Forum Topic

BT Full Fibre

Hello, when did Chiswick get full fibre ? last time I checked with Openreach, my area wasn't planned until late 2026. Today checking my BT account, it gives me the options to renew to full fibre. Has anyone upgraded from copper to full fibre? what does it involve? do they need to install anything in my flat?
thanks

Isabel Martin ● 5d12 Comments

Thanks Bruce. It raised a smile!

Katrina Black ● 2d

It still is funny sometimes.

Janice Evans ● 2d

Well Katrina we can't have you disappointed, so...Q Where does Napoleon keep his armies?A Up his sleevies.Are you not amused?

Bruce Hammal ● 2d

I live in Putney and we were switched over to fibre about a month ago.We have a clearer connection on the landline but if there is a power cut the connection will go down. They left us an ugly white phone which works on a battery but needs to be kept charged for use in an emergency. We have mobiles so could still call emergency numbers that way in a power cut if our phones were fully charged.The system had to be installed by a (grumpy) engineer and it meant having a new box and wiring outside as the computer hub is on a different floor to the BT main phone. They gave us an adaptor for that free but we needed to buy one for the kitchen extension. My old answering machine is still not working properly after the switchover. As yet I haven't worked at making that better.in case you wondered why someone in Putney reads the Chiswick site - well it used to be so very funny. Often raised a chuckle or two.

Katrina Black ● 2d

hmm.. when I look at my BT page and the offers to upgrade to Full Fibre, the prices are pretty much the same of what I pay now ( the basic 150mb is just .10p extra ) but it also says I will be upgraded to no extra cost when Full Fibre becomes available.. but so far BT hasn't contacted me.

Isabel Martin ● 3d

We're still waiting in Grove Park, and will be for some time yet according to Open Reach's schedule. The problem is that there was a government directive that most of the country should have access to "superfast" broadband by a stipulated date (I can't recall what that was). Virgin Broadband is classed as superfast, so any areas covered by Virgin's network (which is entirely separate from Open Reach and hence the other providers like BT, Sky etc.) went to the back of the queue for a full fibre alternative to Virgin. This wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for Virgin/O2's utterly appalling customer service record - not to mention the very high charges they impose on "loyal"customers.

Bruce Hammal ● 3d

We’ve just been contacted by Sky to say Full Fibre is available in Chiswick, at a price, it appears.

Peter Evans ● 3d

BT Openreach is separate from the part of BT serving consumer customers so just because the network is upgraded doesn't mean the consumer part of BT immediately starts advertising to customers.You will probably need to connect your existing phone into the new router they will provide.  They may also offer new cordless phones as part of a deal.

Michael Robinson ● 4d

thank you. I thought BT would contact me saying Full Fibre was already available, but they haven't I still have the old smart hub, I don't have the Smart hub 2, I hope they will send a new one. It's only me using the internet so the sipped is not an issue. what about the phone line? it doesn't affect the line, right?

Isabel Martin ● 4d

I don't know the type of router supplied by BT but with Virgin Media, you can disable WiFi on the router they provide and connect your own WiFi equipment into the Virgin router.Generally speaking you can buy better WiFi equipment yourself than the routers supplied by the broadband provider and this may be the best approach if there are challenges covering the entire home, but it does mean additional cost.

Michael Robinson ● 5d

Bt did a few streets over the last few months.You will need a engineer to come and install a very small modem in the house.But don't rush to quickly. You may want to look at your current setup and users.While it states download speeds (Upto) 900mps that would be if you were the only one and plugging your PC etc directly into the router.I say router as you still have to have a router. That router is the same as the router you get with the other packages. Smart hub 2.The issue is that router is wifi5Where many like EE are on WiFi 6 which makes a big difference.Here is the thing you need to take into consideration.Use your connection over WiFi and your not only be on WiFi 5 on the smart hub 2 but your not guaranteed that 900 over WiFi. So if your in a house and more than 2 users over WiFi and not a full add signal within your house your not get that huge extra speed you were looking for. Plug your laptop directly into the router over we wired connection and your see that big improvementSo things to consider and look up before jumping.

Julian Pavey ● 5d

As the name implies, full fibre goes all the way into the home so it will likely involve drilling a small hole through a wall to run fibre from outside.There may also be the need to have a small junction box mounted somewhere outside and the service will need a new router in the home.So installation will need a visit by an engineer.

Michael Robinson ● 5d