PSTN line >50% price increase but cannot move to a new provider

RomfordNavy

The cost of my basic PSTN line has increased by over 50%.  Tried to move line to a new provider only to be informed that BT are not accepting orders for new or transferred PSTN lines anymore!

JSmithy45AD

Well known by this point surely? The entire thing will be switched off at the end of 2025.

You need to move to a digital line.

matelodave

OpenReach are shutting down the PSTN network by 2025 so its not likely that anyone will be offering a new PSTN line anymore.

At some point your phone will be transferred to an IP based system, either over optical fibre or possibly using your existing copper phone lines which may or may not require an adapter depending on what services you require.

What ever they do it will not be PSTN but VoIP

littleboo

Who is the new provider you wanted to go with?

RomfordNavy

littleboo said:

Who is the new provider you wanted to go with?

Wanted to move to CIX but they can't take transfer any new lines, blocked by BT apparently.

RomfordNavy

So what about a property that doesn't have ADSL!  Does this mean that basic telephone lines will no longer be available without having broadband installed?

NorfolkCanary

As noted above the PSTN over the copper network is being phased out and replaced by Fibre Optic.
ADSL (and VDSL) is just a method of communicating data over the copper cable network, at differing speeds. Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) is also to be affected.
With some companies it's been cheaper to take the broadband package over the single phone line, you don't have to use the internet to maintain the phone capability.

Around our way Cityfibre have been updating our overhead copper cables to fibre optic, in preparation for orders and the switchover

From reading you'd be lucky to be able to get a new phoneline installed (or transferred ?) where areas have >75% fibre availability.

The Landline Copper Switch-Off Explained | Wildanet | Wildanet

RomfordNavy

NorfolkCanary said:

Around our way Cityfibre have been updating our overhead copper cables to fibre optic, in preparation for orders and the switchover

It is Cityfibre that have increased the cost of our PSTN line by over 50%.

littleboo

RomfordNavy said:

littleboo said:

Who is the new provider you wanted to go with?

Wanted to move to CIX but they can't take transfer any new lines, blocked by BT apparently.

What they mean is, there has been an Openreach stop sell on copper based phones services since last September so they cant provide that for new customers, and CIX have presumably decided that they don't want to offer the alternative service, which would be VOIP.

littleboo

RomfordNavy said:

So what about a property that doesn't have ADSL!  Does this mean that basic telephone lines will no longer be available without having broadband installed?

A standalone phone line will be provided with a low bandwidth broadband connection included in the price

RomfordNavy

littleboo said:

A standalone phone line will be provided with a low bandwidth broadband connection included in the price

So who can we purchase this from, BT?