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Does Openreach Socket Mean There Is A Connection?


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Old 24-02-2016, 16:45
vlad
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: London
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My son is just moving into a flat and has to think about getting broadband installed. He noticed that there was a socket in the room with the snazzy blue Openreach logo on it.

Does that mean there is a connection already? He has asked the flat owner but she professes not to know.

Secondly, since he may not be there long term, if he takes one of the 'free' first year offers which have a 12 month contract, does that mean he is tied to them after the first 'free' 12 months?

The terms seem less than clear.
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Old 24-02-2016, 17:03
Mystic Eddy
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There will be a line into the property, if it is connected at the cabinet and/or exchange depends on how long the line hasn't been used for. Either way, a simple call to your son's provider of choice will take care of everything and he should be up and running in a couple of weeks tops.
As for the 'free' broadband, you wouldn't have to stay with providers such as Sky and Plusnet who just want you to pay line rental for 12 months then you can go to another provider/move places without incurring cancellation charges.
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Old 24-02-2016, 17:25
chrisjr
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My son is just moving into a flat and has to think about getting broadband installed. He noticed that there was a socket in the room with the snazzy blue Openreach logo on it.

Does that mean there is a connection already? He has asked the flat owner but she professes not to know.
The only thing you know for certain is that there is a phone socket in the room. Whilst it would be a bit random for someone to screw a socket to the wall and never have had it connected to anything you can't rule out that possibility.

If there is a cable connected to the back of the socket that does not mean it is connected back to the exchange. It is not unknown for Openreach to disconnect an unused line from a property at a roadside cabinet or distribution point up a telegraph pole and reconnect the exchange side to some other property to enable a new connection. Especially where they are running short of connections back to the exchange.

One thing you could do is plug a phone in and listen for dial tone. This does not necessarily mean the line is active but it is a good indication that it is still connected to the exchange which is always a bonus.
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Old 24-02-2016, 17:26
vlad
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That's all very concise and helpful.

Thanks very much.
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