Migrate FTTP to BT without disturbing existing WLR line?

With a heavy heart I'm looking at moving from Zen to BT when my FTTP contract ends in August.

Simple reason being that currently I have an FTTP connection via OR fibre but their digital voice (nor do their competitors too it seems) have any sort of network level call filtering blacklist with their solution being a build your own on the Fritzbox, we were plagued with autodiallers until I added one of the CPR call blockers in between the phone and master socket.

We also have a copper WLR line through IDNet which provides voice and connectivity for an alarm system (intending to talk to the alarm company next month)

Was looking at BT's offers and wondered whether to go for the FTTP migration now and pay off my Zen contract (as I'd recoup the early termination across the life of the BT contract) and then order digital voice and bring the landline number across when the alarm is sorted.

BT's site gives dire warnings about not being able to keep your landline number if you don't order voice at the same time so am concerned that if I did, someone might deactivate the copper pair with the click of a mouse or cable clippers despite the two circuits being leased to different service providers

Is that a possibility?

But if anyone knows of a voip provider that offers BT call protect style filtering to the UK residential market I'm all ears.

Edited by techguy (Thu 16-Feb-23 14:04:05)

In reply to a post by techguy:

But if anyone knows of a voip provider that offers BT call protect style filtering to the UK residential market I'm all ears.

Voipfone have a call barring option. It's a whitelist/blacklist thing. Don't think it comes pre-populated with known bad numbers as I understand BT call protect and the CPR boxes do, though - you have to configure it up yourself. They also have an anti-telesales number/message.

I haven't used any of these products so I can't compare them.

Edited by Thaumaturge (Fri 17-Feb-23 09:17:17)

In reply to a post by Thaumaturge:

In reply to a post by techguy:

But if anyone knows of a voip provider that offers BT call protect style filtering to the UK residential market I'm all ears.

Voipfone have a call barring option. It's a whitelist/blacklist thing. Don't think it comes pre-populated with known bad numbers as I understand BT call protect and the CPR boxes do, though - you have to configure it up yourself. They also have an anti-telesales number/message.

I haven't used any of these products so I can't compare them.

Yeah, thought so.

Looks like BT it is come August.

Quite sad to be honest as Zen have been the best ISP I've used....ever but spending my spare time buidling my own block list isn't something I want to do.

Have a look at this VOIP compilation:

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2022/12/summar...

In reply to a post by GreenLantern22:

Have a look at this VOIP compilation:

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2022/12/summar...

Food for thought.

Might be an idea to migrate the number out when ready, then move it to BT when the migration of the FTTP is complete.


To be clear, I'd love to use Zen digital voice or even A&A but it's the filtering that is the stumbling block here.

In reply to a post by techguy:

But if anyone knows of a voip provider that offers BT call protect style filtering to the UK residential market I'm all ears.

Sky have Sky Talk Protect available with all their talk packages. Works in a similar way to the BT offering.

If you can do it without laughing, just answer the phone and base your script on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOvXxnSEQKY

Cheers!

In reply to a post by simon194:

In reply to a post by techguy:

But if anyone knows of a voip provider that offers BT call protect style filtering to the UK residential market I'm all ears.

Sky have Sky Talk Protect available with all their talk packages. Works in a similar way to the BT offering.

Thanks for the tip but if I have to move it'll probably be to BT.