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[Bowdon]

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2018/03/fttp-demand-order-capacity-still-constrained-uk-isps.html

Openreach (BT) has issued a new notice to ISPs that sell their Gigabit capable FTTP on Demand broadband product, which reminds them of how “FoD capacity” will continue to be “constrained” by an “industry-wide operational capacity of 20 FoD orders per calendar month.”

The notice proceeds to say that “this is in part due to our recent announcement on Fibre First and our subsequent increase in activity to support major FTTP build across the first wave of eight major UK cities. But also, as you know, FoD is not intended for major multi-sites network upgrade projects, for which there are more appropriate products in our portfolio.”

On the one hand I can understand why they are restricting FoD orders. But even if we discount residential customers, only 20 FoD orders per month across all ISP's in all the UK is extremely low.

On the other hand, the fact FoD is being overwelmed is an indication of how in demand full fibre is. That businesses and more recently residential people, are requesting quotes that have obviously overwelmed OR's system.

Now we know OR is restricting FoD, and we know their system is being overwelmed enough to put out a statement about it, I think we can say the demand for full fibre is there. Especially when even the 'niche' is pushing the boundaries.

If FTTP isn't at a business location then what else are they supposed to do?

[j0hn]

If they charged a small fee for quotes they wouldn't have had the recent issues.
The amount of threads on TBB about FTTPod recently has been extremely high. There's probably been hundreds of users who are "just curious" asking the likes of Cerberus for a quote.

If there was even a £10 fee for the rough quote then anyone just curious would likely not pay.
Anyone willing to spend £10k+ for FTTP would pay £10 in a heart beat.

[Bowdon]

I've no doubt that you are right saying about everyone probably called in for a free quote (everyone likes something for free).

But I still think there would be more and more people serious about FoD as time went on.

I've heard that the cost of the FoD process, installation costs etc, is more expensive than regular FTTP.

So I wonder if there is going to be another announcement about FTTP expanding soon.

We've not heard much about that 'deal' being done at the back end of last year: https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2017/10/openreach-find-broad-support-large-scale-uk-fttp-broadband-rollout.html - Openreach Find “broad support” for Large Scale UK FTTP Broadband Rollout

[Dwight]

These two news articles I think show the real issue.
1. Demand is there.
2. Open reach can't meat that demand FOD or otherwise
3. Smaller firms and councils need to recognize that and file the void.
Other wise we will be left behind with an antiquated system which we invented. Like the railways ended up!

[gt94sss2]

On the one hand I can understand why they are restricting FoD orders. But even if we discount residential customers, only 20 FoD orders per month across all ISP's in all the UK is extremely low.

On the other hand, the fact FoD is being overwelmed is an indication of how in demand full fibre is. That businesses and more recently residential people, are requesting quotes that have obviously overwelmed OR's system.

While 20 FoD orders per month seems very low, if you read the ISPReview page, it becomes clear that Openreach are only receiving around 10 FoD orders/month so I think its wrong to assume that this statement is an indication of how strong demand for full fibre is.

As j0hn says, I think may have just applied for a free desktop survey to see what the estimated costs would be... and ultimately, you have to accept the point that FoD is very resource intensive/expensive and that such resources would be better directed towards 'native' FTTP deployments (such as OR's plans for 3 million FTTP customers by 2020) which will benefit many more individuals at a lower cost due to economies of scale.

[j0hn]

2. Open reach can't meat that demand FOD or otherwise

They can't meet the demand for free, inaccurate desktop surveys.
Actual FoD orders barely hit double figures per month.

They have set the limit above the current amount of orders they receive.

[Bowdon]

As j0hn says, I think may have just applied for a free desktop survey to see what the estimated costs would be... and ultimately, you have to accept the point that FoD is very resource intensive/expensive and that such resources would be better directed towards 'native' FTTP deployments (such as OR's plans for 3 million FTTP customers by 2020) which will benefit many more individuals at a lower cost due to economies of scale.

I accept what J0hn says about people having desktop orders to dip their toe in the water etc.

I welcome the FTTP news today that OR are hiring more engineers and opening 12 new national fibre engineering schools.

I think OR underestimated the demand for full fibre, and even though there was probably a misunderstanding with FoD i.e. people thought the prices would be going lower. It also showed us people (residential) were prepared to pay moderately big money.

I think FTTP is the preferred option of everyone. I think they are just wondering how long its going to take to get to their neck of the woods.

[niemand]

I think OR underestimated the demand for full fibre, and even though there was probably a misunderstanding with FoD i.e. people thought the prices would be going lower. It also showed us people (residential) were prepared to pay moderately big money.

This begs the question why there weren't more orders for FoD before the price change was announced.

Substantially less than 240 orders per year across the entire country including both residential and commercial is a pretty tough demand to underestimate.

[Bowdon]

This begs the question why there weren't more orders for FoD before the price change was announced.

Substantially less than 240 orders per year across the entire country including both residential and commercial is a pretty tough demand to underestimate.

I think the increase in FoD orders, or quotes is because there isn't enough FTTP around to fill the hype that is being talked about from all media. Imho people thought if they could pay for FoD then in their own way they are helping to increase FTTP access.

I think the problem is that those of us who weren't as educated about FoD just got hit with the reality of the difficulties of installing it, and being slapped around with a potential £39,000 bill brings us back to reality 

The news today that OR are hiring more engineers and also opening up special fibre schools is a good sign. I'm sure in the next year or two we'll see a more rapid deployment of fibre.

[jelv]

Even if OR are not charging a fee for a quote I'm surprised Cerberus are not. It must be giving them a lot of extra work with sod all new customers coming out of it.

I bet if they only charged £1 it would still decimate the number of quotes requested!