Completely agree. instead its supplier lockin ...........

upgrade to sogea connection with plusnet which will disconnect the phone then you will have 30 days to move the number to a voip you could also ask plusnet to switch you to sogea and get a voip provider to request the line port to them on the same day

Thanks. How would I 'request' the SoGEA switch?
I talked to the PN customer options team today, they knew very little about the details, other than to pust an even faster connection (Full Fibre 145), even though I stated the MIL uses the internet very little and has no bandwidth issues with the existing FTTC 36Mbps link.
So to ensure they switch, I assume I'd need to call again and perhaps get lucky?

I attempted to sign up with Sky Full Fibre and was prompted with

confirm "I don't want to keep the existing number"

Well, that's a confusing comment! I suppose they mean "do I want to port my existing number in", but I don't want to do that, I just want a new service. I did not see any option that "mentioned keep existing services", or similar. I did not enter the phone number associated with the existing services at all, so possibly would be all ok. Thoughts?

The specific wording is:

Your Landline

Would you like to keep your existing landline phone number?

Yes, prompts an entry of the existing number.
No, allows me to continue, but seems odd.

In reply to a post by aks:

I attempted to sign up with Sky Full Fibre and was prompted with

confirm "I don't want to keep the existing number"

Well, that's a confusing comment! I suppose they mean "do I want to port my existing number in", but I don't want to do that, I just want a new service. I did not see any option that "mentioned keep existing services", or similar. I did not enter the phone number associated with the existing services at all, so possibly would be all ok. Thoughts?

No, from that I wouldn't assume that your existing copper service would remain untouched.

When it comes to a new Openreach FTTP installation, for many broadband providers there seems to be a common workflow assumption (in the ordering process) that the customer will no longer want or need their copper connection. Removing the copper cabling from the street to a premises can sometimes make the job of installing a fibre connection easier, and it reduces the amount of unused legacy wiring out there cluttering up ducts and poles.

Right, glad I asked! Thanks.

I went ahead with the following:

- took a broadband only upgrade to FTTP with Plusnet (existing FTTC broadband and copper wire landline with Plusnet)
- Once installed, this cut cut both the broadband and phone line within about an hour (the engineer said that would happen once he closed the job)
- I had already set up an A&A account and temporary VOIP number, so knew that was working fine
- as soon as the FTTP was confirmed working, I requested the now disconnected (in quarantine/holding for 30 days) landline number port to A&A
- A&A confirmed the port had been accepted and would complete 1 week later - that happened today.
- Everything now working ok, and I'll cancel the temporary number as I don't need two