Trial of Openreach’s self-installing FTTP modem is reportedly underway; It could mean cheaper fiber broadband upgrades, if some inconveniences can be avoided.
- Openreach is apparently preparing a trial for installing a DIY fiber modem
- This would mean that customers upgrading their fiber who already have a modem could simply replace it, which would mean a cheaper setup.
- However, this modem change is not as simple as it might seem at first glance, and there are potential pitfalls to be aware of here.
Openreach is apparently running trials to see if fiber broadband customers in the UK can install their own fiber modem rather than having an engineer do the work, which would save installation costs with an installation that was a box swap (as opposed to a fiber installation from scratch).
ISPreview reports that Openreach (of course, part of BT) is “tentatively proposing” a proof of concept of a DIY installation for the Optical Network Terminal (ONT), which sits at the end of the FTTP broadband connection in your home (or office).
This is the fiber modem in the wall that receives the fiber cable, converting that optical signal into an electrical one to funnel to your home router through an Ethernet port.
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The idea is that the customer will receive the new ONT in the mail, and as noted, this would only be for fiber service upgrades where there is already a modem installed, where the owner would replace it with a newer model.
According to ISPreview, the trial will last three months and should begin before the end of 2026. However, it will involve only a small number of orders (around 200), apparently those upgrading from an older Nokia ONT with 1Gbps or slower speeds to a faster multi-gig line.
Analysis: unfortunate cable bends or floor placement
The main objective of the test is to evaluate whether the customer can successfully handle this modem upgrade. While it seems simple enough at first glance, there are some potential complications here.
The task involves securing the new ONT to the wall securely, but as ISPreview points out, some people may be tempted to take a shortcut and simply leave the unit loose on the floor, perhaps thinking it’s okay to store it under a desk. But that leaves the connection potentially more vulnerable to dust or dirt getting into the port or connector when plugged in, which is bad news for connection speed.
One solution could be to attach a bracket to the wall for the initial ONT installation, so that in the future a new unit can simply be inserted as a replacement, with no DIY skills required.
Another concern raised by commenters is fiber installations where the cable does not have much slack, so if there is a different port position on the new ONT, the cable may not reach. There is also a danger that customers will try to stretch or bend it forcefully, which will cause damage to the fiber cable.
These types of questions are undoubtedly what the trial will examine, assuming it goes forward as reported.
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