Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

[#1]

There seems to be still the option to re-contract on my existing FTTC service, offering both 18mth and 24mth contracts.

Does this mean the existing phone line will remain for a further 2 years if i go with the 24mth re-contract?

Other than that there is no option with any provider to stay FTTC as far as i'm aware.

[#2]

@Bella123 

Does this mean the existing phone line will remain for a further 2 years if i go with the 24mth re-contract?

Probably not! At some point Openreach WILL switch off the PSTN network. Its currently set for Jan 2027 but who knows what OR will do ? So at some point Plusnet will not be able to provide a landline service and will have to convert any FTTC accounts to SoGEA ( FTTC without phone service )

Other than that there is no option with any provider to stay FTTC as far as i'm aware.

Providers cannot place any new order with Openreach for a landline phone service, in fact they've not been able to since Sept 2023. A recontract on an existing FTTC service does not involve an order to Openreach hence IS still possible (at the moment!) but moving to a new supplier on FTTC isnt.

[#3]

Hi, yeah i sort of thought that was the case.

If i stay on FTTC for now by recontracting will the broadband still work after pstn switch off?

Also please in the BT info below can someone tell me what the items below mean? (from BT wholesale website)

The exchange is not in a current priority programme

WLR withdrawal exchange

SOADSL is not restricted on exchange

[#4]

If i stay on FTTC for now by recontracting will the broadband still work after pstn switch off?

At some point prior to PSTN switch off, Plusnet will have to convert all FTTC accounts to SoGEA. At this point broadband will still work but the phone service will cease. The transition SHOULD  give no ( or maybe a very short ) break in broadband service.

The exchange is not in a current priority programme

There is a 'Fibre priority' status that can be assigned to an exchange area when FTTP becomes available. If an exchange is Fibre priority then if FTTP is available to a particular address, then ONLY FTTP can be ordered at that address.

WLR withdrawal exchange

Means that new orders for a landline service (WLR - wholesale line rental) wil not be accepted. ALL exchanges are now classified as such.

SOADSL is not restricted on exchange

SOADSL is a broadband only version of the old ADSL product. Not many ISPs (PN included) will offer it even if available.

[#5]

@Bella123 

There is a lot of debate as to when PSTN will be switched off.

For the majority of users I believe it's the 31st December 2025. This is when OR plan to terminate all Wholesale Line Rental agreements. This is the product ISP's use to provide internet and phone. In exceptional circumstances OR will alow a phone service to continue. This is at OR's discretion on a line by line basis. The 31st January 2027 date is when even these lines will end - ie the final switch off.

As PN are withdrawing from providing phone services I believe they will issue 3 month termination notices by the end of September at the latest (assuming 3 months notice).

Brian

[#6]

@Bella123 

Why don't you take this opportunity to 'upgrade' your Plusnet FTTC line to SOGEA, and migrate your phone to VoIP ?

• Your monthly broadband costs on SOGEA should be cheaper than FTTC
• You would have sorted out your phone conversion before any deadline, and away from Christmas 2025.
• VoIP is nothing to be scared of, I've been using it since 2013 and it's clearer, cheaper and more reliable than landline.
• You can probably continue to use your existing handset with the use of a suitable VoIP ATA adaptor.
• Not doing it now is just procrastinating on the inevitable, which is daft considering you'll need to do it within a year.
• You can get plenty of help on this forum if you have any questions

.

[#7]

@bmc 

Whilst this December 25 date has been rumoured, it has never been, as far as I know, confirmed. The latest information that I have seen simply confirms Jan 27 as the current PSTN switch off date.

[#8]

@Baldrick1 

Give me a bit of time and I'll find the OR web page that states WLR's go at the end of December 2025.

Brian

[#9]

https://giacom.com/news/openreach-delay-pstn-switch-off-until-january-2027/

On 16th May 2024, BT and Openreach announced that they were delaying the PSTN Switch Off and WLR Withdrawal until 31st January 2027, giving Communication Providers (CP) an additional 13 months to migrate customers to future-proof All-IP solutions.

[#10]

From Plusnet's web page FAQ section

https://www.plus.net/broadband/fibre-and-phone/

"Landline telephones in the UK are already being phased out by Openreach and will be completely switched off in 2027.

At the same time, Openreach are investing in new broadband systems and connections using the latest fibre optic technology, which doesn’t need an old copper-wire landline network.

Changes to phone line and broadband technology will affect all broadband providers, not just Plusnet.

With our broadband only packages, the good news is you don’t need a phone line, so you’ll be set up for a digital future. And you’ll no longer have to pay for a service you don’t need or use."

[#11]

There are millions of PSTN subscribers who are perfectly happy with the PSTN, having received a clear reliable line that continues working during a power cut for decades.

I would assume that many of those are currently quite happy with their Plusnet service. They do not want to be bounced into giving up their landline and having to either change ISP or set up their own VoIP service with another company, not withstanding that the phone will no longer work during a power cut, until it is absolutely necessary.

If it ain't broke, don't mend it!

[#12]

From ISPreview 26th March 2025 -

---

The big switch-off was recently delayed to 31st January 2027 in order to give broadband ISPs, phone, telecare providers, councils and consumers more time to adapt (details). But the main focus of this delay was the 1.8 million UK people who use vital home telecare systems in the UK (e.g. elderly, disabled, and vulnerable people), which aren’t always compatible with digital phone services. Take note that for everybody else, the switching deadline is still technically Dec 2025

---

also Openreach 23 January 2025

---

Phone lines and other analogue technology need to be ready for the big PSTN switch-off. We’re urging businesses to migrate off the aging PSTN to All-IP by the end of December 2025 to safeguard their services, well before the final shutdown of the network in January 2027.

---

Hopefully @bmc can find the Openreach document regarding residential connections, which said something to the effect of landline voice rental will end 31st December 2025, then only in exceptional cases would be allowed to continue and reviewed on a monthly basis to allow users that have specific technical reasons that so far have obstructed voice migration to quickly find alternative solutions.

.

[#13]

So far no luck - I'm going to have to dig deep into my previous posts to find what I'm looking for. However I did find these two webpages.

https://evenetworks.com/news/wlr-pstn-switch-off-fibre-broadband-voip-sip/

https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/10147-openreach-updated-wlr-contract-terms

Brian

[#14]

Thank you for your recent message.

In order to discuss the recntract options I would recommend reaching out to our sales and retentions team- you can reach them on 0800 013 2632.

Lee

[#15]

Got there in the end.

https://www.openreach.co.uk/cpportal/updates/briefings/general-briefings/gen06624

Brian