# Planned, In-Build and Live Fibre Coverage Explained

Source: https://urbanx.co.za/knowledge-hub/fibre-coverage-installation-home-readiness/planned-in-build-live-fibre-coverage

**Answer:** Planned usually means an FNO is considering or designing a rollout. In-build or work in progress means physical deployment has started but the network may not accept service orders yet. Live generally means the FNO can accept orders in that area. None of these labels has one universal industry definition, and “live” still needs confirmation for the exact property.

Part of [Fibre Coverage, Installation & Home Readiness](https://urbanx.co.za/knowledge-hub/fibre-coverage-installation-home-readiness) · 8 min read · by UrbanX Knowledge Hub

**Last reviewed: 26 August 2026 · 8 min read**

### Why map labels differ between fibre networks

Each FNO runs its own planning, construction and order systems. One map may use “planned”, “building” and “live”. Another may use colours, “pre-order”, “available soon”, “connected” or “ready for service”. Frogfoot, for example, explains planned, work-in-progress and live zones on its coverage resources, while other operators present different legends.

Always read the specific map’s key. Do not assume the same colour means the same thing on another FNO’s website.

### A practical rollout model

The following stages are not official universal labels. They are a useful way to understand what may be happening behind the status shown to residents.

#### 1. Interest or feasibility

The operator may be measuring demand, studying route options and evaluating whether a build is technically and commercially viable. Registering interest can help demonstrate demand, but it is not an order and does not guarantee construction.

#### 2. Planned or design

The area has entered a planning process. Designers may map routes, distribution points and expected premises. Permission applications and other dependencies may not yet be complete.

A planned status should not be treated as a fixed installation date. Projects can be redesigned, delayed, divided into phases or paused.

#### 3. Permissions or pre-build

The operator may be seeking municipal wayleaves, utility clearances, landowner consent or building approvals. This work can be largely invisible from the street.

#### 4. In-build or work in progress

Contractors may be trenching, installing ducts or poles, constructing chambers, placing cabinets, pulling or blowing fibre, splicing and testing. A completed trench outside the property does not mean the network is ready for service. The visible civil work is only part of the build.

#### 5. Ready for order or pre-order

Some operators accept orders before every final network activity is complete. This can help queue premises installations, but an accepted pre-order is still subject to readiness and validation.

#### 6. Live or ready for service

The relevant portion of the network can generally accept service orders. The exact premises may still need a drop, internal installation, activation or building approval.

#### 7. Premises installed

The physical connection and termination equipment exist at the property. This state does not prove that an active internet service is currently provisioned.

#### 8. Activated

The FNO has provisioned the access line and the ISP can provide internet service, subject to its own account and router steps.

### Why estimated dates move

An estimated go-live date reflects the information available at that time. Fibre builds have dependencies that do not always finish in sequence.

Dates may change because of:

- wayleave or permission processing;
- discovery of water, electricity or other buried services;
- route redesigns;
- weather or unsafe site conditions;
- contractor availability;
- delayed materials or specialised equipment;
- reinstatement requirements;
- access restrictions in estates or buildings;
- testing, splicing or upstream network readiness;
- a decision to activate the build in smaller phases.

ISPA’s best-practice recommendations say installation estimates should be clear about external dependencies and should not be made unrealistically optimistic merely to close a sale. The same principle is useful for public rollout estimates.

### “The fibre is in the ground” is not a service state

Residents often see ducts or fibre installed and assume the area must be live. The route may still need:

- fibre to be blown or pulled through the duct;
- sections to be spliced together;
- cabinets or distribution points to be completed;
- optical testing and acceptance;
- connections to upstream infrastructure;
- address and premises records to be loaded;
- the operator’s ordering systems to be opened.

Civil work, network commissioning and retail order readiness are separate milestones.

### Live area vs live property

A live polygon is normally an area-level status. Your property can still be blocked by a missing premises record, a long or unusual route, building permission, internal complex infrastructure or an existing service record.

Use an exact [address-level coverage check](/knowledge-hub/fibre-coverage-installation-home-readiness/how-fibre-coverage-checks-work-sa) before choosing a package or relying on an installation estimate.

### What you can do at each stage

| Status | Useful action | Avoid |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Interest or feasibility | Register accurate interest and watch official sources. | Treating canvassing as confirmed construction. |
| Planned | Confirm your exact address is included and follow status updates. | Cancelling an existing service around an estimated build date. |
| Permissions or pre-build | If applicable, help the HOA, landlord or body corporate reach the correct FNO contact. | Trying to intervene in municipal approvals personally. |
| In-build | Keep property and contact details current; ask whether pre-orders are accepted. | Assuming visible trenching means immediate activation. |
| Live | Place one correct order through a participating ISP. | Submitting duplicates through multiple providers. |
| Premises installed | Provide equipment identifiers and ask whether activation or a new install is required. | Disconnecting or moving fixed fibre equipment. |
| Activated | Connect the ISP-supplied or approved router and follow the handover information. | Using this pillar as a fault guide; use the troubleshooting pillar after activation. |

### How to ask for a meaningful update

Instead of asking only “When will fibre be live?”, include:

- the exact address and map pin;
- the FNO shown on the map;
- the current status and estimated date displayed;
- whether a complex, estate or apartment approval is involved;
- whether contractors have completed work at the property;
- an existing order or reference number.

Then ask: **Which dependency or stage is still outstanding for this exact address?**

That question is more useful than a new generic estimate.

### Sources

- [Frogfoot Networks FAQs and rollout stages](https://www.frogfoot.co.za/faqs/)
- [ISPA FNO and ISP Best Practice Recommendations](https://ispa.org.za/about/working-groups/best-practice-recommendations/)
- [MetroFibre: Fibre is coming to your suburb](https://metrofibre.co.za/news/fibre-is-coming-to-your-suburb-heres-what-you-need-to-know/)
- [Openserve fibre coverage](https://openserve.co.za/connect/home/fibre)

### Related guides

- [All Fibre Coverage, Installation & Home Readiness guides](/knowledge-hub/fibre-coverage-installation-home-readiness)
- [How Fibre Coverage Checks Work in South Africa](/knowledge-hub/fibre-coverage-installation-home-readiness/how-fibre-coverage-checks-work-sa)
- [Fibre Installation Lead Times](/knowledge-hub/fibre-coverage-installation-home-readiness/fibre-installation-lead-times-sa)
- [Wayleaves and Permissions](/knowledge-hub/fibre-coverage-installation-home-readiness/fibre-wayleaves-permissions-explained)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Is a planned fibre area guaranteed to be built?**

No. Planned normally indicates intent or design activity, not an unconditional commitment. Viability, permissions and other dependencies can change the rollout.

**Can I place an order while an area is in-build?**

Only if the FNO and participating ISP accept pre-orders for that area. A pre-order may reserve your details but does not guarantee the displayed date.

**Why is one street live before the rest of the suburb?**

Networks are often commissioned in phases based on completed routes, distribution areas and testing. A suburb name does not mean every street shares the same infrastructure.

**If an ONT is already installed, is the address live?**

It proves a physical installation existed. The line may still be inactive, associated with a previous service or awaiting validation. Give the ISP the visible equipment identifiers.

**Who changes the coverage status?**

The relevant FNO controls its physical network and underlying readiness records. An ISP may display that data through its own checker.