I'm on 500/75 with TalkTalk Future Fibre (which is via OpenReach). £35 a month (just broadband - no landline / TV etc.)

The customer service at the beginning was hit & miss - but once all set up it works a treat (I'm running an OpenWRT install as my main router - so none of their kit).

I did it like this:
* Signed up to a Sipgate account - got a new / additional 'landline' number
* Tested that using an app on my phone / laptop
* I called TalkTalk and ordered Future Fibre from them - told them to set up as a new install (i.e. no migration from the old broadband).
* Their system automatically triggered a notice to my provider saying I was leaving - I called them and said no, it was a mistake
* I called TalkTalk - spoke to a very knowledgeable person who knew what the issue was and rectified it later that day
* Current provider confirmed there was no longer a cancellation in place
* Installation date - OpenReach turn up, do the physical install, I plug in my kit and get connected.
* After a couple of days to let it bed in, I sent off the forms to migrate my old landline to Sipgate
* Then I got a notification from the FTTC provider to say sorry you're leaving us
* On the day of migration, I got confirmation from Sipgate that the porting had been completed and then tested my old landline number worked on my mobile app

There's a number of people on here who've done something similar, so do feel free to ask a question (even if you think it might be daft). All this info could help someone out in future.

Perhaps you could order FTTP as a new service rather than as a transfer of your existing service. When the new service is then working you could then port your number to Sipgate which would terminate your existing service.

I have the Grandstream Wave app (AKA GS Wave) on my Android phone with a registration to Sipgate.

You need to buy broadband without a phone service from BT and not put your Plusnet phone number in at any point, this should mean your Plusnet broadband continues without interruption and exists alongside your BT FTTP.

Once you're happy the FTTP is working you then port your phone number to a VoIP provider of your choice (A&A, Sipgate, Voipfone, whoever) which will cease the line and the broadband when it goes through.

Yep - definitely worth doing this.

If information posted here in the past is accurate if you do then port your existing landline to Sipgate this will get added to your account and then either your "free new landline" or your "existing landline" number would ring the "phone". Worth checking you can set the caller id - I assume you must be able to.

Yeah, you can set the caller ID from it.

Thing is looking at sipgate call rates it will not work for me as it is 1.18 for landlines and 9.90 for mobiles (call forward)

Just a note on this one, even if you don't put your number down, the OpenReach systems can interpret the installation as a migration of services apparently (based on the address).

If you're only answering calls (not dialing out) - then you will not have any charges.

When using the app on your device, you're not 'forwarding', you're simply answering the incoming call that's been routed through Sipgate's services.

1. Definitely don’t cancel the copper line just yet. You will need it - or at least the landline number for porting purposes.

2. Order the BT FTTP service as a completely new service. There is then no risk of accidentally ceasing the existing services or having a gap in service, be that broadband or voice.

3. Setup a sipgate account. You will get a free issued number of your choosing. Use this for testing purposes. Pop a fiver or tenner of credit on the sipgate account - as a means of having credit for outbound calls. You don’t need credit to receive calls.

4. Download the Acrobits app from play store or iTunes. Might cost you a one off fiver. Setup your Sipgate account on Acrobits. Check that you can receive and send calls successfully. Should work from anywhere you can get an internet connection on your phone. App doesn’t need to run in the background as it uses the native push notifications / call handing built into Android or iOS.

5. Wait for FTTP to be fully activated by BT - meanwhile keep testing Sipgate with Acrobits.

6. Once FTTP is fully activated, place a porting request with Sipgate to take your existing landline number across to them. One off porting fee payable. This will also cease your Plusnet FTTC connection.

7. Porting the number should take around 7 to 10 days to effect. You will not notice anything on your sipgate account. It will be seamless

Congrats you now have 2 ‘landline’ numbers on your sipgate account. They may even be completely geographically different. However both numbers will be simultaneously accessible from the one sipgate account.

Other things to note - as folks will call your landline number, then you no longer need to ‘forward’ this - notching up call forwarding charges in the process - calls are automatically routed to your smartphone by Acrobits which maintains a live connection back to Sipgate.

If you want a physical landline (rather than softphone) at home - you can for example get DECT bases with inbuilt VoIP functionality like the Gigaset N300 range - then your physical handsets will ring at the same time as your smart phone. This is cheap (£50 for the base about £40 for a DECT handset) and incurs no extra ongoing charges.

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Be very aware, if you allow BT to migrate your landline number as per of any FTTP migration:
- your number will become inextricably linked to the FTTP service, making any separation of service / future number porting etc problematic as it will result in them ceasing the FTTP service.
- you can only use the supplied BT Smart Hub if you wish to use their Digital Voice (BTs in house VoIP service) with ordinary residential/non-BT Business accounts.
- Digital Voice is secure but very rigidly defined, it’s their way or the highway: you will NOT have the flexibility in accessing your landline in the way I have described above - it becomes literally like an old fashioned copper landline that can only be used from home. Just plugged into their router rather than wall outlet.
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Edited by Pheasant (Wed 19-Jan-22 14:09:57)

In reply to a post by gap300:

Thing is looking at sipgate call rates it will not work for me as it is 1.18 for landlines and 9.90 for mobiles (call forward)

As above if you use the Acrobits softphone client I recommended - inbound landline calls will appear on your recent calls list on your smartphone if you don’t answer them. If you return the call you can simply just dial back with your mobile account and (presumably unlimited) call allowance.

No need to use the Sipgate account to call back - unless you want to explicitly make it appear as a landline call. Bit difficult to explain if you’ve never seen it, but honestly works a treat.

Ok I have just cancelled the BT installation and called Plusnet to 'uncancel'

BT have told me to call back in 48 hours to rebook a FTTP only installation

I will setup a sipgate basic account today

Just clarify something for me please, I do not need to have a working landline handset at home all calls will be always answered at my mobile even when I am at home

If I ever miss a call I always just call back using my mobile

What 'handset' do I need to purchase? and what app will I use on my mobile?

Sorry have just seen the post above, but still a bit puzzled as was mentioned earlier there would be no call forwarding charges?

Edited by gap300 (Wed 19-Jan-22 14:05:27)