What exactly is a "BT Phone Line"?

Katana_2

Sorry for the silly question but what exactly does BT mean when they refer to a BT Phone Line? Is it the actual line or the service that goes with it?

I'm currently with BT for both calls and broadband. I want to switch the call provider i.e. line rental, but not the internet (yet).

But BT say on their website that I need a BT phone line if I want to have their broadband. Now I assume they mean the physical wire not the line rental service?

So if I switch to someone like Onetel for the line rental and phone calls the broadband will remain unaffected?

Skint1

The only way you can get Broadband without a phone line is by cable (eg NTL Telewest)

GerardL

Most phone lines are by BT although your broadband, calls and even the line rental may be via another company. If you report faults to BT then you've got a BT line.

You'd know if you didn't have a BT line as you'd have a line from an LLU provider line NTL, Telewest etc.

mhendo

GerardL wrote:

If you report faults to BT then you've got a BT line.

Just because you don't report your faults to BT doesn't mean you don't have a BT line. If you pay someone else the line rental, then all faults with the line should be raised with the company you pay the line rental to. You'll usually find BT won't accept fault reports/enquiries from the customer if the line rental is with another company.

GerardL wrote:

You'd know if you didn't have a BT line as you'd have a line from an LLU provider line NTL, Telewest etc.

NTL & Telewest are cable companies, so its pretty clear they're not "BT lines".

The only LLU ISPs which also operate the telephone line (and therefore its not classed as a BT line) are Bulldog & Homechoice.

Mike_by_the_Sea

Hi Katana

If I understand your original post, you want to transfer your line rental and calls to another provider, but keep BT as your internet provider.

I would guess that BT would not do that without you keeping at least your line rental with them. It's ok to keep BT as your line provider and have another company for calls and internet but not the other way around.

As per the other posts, in general, if not cable, then all phone lines and the infrastructure is owned and the responsibility of BT. The other providers "buy" the line rental from BT wholesale and then charge you. If something goes wrong with the line, although you contact your provider, they pass the problem on to BT to resolve.

You can change your call provider and keep your BT internet, but if you want to move your line rental to another provider, you will need to move your internet at the same time.

I hope that makes sense.

All the best

Mike

pricefighter

Mike_by_the_Sea wrote:

Hi Katana

If I understand your original post, you want to transfer your line rental and calls to another provider, but keep BT as your internet provider.

I would guess that BT would not do that without you keeping at least your line rental with them. It's ok to keep BT as your line provider and have another company for calls and internet but not the other way around.

As per the other posts, in general, if not cable, then all phone lines and the infrastructure is owned and the responsibility of BT. The other providers "buy" the line rental from BT wholesale and then charge you. If something goes wrong with the line, although you contact your provider, they pass the problem on to BT to resolve.

You can change your call provider and keep your BT internet, but if you want to move your line rental to another provider, you will need to move your internet at the same time.

I hope that makes sense.

All the best

Mike

Your guess would be incorrect. Taken from their site.

"You only need two things to start enjoying BT Broadband right away:
A BT phone line (or other non-cable line)
A compatible computer "

mrJ_5

A BT phone line (or other non-cable line) - means that company that rents the line from BT wholesale... cable companies are excluded, as well as certain LLU operators AND within the Hull area - since they all have to use Karoo or something.

At the end of the day, if it goes through BT wholesale - good, not BT wholesale - bad.

Mike_by_the_Sea

Katana wrote:

Sorry for the silly question but what exactly does BT mean when they refer to a BT Phone Line? Is it the actual line or the service that goes with it?

I'm currently with BT for both calls and broadband. I want to switch the call provider i.e. line rental, but not the internet (yet).

But BT say on their website that I need a BT phone line if I want to have their broadband. Now I assume they mean the physical wire not the line rental service?

So if I switch to someone like Onetel for the line rental and phone calls the broadband will remain unaffected?

Hi Katana

As per all the posts (apart from my "guess"), BT have confirmed that, as long as your line is a BT Line you can have BT broadband and have your line rental and calls through another provider. If I understand your post, you are currently paying for your line rental through BT, therefore you have a BT line.

One note of caution - Make sure that your new provider understands that you have a BT broadband connection that you wish to keep and does not "remove" your BT broadband marker when taking over the line rental.

All the best

Mike

Katana_2

Thanks for the info; just what I was looking for
Cheers,
Katana

gc2

HI can anyone advise me
i have bt line rental and sky tv and pay as u go mobile my internet is provided by work so not sure who that is as i work from home
i want a better price for "sky tv" or similar and also a free lap top and what ever else i may need for changing to a new provider any ideas please

MarkLS12

If your broadband is provided by your employer for free, you won't get cheaper than that.