PlusNet Business landlines closing

So for the last 10 years I have had a Plusnet business package. I have now had a email informing me that they are withdrawing landlines in September. I know they want their business customers to move to BT but this is a bit naughty,
So I have had to setup a VOIP account with a 3rd party.

It's been expected for some time that PlusNet would likely migrate over to BT/'EE so it isn't a big surprise that they are doing this.

I realise it's not quite the same but do you think Plusnet will ditch ALL landline including non-business ones. I have just set a friend up (non techie) on Sky with a voice service. This was changed from BT because of the excessive cost of renewal.
I've taken an interest because my current Plusnet contract expires in a few months and as far as I can see Plusnet are now only offering FTTP in my area without landline ? I know many people don't use or want a landline these days but I'm old school and prefer to keep one. If nothing changes it looks like I too might be moving to Sky. I note that Sky now has better customer satisfaction score than Plusnet. Sad really because I've been with Plusnet for over 20 years with no real cause for complaint.

If you are in an active Fibre Priority exchange area and FTTP is available at your premises (as the areas don't have 100% coverage) then changing providers will require you to switch from FTTC to FTTP.

If you are recontracting with the same provider this shouldn't be the case as that is purely between you and the provider, there is no change in the Openreach connection. However the provider may use it as an excuse to force migration to FTTP, with Plusnet being part of the BT group this would likely be the case.

It appears unlikely that Plusnet will offer a voice service on FTTP connections, if you wish to keep voice they will most likely offer FTTP+DV from BT Retail. BT group keep on saying they have no plans to close Plusnet, others are less convinced - currently it appears that the BT brand will be aimed at business and retail with DV, EE for broadband with optional 5G backup, Plusnet for basic no-frills broadband only.

In reply to a post by Netfreak:

do you think Plusnet will ditch ALL landline including non-business ones.

I would say yes, that's very likely.

The analogue telephone network ("PSTN") goes stop-sell very soon, in September 2023, and will be completely switched off in December 2025.

If Plusnet want to continue selling voice services on FTTC (which becomes SOGEA without voice), then they will have to build a digital voice product to make phonecalls over the top. This could also give them digital voice on FTTP.

However, why would they go to the trouble of doing that, when voice is a low-margin and declining business? Instead they will say "sorry we don't do voice any more. If you want voice, go to BT" (who already have their digital voice platform up and running).

Of course, you could also go to Sky or Vodafone or Zen, all of whom offer digital voice already. Or you could move your voice service to a third-party VOIP provider and make it completely unbundled from your broadband.

The other big provider which doesn't offer digital voice is Talktalk, but because they have their own MSANs in telephone exchanges (which are capable of doing both DSL and analogue voice) they may continue to offer analogue voice for a while longer; they can do so even after Openreach have turned off their analogue phone exchanges. But sooner or later, they'll have to make their own decision as to whether to turn this off too.

When they do, perhaps they should change their name from "Talktalk" to "Typetype"

In reply to a post by candlerb:

In reply to a post by Netfreak:

do you think Plusnet will ditch ALL landline including non-business ones.

I would say yes, that's very likely.

When the time comes as long as Plusnet allows you to port your landline number somewhere else without it impacting your active FTTC broadband connection I would do it now to be honest.

I believe currently porting landline number cancels landline and broadband which isn't what I want!

Wow! I seem to have struck a nerve here. Many of the comments are in line with what I’d been thinking. It looks as though I’ll be waving bye bye to Plusnet after 20 + years, Ah’ well.

On the other hand one option I’ve thought of would be to stay with Plusnet on FTTP and get another mobile on a cheap unlimited calls deal to use exclusively as a home phone. I say exclusively at home because I don’t want to taking calls from the doctors, dentists etc when I’m in the barbers, pub, shopping or whatever. Actually that would be much cheaper than an inclusive calls package from Sky or BT etc. The downside of course would be having to tell lots of people and organisations my change of number.

Another oddity that’s come to my attention is the fact that three of my near neighbours who have had FTTP installed also still have the old copper wire running from the same pole as their new fibre connection. Apparently Openreach refused (in at least one case) to remove the old wire and even put a new identical bracket next to the existing one to carry the fibre cable! Since they’d gone over to FTTP (with Sky) and don’t want a landline what is the point?

In reply to a post by Netfreak:

On the other hand one option I’ve thought of would be to stay with Plusnet on FTTP and get another mobile on a cheap unlimited calls deal to use exclusively as a home phone. I say exclusively at home because I don’t want to taking calls from the doctors, dentists etc when I’m in the barbers, pub, shopping or whatever. Actually that would be much cheaper than an inclusive calls package from Sky or BT etc. The downside of course would be having to tell lots of people and organisations my change of number.

Or you go to a Plusnet FTTP deal and move your existing landline number to a VOIP service when that happens. That would give you the option of being able to receive calls to your existing landline number on your mobile using the VOIP capabilities as well as through a VOIP connected phone in the house (your existing phone if you get an ATA to connect to the FTTP router).

In reply to a post by think26872:

In reply to a post by candlerb:

In reply to a post by Netfreak:

do you think Plusnet will ditch ALL landline including non-business ones.

I would say yes, that's very likely.

When the time comes as long as Plusnet allows you to port your landline number somewhere else without it impacting your active FTTC broadband connection I would do it now to be honest.

I believe currently porting landline number cancels landline and broadband which isn't what I want!

The way the system works that isn't possible. You're correct that porting the landline number will cease the broadband. I don't think that will change.

It's now possible to separate the phone number + broadband without ceasing the service but it requires migrating the broadband only to a new provider, then when completed migrating the number to VOIP. You have 30 days to retrieve the number after leaving the current provider.

Edited by j0hn83 (Tue 13-Jun-23 13:03:06)

You have 30 days to retrieve the number after leaving the current provider.

Isn't it a little hit and miss as to whether you can get the number? There are people who have lost their connection due to provider mess ups and not been able to get their phone number back even after just a matter of days.