ADSL requires a BT contract?

robert58_2

New here. I'm looking for a replacement for phone service and dialup, and I'm interested in mobile, cable or Internet telephone plus broadband. I don't use the phone a lot, except to go online.

Internet telephony isn't just free PC-to-PC calls any more, of course; you can buy real phone time that you use through the Internet. Evidently something sophisticated happens at the other end. You can call real people, real people can call you.

Well, I notice nearly all ADSL deals say something like "Must have a BT phone line." BT offers an Internet phone deal that they describe as a second phone, which kind of implies that you can't have it as your only phone.

That isn't nice, because regular BT line rental is a significant amount of money alongside any ADSL fee. But maybe I'm misreading it. I have a physical phone line, but do I need to have contracted phone service on it before I can get ADSL as well?

If so, then my apparent best deal is Telewest, since I'm in a cabled area; apparently I can buy one Telewest internet deal without anything else for £15 a month. I can contract for phone and/or digital TV and/or internet all at the same price for up to three, but I don't want to do that because after a year the deal goes to paying separately for each - and I have FOUR Freeview digital TV boxes in the house. I do hear that Telewest are going to join with NTL in the meantime and probably prices will go up anyway, but maybe not too much - there'll still be competition. On the other hand, I'm trying to beat the system, and the system fights back, usually.

If not, then maybe I'll have the phone cut off and converted to ADSL, and buy Skype or something, or just use my pay-as-you-go mobile (O2).

mhendo

To have ADSL, which is provided over a telephone line, you must pay for the telephone line rental. This can be through BT (£10.50pm), or if ordering Bulldog 8Mbps you can have it via Bulldog (also at £10.50pm).

BexTech

With Telewest you can do without a phone line, and then use services like https://www.sipgate.co.uk for a free 01 or 02 number of any area you like, and combine this with https://www.voipbuster.co.uk and/or https://www.voipcheap.co.uk for free calls to UK and several other countries landlines.

robert58_2

Oh, this is where I put it... thanks for advice, guys! I guess that's what it has to be - and I'm lucky to have the option!

paul_h

gizmoleeds and BexTech have all the right answers. Telewest is the way to go for you.

I'd do the same, but we'll not be getting cable here in my lifetime...

Best also to keep a PAYG mobile for emergency calls - VOIP providers will not handle emergency calls.