Still possible to order broadband+PSTN line (?)

I've been looking at some BT Broadband packages (attracted by the current offer of BT TV with BT Sport for £10 a month).

I want to retain the landline number and a voice service.


When I enquire on BT.com for a broadband service I get offered either a Fibre Essential or a Fibre 1 package, the latter with an estimated speed of 49-50 Mbps.

I assume I'm not offered the faster Fibre 2 product as my line can't really take advantage of it.

Though when I then enquire on BT.com for a combined broadband+TV service I'm only offered Fibre 2 packages, with an estimaeted speed of 52-57 Mbps.

I appreciate this is probably just the result of commercial decision on the part of BT to only present 'pre-packaged' broadband+TV bundles with the Fibre 2 product - though it is possible to 'customise' either a Fibre Essential or Fibre 1 order to add the BT TV product to it.


However the really interesting difference is that when I go through the order process for Fibre 1 with a landline/voice service, I am told I will be put on Digital Voice.

But when I go through the order process for Fibre 2, at the bottom of the page asking me to choose between an Advanced or pair of Essential Digital Home phones or a Digital Voice Adapter, I am also presented with this choice:

Yes, I'm happy to switch to digital voice ◎
No, I'd like to keep my current phone service ◎

(Also see this screenshot.)

So it seems that you can still request a PSTN voice line. I wonder if this is actually a genuine choice and will stick when the order is processed? And if so, for how long - I know BT are gradually migrating customers over from PSTN to Digital Voice.

In my case it'd be useful to have a PSTN line as I have a recurrent fault with the electricity supply - it is going to get sorted out, but the electricity company are taking their sweet time about it. Also, there are a couple of people wedded to calling on the landline - and at the moment, the calls can be important.

Edited by binary (Sun 26-Feb-23 21:11:58)

In reply to a post by binary:

So it seems that you can still request a PSTN voice line. I wonder if this is actually a genuine choice and will stick when the order is processed? And if so, for how long - I know BT are gradually migrating customers over from PSTN to Digital Voice.

Yes it's a genuine choice. BT added the option when they resumed the digital voice rollout after their (partial) pause.

However, their contract makes no mention of how the voice service is delivered and they are free to, and will at some point attempt to, move you to Digital Voice. Though they do allow you to reject their continuing nudges to Digital Voice (for now).

For my mum this came in the form of a letter informing her she was being moved to digital voice. It says this will be automatic. At the bottom it tells you to contact them if you don't want it and they will keep you on the current line.
Though after contacting them to say no thanks they sent the same letter a few months later and she had to repeat the process.

Edited by j0hn83 (Mon 27-Feb-23 14:27:30)

In reply to a post by j0hn83:

In reply to a post by binary:

So it seems that you can still request a PSTN voice line. I wonder if this is actually a genuine choice and will stick when the order is processed? And if so, for how long - I know BT are gradually migrating customers over from PSTN to Digital Voice.

Yes it's a genuine choice. BT added the option when they resumed the digital voice rollout after their (partial) pause.

Thanks. Interesting that, via the BT.com website ordering process, it only appears (for me at least) when Fibre 2 is the selected FTTC product rather than Fibre 1.

I'm guessing that if one was to call up the sales line and order, it would be possible (in theory at least!) to request a PSTN voice service for any bundle of products.

In reply to a post by j0hn83:

However, their contract makes no mention of how the voice service is delivered and they are free to, and will at some point attempt to, move you to Digital Voice. Though they do allow you to reject their continuing nudges to Digital Voice (for now).

For my mum this came in the form of a letter informing her she was being moved to digital voice. It says this will be automatic. At the bottom it tells you to contact them if you don't want it and they will keep you on the current line.
Though after contacting them to say no thanks they sent the same letter a few months later and she had to repeat the process.

Thanks - yes I'm under no illusion that Digital Voice (DV) is the way things are going.

Re your mum's experience - how difficult was the process of contacting BT to put off the move to DV and stay on PSTN for the meantime?