Options for replacing Plusnet phone service with VoIP

[#1]

I am aware the Plusnet is only offering fibre with no phone service to new customers and that, before too long, existing customers' phone service will be switched off.

At the moment, my wife and I still make and receive quite lot of calls using the landline phone. We are currently paying £10+ per month for an Anytime call plan for unlimited UK calls to 01/02/03 numbers (which, incidentally, doesn't appear to be a current offering!). We have unlimited fibre broadband (FTTC, not FTTP) under a 2-year contract which runs until November.

When the phone line is switched off (or maybe before) I intend to use Sipgate VoIP (for which I already have an 'Starter' account - opened before they moved the goalposts) via a third-party ATA. I am considering the following options:

1. Cancelling the Anytime call plan, and switching over to VoIP straight away. This would mean a change of phone number because the line would still exist and the original number would still be tied to the internet service. Does anyone know whether I CAN cancel Anytime without incurring any penalties? If I can, I will save £10+ per month from Plusnet, and only incur about £2 per month making the same calls with VoIP. [If I made them Plusnet without Anytime, the cost would be ~£50 per month - totally outrageous!] If I go down this route, i will probably leave an old answering machine connected to the line, with a message which points callers at the new number.

2. 'Upgrading' to the new fibre service, which comes without a phone line. Presumably, I could do this mid-contract without penalties? I would then lose Plusnet's phone service and phone number and would have to move to VoIP straight away. Does anyone know whether, under those circumstances, I would be able to claw back the phone number and port it to Sipgate? In financial terms, I wouldn't be saving a lot relative to Option 1 because, under my current contract, I am effectively getting fibre for free and only paying the line rental - but it would be nice to be able to keep the phone number which we've had for decades, and which all our friends know.

3. Wait for the phone service to be switched off, and see what happens then. I know that Plusnet doesn't currently offer a VoIP service, but they COULD. My Hub Two router has a taped over phone socket which could potentially be used for VoIP with a firmware upgrade. My guess is that, if they DO offer a voice service, it will be a lot more expensive than Sipgate. Does anyone know whether the phone number can definitely be retrieved and ported when the line is switched off?

I will be extremely grateful for any informed comments on these options.

Many thanks,

Roger

[#2]

Anytime calls is a 30 day rolling contract from what I remember. So just disable it when you want.

What I did was joined my new provider was that I had FTTP and FTTC running together for a month. Once i was happy I ported number from my FTTC line to voip and that ceased my old line. 

[#3]

@rkm_hm 

When you say "new fibre service" do you mean FTTC or FTTP?

It is highly unlikey PN will offer VOIP - it appears to be a BT Group decision that they are the budget internet brand of the group.

As you already have a VOIP account you're aware pf the pitfalls of power cuts! I know youv'e chosen Sipgate but as an alternative A&A seem to offer good deals & service.

https://www.aa.net.uk/voice-and-mobile/voip-information/

Brian

[#4]

 anyone know whether, under those circumstances, I would be able to claw back the phone number and port it to Sipgate? 

in theory that should now be possible under the OFCOM 'right to port'. This gives you the right to port the number for up to 30 days after the number is ceased. However, some VoIP providers are rejecting ports , claiming that the number must ( as was previously required)  be active, and I'm Afraid Sipgate appears to be one!

My Hub Two router has a taped over phone socket which could potentially be used for VoIP with a firmware upgrade

thats unlikely to be possible unless PN decide to launch a VoIP service and there doesn't seem any evidence of that happening...

[#5]

@rkm_hm you may have a free sipgate account (as do I) which they no longer offer - do you know whether you can transfer in another number and have it remain free? or would they start charging?

If they do start charging, then A&A may well be cheaper (I use them for other seavices, and would move VoIP to them if I had to move).