Well looks like "Fibre" is more trouble than it's worth to get it installed, in my case, I've wasted countless hours waiting for them to arrive only to find out again today that the 17th April is not convenient for them now they've pushed the date to the 24th April?
It appears demand outstrips supply, but if my experience is anything to go by regardless of who supplies your broadband you're all at the mercy of BT Openreach or MJQuinn or whomsoever is contracted in your local area to make the connection from in my case the telephone pole to my property.
Also be aware if you have an elderly relative or parent who uses an emergency call system, this must be upgraded prior to installation or better still disconnected and hidden from view, as in my case the BT Openreach installer (explained that regardless of what Sky Says regarding these devices) they are legally not permitted to hook up fibre to property that uses dial up telephone services. In my case he took one look and Scarpered!
I called my telephone assistance supplier and explained the situation and for £495 they sent a new device which is VOIP compatible and plugs into the modem.
The sky chap who came the other day was very apologetic seems that Sky listed my property as unavailable for fibre, I then checked with u-switch who said it's fine, he then checked his system and agreed it's fine to be installed.
He did point out that on the installation rather than installing the fibre to where the existing phone socket is, they (BT Openreach) may chose to place the OTN (the place where the optic cable comes into the house) where the nearest 2 gang 3 pin socket is located then run an Ethernet cable from there (through the wall) to where my current modem is located! I asked is it not possible for them to route it directly to my office desk, to my Ethernet splitter box, and then via a Cat6 Ethernet cable to my Pc? That would mean them routing the fibre around the outside of my house down the wall and into my office, where it can connect directly to the modem via a cat6 Ethernet cable! Already in place!
He said they may but they try to do the simplest installation if they can. The reason for the long post is I want others to be aware, that whilst we will all soon have to have FTTP (Fibre to the premises) as copper telephone wire is being fazed out now by 2027 (end was to be from end of 2025) most older residents may not be aware or more likely not understand the need for it!
Either way installation could be simple but older telephones may not work with the new modems, as they need to be VOIP compatible. I know of several people in my blind club who still have traditional wired telephones they rely on for communication with loved ones!
So if you have an older neighbour or relative see if you can get them a new telephone prior to installation get them used to it in advance! Most modern telephones are already forward compliant!
UPDATE: BT Open Reach refuse to install Fibre because Mum "Had a Healthcare Alarm button" even though I clarified with Care Co that as the new device is VOIP compliant they will not install fibre. Time to call on my Local MP? Bizarre. So I am cancelling my SK Subscription and will go to anyone else who can let me have fibre, total **bleep**. BT Open Reach need to wake up.
