FFTP at last!

I phoned Plusnet a few weeks ago to enquire when they'll be launching FTTP as BT had finally actived it here.
I was told it was due to be released the following week.
I phoned them back a week later and got a good deal on 500mb.
I could have gotten a slightly better deal with EE as I use them for my mobile but it would have meant either waiting until August when my contracts due for renewal or pay Plusnet termination fees.
However, I'm like a kid in a sweet shop and been waiting since using a 28k for full fibre.
I've had a great FTTH service with Plusnet and it's always been faster than it was with BT so sticking with them was a no brainer.
Openreach engineer is booked for the 14th and new modem purchased (never been keen on ISPs routers).
I asked initially as to why they weren't advertising it and was told for the time being it's only being offered to existing customers.

I hope you know the Plusnet's "soft launch" of FTTP does not include any phone service and you will lose your existing phone number. This wouldn't bother me one bit but some people get attached to their long standing number.

I would call this move by Plusnet premature as they have not considered the problems it has caused to customers wishing to upgrade but then being told it can't be done if they want keep their phone number or even just port it to a VOIP supplier.

I'm not fussed about a landline, I never use it and been waiting to get rid of it.

Pretty certain he intended FTTC / copper to the cab, rather than “FTTHome” otherwise it doesn’t make any sense.

I think the isp's are missing a trick her as I think at lot of people will be put off upgrading to fttp if the companies don't include a "landline" as part of the package. Many people do not have a mobile or a good mobile coverage if they do have a mobile and lots of people still like normal phone sitting on the corner table as it always has.

In reply to a post by threelegs:

I think the isp's are missing a trick her as I think at lot of people will be put off upgrading to fttp if the companies don't include a "landline" as part of the package. Many people do not have a mobile or a good mobile coverage if they do have a mobile and lots of people still like normal phone sitting on the corner table as it always has.

And these are often the same people who are least likely to do a market search and change provider so those isps are likely to be alienating a captive customer base. They are also likely to be those who do not make intensive use of their connection. Be interesting to see what sort of customer churn is included in their business cases.

Edited by GonePostal (Thu 09-Jun-22 10:02:00)

The vast majority of folks are not particularly bothered about the lack of a landline. Folks under about the age of 30 haven’t really known what a domestic landline is for the most part, and they won’t miss what they’ve never known.

The proof is in the pudding: landline numbers (in absolute terms) and volumes/minutes have been in a steady but terminal state of decline for near enough two decades. People have shifted by and large to mobile, but also more recently to the plethora of app based messaging and voice.

I don’t deny that there remains a specific need for certain customers to have access to a fixed “landline”, based on circumstantial and locations etc. But it’s not an overwhelming business that ISP are missing out on. The Plusnet FTTP launch (which has taken years) and now eventually ‘soft’ launched - albeit sans voice bears that out.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

The vast majority of folks are not particularly bothered about the lack of a landline. Folks under about the age of 30 haven’t really known what a domestic landline is for the most part, and they won’t miss what they’ve never known.

The proof is in the pudding: landline numbers (in absolute terms) and volumes/minutes have been in a steady but terminal state of decline for near enough two decades. People have shifted by and large to mobile, but also more recently to the plethora of app based messaging and voice.

I don’t deny that there remains a specific need for certain customers to have access to a fixed “landline”, based on circumstantial and locations etc. But it’s not an overwhelming business that ISP are missing out on. The Plusnet FTTP launch (which has taken years) and now eventually ‘soft’ launched - albeit sans voice bears that out.

Agreed that it is literally a dying market. Moving the argument a little, when the time came to change from analogue to digital TV there was direct intervention to help many of those who were struggling with the changeover. The voice changeover will hit those in the equivalent demographic but the assistance is something that seems to be missing this time.

Just be interested (out of nothing more than nosiness) to find out how much the ISPs not offering voice have allowed in their business case for customer loss.

I hadn't really considered the possibility of losing the landline number (which I've had for 42 years) but there are only two people that ever call on it, apart from the inevitable junk/scam calls and they could probably be persuaded to call a mobile number. It is many years since I have used the landline for outgoing calls, so I don't think losing it would be a big deal.