Newbuild new broadband connection - help explain the process!

[Katie_]

Hoping someone can give me an idiots guide to installing broadband to our newbuild as I seem to find conflicting information on the internet!

 

So we're building a new house on an old farmyard beside a 'B' road in Perthshire, Scotland. We've recently had fibre cables put into the area which are now up and running. We're living in the cottage next door but have been running 4G router over there as the broadband speeds were so poor prior to the new fibre going in, there was a BT connection to the cottage, we just haven't used it.

 

The new house has Cat6 cabling in main rooms so ideally I'd like to connect these into the hub and into the new fibre network outside. We also have a BT pole on our land directly in front of the new house.

 

• How do I start the process? Am I right in thinking I sign up to the Openreach Developer Portal and they do a site visit or desktop study of what's on site? I read somewhere it's £2000 for a single property connection is that right??? 
• Or do I go through BT Retail and get a phoneline put in? (we don't need a phoneline, only use mobiles but I guess this is needed for the broadband connection?)
• I spoke to Vodafone as a new broadband customer but the new address, although registered, wasn't showing as having any broadband connectivity despite the rest of the street being on the new fibre network, but I assume this is because there's no phoneline installed to the property?

 

Looking for advice from someone that's gone through this and prepare me for the potential cost implications. 

 

Also, what ducting is required from where - pole to house? We have a mini-digger so can do this ourselves if it helps on cost.

 

Copying @elite @Thorfun who I think might have gone through similar recently (found a similar thread)

 

Thank you!

 

[JohnMo]

Are you a developer or just a single house. If not a developer no need to sign up.

 

I rang BT, they arranged for Open reach to deliver cable, which I installed, now at front door and at nearest pole. Costs no idea as I just stayed on 4G. BT, is in principle a phone system, that what occurs first and the broadband sits on top of that.

 

  On 25/02/2025 at 12:09, Katie_ said:

ducting

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I had a trench for mains power that's in the bottom BT cable above about 300mm no ducts. BT/Openreach happy with it in sand.

[Katie_]

  On 25/02/2025 at 12:27, JohnMo said:

Are you a developer or just a single house. If not a developer no need to sign up.

 

I rang BT, they arranged for Open reach to deliver cable, which I installed, now at front door and at nearest pole. Costs no idea as I just stayed on 4G. BT, is in principle a phone system, that what occurs first and the broadband sits on top of that.

 

I had a trench for mains power that's in the bottom BT cable above about 300mm no ducts. BT/Openreach happy with it in sand.

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Just a single house, I'll contact BT and hopefully start the ball rolling. Thank you for the reply!

 

[Canski]

I think it varies. Initially I spoke to Openreach about 2 connections for us and then about a week later they installed a junction box in the pavement. Connection was free and they were super helpful when it came to connection time. 

[SBMS]

  On 25/02/2025 at 12:27, JohnMo said:

Are you a developer or just a single house. If not a developer no need to sign up.

 

I rang BT, they arranged for Open reach to deliver cable, which I installed, now at front door and at nearest pole. Costs no idea as I just stayed on 4G. BT, is in principle a phone system, that what occurs first and the broadband sits on top of that.

 

I had a trench for mains power that's in the bottom BT cable above about 300mm no ducts. BT/Openreach happy with it in sand.

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Not 100%  @JohnMo.. If there's no fibre infrastructure 'local' to the property (ie in the road) you'll need to engage Openreach directly and you'll need to do it through the developer portal.  You will need to sign up as a 'developer' (even though you aren't) and register as a single site.  

 

Basically - Fibre available in road -> BT/ISP can get you sorted, easy peasy.

No Fibre in road -> Openreach will need to bring fibre from nearest spine (this is usually a fibre new build programme, or infill).  ISP won't help (as openreach will charge the FTTP service), you'll need a developer services provision and its only openreach (or VMO2/City Fibre post fibre unbundling if in urban area etc) that can provide backhaul connection and infrastructure. Capped at £2k for you, but they can charge more if there is significant cost to service you (in which case you can be excused from the building regs requirement for gigabit ready to the property).

 

If you need a hand knowing what to click on the Openreach Dev site for signup as a self builder let me know... I posted it somewhere else on here as its not straightforward as it is geared toward Ltd Co's signing up as developers.

[JohnMo]

  On 25/02/2025 at 17:48, SBMS said:

Not 100%  @JohnMo.. If there's

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That is exactly how I was told to do it. Maybe a regional thing - I am in Scotland or things have changed since I did it.

[SBMS]

  On 25/02/2025 at 18:02, JohnMo said:

That is exactly how I was told to do it. Maybe a regional thing - I am in Scotland or things have changed since I did it.

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Was yours fibre to the premises? Regs have changed requiring gigabit ready internet for all new builds (Scotland included as of last month) so new builds can’t pick up copper based fibre anymore. 

Edited February 25 by SBMS

[JohnMo]

  On 25/02/2025 at 18:12, SBMS said:

Was yours fibre to the premises? Regs have changed requiring gigabit ready internet for all new builds (Scotland included as of last month) so new builds can’t pick up copper based fibre anymore. 

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No fibre near us until late this year. Was only offered about 2 meg, so useless. So just went 4G. Even BT said it was a rubbish speed, and the guy I spoke with said go 4G.