01/11/2022   

For Information

This briefing is for all Communications Providers (CPs).

This briefing is to inform CPs about the introduction of a Pilot for GEA-FTTP speeds above 1Gbit/s from 1 December 2022. The speed variants included in the Pilot are 1200Mbit/s download with 120Mbit/s upload and 1800Mbit/s download with 120Mbit/s upload.

Openreach is introducing a Pilot for GEA-FTTP speeds above 1Gbit/s download. The speed variants included in the Pilot, for which indicative pricing will be made available, are 1200Mbit/s download with 120Mbit/s upload and 1800Mbit/s download with 120Mbit/s upload.

The Pilot will allow us to test new hardware and systems in the live network, including new order journeys, e.g., box-swap. Swansea exchange has been selected as the initial location. The Pilot will extend into the fourth quarter (January-March 2023), during which time we may expand the number of Pilot locations to scale-up operations and supply chain in preparation for launch.

If you are interested in taking part, please get in touch (details below). We will send you a copy of the Pilot Terms, which describes how it works, and how you can join in.

Terms of Pilot Launch

The Pilot Terms and Conditions (‘Pilot Terms’) set out the requirements and criteria for the Pilot. CPs will need to sign the Pilot Terms to participate in the Pilot. The Pilot shall commence on 1 December 2022 and will last for four months subject to amendments in accordance with the Pilot Terms, with a full launch anticipated for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2023 / 2024, dependant on the outcome of the Pilot. The following price points will apply during the Pilot:

For the newly launched speeds to be consumed, a 2.5Gbit/s optical network terminator (ONT) will be required. In a box-swap scenario, an engineer will need to attend the end customer’s premises to swap the existing ONT for a 2.5Gbit/s ONT. In these instances, the £90 box-swap charge applies, but no bandwidth modify charge will be charged.

We are also matching the price points onto FOD (Fibre on Demand) with the same rentals, same connection, but excluding the box-swap.

Standard and Premium connection charges will be consistent will all other GEA-FTTP speed tiers, with Premium having a £40 price differential versus Standard.

Details of Service Level Guarantees that will/will not apply to the Pilot service are set out in the Pilot Terms.

This briefing supports ACCN OR809

More information

If you've any questions about this briefing, or are interested in taking part in the Pilot, please contact Matt Sledge matthew.sledge@openreach.co.uk .  

[1] In the context of an end customer choosing to upgrade to a faster speed, a bandwidth modify charge would normally apply as well, however, in the case of the speeds included in this Pilot we do not anticipate any further charges to apply at the time a FTTP ONT is swapped.