Sidestepping BT Digital Voice for as long as possible...?

Am aware that Openreach's WLR service (i.e. PSTN) is being switched off by the end of 2025.

I'm also aware that BT/EE are (in theory at least) eager to switch their retail customers over to Digital Voice well before this happens - well, that or alternatively just to ditch their voice 'landline' altogether.

This change is happening, even if the timetable might possibly slip a bit (we shall see how it plays out).

However, because of the convenience of their current set-up and FTTP not having reached them yet, I'm just wondering how feasible it might be for a BT customer (broadband + landline) to delay the switch to Digital Voice for as long as possible? (Perhaps even until the summer of 2025...?)

There is no telecare device on the line, but a small white lie could be told about that... however I guess it's feasible BT (or OR) could be analysing landline usage to detect if there is indeed an active telecare device using the line (presumably such devices 'phone home' at fairly regular intervals).

I think I recall reading something somewhere by someone explaining that they had successfully put off BT switching a service to DV on more than one occasion, but they just had to be on the ball and call up customer services each time BT got in touch (by letter I think) scheduling a switch, in order to pro-actively opt-out of the process (even after already having done so some months previously). However maybe this was in BT's initial period of (over-)eagerness to get people to switch over to DV.

Curious to know the reason for your aversion to DV, I've had no problems with it since I switched over on my Sky line a few years ago. The main difference being much better audio quality.

In reply to a post by binary:

Am aware that Openreach's WLR service (i.e. PSTN) is being switched off by the end of 2025.

I'm also aware that BT/EE are (in theory at least) eager to switch their retail customers over to Digital Voice well before this happens - well, that or alternatively just to ditch their voice 'landline' altogether.

you can move your phone line over to voip and have internet from bt/ee/zen/sky etc - you don't have to have bt/ee digital voice.

In reply to a post by binary:

This change is happening, even if the timetable might possibly slip a bit (we shall see how it plays out).

for the vast majority it won't

In reply to a post by binary:

However, because of the convenience of their current set-up and FTTP not having reached them yet, I'm just wondering how feasible it might be for a BT customer (broadband + landline) to delay the switch to Digital Voice for as long as possible? (Perhaps even until the summer of 2025...?)

why do this. Have you got a problem with sip/voip/digital voice?

In reply to a post by binary:

There is no telecare device on the line, but a small white lie could be told about that... however I guess it's feasible BT (or OR) could be analysing landline usage to detect if there is indeed an active telecare device using the line (presumably such devices 'phone home' at fairly regular intervals).

Whos line?

In reply to a post by binary:

I think I recall reading something somewhere by someone explaining that they had successfully put off BT switching a service to DV on more than one occasion, but they just had to be on the ball and call up customer services each time BT got in touch (by letter I think) scheduling a switch, in order to pro-actively opt-out of the process (even after already having done so some months previously). However maybe this was in BT's initial period of (over-)eagerness to get people to switch over to DV.

Ahhh the "something somewhere where somebody said something that they did" - thats worse than "it worked for me"

For the vast majority who want to still have a phone line, digital voice is fine - its not perfect. For those who need flexibility and unbundle their phone from their internet connection its a perfect time to do so.

There has been a debate in parliament on the problems encountered, the response for the minister in dec 2023 was this.

The Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure John Whittingdale MP set out several steps he is now taking:

The Government is meeting with a particular provider concerned with the failure of telecare devices and asking for an urgent investigation.
Forced migration is to be paused.
Ofcom to conduct more in-depth monitoring of the digital telephone switchover.
Instigating a roundtable with all telecommunications providers, asking them to sign a commitments charter in relation to the switchover.
Further guidance from Ofcom on power resilience and a cross sector definition of vulnerability.
A review of Ofcom guidance on the efficacy of a 1 hour battery back up solution.
Data sharing between telecommunications firms and telecare providers to better identify vulnerable customers.
The minister confirmed he was unhappy with some of the assurances he had received from providers and was now working to remedy the situation moving forward.

I understand some may have an issue switching to Digital Voice because of special equipment connected to their copper line that needs to be upgraded but those who are finding ways to delay the migration for no good reason are just being obstructive to the process. Its happening so everyone who can should find ways to make it as seamless as possible.

I will be resisting moving to Digital Voice for as long as possible and have had the initial email announcing its approach. So I guess I will find out soon.

Edited by FibreBubble (Fri 22-Mar-24 12:41:33)

I switched from copper to DV with Zen when I was still on VDSL. Shortly afterwards CF fibre became available (still Zen) and I've been on that since. No problems whatsoever and for a reasonably heavy user the £6/month for 1000 UK minutes is good value. As we use the landline phone very little but must keep our 40-year old number I'll be moving to a low-cost VoIP provider when my DV contract ends, and save a few pounds per month.

I have no aversion to DV, but what is not good is losing all digital connectivity, including DV, when there is a local power failure. This is why we keep ADSL links rather than move them all to FTTC. Had a recent example at a site where there was a wide area power failure. Site has maintained power so our end was fine and the ADSL stayed up, even though the TE concerned lost mains power. Premises that were on FTTC were less fortunate. Of course, you need an ISP who pays for maintained power for their ADSL racks.......

FTTC cabinets have UPS's built into them, to give a few hours resilience, though.

What applications are you using that are so mission-critical you're keeping them on ADSL simply to protect against power failures ?

FTTC cabinets have batteries in them which are supposed to give several hours of backup, however I have seen posts where the battery backup only lasts for a much shorter time of say 30 minutes which is not much use. I guess that Openreach are letting the batteries degrade over a few years of use and not replacing them.