Fibre to the Premises

[white-cross]

Hi

A local firm (lightning fibre) in Eastbourne has just installed fibre upto our boundary. We were told that they would complete the fibre connection to our premises if we decide to move to them. They are promising huge speeds, and, importantly for us, the upload speed will be the same as the download speed

can sky piggy back onto this system and give us FTTP?

[GD1]

@white-cross  Sky cannot just piggyback on an Altnets network, unless Sky decide to use providers other than Openreach you would need to look at provider who do use Lightning Fibre.

FWIW We have City Fibre coming to the area I'm in the same boat in that Sky don't use them either.

[Chrisee]

@white-cross to expannd slightly on @GD1 's post. Sky like most of the mass market isps like BT and Talk Talk only sell services over the national Openreach network which while being owned by BT is run independently. A number of other companies some small like Lightning and some large like City Fibre have laid competing networks in some areas - the term Altnets cover these - and you can only buy connectivity from the ISPs who offer a service over that network.

Sometimes there is only one to choose from. Before buying check the reviews locally as some of these services are great but some are not there is more to a high quality connection than the connection speed like issues with latency which ruins game play, contention which means you are sharing bandwidth with other customers so everything crawls at paek times and speed of repairs. Sky itself is by no means perfect of course but frying pans and fires come to mind.

[white-cross]

 Hi @Chrisee 

Thanks for detailed explanation. I'll tread very carefully. If it ain't broke.....

[TimmyBGood]

@white-cross 

Also worth keeping in mind that small alt-net providers are likely to be burning through start-up capital to lay infrastructure rather than having a substantial subscriber base, so there's always the concern that they don't have a viable long term business, and could evaporate overnight.  Unlike with the failed challenger electricity companies there's no particularly good way for ex-customers to get a new supplier in such circumstances as broadband isn't regulated as a critical utility.

[MUZZA246]

By coincidence I'm based in Eastbourne too and Lightning Fibre have dug the whole town up for the last 3 years. 

So if my understanding is correct if I wish to have true Sky fibre into my house I effectively need to check the Openreach site to see when when fibre to the premises will be happening?

[TimmyBGood]

@MUZZA246 

There may not yet be an announced date for Openreach infrastructure in that area: the current target is for 80% of the UK to be covered by their network at the end of 2026

[MUZZA246]

Just checked Openreach and not particularly helpful as simply says " Build planned between now and December 2026". 

On that basis are there any particular considerations of using Sky Q and a mini box with another provider's router?

[simon194]

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@MUZZA246 wrote:

Just checked Openreach and not particularly helpful as simply says " Build planned between now and December 2026". 

On that basis are there any particular considerations of using Sky Q and a mini box with another provider's router?

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There won't be any problems using another ISP's router with Sky Q apart for it will only connect on the 2.4 GHz band. If possible it's best to connect the main Q box to the router using an ethernet cable.

Lightning Fibre are rolling out in Hastings and so far have built out to the end of my road quite a few months ago as did Trooli. Trooli seem to be stealing the march over Lighting Fibre and started connecting customers near me already. All I can get from LF at the moment is to register interest.

[jamesn123]

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@MUZZA246 wrote:

Just checked Openreach and not particularly helpful as simply says " Build planned between now and December 2026". 

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That is the generic response given to most properties in the UK. Just means your area is in the build plans but at the moment Openreach do not have a start date for work. 

[cuke]

@MUZZA246 where do you live in Eastbourne as we signed up for a OR community voucher scheme in September and full fibre to our property is going to be installed this coming Friday.

Details here https://www.openreach.com/fibre-broadband/fibre-community-partnership/connect-my-community

There was also this scheme running where we used to live in Westfield, Hastings and they're all connected now.

[Kit71]

I'm in Hastings, I've just been notified that Openreach have connected us to the full fibre network, so far BT and Plusnet are offering better speeds but Sky can't improve on their superfast.  Does anyone know how long it takes for Sky to get the message from Openreach?

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Kit71 

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@Kit71 wrote:

I'm in Hastings, I've just been notified that Openreach have connected us to the full fibre network, so far BT and Plusnet are offering better speeds but Sky can't improve on their superfast.  Does anyone know how long it takes for Sky to get the message from Openreach?

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It can take up to 4 weeks for sky to get hold of the database

[cuke]

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@Kit71 wrote:

I'm in Hastings, I've just been notified that Openreach have connected us to the full fibre network, so far BT and Plusnet are offering better speeds but Sky can't improve on their superfast.  Does anyone know how long it takes for Sky to get the message from Openreach?

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It took four days, over a weekend, from being informed by OR to Sky being able to order our FTTP. However that is probably quicker than normal..

[Kit71]

Thanks, it's been just over the 4 days, maybe I'm being impatient I'll wait a bit longer.