Right to port

Much has been written on these pages and elsewhere, by myself and others, about the problems associated with extracting a landline number from a WLR line, in order to move it to VoIP, without ceasing the broadband associated with the line. I don't want to reopen that can of worms here.

I've read mentions of a "Right to Port", most recently here, which comes into effect in Apr 2023. It's supposed to complement OTS, which I understand should simplify (from a user's point of view) the paperwork associated with changing provider, but won't actually solve any of the problems (like ceasing the broadband). But I can't find out much about Right to Port on the net - perhaps I'm googling for the wrong things.

Bottom line is whether there is likely to be a window between Apr 2023, when Right to Port/OTS come in, and Sept 2023 when WLR stop sell takes effect, when the risks of losing a landline number using something like AAISP's Renumber and Export are minimised? Assuming that I'm still not able to get FTTP by then.

For me, it's all about keeping my landline number. I want to phase it out over time, but I've had it for nigh on 30 years, and tracking down every person and organisation that has got it is going to be a nightmare. Porting it to VoIP to decouple it from broadband and running it down from there seems the obvious way forward.

For me, it's all about keeping my landline number. I want to phase it out over time, but I've had it for nigh on 30 years, and tracking down every person and organisation that has got it is going to be a nightmare.

Why DO you have to track down everyone ? If they haven’t called in the last, say, two years, then is it SO important ?

Bizarrely, a couple of years back, I got a job in the house I grew up in. The landline number was the same as when I lived there with my parents, leaving in the early 80’s
Having seen the number, I asked the current owner if they were ever called by people asking for any of my family ….. no, was the answer.

I’ve no issue if you are so intent on retaining the DN, but my point is, that I suspect it is much, much less of an issue as you seem to believe it to be.

I agree it isn't necessarily a big issue.

For years I only made outgoing calls from my mobile as they were effectively zero cost. (Initially 0800 being the exception as those were chargeable on mobile).

I also made sure that any new online signup either had my mobile number or none.

By the end of 2018 and with a BT Truecall base station, the only incoming calls were from an elderly aunt, my brother, and two friends. I cancelled the landline completely in January 2019. The first two and one of the friends now just ring my phone for a few seconds and I ring them back. The other friend just swapped calling my mobile.

I had also run on mobile broadband using my phone as a hotspot for a couple of months, feeding my laptop and iPad. I dropped the landline broadband in December 2018.

I did change the phone number on half a dozen more active sites, but didn't bother with the rest.