Openreach engineer climbing a ladder to work on a telegraph pole in a rural field

Most common reasons for a delay to a Full Fibre installation

Most Full Fibre installations go smoothly, but sometimes we need to carry out additional work before we can complete your connection. Here's what can cause a delay and what it means for your appointment.

Openreach engineer using a head torch while working on underground fibre cable ducts at night

Underground works

Full Fibre is delivered differently to the part fibre broadband you have today.

We may need to dig or clear existing underground ducts to run the cable into your property. Sometimes it's soft-dig work on "soft" surfaces like grass using hand tools, or hard-dig work requiring specialist civils teams.

Engineers cutting back trees and foliage near overhead lines to enable a Full Fibre installation

Tree cutting

Openreach may need to cut back tress and foliage as these can hinder an engineer’s ability to complete your Full Fibre installation. Foliage too close to overhead lines can also cause disruptions, potentially damaging cables during high winds or storms.

Scaffolding may be required

Openreach may need to use scaffolding when working at heights that cannot be safely reached with ladders, such as on tall buildings or structures. Scaffolding provides a secure and stable platform for engineers to install or repair overhead lines, particularly in areas where lines are attached to high walls or rooftops.

Road closures

Road closures may be necessary to ensure the safety of both the public and engineers while we conduct work in areas affecting roads or footpaths. This could include installing underground cables, working on roadside cabinets, or accessing overhead lines on busy streets.

Openreach engineer operating specialist ground clearance machinery to clear underground ducts

Gully services

Many manholes or underground chambers can remain unopened for long periods, leading to debris or water to build up that blocks our access to these areas. To complete your Full Fibre installation, we may use methods such as ‘Gully sucking’ to remove water or debris from a box or manhole or ‘Jetting’ to remove water or debris from a duct.

Specialist engineer is required to complete the work

In some cases, completing an installation may require a specialist engineer or specialised equipment, due to unique site conditions or complex network requirements. Specialist engineers handle these technical scenarios to ensure the installation is completed safely and efficiently.

Permissions may be required

We often need permission to work on private land or public spaces. This can take time if approvals are required from local councils or property owners.

In some cases, wayleaves may be required which is a contract between the landowner and Openreach which gives Openreach a right of to install and maintain our network.