FTTP (and FTTC / ADSL) - Plusnet 'digital voice' coming?

[#1]

thanks for clarifying, obviously losing any static ip too.

Nah I don't use email connected to broadband

Switching to btbusiness with digital handset, static ip addon and fibre 150 seems a good option now I've seen Plusnet FTTP prices!

[#2]

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@ukguy1 wrote:

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I'm just wondering if there is any way of transferring the landline number out to a digital line before upgrading to FTTP?

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No.

If you want FTTP now and want to keep your landline number, you've two choices:

(a) Migrate to an FTTP provider that offers a 'digital voice' service, such as BT or Zen, and so keep your landline number as part of a bundled FTTP + voice product.

(b) Get a brand new FTTP installation (note - not a migration) by signing up with an FTTP provider whilst keeping your Plusnet FTTC service going, then when the new FTTP service is up and running port your landline number over to a VoIP provider such as Sipgate. This would result in your voice ('landline') phone number becoming unbundled and independent from your ISP.

Regarding pathway (b) - a few things to note:

(1) You'd need to ensure that the ISP understands that brand new FTTP installation is indeed a discrete, new service and not a takeover of your existing FTTC (or ADSL) service and landline.

(2) This will mean there's no chance the soon to be disused Openreach copper wiring to your home will end up being removed as a byproduct of the FTTP installation, as sometimes happens when the FTTP order is a takeover of your an service. (Many people wouldn't care about this, but some will.)

(3) Plusnet as yet is not offering FTTP as a new connection, only as an upgrade for existing FTTC or ADSL customers. This will change in time... when it does, it may be the case that Plusnet starts offering a bundled 'digital voice' service too (meaning you could keep your landline number).

[#3]

@ukguy1 

Do you have an overhead or underground feed for your phone line?

If it's o/h OpenReach replace your current copper line with a new one. Until recently this was a hybrid copper / fibre cable but there's a good chance it's fibre only now.

If you think about going to BT contact PlusNet first. Don't know if they're still doing it but they were waving any early termination fees if you went to BT or EE FTTP. You contact PN, they place a note on your account and then transfer you accross to BT or EE to place the order.

Brian

[#4]

thanks for clarifying, obviously losing any static ip too.

the static ip problem is xa temporary problem. The account doesn't actually lose the static ip allocated, its just that for some reason RADIUS doesn't assign it. It will be  fixed shortly I'm sure.

[#5]

Thanks all, very useful info

I’ve recontracted the fttc for now at a much lower price. Should have done it 2yrs ago but didn’t realise they allowed upgrades to fttp and moves to bt/ee within contracts.

We are overhead cables from the underground box at the end of the long drive where fibre goes to.

Looking at the options above i can consider those over the next few months depending what plusnet do.
In the meantime 13mb is slow but at nearly half the price it’s good for us for a while longer!

[#6]

I've been BT FTTP for a year now and it's brilliant and always on at full speed and no outage in 12 months.

When I was PN  FTTC the copper wire would often act as an aerial and kick out the router in the very damp storms or the very cold, when the boiler kicked in and off, and then that would then have to speed up the service over 24 hours, so my speed, both up and down was always slow and rarely up for a week, non-stop.

[#7]

I too have been put off by the fact that I would lose my landline.

If you can’t offer digital voice or keep the landline, could you at least offer to divert all landline calls to a given mobile number?

It’s not the missing of the landline per se that concerns me, it’s the missing of important calls from, for example, the hospital or departments therein where I cannot know in advance who is going to call me.

At least with a call divert option I could manage the move away from the landline over time.

[#8]

The issue with a call divert approach is that…

a) the number still needs to be in service
b) there needs to be an account to charge the cost of call diversion to

In times past BT used to offer advice of new number on ceased lines. That would for some mitigate this unnecessary hurdle. In these days of technological sophistication there is zero need for this not customer centric draconian approach.

[#9]

@Mantari 

If you want to keep your voice number and get FTTP then Plusnet will help you move to BT and there will be no early exit fees to pay (assuming you are in a contract currently).

BUT you then will lose your Plusnet email account which may be a factor for you.