Upgrading from ADSL and keeping phone line?

[#1]

Hi all,

My partners mother is currently with Plusnet and when we were over there at Christmas I noticed their download speed is only around 2mbps, at first I thought there was a problem with the line but it turns out they are still on an ADSL connection.  The area has has VDSL for years but I guess they've never bothered to upgrade.

Currently she spends £40+ a month on a phone line and the internet, I wanted to help her upgrade to VDSL and get a cheaper monthly price at the same time.  When I looked online it seemed if she upgraded Plusnet would not keep the phoneline and only provide a broadband connection, is there a way for her to get a new contract on VDSL and keep her home phone for now?  I realise they're being phased out by 2025 but for her it's still her main way of communicating with people

[#2]

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@chellis wrote:

... is there a way for her to get a new contract on VDSL and keep her home phone for now? 

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Yes - but you will ALSO need to convert her home phone from analogue (PSTN) to digital (VoIP).

What you do is FIRST is 'upgrade' her Plusnet ADSL to Plusnet 'fibre' (VDSL SoGEA without landline phone).

The landline telephone number becomes disconnected and put in to a 30 day quarantine period, during which you can port the landline number to another phone supplier.

Once the conversion to VDSL (SoGEA) is complete, you THEN sign up to a VoIP supplier (such as A&A or Voipfone ), and have them port the quarantined landline number to their VoIP service).

Finally, you will need to convert her home telephone handset to become VoIP compatible, as the phone service is no longer provided from the old BT phone socket, but instead is connected as a device on her internet - i.e. plugged in to her router.

You can either do this by buying a VoIP compatible phone system, OR you can buy an 'ATA' adaptor, where you get a little box  that you plug her existing handset into that converts the analogue signals to VoIP, and then has an ethernet cable that you plug in to her router.

[#3]

@chellis 

As described by @Anonymous there is a way to stay with Plusnet and keep your landline but it is not straightforward. Another option is to move the service to an ISP that offers both Internet and digital (VoIP) phone, most do. If she is in a contract then the easiest way is to ring the Plusnet Customer Options Team on 0800 013 2632 and ask to be transferred to BT/EE. If you ask they should waive termination charges. 
The cost you are quoting sounds very high. If she is happy with the current speed then by ringing the Customer Options Team as above there should be the option to continue with the existing service at a lower cost.

[#4]

@chellis 

As stated you have three options on offer - get a VOIP account and stay with PN for internet, move to an ISP who will offer both or stay as is for the time being.

Can you post a screen image of the results from the following, including the narrative but after hiding personal details. This would enable members to offer advice based on what's actually available.

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

One thing to watch with VOIP is it doesn't work in power cuts. Do you get a good mobile signal at the location?

While there are many VOIP providers out there A&A seem to offer good deals and have good FAQ pages about VOIP. With them you can set the account up in advance to ensure phones work on VOIP and you know how the system works. I believe you get a temporary number.

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

It's worth phoning PN as stated just to see what the options are but it would need to be your partners mother who does it - they won't speak to you.

Brian

[#5]

Moderators Note

This topic has been moved from Broadband to Everything Else

[#6]

Thanks for all the replies, this is the result of the broadbandchecker (had to use address as I can't remember the phone number).

There's good phone reception and she's happy using her mobile so hopefully if there is a power cut it shouldn't be an issue.

I think realistically either she'll want to keep what she has on a lower price or change to another provider with a voip phone included as she wants to keep it all in one package.  Will speak to her later and see what plusnet would offer price wise to keep her current setup.

[#7]

@chellis 

Thanks for the information.

Looks like they'd get a decent speed on FTTC - especially if they're happy with their current speed. Upgrading would almost certainly result in a cheaper deal but would mean losing the landline if staying with PN.

They could move to BT free of early termination charges so long as it's done through PN Support. You can check prices by entering their post code on the BT website. Leaving PN also means losing e-mail addresses if used.

Mobile phone masts potentially suffer the same problem as FTTC cabinets - how long does the back up power last. If it's a designated emergency services mast then it should be OK.

Brian