Why can’t I get faster download speeds but my neighbours can?

[NJS1982]

So we have been with Sky for nearly two years now and our broadband download speed in year one was about 10MB; this improved in year two with a new internal phone line installed. However, why can't we get faster speeds, when neighbours who are routed to the same box in the street can? 

[NJS1982]

...checking some of the OpenReach postcodes and the postcode where our line goes to indicates a really good broadband speed (ultrafast I think it is called?) yet our postcode for our house shows as it's coming in 2026. How can that be when our telephone line goes to the same box as the other postcode? I'm super confused! 

[NJS1982]

...we are number 16, our neighbours (on the same postcode) at 18 get massive speeds according to the various postcode checkers. On the other side, 14, they get lower speeds like ours. Have Sky assumed our telephone line (like all of the other to the left, including 14) goes out the front of our property, to one box in the street, whereas ours actually goes out the back (unlike those on the left, like 14's does) to the same box as those that do get fast speeds (i.e. number 18) perhaps? Or am I looking at this too simplistically and actually our phone line (irrespective of what box it goes to) isn't equipped for ultrafast? 

[Chrisee]

@NJS1982 it is not unheard of for two neighbouring properties to be connected to different Openreach cabinets particularly if services were connected at different times as lines are run to whatever cabinet had capacity.

Sky's Ultrafast services are normally delivered over a fibre connection to the home until that is  run you rely on the copper phone line where.its length and condition determine the speed you can get.  Rarely a limited Ultrafast service can be delivered over very short copper lines but if you currently only get 10Mb/s that would not apply to your line. Full fibre connections deliver the speed you buy whatever their length.

It sounds like your address is not scheduled to be upgraded in 2026. Openreach have a national programme to replace their copper network but there is no way to change when a particular area is upgraded. However there are numerous other network providers like Virgin Media and City Fibre who are also installing fibre but you cannot buy Sky's services on those are any of those available in your road?

You can check what services Openreach can provide at any UK address by putting the whole address into this checker that uses Openreach's database https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome if you would like help in understanding the output post the results having removed the address detail.

Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

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@NJS1982 wrote:

...we are number 16, our neighbours (on the same postcode) at 18 get massive speeds according to the various postcode checkers. On the other side, 14, they get lower speeds like ours. Have Sky assumed our telephone line (like all of the other to the left, including 14) goes out the front of our property, to one box in the street, whereas ours actually goes out the back (unlike those on the left, like 14's does) to the same box as those that do get fast speeds (i.e. number 18) perhaps? Or am I looking at this too simplistically and actually our phone line (irrespective of what box it goes to) isn't equipped for ultrafast? 

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If you're right then it won't be Sky assuming anything, they'll go off what Openreach are telling them. If you see any Openreach engineers working in the area I'd be tempted to go and have a pleasant chat.

Other than that it's getting Sky to escalate it for you to Openreach to check.

[NJS1982]

Just spoke to Sky. Even more confused. Apparently there are certain allocations available (in the cabinet I think) for a certain speeds, there are no allocations free now. But they can't tell me when an allocation becomes available, I just have to keep checking. So even though we have been paying for Superfast for two years,, getting low speeds all of that time, we could have faster internet if there was an allocation? But there is no waiting list...

[Chrisee · Accepted solution]

@NJS1982 to explain what is likely to be the issue. Each cabinet can support a limited number of "fibre" connections once these are taken no more orders can be taken. In the past Openreach could often add more connections either by fitting more cards in a partially filled cabinet or as happen near me install a second fibre cabinet. Unfortunately now Openreach are switching to full fibre to the home they seem to be no longer investing in new cabinets for their Fibre to the Cabinet service..

Effectively you are stuck as the only way to get a connection is if someone gives one up. In theory there is a waiting list but Sky wont put an order in if there is no immediate capacity. It is rotten luck but hopefully your area will get full fibre soon.