How Long Does It Take to Get Broadband Installed?

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Installing a new fibre broadband connection at your place is exciting. You'll finally be able to enjoy 4K movies without any buffering caused by a bad internet connection, and the ping in your online games will be in the single digits.

But the whole fibre installation process can take quite a while. One can't help but wonder, how long does it take to get broadband installed?

The installation timeline is influenced by several variables, such as what installation plan and option you selected, whether it involves a full fibre installation, and your availability and schedule.

This article will cover everything you need to know about how long it takes to install broadband and what the process entails.

How Long Does the Fibre Installation Process Take?

On average, it takes two to three weeks to install fibre when you sign the contract. A pre-installation site survey is typically booked within a week of installing the contract. The survey helps your internet service provider (ISP) understand what your location looks like, where the nearest access point is, and several other technicalities. They also check if the fibre can be installed legally.

This is because the engineer has to connect the fibre cable from the main fibre network to your residence. Shared driveways may take less time if the fibre cable has already been connected to one of your neighbours.

And if you live in a shared property, your ISP may have to obtain your neighbours' written consent before installation. This can further add to the delay.

Once the paperwork has been settled and you agree on a date, an engineer will arrive at your location to install the broadband. A full fibre installation can take up to four hours to complete, so make sure to allocate sufficient time.

What Affects the Broadband Installation Time?

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The broadband installation process can take quite some time and depends on several factors.

For one, some ISPs only install fibre on particular days of the week. And if a particular team of engineers is responsible for installing fibre vs installing traditional cable, that can add to the waiting period.

Aside from that, here are some other factors that affect how long it takes to install broadband:

• Legal Permission. Your ISP needs to inform the local authorities about the installation.
• Type of installation plan. Full fibre involves splicing and running a fibre cable leading from the main network (FTTP). It also requires the installation of an optical network terminal (ONT) and possibly an external termination point (ETP) if it's a new house or one without a landline. Using a pre-existing cable and ETP results in a faster installation process.
• Property type. Living in a shared driveway or a high-rise flat can significantly slow installation, especially when additional preparation and written consent are required.
• Existing infrastructure. Having the pre-existing infrastructure in shared driveways streamlines the process. Your ISP may only need to install an ONT for your residence.
• Demand and ISP availability. If there's limited availability of technicians, high demand in a specific area, or both, the waiting period can take longer than usual. Moreover, if the equipment isn't available, you might have to wait until the ISP refreshes its stock.

Complete Breakdown of the Broadband Installation Process

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Let's break the process into simple steps to better understand how long it takes to upgrade to fibre broadband.

Authorisation and Initial Inquiry

If you're the sole property owner, you likely won't run into any issues and have to do much paperwork to get the fibre installation process authorised and approved.

However, if you live in an apartment building or multi-dwelling unit, you may have to obtain consent if your local jurisdiction requires you to do so.

If you rent the flat, only your landlord can legally authorise the installation process and give the right of way.

In most instances, local fibre companies take care of this for you and will let you know if your action is required.

Aside from the legal work, the ISP has to check the feasibility of installing fibre at your residence.

This process can take up to a few weeks if the installation site is unique.

Pre-installation Appointment and Site Survey

When your ISP gets the green light, they will contact you to schedule a site survey. This is done to ensure the team will be prepared on the installation day and have the necessary fibre equipment.

The technician will assess existing infrastructure, determine how your home can be connected, and where to install the fibre equipment inside and outside your home.

An average pre-installation appointment takes about an hour or less, though it may take longer in multi-dwelling units.

Installation Day

With everything planned and prepared, your ISP will let you know when the installation can occur. You'll likely have some flexibility in choosing when they come.

The process involves splicing and running the fibre from the street to the outside of your house, connected to the ETP, which is a small box installed outside your house.

Technicians may do this while you're not home, depending on your agreement.

When that’s done, the ONT can be installed inside your home.

The whole process doesn't typically take longer than one to three hours.

Additional hard wiring and fibre sockets can also be installed depending on your installation plan, which adds around one to two hours to the installation time.

When that's done, you may receive a new modem if your current modem doesn't work with fibre. It's then connected to your router and tested to ensure everything works correctly.

Tips to Help You Speed up the Broadband Installation Process

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Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to speed up the installation process:

• Choose an efficient ISP.
• Be present at the scheduled appointments.
• Answer your phone calls and respond to messages promptly.
• Notify your ISP immediately if you suspect a broadband internet outage.
• Follow-up if there are unexpected delays.

If you have already scheduled an installation or pre-installation appointment, you must be home for the whole duration. This can take up to four hours or longer, so plan ahead.

Conclusion

Upgrading to fibre is an exciting prospect, but it can take close to a month to finish the whole process, which consists of the following:

Acquiring authorisation and consent from the neighbours if it's a multi-dwelling unit.
Making an appointment to do a pre-installation survey.
Having the fibre installed once the equipment is ready and a date is set.
To ensure a smooth installation, consider choosing an efficient and well-known ISP and be present for the scheduled appointments. You can speed the process up by promptly responding to communication from your ISP and following up on unexpected delays.

Once you get your broadband installed, check out this guide on how to use it.