topic Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right? in Broadband

Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

Gregster100 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 10:55:26 GMT

Just exchanged on a house and completion is next week. Ordered Sky for the new place (current owners already have sky broadband) but Sky is telling me installation of broadband and tv cant take place for 3 weeks. How am I meant to work with no broadband?. I know I could cancel during the cooling off period... but are any other providers likely to be quicker or should I just hold out?

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

GD1 — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 10:59:52 GMT

@Gregster100 You will have the earliest date provided by Openreach, any provider using the same network won't get you a quicker install. I'm afraid working from home is irrelevant when your dealing with a domestic provider.

Unless there is a n Altnet such as Virgin Media, CityFibre etc who may have quicker installs you'll be stuck with the date provided.

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

Chrisee — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 11:01:48 GMT

@Gregster100 there is a minimum leadtime for broadband of 14 days so 3 weeks is a little long but not unusual. The fact the previous residents had Sky is unfortunately irrelevant as it is Openreach who do the work of disconnecting and reconnecting so who the 2 ISPs are doesnt matter.

The fact you choose to use what is sold as a domestic connection for work doesnt change the priority.

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

daveNOS — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 11:02:59 GMT

@Gregster100 Any provider that uses the Openreach network will have a minimum lead time of 14 days(its an OfCom requirement) for broadband and talk installs and activation, if Openreach are particularly busy in your area then its not uncomon for that to be longer.

The fact you work from home has zero bearing on it as you are signed up to a domestic only service with a low priority service agreement(same with the majority of providers who use the Openreach network for domestic connections).

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

Ed.B. — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 16:15:49 GMT

I live in a flat with virgin media. I'm sure I tried to switch to bt broadband but for whatever reason the people who renovated the flat must have taken the landline socket away and just plastered over it, so they said they couldn't install.

My virgin contract is coming to an end and Sky looks like the best deal right now. How can I find out if they can install their own broadband connection? Presumably the bt line comes into the building somewhere.

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

TimmyBGood — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 16:21:53 GMT

@Ed.B.

If it's in the UK, putting the address into the BT Wholesale Availability Checker should indicate which broadband provisioning type is applicable.

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome

It's the table and the two text lines below it which are most useful.

Remove any personal information (such as the address itself) if you post an image.

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

Ed.B. — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 16:26:03 GMT

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

TimmyBGood — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 16:35:07 GMT

@Ed.B.

OK, so the assumption is any new installation has to be FTTP and so the absence of a master socket makes no difference. The difficulty might be in getting the building owner to give permission for the necessary work to put an optical distribution in place.

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

Ed.B. — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 16:46:27 GMT

I'm sure the landlord wouldn't care. How much work is required?

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

JimM1 — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 17:02:28 GMT

@Ed.B. Fibre install only for you, VDSL cable will not be a choice and MDU install so not going to be quick in the least!

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

TimmyBGood — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 17:06:25 GMT

@Ed.B. wrote:

I'm sure the landlord wouldn't care.

They have to actively consent, though, and depending on the building the necessary infrastructure might be extensive.

How much work is required?

Curtilage to external wall, through the wall to an internal distribution point, then typically an individual feed to each dwelling unit.

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

Ed.B. — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 20:44:14 GMT

Sounds like a bit of a faff.

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

JimM1 — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 20:48:24 GMT

@Ed.B. MDU's are way more difficult and OR will want to do all at the one time for the cost economics, it's just the way that it goes!

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

cookiemonsteruk — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 20:57:17 GMT

@Ed.B.

In most cases of MDU installations the equipment is already installed up to the front door for that to show on the wholesale checker .. is there a wee white box above your own door.. 3 weeks is a short time to do all the external work, internal and have you up and running

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

JimM1 — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 21:03:35 GMT

@cookiemonsteruk Are we going with the year old posting because off the heading, as the timescale! Just asking and understand what you are saying regarding the BTW side!

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

TimmyBGood — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 21:20:09 GMT

@Ed.B. wrote:

Sounds like a bit of a faff.

Yes, but only has to be done once to provide far more reliable 21st century gigabit (and potentially multi-gigabit) connectivity in perpetuity, compared with 'up to' 80Mbs over antiquated copper circuits that a Victorian telegraph operator would recognise.

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

cookiemonsteruk — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 21:15:01 GMT

@JimM1

You are right 👍 However the fact that it shows mdu usually means thebfibre has already been bought to thevp door ready to be drilled through

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

Ed.B. — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:48:50 GMT

There are no white boxes above my door or the external door. Looking at the list of WiFi networks from surrounding flats only Virgin is available.

Would openreach install for all flats if one flat wanted to go with a different provider?

Re: Installation time - 3 weeks about right?

mormegil — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 11:48:41 GMT

With a mdu they unfortunately show as available for fttp if openreach have run the cabling outside past the exterior

the decision to run the cabling internally will have little or nothing to do with your landlord as once an order is placed for the first time openreach will contact the freeholder or building management company who maintain the communal aspects of the property to get the permission to run the wiring through the building with a connection outside every flat in preperation for future orders

the process is lengthy and openreach allow 30 days just to get the permission and an agreement on the work required, after that they then have to agree on the work and timescale for the wiring.

only once this is all done signed off and verified would openreach accept the order and arrange the installation date to connect from the landing into the flat