Switching from BT FTTP to Gigafast 900 where City Fibre is also available

[cozzyleicester]

I have BT broadband, Full Fibre (500) currently, and since I'm also a long term Sky TV subscriber, have today ordered Gigafast 900 given the significant savings I can get.

It was only after I had BT FTTP installed that CityFibre was also deployed down my road, however I am on a shared drive way, so I don't have one of those v-shaped plastic things right outside my property.

From what I can see from the Sky order, they have based the installation on a City Fibre implementation, because the upload & download speeds are nearly identical.

I therefore have the following questions, if anyone out there has faced a similar situation:

- since the download speed I've ordered can be delivered over the Openreach connection that already exists, won't they default to that, since it would avoid a load of work for them?

- if they ARE working on the principle of CityFibre install, I fear that when they turn up, they will not be able to proceed, because I am on a shared driveway, and they won't know this until they turn up?

For what it's worth, the CityFibre website does say that they can supply my house number, however having had a calamitous attempt in the past with Virgin (where they took the order and only cancelled after they sent someone out to do the install and worked out the shared driveway situation for themselves), I'm fearing the worst and that the exact same situation will happen here.

If that was the case, would the Sky engineer fallback to using the existing Openreach fibre connection (granted that this would mean asymmetrical upload / download speeds)?

PS I have read elsewhere that CityFibre will use existing BT / Openreach ducting to deliver fibre to the property, but I personally doubt that, I mean why would they?

[Chrisee]

@cozzyleicester Sky will opt for City Fibre over Openreach if their network have passed your property and yes it is a second installation so unless the service is on poles it will mean digging. Sky do not offer a choice what happens if CF cannot supply is not known.

[JimM1]

@cozzyleicester You may just wish to reconsider and cancel and up your FF on BT connection!

[cozzyleicester]

Thanks for the replies - for the benefit of anyone else in a similar situation, I spoke to Sky today and I in fact cancelled the Broadband order, here's the summary:

• They confirmed the order was put through as CityFibre delivery
• I explained that I am on a shared drive and I know from a discussion earlier today that not all of my 4 neighbours are willing to provide consent for the drive to be dug up
• The initial Sky representative advised me that they would send out someone from CF a couple of days in advance of the planned date and if a solution could not be found, they would cancel the order at that point, and
• in that case I would not lose the existing broadband (via BT) because any disconnnection doesn't happen until such time Sky have succesfully enabled their BB service
• I explained that I already know that I won't get permission for CF to dig up the driveway, so the rep offered to put me through to the "City Fibre Technical Team", which I accepted
• To be fair, the Tech Team were completely honest and clear, that Yes, agreement would be needed with my neighbours before they could proceed - if that was not forthcoming then CF would themselves cancel the Sky Broadband order, but only after they had done their survey
• The Tech Team were not, however, able to say one way or the other if the order would in such a case be re-entered as an Openreach order, to utilise my existing FTTP
• Since  I work from home at the end of the day and simnply cannot afford the risk of a break / uncertainty around my broadband, I decided to go ahead and cancel the Sky broadband order there and then

I have since negotiated a new deal with BT / EE with new kit, etc. which is not as good financially as the the Sky offer, but at the end of the day I suspect the "best" Sky deals are to be found where CF is in theory available, and there is no guarantee I would get the same if they had to pay OR to deliver BB to my property 

[JimM1]

@cozzyleicester Was always going to be difficult to say either way with the OR/CF battle off connection to your home, and at the end off the day think you did the most logical method, anyone who relies on Internet as a must have then really the choices made have to be processed very carefully, had your BT/EE been removed you can for sure say 14-21day's to get it back, wither that's a teach you a leason or not for trying to move!