Fibre installation: the connection steps, from order to speed test

Contents
A fibre (FTTH) connection is a short but technical job. Preparing well avoids a second visit and later drop-outs.
Step 1: the order
First check on your provider's website that fibre is available at your address, then subscribe online, in a shop or by phone. The provider calls back to book an appointment.
Step 2: the technical visit
The technician locates the optical connection point (in the street, on the façade or in the building) and the route to your home: existing duct, riser, conduit. Make sure common areas are accessible and, if needed, get the building manager's approval.
Step 3: cable routing and optical socket
The fibre is pulled to your home and connected to an optical termination socket (PTO). Choose its location carefully: ideally in the middle of the home, near a power socket, and not inside a metal cabinet. Your Wi-Fi will start from there: see where to place your router.
Step 4: router and activation
The router (or ONT + router) connects to the PTO with an optical patch cord. The PON light should be steady and the LOS light off. A red LOS light signals a signal problem: see red LOS light.
Step 5: checks before the technician leaves
- Connect a computer over Ethernet cable and run a speed test.
- Check the optical cord is neither bent nor crushed: fibre does not like tight bends.
- Test Wi-Fi in the main rooms.
- Note the Wi-Fi name and change the default password: secure your Wi-Fi.
After installation
Watch the line for a few days: evening speed, possible drop-outs. If something is wrong, our Wi-Fi or line diagnosis tells you where it comes from, and your saved test results will support any request to your provider.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
How long does installation take?
The work itself often takes one to two hours when the cable route is available. It can take longer if routing works are needed.
Do walls need drilling?
Sometimes, to bring the cable to the chosen room. The technician prefers existing ducts; agree on the route before work starts.
Can I move the optical socket later?
Possible but delicate: fibre must be handled carefully. Better to choose the location well from the start, or extend the network with Ethernet or Mesh.
Related guides
- Understanding your connectionHow FTTH fibre works: from the exchange to your router
OLT, splitter, distribution point, wall socket, ONT: the path of the fibre signal to your home, explained by an FTTH technician, and what it means for your speed.
- TroubleshootingRed LOS light on a fibre router: causes and what to do
Red or blinking LOS light on your fibre router or ONT? What loss of optical signal means, the checks you can do yourself and when to call your provider.
- Understanding your connectionHow to read a speed test: download, upload, ping and jitter
Download, upload, ping, jitter: learn what each value of a speed test means, what a good result looks like and how to find the cause of a slow connection.
- Understanding your connectionMbps vs MB/s: the difference between megabits and megabytes
Why does a 100 Mbps fibre download at 12 MB/s? Understand megabits vs megabytes and work out how long a file will take to download.



