Don't Lose your Line - BT's New Policy

Zellah

JJ_Egan said:

I use my landline rarely  even though it has BTs 700 free mins call package ,

Dont think its a new policy  OP just ticked wrong box .

BT don’t give users a choice of whether to have VOIP or voice over copper  - it’s purely down to their automated systems , ie down to pot luck. The box the op ticked was simply that they agreed  to have VoIP installed as part of their broadband - if they didn’t tick the box then they wouldn’t have been able to proceed with the order. 

JJ_Egan

They gave me the choice and neither did i need to tick the box to proceed . Though BT FTTP team handled it all date was may 2019 .

I have BT FTTP   and the old landline to the old BT master socket for the phone .

molerat

Still some major upgrades to the infrastructure needed before completely switching off PSTN.  Many areas are still incapable of a reliable internet connection over the Openreach network despite various government promises.

Mister_G

Browntoa said:

Do it now or mandatory migration over the next few years . 2025 is the completion date so most of the copper lines will be switched over , without choice , over the next couple of years .

Traditional phone lines are in terminal decline with call volumes way down year on year . Given the option most people would not retain the fixed line . 

I cannot personally remember the last time I made a landline call , I use my mobile or my VoIP app on my mobile.

You need to bear in mind that not all of us, especially those in rural areas, have sufficient mobile coverage for a reliable service.  Coupled with the fact that in rural areas the electricity supply is also less reliable, you could find yourself being unable to make a call in an emergency.  VOIP needs a power supply which, in a power cut, disappears.  Yes, you could run it off of a UPS, but that's another expense.

I rely on wifi calling, as our mobile coverage on any network is almost non-existent.  When we have one of our frequent power cuts, the landline is my only method of communication with the outside world.  So certainly I would not want to loose this until there is a secure alternative.

matelodave

We had FTTP installed by BT in April 2018 and I was quite keen to get a Voip service but the drop cable is a hybrid with both the optical fibre and a copper pair so we've still got a copper landline. The optical network terminal unit has a phone jack but it's not enabled.

J_B

Browntoa said:

Do it now or mandatory migration over the next few years . 2025 is the completion date so most of the copper lines will be switched over , without choice , over the next couple of years .
Traditional phone lines are in terminal decline with call volumes way down year on year . Given the option most people would not retain the fixed line .
I cannot personally remember the last time I made a landline call , I use my mobile or my VoIP app on my mobile.

Following on from what @Mister_G says.

We have landline only from BT and WISP (?) internet from airband.

We use the landline regularly even though we have inclusive mobile calls and a mobile booster box, but when there's a power cut (which is a regular occurrence in rural areas) we can still use the landline reliably.

Just curious as to <<so most of the copper lines will be switched over , without choice , over the next couple of years>>

We live about 2 miles from the exchange at the end of the copper line  (we used to be able to get 2Mbps ADSL broadband, but ditched the unreliable connection) Are OR going to replace my two miles of copper just to make me 'digital' 🤷‍♂️

littleboo

No, they wont need to, the copper will still be used, you will get a router with an analogue voice port 

Mister_G

littleboo said:

No, they wont need to, the copper will still be used, you will get a router with an analogue voice port 

So I assume that when there's a power cut you loose your telephone?

brewerdave

littleboo said:

No, they wont need to, the copper will still be used, you will get a router with an analogue voice port 

Are you sure about that ? I thought that this only applied for FTTH systems so no copper involved. Ultimately all Cu/Al lines will be replaced by fibre as far as I understand. They have a target date of 2025 but targets have a habit of slipping ......

littleboo

Yes, PSTN switch off is not the same a copper replacement. 
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2020/02/openreach-reveals-price-of-new-0-5mbps-fibre-broadband-tier.html