As a result of our community coming together and supporting the Gigabit Voucher Scheme, Openreach is currently building the new Networks which will enable 335 addresses within Bury Parish to connect to a Full Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) service.
Process of Build and Commissioning:
Did you apply for and validate a Gigabit Voucher?
The build process may include Openreach installing a cable to your property. Once the build is complete and tested Openreach will commission each of the 4 Networks that supply Bury Parish individually, this means that certain properties may be able to order a service before others. The build process should be largely complete by end of March this year.
What do you need to do?
Once you have been notified the network is live for your address, you need to order a full fibre (FTTP) service within 14 days. Full conditions here.
There are a range of Service Providers available on the Openreach Network which can be found by inputting your postcode on a comparison service such as Uswitch. To get an idea in advance of available packages you could search on an Amberley postcode ahead of the Bury network being live.
Landlines
When you order your faster broadband FTTP service you will have the option to retain your existing landline on a copper wire connection which will continue to work as it does now. If this is what you would prefer, you need to clearly state that you want FTTP Broadband, keeping PSTN Voice service over existing copper line.
Alternatively, you may be offered:
What may be offered in terms of voice service when migrating over to FTTP is the VOIP (Voice over IP) product – This means that the telephone service would be a cloud-based service where the ‘landline handset’ plugs into the Router as opposed to the traditional telephone socket. This product may be sold as part of the broadband package, unless you have stated that you do not want VOIP.
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House alarms and care alert systems
Another thing to think about when migrating to FTTP is the impact on any hard-wired systems that rely on the existing copper telephone service – this includes alarm systems (paid services that have a link to the telephone line) generally managed by home security alarm companies and welfare systems such as pendant alarms generally provided by the District Council.
There are a number of solutions for the above examples which should be discussed with the provider of the system prior to migrating to VOIP – this does not apply if you are keeping your voice service on the PSTN (copper) network.
Those premises that do not have a Gigabit Voucher
Once your local network is live, have a search on a comparison website, as suggested above, to see what options are available. We suggest that you ask your supplier what the arrangements for connection to the new FTTP broadband service will be.
Any questions?
Email our Broadband Community Lead, Richard Champness.
