No broadband availability - mobile broadband?

[Flutterbyskyla]

Hello,

A little background first. I've been with sky for over 8 years and have always been happy with the service.  I have sky tv, broadband and mobile.  We recently moved into a new home and before we did, I checked on the sky postcode checker to see what broadband service was on offer.  Great news!  It said, fibre ultrafast plus is available.  This is what we have now so I was delighted.  

The move was booked and we moved house.  We had to wait a few days for the appointments after move in date but were ok with that.  My husband and I both work from home so broadband is a necessity.  We took a week off so that by the time the broadband was activated/installed we would be ready to go.

A few days before move in date I had a text saying that it was delayed, but not to worry, no need to ring, they would be in touch.  The date had now moved on a week.  I rang sky and was told it was to do with protective casings.  A few days later the date moved again.  Same text, no explanation.  I rang sky and to my horror was told that fibre wasn't in the area.  I asked if I could get broadband connected.  Any broadband.  No.  Apparently openreach won't reconnect old style connections.  So they've switched it off before they've installed fibre.  I cannot get any kind of broadband to my home.  In a state of panic thinking we would lose our jobs, our home and even the hoover and cat food/water work off wifi, so we would all starve in a mucky mire because we had no broadband.

After my 6th call to sky, a most helpful chap suggested mobile broadband which I'd never even heard of.  So my question is - does anyone have any hints, tips or suggestions about switching to mobile broadband until fibre is (hopefully) installed?  We both use video calling daily and have a fair few gadgets that connect via wifi such as ring, eufy hoover, petkit food and water etc etc. 

I need to get a wiggle on a resolve the issue as I'm back in work on Monday so all help gratefully received!

[Flutterbyskyla]

I should also add that when I checked the date on mysky today it has changed to 5th January!  

[jamesn123]

@Flutterbyskyla 

Assuming the property is a new build It would be very odd for a property to just not have broadband access at all. Additionally, if it isnt a new build, where fibre is not available Openreach still have to install traditional broadband until fibre is available. 

Can you go to this site, use the address checker & post a screenshot of the resulting table so we can see whats going on?

[Flutterbyskyla]

Thanks @jamesn123 the property is older and I've been told on the phone that Openreach absolutely will not reactivate copper broadband.  In our case, this means that the person who lived here before had standard broadband.  When they left and ended their contract, Openreach switch it off and won't reactivate it..  They will only connect fibre which is 'available' however it isn't available.

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Flutterbyskyla 

It shows underground feed prebuilt to your property boundary.  So digging may be involved which could delay the process if planning permission is required

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Flutterbyskyla 

It does beg the question why if it says it in the notes do they not come prepared. 

[Highlinder]

@Flutterbyskyla  You don't happen to also have Sky Q and are doing this as part of a home move?

[Flutterbyskyla]

So it's madness that you go on the sky checker to see if broadband is available at your address and it says yes.... @cookiemonsteruk 

[Flutterbyskyla]

Yes indeed @Highlinder 

[TimmyBGood · Accepted solution]

@Flutterbyskyla 

As @cookiemonsteruk indicates, the key bit in that result is this:

Unfortunately 'UG pre built to curtilage Hard' indicates a reasonably significant excavation is required across your property to get optical fibre from where it is now to an external wall of the building.

[Highlinder]

@Flutterbyskyla  I wonder if the previous people at the property had g,fast installed as I notice that is on the information from BT openreach search.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Flutterbyskyla wrote:

After my 6th call to sky, a most helpful chap suggested mobile broadband which I'd never even heard of.  So my question is - does anyone have any hints, tips or suggestions about switching to mobile broadband until fibre is (hopefully) installed?  We both use video calling daily and have a fair few gadgets that connect via wifi such as ring, eufy hoover, petkit food and water etc etc. 

Going back to your original question, you'd need a cellular router (probably something rather better than a 'mobile hotspot') plus a data SIM from the mobile network with the best coverage for your location.

[jamesn123]

@Flutterbyskyla 

So your original post mentioned that you spoke to someone at Sky who said you simply cant get Fibre broadband. This is categorically false, you simply have a difficult fibre install to deal with. What should happen is your order will be continually delayed until Openreach decide to do the excavation work. Sky should not cancel your order or tell you that you cant get fibre though. 

Your original idea of using a mobile hotspot for now is a good one, I'd look to see what providers can offer you in the area, the first thing to check is which network has the best signal then go from there. You can use the networks signal checkers on their websites.