cable installed by Circet

Imretired

Hello

Please advise if I have any rights here.

A few weeks ago I looked out the window to see an engineer dragging a caable across my driveway. he was almost finished connecting my neighbors house to Sky fibre optic.

I went out to ask what he was doing. At no stage did he stop, ask my permission either to be in the garden or to install the cable across.

Now after going through a very lengthy complaains process with both Sky and ConReg basically I am told they installed the cable according to standards consistent in the area. And its not being removed.

Sky says as the cable is not attached to my property they didnt need to ask permission.

The neighbor didnt warn or ask us either.

Now we have a cable running right across the drive way with roosting birds pooping on our cars.

Anything we can do? Com reg absolutely useless. they say they cannot compel Sky to remve the cable.

There is an alternative routing they could have used, to follow the line of the old cable. This passes over our property but at the end of our driveway so much less intrusive, But Sky have just closed our case and said they are not removing or rerouting.

Any advise would be well received. Thank you

Nigzcurran

Snip snip. They should not be on your property without permission and if they had knocked in and asked you could have told them to install it at the far end like the old cable.

TheDriver

A high roof van could back into your drive at any stage and whoops

D3V!L

What height is the cable from the ground ? Do you have any pictures of it ?

Imretired

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123740050#Comment_123740050

All per regulation. 6m approx over ground.

Imretired

I really would like to go the legal route if I could.

But im not sure I have a leg to stand on.

deandean

I had a similar problem about 15 years ago, Sky had a cable across our driveway from house-soffit to house-soffit.

I was planning an extension and would have grab trucks, concrete mixers etc coming up the driveway. Also I was a Sky customer.

I contacted Sky. A dead-sound Sky technician in a wide-brimmed hat came out (if you're in north Dublin you may have come across him). We came up with a deal.

I dug a trench across my driveway. Sky supplied several metres of flexi duct that I buried into the trench. Then Sky re-routed their cable underground, through the duct.

(Neighbour had no issue with cable running down the side of her house).

Problem solved!

Imretired

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123740688#Comment_123740688

That was a brilliant fix. Glad you got sorted.

PixelCrafter

Sky don't install that kind of stuff - if it's fibre, the company who owns the cable is either. OpenEir, Siro or NBI.

Sky are only a retail provider of internet services - they don't own any physical infrastructure for local access.

If you're that concerned about it, I would suggest you approach it through a solicitor. They need way leave to run cables through your property.

Imretired

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123741197#Comment_123741197

Correct, it was a Sky installer but for future reference for anyone in same situation the complaint is lodged with Sky who then review with the installer.

PixelCrafter

Basically it's OpenEir, Siro or NBI who own the infrastructure, seek the permissions and operate it. If there's any issue it's between the property owner and one of those companies. Sky are only an ISP. This isn't a customer service issue. The person being impacted is a 3rd party has no relationship with Sky whatsoever. They've an issue with OpenEir, Siro or NBI crossing their property.

If the customer of Sky has an issue with the service, yes they complain through Sky as the wholesale access network has no point of contact, but for network build, it's nothing to do with Sky. All they did was request a service be installed at a location, and one of those companies then extended their network.

Basically one of those networks has strung wires across someone's property without asking permission.

The owner of the physical network is the company that should be seeking permission here. Sky are only their customer.

Solicitor and demand proof of way leave. Sky won't know what you're talking about if you ring them as they're just a customer-facing ISP. In all likelihood they won't even engage with a 3rd party.

It's also not really a ComReg issue - it's more of an issue covered by property law and planning rules. You'll be run around in circles dealing with telecoms providers and ComReg.

What is needed is letter from a solicitor to the owner of the network asking them to explain their installation and what permission they had to carry it out.

If they entered the property to do so without permission it's also potentially trespassing. They've no business whatsoever entering private property to install equipment uninvited.

ESB has some exemptions for some of this kind of thing, and it may exist for telecoms companies where way leave was previously granted, but they are much more limited in what they can do.

Definitely seek professional legal advice if this is an issue.

fritzelly

So they basically trespassed on your land, even a way leave here wouldn't apply as they were not servicing existing infrastructure - it doesn't give them the right to just install a new cable wherever they like

As above first port of call is Openeir or whoever ordered the install then solicitor then court

Came across a case when working with a telecom company and a neighbour refused permission to install a line across their land and basically said customer could not get fibre. They were told nothing OE could do without permission (was no other way to get a line to them)

PixelCrafter

Just bear in mind that ringing the ISP will likely get you a confused response. They do not install equipment at all. They put a request in to whoever the wholesale operator is i.e. OpenEir, Siro or NBI to provide a new connection at an address. It's up to those companies how they go about that. The only thing Sky will be aware of is that it's active / inactive.

Also, being call centres, they'll likely give you a response, and throw your complaint into some random inbox that will never be resolved.

ComReg are also only the telecoms regulator. They are responsible for a lot of things, but access to property is simply property law based.

You are completely wasting your time contacting the ISP (Sky) or ComReg. Just find out which operator owns the network, if you're in an urban area it's most likely OpenEir, it could be Siro and in more rural areas, it could also be NBI.

OpenEir infrastructure will typically run on the same poles as telephone lines. Siro is a joint venture of ESB so will often share poles with ESB wiring and NBI tends to look more like OpenEir infrastructure and may even share their poles.

Usually you'll find a label on the pole or something or should be able to spot a code on the infrastructure on the top of the pole somewhere.

SVI40

If the cable was damaged, then the provider would have to come out and repair it. You could ask them who they work for.

Imretired

Thanks All.

Circet was the installer so I will get onto them.