current in disconnected cable

[hseldon]

Hi,

I am installing a new driveway and the VM cable 3 inches below the surface is in the way so a section of it needs cut out. I know from searching that internet cable still carries current although at much lower volts than standard 230v but still enough to give you a small shock. However, I am not with VM anymore, having switched ISP's several years ago. I signed up with VM around 2002 so the cable should be a copper wire. Since I am not with VM anymore, would the wire still be carrying any current? 

[Roger_Gooner]

Yes the cable always carries a current. VM will do whatever it takes to relocate the cable.

[Carley_S]

Hi hseldon

Welcome to the community. 

Thank you for getting in touch. If you had services installed with us in 2002 and hadn't had any works on them or were not a customer of ours since 2015. These cables could belong to Openreach as we did use/piggyback off their landline cables. 

There are usually small currents on landline cables - so I would not advise any personal works to remove the cables. We would also not remove any cabling requests. I advise you contact Openreach to see if this something they are able to do for you. 

[Roger_Gooner]

If you were a cable customer in 2002 then that cable must be coaxial and has nothing to do with phone wires or Openreach, so it's now owned by VM who will charge you to relocate it.

[jpeg1]

But if you no longer use the Virgin cable and don't intend to rejoin in the future there seems little point in paying them to move it. Are you certain the cable only connects to your house and no others? 

[hseldon]

For clarification, the cable is in a green serrated conduit which connects to an NTL box on the wall. The section of the cable where the new driveway will be is about eight foot long. I haven't spoken to my driveway installer to see if it needs removed. As it's three inches under the ground, the asphalt might be thick enough to cover it without it reducing the strength of the asphalt so it might not need removed. If it does need removed and I take a chance and just cut this eight foot section out myself, would that show up as a fault on the local VM network ie would VM eventually discover that it had been cut?  

[jpeg1]

If you no longer have a Virgin service the cable may have been disconnected in the street cabinet. If it hasn't then it's possible that cutting the cable may cause problems for neighbours connected to the same cabinet.

If the driveway installer can leave the duct in place it would clearly be the best option so that you or a subsequent resident can have the service easily reconnected. Otherwise you can just give notice to Virgin that you are going to remove it.