topic Re: Moving/Upgrading from copper to partial fibre in Broadband

Moving/Upgrading from copper to partial fibre

dougie — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 11:30:52 GMT

Hi there

So I'm looking to move from one flat on the 1st floor of a building to the ground floor. I spoke to the home move team this morning and they were telling me that I would have to downgrade my internet going into the new flat from 60-70mbs to like 15-20mbs, which is not really do able.

When I asked why that would be as it's the same building all she could tell me was it's because the of the line and that's what it says on the system.

after getting no help from sky all I can think of is this is an old building and when I moved into this flat had to have an engineer out to connect a line and I assume they just did the partial fibre instead as I guess they want rid of the copper cabling.

first off the sky team should have enough knowledge to of at least suggested something like this as they could tell I was not happy with the downgrade rather then me have to work it out myself!

anyways my question is from what I've looked up I should be able to upgrade to partial fibre(to the cabinet) in the new flat.

I'm aware that would mean an engineer would have to attend to do it but why did sky not even suggest this as I believe the engineer should be ordered through the ISP.

and is there a phone number I can call that might get me to someone helpful?

Re: Moving/Upgrading from copper to partial fibre

Chrisee — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 11:45:18 GMT

@dougie first point partial fibre uses the copper phone cable to carry the Broadband VDSL dignal from the exchange to the property. Th fibre part is from the cabinet to the exchange. The speed a copper cable can support is mainly set by its length and it is possible but unlikely that the two flats are connected to different cabinets. It is possible but unlikely the lower flat is using the ancient ADSL broadband and there is no capacity for another line for VDSL.

Sky will be looking st the Openreach database for your new flat which you can access using this checker Openreach Checker. If you would like help in understanding the output post the table and the first three lines of the notes for your existing flat and the lower flat after removing the referencecto the address.

Re: Moving/Upgrading from copper to partial fibre

TimmyBGood — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 12:26:24 GMT

@dougie

Only a tiny percentage of properties are still on ADSL ('copper'): chances are the whole building is FTTC ('part fibre')

In rare cases there's no additional capacity in the cabinet.

Re: Moving/Upgrading from copper to partial fibre

dougie — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 12:25:24 GMT

Hi Chrisee thanks for you reply. I have already checked the openreach checker and it says it's available for the new address and when I go in the list of providers sky is on there so I'm not sure why I'm having so much difficulty with it

Re: Moving/Upgrading from copper to partial fibre

dougie — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 12:28:05 GMT

Thanks for the reply I just don't get why that flat I'm in (in the same building) on the 1st floor can get it but the the one on the ground floor can't

Re: Moving/Upgrading from copper to partial fibre

TimmyBGood — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 12:37:05 GMT

@dougie

As @Chrisee indicates, there will be details in the results table for each address.

Re: Moving/Upgrading from copper to partial fibre

JimM1 — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 12:39:34 GMT

@dougie Post up both of the BTW tables as requested by @Chrisee then they can be looked at, can be exceptions etc that blocks one to another ie services are all sold out, your flat has it, but you are NOT getting to take it with you so new flat is sitting in waiting order for it to free up etc!

Re: Moving/Upgrading from copper to partial fibre

Chrisee — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 13:59:26 GMT

@dougie the link I gave you givesca lot of detail which shouldcexplain exactly why. By the by if it a linitstion on slots at the cabinet while you msy think your move will free one up so allowing a new connection thingsxdonrcwork like that unfortunately.