FTTP cable type for complicated install

[GRR73]

Hello

I've just signed up to Sky FTTP and am excited to go live.

However, I have a complicated setup with all services coming into a patch panel in the attic (which means cables running up the outside wall, through the wall into the attic).

In preparation for the sky engineer, I wanted to run the FTTP cable and leave it loose at the terminating points. One end near the yet-to-be-installed openreach socket on the outside wall, and the other in my attic next to the main BT socket.

I've called Sky tech support but ended up speaking with Kosyo who simply said for me to install an aerial connection and after 40 minutes of trying to explain, I gave up.

I have a few questions:

- what type of fiber cable is used by Sky?

- does it need to be armoured cable?

- is a cable-run of 20-25m ok?

- can I assume the engineer will attach the appropriate connectors (so just the fibre cable without any connectors is fine)?

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Many thanks,

Gavin.

[peter-marlow+1966]

The engineer  is sent from sky or open reach, they bring the cable and the o n t box with them plus the grey box which  the cable goes into and out of which  is fitted  to the wall outside, I had full fibre  broadband  to the property  installed  with  sky by an open reach engineer  back in January  this year, hope this help 

[Highlinder]

@GRR73  If you are still to get the CSP installed at your property speak with the engineer doing this to see if what you are looking to do is going to be possible. Normally they don't come on the same day to do the install on the outside of the property and inside, but I have seen it happen.

[GRR73]

Thanks for responses. My challenge is one of timing.

I have people working here now which involves a cable run almost identical to the one needed for FTTP. However, they are only here for another 7 days. So I could run the cable relatively easily if I knew what type of cable I'm running however, once they leave they will need to put things back (fill holes, close ceilings..etc) - which makes the cable run more complex.

The soonest install Sky would give me is 2 weeks.

But if I delay my current work - they will charge me.

So I thought easiest option - find out what cable is used, and run it myself. Sorted. Everything is ready for install!

Gavin.

[TimmyBGood]

@GRR73 

There's almost certainly no chance Openreach (or a Sky representative acting on behalf of Openreach and working to Openreach protocols) will accommodate that request: the network is 'theirs' all the way up to and including the ONT, and is about as amenable to DIY portions as the national electricity, gas or water distributions.

Past the ONT is your own business though.  Strictly speaking the solution below is for information purposes only: the approved extension from an ONT is over ethernet cable.

https://www.premitel.uk/uncategorized/how-to-relocate-the-fttp-ont/ 

[TimmyBGood]

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@GRR73 wrote:

- can I assume the engineer will attach the appropriate connectors (so just the fibre cable without any connectors is fine)?

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Installers use a preterminated (SC APC plug)  fibre pigtail and fusion-splice the raw end of this to one of the four strands in the Openreach drop cable at the CSP.  They are not trained or equipped for field termination: that's basically a lost art these days because factory installation of optical terminals onto pigtail cores is so much faster and orders of magnitude more likely to be successful.

[TimmyBGood]

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@GRR73 wrote:

- what type of fiber cable is used by Sky?

It's not 'Sky' cable: all infrastructure and consumables are supplied by Openreach (or the equivalent in RoI) to their own technical specification.

- does it need to be armoured cable?

Technically N/A because self-purchased cable cannot be part of the national network.  Actually no, neither optical drop cable or pigtail is armoured.

- is a cable-run of 20-25m ok?

In theory several kilometres is possible....

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[GRR73]

Thanks TimmyBGood

The sky person told me OpenReach would arrive to connect a terminating unit to the outside of my property.

Then a sky engineer will arrive to run a cable from this and terminate it on the inside of the property.

Thus I assumed this part of the install is Sky.

Interestingly on this forum, seems like both situations occur. OpenReach runs the entire run terminating inside the house, or sky does part.

Gavin.

[TimmyBGood]

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@GRR73 wrote:

Interestingly on this forum, seems like both situations occur. OpenReach runs the entire run terminating inside the house, or sky does part.

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Yes, both can happen.  The very small number of Sky-salaried installers doing so are trained and certified by Openreach, and are working on the national Openreach network using Openreach protocols, techniques and materials up to the ONT on behalf of Openreach: they absolutely aren't permitted to deviate from these to suit a 'Sky' customer and doing so could seriously impair their employment prospects.

The vast majority of FTTP installations are carried out entirely by Openreach or an Openreach subcontractor.  Remember that after the initial contract term it's quite possible an entirely different ISP will be serving the property with FTTP broadband over the same optical infrastructure, so it has to be of a known national standard and cannot 'belong' to either Sky or the current householder.

[TimmyBGood]

@GRR73 

Roughly speaking the ONT is analogous to the electricity/gas meter or the water stopcock (meter where appropriate) in that it's the demarcation between national 'public' (albeit privatised) and actually private domestic distribution.  Up to that point there's very little scope for (or tolerance of) ad-hoc solutions or civilian involvement, for fairly obvious reasons.