FTTP on Demand (FTTPoD)

Modified on Tue, 14 Jun 2022 at 12:57 PM

What is FTTP on Demand (FTTPoD), and how is it ordered and installed?

This is a very in depth article, deliberately technical, and aimed at those providing support for FTTPoD. If you are a customer, an end-user of this service, you may still find this article helpful so as to gain an insight into the fulfillment journey.


Key differences to regular FTTP

  • has a variable installation cost based on distance and location
  • radial distance between customer premises and fibre aggregation node can be up to 999 m
  • typical lead times are 6 to 12 months
  • minimum term of 3 years
  • increased cost, reflecting extra work to provide fibre over a greater distance or through difficult obstacles
  • installed as 330 Mbps (50 Mbps up), but up-gradable to 1000 Mbps (220 Mbps up) after 12 months

Order journey

  • Desk survey: this will determine if an FTTPoD order can potentially be provided, based on the following info:
    • Site postcode
    • Full address of property
  • Site survey: OpenReach will survey the site, route to fibre aggregation node, and assess requirements for Local Authority Highways permits and/or wayleave agreements with any land owners or property owners upon which the proposed fibre cable ducting and/or overhead poles will impact.
    • There is non-refundable charge for this survey of £350+VAT; deducted from the bill if order goes ahead
  • Acceptance of ECCs(Excess Construction Charges): customer agrees to the quoted installation fee
    • IMPORTANT: customer only has 20 working days to accept or reject quoted ECCs
  • Planning: route for new infrastructure is planned, and any necessary planning permissions, highway closure agreements, and wayleaves are sought. This process takes a minimum of 3 months. A prospective completion date is provided for the customer so that they can plan their interim connectivity to match.
  • Build infrastructure: new ducting, overhead poles, optical cable laying, distribution points, and network capacity and built. this process can take as little as 3 months, but possibly up to 9 months in difficult to deploy scenarios. The build phase is KCI (keep custom informed) so that any delays are reported back to the customer immediately.
  • Installation of CSP: OpenReach engineer attaches external CSP (Customer Splicing Point) box to property, and connects to either Footway or Pole (underground ducting or overhead cable).
  • Internal installation: Optical cable fed through wall from CSP to interior of property, along to the interior ONT (Optical Network Terminator); the ONT presents a standard Gigabit Ethernet connector for connection to CPE (Customer Premise Equipment) - the customer's router. Subsequent to an internet connectivity test, OpenReach hand over the solution as "completed".
    • The ONT can be up to 5 m from the external entry point, or 30 m if a "Premium" install is authroized
    • The ONT must have 2 x wall-mounted power sockets within 1.5 m (extension cables not acceptable)


Components: various deployment scenarios and common premises components


Laying of infrastructure cabling


Installing pole and/or duct infrastructure

Exterior duct-based Fibre DP (Distribution Point)


Exterior duct-based CBT (Connectorised Block Terminal)

Exterior pole-based CBT (Connectorised Block Terminal)

Exterior CSP (Customer Splicing Point)


View of CSP from underside showing tamper-proof (locked) optical fibre connectors: 



Exterior and interior diagram

CSP (Customer Splicing Point)

ONT (Optical Network Terminator)

BBU (Battery Backup Unit) - no longer supplied since 2019


Example exterior wiring diagram for pole-based overhead cable scenario

(Preferred scenario is underground ducting with Footwell CSP)

In this diagram, similar BFT (Blown Fibre Tubing) used in footwells and ducts spans OH (Over Head) between pole and premesis.

Example interior wiring diagram

The ONT box (fitted inside customer premises)


[End of article]


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