Thanks for the further info

The variation on this which interests me is what happens if you are migrating to an Openreach-based fibre service. e.g.

1. You have an OR-based copper phone line with xDSL. You are paying "line rental" on this, either built-in to the pricing of your xDSL package, or separately.
2. Then you also take an OR-based FTTP data-only service. It looks like you can get a cheaper "broadband only" price because there's already line rental being paid.
3. You port your number away, which ceases the xDSL and copper phone service.

Does the standalone FTTP service continue, and are you no longer liable to pay the "line rental" part? Or else, what happens?

2. Then you also take an OR-based FTTP data-only service.

You don't take any OpenReach product.

The ISP takes that, and you get what they bundle you.

If the ISP sells you a data only FTTP service then what you do with the copper pair is irrelevant.

I'm not really in a position to comment. In my case my ADSL provider was Talk Talk Business who provided very satisfactory service, all be it with an increasingly inadequate 7Mb/s line. Once FTTP became available my initial attempt was to sign up with BT from the limited pool available. Quite honestly, their office staff were so inept that now I wouldn't touch them with longest bargepole in creation. I eventually settled on Cerberus, who like Vonage, have been exemplary.

The aim of my original approach to BT was to benefit from a single source supplier for internet and voice, although it's not entirely clear to me whether the latter is universally available from that provider. My understanding is that where it is available, BT/OR are not always very good at porting the existing number.

All that aside, I can only defer to others with more relevant experience.

Note that he says "OR-based" supplier. Seems to me that implicitly recognises that most of the suppliers use the OR network, while not actually being OR.

In reply to a post by Mygri:

Note that he says "OR-based" supplier. Seems to me that implicitly recognises that most of the suppliers use the OR network, while not actually being OR.

I know that, you missed my point.

You aren't the customer of OpenReach, their product isn't what you buy.

The ISP can buy data only FTTP from OpenReach but sell the customer a bundled product (voice and data).
It wouldn't make sense as the data only variant is much more expensive.

It's what the ISP sells that matters.

Line rental is basically bundled into OpenReach's FTTP data only product prices.
It is similar to the price of FTTP + copper line rental.

https://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/products/prici...

Perhaps the price page I just linked to has answer to the particular query.

The �Transition product� is only available in conjunction with an existing WLR or MPF service

If the associated WLR or MPF service is terminated, the full annual rental charges for the appropriate GEA-FTTP product variant will apply from the termination date of the WLR or MPF service

Openreach reserves the right to withdraw the �transition product� at any time on not less than 28 days notice

Edited by j0hn83 (Fri 12-Jul-19 18:28:07)

Thank you. I notice the 330/50 "transition product" has a wholesale price of £355.32, while the regular 330/50 product is £456.00. So if the WLR/MPF goes, OR will switch it to the regular product, and in turn the service provider will switch to their corresponding higher-priced retail product.

However a few lines later it says:

"Please note: Transition discount is only available to CPs who have consumed the FVA (fixed voice access) product and can be claimed in ECI areas only."

So it sounds like having a *copper* voice/xDSL line doesn't entitle you to any discount for FTTP anyway.

In reply to a post by candlerb:

However a few lines later it says:

"Please note: Transition discount is only available to CPs who have consumed the FVA (fixed voice access) product and can be claimed in ECI areas only."

So it sounds like having a *copper* voice/xDSL line doesn't entitle you to any discount for FTTP anyway.

I read that, but it doesn't make much sense to me.
I think it's just worded poorly.

It will be likely be related to FVA not working on ECI patches.

I've just noticed that Cerberus have updated their FTTP pricing to take this into account, e.g. for 300/50:

£71.50 Monthly** (Data-Only)
Transition Discount of £9.00 Monthly where applicable***

*** Discount applies to data-only FTTP pricing where a BT PSTN line is present and until 30/03/2020.

It used to be £62.50, so the pricing hasn't actually changed. However this is the first I've seen about the ending of the discount.

You don't have to take a 12 month contract with Community Fibre. You can instead pay a £50 installation charge and leave with 30 days notice. If you're unsure about whether it will work for you that may be an option.