Changing ISP and moving landline number to VOIP

I am coming to BB and phone contract end and I'm considering splitting providers, so I'll sign up for BB and then port my number into a VoIP provider.

I read that porting my number to a VoIP provider will also terminate my BB, which is not that helpful. My concern is starting a new BB service without taking my number, will result in losing the number too. Seems like a chicken and egg problem, but I'm sure it has been solved .

So what is the correct procedure to ensure I:
* keep my existing landline number, but moved to VoIP
* start a new BB service

You can do it if you have option to move to FTTP (Fibre to property) - if you can only get ADLS/FTTC then you still have to pay BT line rental so might as well leave phone line there. If the broadband is reasonable then you could have a VOIP phone as well may allow better call packages, you can port your phone number to VoIP and have landline assigned a new one, but unless the ISP offers (Zen does I believe at a cost) that option I'd avoid it as sort of thing that can go wrong.


I have recently gone through migrating to FTTP as new service and then once that was working OK ported telephone number to VOIP - see Thread FTTC to FTTP

In reply to a post by aks:

I am coming to BB and phone contract end and I'm considering splitting providers, so I'll sign up for BB and then port my number into a VoIP provider.

Can you get Cable or FTTP or use 4G broadband for a few weeks?

If not, another way is to have no broadband or phone for a week or so.

Alternatively you could pay for a new Openreach line to be installed on a second number, and have your new broadband on this line, and then migrate the original number to VoIP (which will cancel the first line). This would be at the highest cost.

In reply to a post by aks:

I am coming to BB and phone contract end and I'm considering splitting providers, so I'll sign up for BB and then port my number into a VoIP provider.

I read that porting my number to a VoIP provider will also terminate my BB, which is not that helpful. My concern is starting a new BB service without taking my number, will result in losing the number too. Seems like a chicken and egg problem, but I'm sure it has been solved .

So what is the correct procedure to ensure I:
* keep my existing landline number, but moved to VoIP
* start a new BB service

This thread on the Plusnet forum may help. I thought I read another thread on that forum where it was suggested that you order a new broadband service at a future date and then arrange for your number to be ported a couple of days before.

Thanks for the ideas, that's the conclusion I was coming to - what a PITA!

I have had this number for 25 years, but it seems such a faff, and probably every option is expensive, other than no BB for a few weeks. It's ridiculous in this day and age.

You should be aware that if you are porting the number (and ceasing the underlying service) then your physical port (at the cabinet) gets released by the system. It’s up for grabs. Not like a migration where you keep the physical port. Therefore there is a risk that you could lose the service completely if the cabinet is nearing full or full.

Ordering a new (cheaper) SOGEA circuit would be the zero gap and zero risk approach. Once broadband is active on that service, place a number porting request on the old service. No gap in service. You will get to keep your 25 year old number and there is zero risk of completely losing your broadband should the cab be on waiting list.

These days with ever growing waiting lists on copper, the alternative methods where you break continuity in broadband service would put me off personally.

Great advice, thanks.

These days with ever growing waiting lists on copper, the alternative methods where you break continuity in broadband service would put me off personally.

totally agree.

So if I re-sign with Sky on SoGEA, then request number port, will Sky actually release my number without ceasing all services? Since I am already with them on SoGEA I call and ask - then I can discuss renewals.

Best speak with Sky to confirm

Just a warning before trying that...

Sky had issues porting away any VOIP numbers associated with their SOGEA service.
I've no idea if they have fixed these issues.

Their only fix for this was to revert the number to PSTN to allow it to be migrated away.

There have been a couple threads on these forums about this.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

You should be aware that if you are porting the number (and ceasing the underlying service) then your physical port (at the cabinet) gets released by the system. It’s up for grabs. Not like a migration where you keep the physical port. Therefore there is a risk that you could lose the service completely if the cabinet is nearing full or full.

Ordering a new (cheaper) SOGEA circuit would be the zero gap and zero risk approach. Once broadband is active on that service, place a number porting request on the old service. No gap in service. You will get to keep your 25 year old number and there is zero risk of completely losing your broadband should the cab be on waiting list.

These days with ever growing waiting lists on copper, the alternative methods where you break continuity in broadband service would put me off personally.

In the process of doing just that with the SOGEA service just installed. OK for a month or so, the original broadband service remains live until the porting kicks in, Still have to pay the remainder of the contract of course but to me that service dies on the vine on the contract end date.

The only niggle in the back of my mind is whether a termination fee will be raised.