Home Phone Switch off - When?

[#1]

Having looked at various discussions about the switch off of the PN Home Phone service, there is a point which I am still trying to clarify in my mind.

I have an ADSL line and the provision of fibre is a long way off in every sense. My contract comes up for renewal in April 2024 and I would like to stay with PN. Thus the general PSTN switch off will occur during the life of the new contract.

What I am trying to understand is when the phone service will cease?

     Will the new contract be without phone service and the phone service stops with the start of the new contract?

     Will the phone service continue until some arbitrary date before December 2025, (how would that appear contractually)?

     Will the phone service end with the chimes of Big Ben on 31^st Dec 2025?

Once known I can plan accordingly.

I would be very interested to learn the opinion of my fellow forum members.

Many thanks in advance.

[#2]

Bottom line is, I'm not sure anyone really knows when the landline phone service will actually end, or if they do , they're not saying!

The facts at the moment seem to be:-

1) You can recontract on your existing service which includes a landline phone service.

2) If you are not in a 'Fibre priority' area OR FTTP is not available , then you can take out a Fibre (actually FTTC) without phone contract ( assuming its available to you ) and if required port your phone number to a voip provider.

3) If FTTP is available and you are in a 'Fibre priority' area then (other than recontract as 1 above) any new service MUST be FTTP without phone and you can port the number as above

[#3]

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@Archer wrote:

I have an ADSL line and the provision of fibre is a long way off in every sense.

... ...     Will the phone service end with the chimes of Big Ben on 31^st Dec 2025?

---

There may be an exception here BECAUSE you are on ADSL.

It is only the connections provided by Openreach at the exchange that will have the analogue PSTN phone disabled by the end of 2025.

If your telephone exchange has a full LLU operator, such as TalkTalk or Sky, etc - the earliest THEY are considering decommissioning their phone line is 2030.

So theoretically, IF your exchange does still have an LLU provider, you could transfer your Plusnet ADSL and phone to that LLU provider, and keep your analogue landline for at least another seven years.

[#4]

@Archer 

Out of interest and to possibly provide better advice can you post a screen image from the following. Include the narrative below the results window but hide your details.

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

As mentioned you may well be able to re-contract in April but you may need to speak to PN on the phone to do so. The website may not offer the option. You could give the PlusNet Customer Options Team on 0800 013 2632 a phone in the new year to ask what's available.

How important is your phone (and number) to you? You will need to move to VOIP at some point.

Brian

[#5]

Thanks for the response everyone.

I thought the move to an LLU ISP was an idea worth remembering.

The phone service is little used, but I like the idea of not being dependent on one type of technology ie mobile. Hence trying to see what is possible.

In answer to Brian's suggestion, I attach the requested info.

Thanks.

[#6]

That BT Availability Checker is showing that your ADSL2+ speeds are 19.96/1.05Mbps which is plenty for a VoIP connection, with enough bandwidth headroom to apply QoS (for VoIP) in your router if needed (if you do a lot of internet uploading).

If you renew your existing ADSL+PSTN contract in April, then you are just delaying the inevitable changeover to VoIP.

If you were able to switch your connection from ADSL2+ to "WBC SoADSL 2+" shown as available on your screenshot,  then moving your landline number to VoIP would save you money immediately, and your house phone would be converted to being digital well ahead of the analogue switch off.

Assuming that you want to stay with Plusnet for your broadband, the next question you need an answer to is whether Plusnet can switch you to "WBC SoADSL 2+" ? - so that you can port your analogue landline number to a third party VoIP provider.

If you login to your Plusnet "Member Centre" > "Offers & Upgrades", does that offer you any options to "upgrade" your ADSL to something without the landline phone ?

[#7]

@Archer 

Thanks for the information. Pretty much confirms what you said but there's no harm in checking.

You might be able to see if any LLU operators are active at your Exchange by doing an Exchange search here. I don't know if this site is updated regularily.

https://availability.samknows.com/broadband/exchange_search

As mentioned, I believe you can renew your current contract for phone and internet which would buy you time. As previously stated this is probably not the cheapest option. I would phone PN in the new year and ask about what's available for an April renewal - with or without a phone service.

If you use PN email then you should know that you would lose all access on the day you move should you change ISP.

The one main downside of VOIP is power cuts. Do you suffer much from them? I would start checking out VOIP providers in case you decide to jump to an Internet only service with PN ( or anybody else). There are many providers out there but A&A seem to offer good deals and have good FAQ pages on VOIP to help you understand what's needed.

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

Brian

[#8]

Update:

To give some clarity to my particular situation, ie ADSL line, no fibre expected, I spoke to PN and got the responses below.

• Is Plusnet merging with EE or anyone else?
  • Plusnet is not merging with EE or anyone else.

• Will Plusnet carry on providing ADSL?
  • PN will continue to provide ADSL until an alternative is available

• When will the phone service be withdrawn?
  • Sometime around Dec 2025 with at least 28 days notice. Possibly beyond the general cut off date.

• Do Plusnet do 12 month contracts.?
  • Yes.

I emphasise this is just in the context of my ADSL line but it suggests I do not need to do anything immediately.

Hopefully the responses my be helpful to other readers.