Digital Voice confusion

Hoping someone can help with my (and Plusnet script kiddies) confusion.
I have FTTP with BT but I'm jumping ship due to their obscene charges. I'm thinking of going to Plusnet but I've just been informed by BT that they are about to transfer my copper landline to digital. As a result, I contacted Plusnet to see if this would complicate things and this is when confusion started.
Plusnet stated that when I change, if I'm on digital voice they "would have to switch me back" but he could not explain how if BT decommissioned the copper line.
I then asked what if I switch to Plusnet before the change over and he replied "oh that will be fine then" but could not elaborate how "it will be fine" given that Plusnet does not offer a digital voice service.
Can anyone please clarify - seriously confused (as was the Plusnet script kiddy)
Thanks

Plusnet don’t offer a digital voice service. They can only offer voice via copper exchange based service at present.

Easiest option, export your line to an independent VOIP provider (ie Sipgate or similar) then you can migrate your FTTP service to any provider on the Openreach network , or an Altnet …

The problem with this is your voice is part of your BT contract, migrating the phone line away will probably cancel the contract - so you will lose FTTP.

Obviously then you can order plain FTTP without voice service, but what will you do in the meantime?
Also as it will count as a new broadband connection your ISP will charge it as a new activation.

You could try ordering a second FTTP only service first, but given the time contraints I have no idea if this would get activated before Digital Voice is moved over, though I would think you should still be able to migrate your number to another VoIP service even then.

Edited by alexatkin (Tue 23-May-23 16:11:53)

Plusnet stated that when I change, if I'm on digital voice they "would have to switch me back" but he could not explain how if BT decommissioned the copper line.

BT would only turn off voice on the line. When you move to someone else they can reenable the voice on the line. Highly unlikely that BT will actually physically remove your copper line just moving you over to Digital Voice (I still have my copper cable despite BT moving me to digital voice a couple of years ago and now not having any voice service at all - but if I moved to someone that used voice over copper then they could reactivate the line).

I'm wondering if for people who can live with a bit of interruption to their landline voice service whether the "right to port" can be invoked, so you initiate the number port after the previous service (BT Digital Voice) has been cancelled.

It sort of happened quietly but has been part of the Ofcom requirements since April this year https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2022/03/who-is...

In reply to a post by alexatkin:

The problem with this is your voice is part of your BT contract, migrating the phone line away will probably cancel the contract - so you will lose FTTP.

That was also my concern regarding the OP's current situation. However migrating the FTTP broadband service to Plusnet, according to their agent, hopefully shouldn't be a problem? This may cause a cease to the PSTN voice service though?

Thanks guys. Think I'm going to go the separate VOIP provider route. Once running I'll then move over to Plusnet as I can't risk loosing voice (no mobile signal out here in the sticks).
No danger of cancellation problems as I've been out of contract for years now.......

Does your mobile handset and provider support wifi calling ? It’s a God send when there no mobile signal.