Do I need an overhead phone line?

dllive

Hi,

Im having some work done on the house. The point where the overhead phone line comes into the property need re-rendering. The builder said he may as well remove the phoneline altogether. It does look a bit unsightly I suppose.

So it got me thinking whether I actually need the overhead phone line! I havnt used the home landline for a few years. I just use my mobile. We dont have a good mobile signal, so I use wifi calling. The landline phone has been redundant for a few years.

Seeing as BT are ceasing landline useage in 2027, I wonder what others are doing? Is anyone going to remove their overhead phone lines? 

Thanks

Gaberdeen

Most analogue telephone lines will be redundant in a few years, anyway - the aim is that by February 2027 every home & business in the UK will have a digital (VOIP) line installed.

https://www.openreach.com/upgrading-the-UK-to-digital-phone-lines/for-my-home-or-business

So, I wouldn't bother, personally.

Ayr_Rage

Do you have internet at home and if so how is it connected?

There are still quite a few people who have FTTC and the last part of that connection comes over old copper phone lines.

Albermarle

If it is a line from a pole, then pretty sure you can not just remove them without permission from Openreach .

Section62

dllive said:

Hi,

Im having some work done on the house. The point where the overhead phone line comes into the property need re-rendering. The builder said he may as well remove the phoneline altogether. It does look a bit unsightly I suppose.

So it got me thinking whether I actually need the overhead phone line! I havnt used the home landline for a few years. I just use my mobile. We dont have a good mobile signal, so I use wifi calling. The landline phone has been redundant for a few years.

Seeing as BT are ceasing landline useage in 2027, I wonder what others are doing? Is anyone going to remove their overhead phone lines? 

Thanks

The equipment belongs to Openreach (BT) so it isn't yours to remove.  If you want it removed you need to ask Openreach, but they are likely to want paying to do anything.

If you or the builder decides to (unlawfully?) remove the overhead wire from its attachment to your property then you need to think about what you will do with the wire which is still attached to a pole somewhere - if it is left unsafe and causes an accident then you and the builder could be held liable.  Bear in mind even if not currently in use the wire may still be 'live' with enough voltage to potentially do some damage.

MouldyOldDough

@dllive

Openreach will try to charge you £105 + £118 for an hours labour all plus VAT to move or remove a line

I was told this, by an Openreach engineer, 2 years ago - I did not want to pay over £267 so my builder moved it instead for free !

Bigphil1474

OP, check re your wifi as above - unless you have some other way of getting it in, it will come in through the copper wire. As above, it's not just removing it from your end, where does it go to, and obviously it belongs to Open reach not you.

casper_gutman

You can't assume an overhead line is redundant, even if you have Full Fibre/Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) broadband. Openreach installed our new fibre connection overhead, in place of the old copper line.

Section62

MouldyOldDough said:

Openreach will try to charge you £105 + £118 for an hours labour all plus VAT to move or remove a line

I was told this, by an Openreach engineer, 2 years ago - I did not want to pay over £267 so my builder moved it instead for free !

Not really 'free'.  Probably unlawfully, and at the risk of something going wrong and landing you with a much larger bill.

dllive

Thanks so much guys.
Ive just checked, and I currently have FTTC, so would instantly be shooting myself in the foot if I had the copper line removed!
I need to do a bit more research I think. Youve given me a useful head start. Thankyou!

Eldi_Dos

Albermarle said:

If it is a line from a pole, then pretty sure you can not just remove them without permission from Openreach .

If a DP (distribution point) is feeding say eighteen subscribers the likelihood is the dropwires will be spread so that there is a uniform distribution and be providing a certain degree of stability to the top of the pole.
If for some reason eight of the dropwires where unilaterally removed that balance could be lost, if a engineer came out to do work in the future it might be enough for them to declare it a "D" pole.If the company then decides to replace it and reconnect existing subscribers I would not like to be held responsible for the costs.