Current Plusnet broadband with landline finishing soon - what are the options?

Graciemumof5

Our current broadband deal with Plusnet is finishing in the next month.  It includes the landline, which we really dont use and only gets rung by spam, my father or our eldest son.  Everyone else uses mobile.  Plusnet are offering us a deal without the landline, in preparation for the switch off over the next 2 years.  It's about £5 cheaper than what we're currently paying, but I'm wondering whether it's a good idea or not.

I've already done a comparison on what's available at the moment.   We dont have superfast where we live either, so that knocks a chunk of offers out.  Plusnet are offering an automatic upgrade to superfast when it's available.

What's anyone else's thoughts?

Rob5342

You'll still be able to have a fixed phone in two years, it's just that connection method is changing so your phone will need to be plugged into a router instead of a wall socket.

That being said, most people use mobiles now as they are so much cheaper. The only purpose of a fixed phone is to give you a backup, so it's up to whether you think that is important enough to justify the cost. We haven't used ours for years but we kept it as it was included in our broadband. We have just switched to fibre and are getting rid of the fixed phone as it would cost more.

notbritishgas

Rob5342 said:

You'll still be able to have a fixed phone in two years, it's just that connection method is changing so your phone will need to be plugged into a router instead of a wall socket.

That being said, most people use mobiles now as they are so much cheaper. The only purpose of a fixed phone is to give you a backup, so it's up to whether you think that is important enough to justify the cost. We haven't used ours for years but we kept it as it was included in our broadband. We have just switched to fibre and are getting rid of the fixed phone as it would cost more.

At the moment Plusnet are not providing phone lines over the internet, so when Openreach disable the copper lines the phone goes.
Hope Plusnet have a change of heart as I will be affected eventually.

iniltous

Plusnet are offering a ‘free’ switch to BT ( who are part of the same group ) , who do offer landline type services  via the router ( IP telephony will be the only thing on offer as the PSTN switch  service is retired ) obviously if someone is on Plusnet has decided that they won’t use BT at any cost , then their options are limited , if they  want to keep a landline type service , if they don’t then sticking with PN and letting the ‘phone’ service disappear , will at least save a few £’s

Rob5342

notbritishgas said:

Rob5342 said:

You'll still be able to have a fixed phone in two years, it's just that connection method is changing so your phone will need to be plugged into a router instead of a wall socket.

That being said, most people use mobiles now as they are so much cheaper. The only purpose of a fixed phone is to give you a backup, so it's up to whether you think that is important enough to justify the cost. We haven't used ours for years but we kept it as it was included in our broadband. We have just switched to fibre and are getting rid of the fixed phone as it would cost more.

At the moment Plusnet are not providing phone lines over the internet, so when Openreach disable the copper lines the phone goes.
Hope Plusnet have a change of heart as I will be affected eventually.

I suspect that home phones will become a bit of a niche service. Most people use mobiles these days so there isn't much need for a fixed phone.

Swipe

notbritishgas said:

Rob5342 said:

You'll still be able to have a fixed phone in two years, it's just that connection method is changing so your phone will need to be plugged into a router instead of a wall socket.

That being said, most people use mobiles now as they are so much cheaper. The only purpose of a fixed phone is to give you a backup, so it's up to whether you think that is important enough to justify the cost. We haven't used ours for years but we kept it as it was included in our broadband. We have just switched to fibre and are getting rid of the fixed phone as it would cost more.

At the moment Plusnet are not providing phone lines over the internet, so when Openreach disable the copper lines the phone goes.
Hope Plusnet have a change of heart as I will be affected eventually.

I don't understand how they are still selling 24 months contracts if the BT Openreach PSTN switch off is scheduled for the end of December 2025. I've just taken a 24 month renewal out for broadband and landline so I guess they'll have to give customers a way out of the contract part way if they can't provide the phone service. 

brewerdave

Swipe said:

notbritishgas said:

Rob5342 said:

You'll still be able to have a fixed phone in two years, it's just that connection method is changing so your phone will need to be plugged into a router instead of a wall socket.

That being said, most people use mobiles now as they are so much cheaper. The only purpose of a fixed phone is to give you a backup, so it's up to whether you think that is important enough to justify the cost. We haven't used ours for years but we kept it as it was included in our broadband. We have just switched to fibre and are getting rid of the fixed phone as it would cost more.

At the moment Plusnet are not providing phone lines over the internet, so when Openreach disable the copper lines the phone goes.
Hope Plusnet have a change of heart as I will be affected eventually.

I don't understand how they are still selling 24 months contracts if the BT Openreach PSTN switch off is scheduled for the end of December 2025. I've just taken a 24 month renewal out for broadband and landline so I guess they'll have to give customers a way out of the contract part way if they can't provide the phone service. 

As I understand it , the PSTN switch off is scheduled to be completed by Dec. 2025 so many exchanges will lose the old system a lot sooner. Recently heard a rumour that my exchange is due to switch off by Sept 2024 - my renewal date with PN would be June 2024 , so I'm assuming I may be forced to either pay the much higher monthly charge or somehow port my number to a VOIP provider and move to FTTP if I can't sort my awful mobile signal issues at home!

Swipe

Well the interesting thing is on my new contract it's broken down to: unlimited BB  £0.00 and line rental £24.99 for 24 months. So if they can't provide me a phone line does that mean my bill will be £0.00 or will they terminate the contract early at switch off if they aren't doing digital lines?

southsidergs

Swipe said:

Well the interesting thing is on my new contract it's broken down to: unlimited BB  £0.00 and line rental £24.99 for 24 months. So if they can't provide me a phone line does that mean my bill will be £0.00 or will they terminate the contract early at switch off if they aren't doing digital lines?

Lol another one, line rental also covers rental of the line to deliver the broadband & not just the voice service so it would still be the same

Swipe

southsidergs said:

Swipe said:

Well the interesting thing is on my new contract it's broken down to: unlimited BB  £0.00 and line rental £24.99 for 24 months. So if they can't provide me a phone line does that mean my bill will be £0.00 or will they terminate the contract early at switch off if they aren't doing digital lines?

Lol another one, line rental also covers rental of the line to deliver the broadband & not just the voice service so it would still be the same

My point is they contracted me for a phone service not just a copper line. They will effectively be breaking the terms of the contract so would have to allow customers a penalty free early termination or a free port to BT voice as mentioned earlier in this thread. 

bob2302

brewerdave said:

 As I understand it , the PSTN switch off is scheduled to be completed by Dec. 2025 so many exchanges will lose the old system a lot sooner.

So what happens with FTTC, does the POTS service go at the same time as at the local exchange?