topic Re: New install (left the old pole wire) in Broadband

New install (left the old pole wire)

ShaunFielding — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 19:46:16 GMT

Yesterday Openreach came and installed a new cable to my house from the pole but left the old cable in situ for some unknown reason

I have never used this connection and it doesn't even enter the house.

Who do I contact to get them back to finish the job. Sky or Openreach? (To me this is an unfinished sloppy job)

Re: New install (left the old pole wire)

GD1 — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 19:57:12 GMT

@ShaunFielding When Openreach install a new cable they do not remlove the old one, you won't be able to "call them back to finish the job" as the job is finished, they have done what they were meant to do, a new install.

Re: New install (left the old pole wire)

TimmyBGood — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 20:06:02 GMT

@ShaunFielding

At some point in the future Openreach might decide to retrieve obsolete copper cable, but that's not currently a standard part of the national FTTP rollout and an individual householder cannot insist on it.

Re: New install (left the old pole wire)

ShaunFielding — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 23:00:48 GMT

Thank You. It's just as I expected from good old British utility services 🤣

Re: New install (left the old pole wire)

TimmyBGood — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 07:21:15 GMT

@ShaunFielding

A profit-motivated private company since the 1980s as part of BT Group, though, and the scrap copper value in an individual phone pair is negligible.

Re: New install (left the old pole wire)

ShaunFielding — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:29:31 GMT

Thanks for all the replies.

The old phone cable from the pole has been wound in a bunch on the exterior house wall for years and seems to have been routes from pole to house wall anchor point by a blind man in a squiggle formation and looks ugly

As it is not going to get removed is it safe for me to cut it at a point where it will make it look neater?

Re: New install (left the old pole wire)

Chrisee — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 07:04:19 GMT

@ShaunFielding technically customers should not touch Openreach cabelling however if you have a working full fibre connection and the cabelling is part of the redundant copper supply it is probably not going to cause an issue but it is at your risk. A live phone line carries a dc voltage of 48 volts IIRC.