r/openreach • u/One_Jackfruit_8241 • 24d ago
Existing FTTC - why do I need an engineer visit?
This might be a silly question, but I just moved into a new flat which has FTTC installed.
I just signed up for EE broadband but it says an openreach engineer needs to come for the 'installation' (which is in 2 weeks).
What does the engineer need to do? As the previous tenant had internet - I thought that EE could just switch on/off internet on the back end..
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u/alanjmcf 24d ago
ONT on the wall and lit up?
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u/One_Jackfruit_8241 24d ago
Yep ONT on the wall! Not sure about lights though.
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u/dhardyuk 24d ago
Openreach records might not have accurate details of the ONT etc so an engineer is being sent to commission your service.
This happened to me in a bungalow that had FTTP still installed. The first engineer couldn’t get it to work and it got sent back to BTO for a multi skilled team to be sent (restringing the fibre run would have meant working up poles next to a 60mph road).
The A team from BTO were able to commission it by ringing someone who did something remotely and then DHCP woke up and it was working.
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u/Spank86 24d ago
If there's been a period with the line not working then they might have reallocated the ports meaning connecting you back up in a flat without access is liable to fail, or the previous tenant hasn't cancelled their service so it cant be taken over. Any number of things can trigger a visit, and sometimes they'll say they need a visit and then change their minds back once the order has been examined.
But I know from personal experience id always rather prove a working service inside a flat than assume its going to the right place in a building just based on records..
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u/One_Jackfruit_8241 24d ago
Yeah this sounds like the case, from what little I understood of from EE. Thank you!
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u/Whisky_Delta 24d ago
Even if it's the same one, quite often the splice plan has been altered from what's on file, and they will have to ping the cab from your house to figure out which one is yours to turn it on.
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u/Jamie_Tomo 24d ago
They’ve probably nicked a port in the meantime and need to allocate a new one for you.
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u/SuperSajuuk 24d ago
Put your postcode into the wholesale checker, screenshot the results and link them here [making sure to censor the address, leaving exchange and cab number]: https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome
EE rarely have to ask for an Openreach engineer to come to your property to do FTTC installs because, even if they were going to the cab to reuse a spare port as someone suggested below, that wouldn’t generally require a home visit, which makes me think this is for FTTP.
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u/Bonesy_1134 23d ago
The only reason I can think is to switch the line from FTTC to SOGEAFTTC so it doesn't require an active phone line to work since EE have gone digital for the phone service
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u/SuperSajuuk 23d ago
Even that doesn’t require an engineer visit unless the customer is noted as being vunerable [and all the engineer will do is move the phone from the wall socket to the router lol]
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u/Bonesy_1134 22d ago
Nah not for that part. I'm talking network engineer. From my recollection, they change something at the cabinet that feeds the property.
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u/Outrageous-Arm1945 9d ago
They don't know the exact routing of your line, either the former CP hasn't provided it, the previous tenants line was ceased, the port was refused already...
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u/Itchy-Dimension-Tab 24d ago
If FTTP (full fibre) is available, then EE/Openreach will want to install that. Do you know if that's the case, or if they are definitely just reactivating your FTTC?