In reply to a post by nalla:

i dont think bt residential are doing voip just yet as the service is in trial stage and all trials are on hold during the corona virus pandemic.

Digital voice is the only way to get a voice service on FTTP new builds with no copper present.
BT don't sell broadband without voice.
That only leaves Digital Voice.


FVA is no longer being sold.

BT are also using Digital Voice for some FTTC customers.
There's dozens of examples on the BT Forums.

Yup just ordered Fibre 900 today and they were insistent on a working line take over. Had to get to 2nd line support to get a Fibre 900 without working line take over and create a new phone number just for the FTTP. It still says working line take over on the order but they have assured me it is just taking over the new line not the existing phone number.

Reliant on the phone, not had great experiences with VOIP with two different companies and a trial with Yay (prior to FTTP admittedly), so didn't want to risk moving copper line just yet.

And thus have little experience of the whole VOIP/SIP thing and how it works.

Will test the service and move number later if it works (I get the benefits I really do). Plus need to sort out what handsets work, we currently run 5 handsets on DECT, house is huge (1st world problem) and that is the minimum we can get away with to give enough time to answer before it diverts to mobile.. The DECT base station has to be in one part of the house to reach all areas, and really hard to get CAT5 to there . WiFi linked handsets might be better, then the handset would work across the whole site!

Any pointers gratefully received.

In reply to a post by F00tS0re:

Any pointers gratefully received.

I moved my old openreach number to VoIP with AAISP last year, when I moved my broadband to Virgin cable. It works and is quite low price. Although AAISP recommend not using NAT with VoIP which is harder on a dynamic single IP service that cable modem provides. (no FTTP here).

I use a Cisco SPA112.

NAT issus are irrelevant to BT Digital Voice, i.e. they will have gone through their development phase to ensure the hardware they deploy means no fiddling with SIP ALG or other things

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

NAT issus are irrelevant to BT Digital Voice, i.e. they will have gone through their development phase to ensure the hardware they deploy means no fiddling with SIP ALG or other things

I assumed that is the case when you use the BT supplied router. Not everyone wants to, so I posted what I have done with a non BT broadband service.

Not clear if BT will ever release the SIP details so you can use the Digital Voice on your own hardware.

No requirement for them to do this, and in terms of support a lot simpler in a locked down environment.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Not clear if BT will ever release the SIP details so you can use the Digital Voice on your own hardware.No requirement for them to do this, and in terms of support a lot simpler in a locked down environment.

That is completely understandable, but unlike other countries the network operator chose to not provide any network terminal equipment that had a neutral interface. Hence the only interface is the DSL protocol.

If Digital Voice requires you to use the provided ISP router (aka "Hub") then these products need to evolve to encompass a modem mode, or similar. (E.g. Virgin Media's SuperHub)

- or there needs to be a way of opting out of paying for the voice service.

- or there needs to be a way of opting out of paying for the voice service.

It's essentially free. Arguably it even subsidises the data link: at least, if you actually pick up the phone and dial someone, and get stung for a 20p+ call setup charge, or someone calls you and they get termination revenue.

In reply to a post by candlerb:

It's essentially free. Arguably it even subsidises the data link: at least, if you actually pick up the phone and dial someone, and get stung for a 20p+ call setup charge, or someone calls you and they get termination revenue.

I guess now that FTTC+line rental is just in one charge, then its just the same. As long as you're not paying for a "calling plan"

So back to the Openreach modem or ONT days.

BT Consumer is nothing special just another Sky, TalkTalk have an influence on what is required.

Remember voice call volumes have been declining on landlines.