Openreach Engineer at front door helping customers

Installing Full Fibre in Northern Ireland

Full Fibre Installation – what to expect on the day

Installation video transcript

Hi, I’m Brian and I’m an Openreach engineer and I’m here to help you get ready to receive your Full Fibre broadband. So, let’s run through some information on what to expect on the day of your install.

Before we come over and do the installation, make sure there is someone over 18 present and get your landlord’s permission if you’re renting. Also, you should have a think about where you want your router inside. It’s got to be near a double power socket and a good location for your hub so you can enjoy the best speeds. We definitely wouldn’t suggest a dark cupboard under the stairs.

Our engineer will ring you in advance of your appointment, just to check that you’re available. On arrival, the engineer will chat you through a potential route that the fibre cable will take in order to get you into service.

The engineer will agree with you on where a hole should be drilled to bring the fibre optic cable in. Don’t worry, we might need to drill a couple of holes outside, just for our ladder safety. We will repair these holes and clean up after ourselves, so you’d never know we’d been there. If required, our engineer will ask you sign a permission to work form, to ensure you give consent if the engineer is required to carry out any digging or drilling.

We’ll run the fibre optic cable from a nearby pole or underground to a small junction box on an external wall. In order to get you into service, we may have to carry out a dig on the day. Depending on the location of the underground duct, this could be either on grass, on pavers or on tarmac. We will ensure that the ground is left in the state that we found it. If complex work is required to carry out your install we may need to arrange to come back on another day to complete the work.

When the engineer has completed the external work, they will require access inside the premises to fit the internals. An ONT (Optical Network Terminal) is a white box that connects the fibre optic cable, providing access to the Full Fibre network in your property. The wall mounted unit and the router will need to be close. Remember earlier, when we said it needs to be near a double socket? This is why.

Once it’s all set up, our engineer will help you connect your favourite devices to the new router and make sure everything’s working smoothly.

You’re now on the Openreach Full Fibre Network. Where you and your entire family can surf the web like a pro, stream all the music you want and watch that Netflix series in 4K, all at the same time. Thank you for watching. For more information please visit openreach.com

Things to consider:

If you rent your property, ensure you have your landlord’s permission for us to drill a small hole on the inside and outside of the building.
If you live in a flat or apartment, speak to your Landlord or caretaker in advance of the visit, as they may need to provide our engineer with access to a ‘services cupboard’ where your Full Fibre connection may come into the premises so that we can complete the connection.
It’s also a good idea to clear some space in the area so that we can complete your connection as quickly as possible.
Next, think about where you would ideally like your Full Fibre connection installed - remember, the white ONT box and your router will need to be near a spare double plug socket to power them up. Plus, as a brand new connection, we will need to drill through your external wall to bring the cable in, making the connection between the grey box on your outside wall and your ONT. Don’t worry, the Openreach engineer will discuss this with you on the day of the installation.
Ensure there is a decision maker over the age of 18 throughout the whole appointment slot.
If we’re coming to do any external work, ensure that our engineer can get access to the outside of your property.
Let your service provider know if there is anything that could prevent us from connecting you on the appointed day.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the external junction box?

It's a 15cm x 13cm external junction box that we install on the outside of your property which connects the property to the Openreach fibre network.

Once your property is connected to our network, you can buy phone, tv, and broadband packages from your chosen Service Provider.
2. How do we connect the external junction box?

We connect the 15cm x 13cm external junction box to the Openreach fibre network using a fibre optic cable. Depending on your property, the cable will either run from underground or from a telegraph pole. In the instances where the cable is fed to your property underground, we will feed the cable through a duct from the junction box to your property. There is a small chance we may need to make a minor excavation to expose the duct to repair any blockages preventing us from making the connection, but don’t worry, our engineers will leave the ground in the same way they found it.

If a ladder is required during the installation, our engineer may need to drill temporary holes outside your property to work safely. The engineer will repair these holes and leave it neat and tidy.
3. What is the box inside the house?

The box that we fit inside your house is called an Optical Network Terminal (ONT). The ONT is connected to the external junction box and brings our fibre network into your premises.
4. How does the internal installation work?

A much smaller cable will be run through the wall and attached to another box on the inside of your property. This internal box, called an ONT, will be around 13cm x 11cm.

Just a heads up, we'll need to drill a hole through the wall to enable us to connect the two boxes. If you're renting the property please make sure you get your landlord's permission for us to drill a hole. This will be 12mm wide and you can tell the engineer where you'd like them to drill.

Once the ONT has been fitted, we connect it your wireless router. You’re now ready to use the broadband package you’ve ordered from your Service Provider.
5. Will you do any external work before my scheduled appointment?

Yes, we may be able to complete any external work at your property before your scheduled installation date. If we need to this, we’ll let you know in advance.

Need to change your appointment or have a question about your installation?

First, your service provider will have agreed on a date with you for your installation. You should then have received a second message from your provider or Openreach, confirming your appointment. If you need to change your appointment date, follow the guidance provided in the communications you’ve received, and you’ll get a new slot that works for you.