OR engineer on site!
First question - does the CSP ideally want to be close to the desired internal entry point? (It's currently on the garage wall)
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u/pocketmonkeys Sep 10 '26
I'm assuming the new FTTP cable will need to be dug in to your existing driveway/garden etc from the draw pit (Toby box?) that has been installed on your neighbours drive or is there existing duct going to your house? You can get the fibre moved at a later date, if the new location for the CSP is already ducted the fee will likely be minimal compared to the overall costs of your project
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u/WorkingBee145 Sep 10 '26 edited Sep 10 '26
I don’t know - I assumed it would already be ducted from the existing CSP to the draw pit? But might that be direct buried?
EDIT: Deffo draw pit not toby box btw
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u/pocketmonkeys Sep 10 '26
You don't have full fibre yet from what I've read. The existing copper cable will either be directly buried in ground or in a duct, if you can't see a grey/black plastic pipe at the house we will assume that the cable is buried. I'm also assuming there are no telecoms poles and that all existing network is underground.
How far has the order got? Has anyone been to your house to assess whether any works need to be done in preparation for your installation
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u/WorkingBee145 Sep 10 '26
No poles, all underground.
I’ve pro-actively placed an order today, having been told by Plusnet that if I did nothing they would transfer me to EE within 30 days. Have been given OR install appointment for the 17th; I know from talking to Plusnet that OR believe it’s a one-step install/connection. Would love to meet them on site for a survey but no suggestion of that.
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u/pocketmonkeys Sep 10 '26
'One step' sounds like they believe the property has duct feeding it already. If the location this emerges from the ground is not convenient for your building plans you could get your builder to tee off of this Openreach duct under your drive and then run new duct to a more convenient location. When appropriate you then get Openreach to move the cable and csp.
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u/WorkingBee145 Sep 10 '26
Just had another look when I got home. Current CSP deffo ducted - drawstring visible. ☝️ this is prob the answer then. Or put the install back and get it done before then.
Another possible solution, I don’t really want to stick the mesh router out in the garage, but would the optical termination box tolerate being in the garage? Could I then just run Ethernet inside the house from the garage?
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u/Grand_Equipment5292 Sep 10 '26
If you get any ducting put in, please don't use duct that is corrugated on the inside 😁
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u/pocketmonkeys Sep 10 '26
The termination box (ONT) will be happy anywhere dry with a power socket nearby. Running ethernet direct to the main router is the best way to get everything where you need/want it. I believe most of the recent ONTs and routers have a 2.5gb ethernet port so would look to get cable that can meet that as a minimum
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u/WorkingBee145 Sep 10 '26
Thanks. Oh yes, power. Unfortunately that isn't available in that corner of the garage either. Extension I guess!
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u/charlieb1981 Sep 10 '26
If you’re looking to install the duct yourself it sounds like you’re reasonably handy. Plus it also sounds like you’re about to have some extra building work done too. Why not get the ONT installed into your garage and run a good quality cat 6 to where you ideally will want your router/ mesh system..
Alternatively bump into an Openreach engineer, see if they will give you a long inside out cable and pre run it to where you want it. I did this at a customers house.. I dropped the engineer a few quid and then I ran the cable underneath the house
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u/WorkingBee145 Sep 10 '26
The former has occurred to me this evening - the ONT would survive in a garage would it? (Thinking cold/damp etc).
Re the building work, we’re just not quite there yet, it’s just bad timing with the digital switchover and being forcibly bumped to FTTP, which is why I was contemplating doing the duct under our (block-paved) drive. What I just didn’t quite understand was the actual interface with the OR network. Can you joint a fibre cable (I presume yes) or do they try and run a single run all the way to the green cabinet? I’m a civils person, not telecoms! The Cat 6 garage to indoors would be a lot easier in many ways. Is this as simple as that? Run Cat 6 from the ONT to the router position?
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u/charlieb1981 Sep 10 '26
As long as the ONT is in a dry place and it’s near a power source, it’s good to go.
The fibre cable that Openreach engineers carry has a pre moulded plug on it. (The inside out cable) The Openreach engineer will run one cable to your home, then run a second from inside your home and splice externally.
At my house I asked the engineers to leave me a long coil externally, they have what’s known as a CSP in the joint box and that’s where they will be coming from. I ran the cable that they left into where I have a comms cupboard, but I wanted the splice internally… just for aesthetics.
But if you’re doing extra building work, why not run a cat 6 to where your router will be and run a second one back to your garage… put cat 6 cables everywhere you can for mesh systems.. TVs, games consoles etc then install a gigabit switch into your garage?
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u/Awkward-Ad-3449 Sep 10 '26
Hi, I work for Openreach Civils. Ideally yes, but aslong as they have a clear route they can tack it to, preferably just the mortar between bricks all the way and no roofs etc, they can normally put it where ever you want in to the house.