Telephone on fibre provider needed

Hi
I don’t know if it’s even possible but I need a provider that can supply a telephone line only on a fibre line which already has a broadband provider.
I have just change suppliers on my mother’s fibre line after the contract ended and have inadvertently chosen a supplier that apparently doesnt supply a telephone line. My own fault for not reading properly I guess - I just went for price.
Can I now get a provider to supply a telephone only line or will I have to cancel the contract I’ve just started and look again?
Thanks for any help.

In reply to a post by Tbb1225:

Hi
I don’t know if it’s even possible but I need a provider that can supply a telephone line only on a fibre line which already has a broadband provider.
I have just change suppliers on my mother’s fibre line after the contract ended and have inadvertently chosen a supplier that apparently doesnt supply a telephone line. My own fault for not reading properly I guess - I just went for price.
Can I now get a provider to supply a telephone only line or will I have to cancel the contract I’ve just started and look again?
Thanks for any help.

This isn't a recommendation (I haven't used them) but voipfone should be able to do it:
https://www.voipfone.co.uk/solutions/residential

You'll need one of these from them to use an existing phone:
https://www.voipfone.co.uk/hardware/adapters/grandst...

There are plenty of providers who should be able to provide something.

seb

In reply to a post by seb:

This isn't a recommendation (I haven't used them) but voipfone should be able to do it:
https://www.voipfone.co.uk/solutions/residential

You'll need one of these from them to use an existing phone:
https://www.voipfone.co.uk/hardware/adapters/grandst...

There are plenty of providers who should be able to provide something.

seb

Thank you Seb.
Since posting I’ve had time to look into this a little more and found similar from another company (I won’t advertise) who offer a VOIP service for roughly £10 per month for 800 minutes - or if paid annually include a free VOIP adapter (“worth £49.99” [?]).
Is there anything I should be cautious about? Price seems reasonable I’m just wondering if there is a vast difference in adapters and maybe the type of service they provide, or if it’s all pretty similar.
Many thanks

In reply to a post by Tbb1225:

Since posting I’ve had time to look into this a little more and found similar from another company (I won’t advertise) who offer a VOIP service for roughly £10 per month for 800 minutes - or if paid annually include a free VOIP adapter (“worth £49.99” [?]).
Is there anything I should be cautious about? Price seems reasonable I’m just wondering if there is a vast difference in adapters and maybe the type of service they provide, or if it’s all pretty similar.

Check what the cancellation options are just in case it doesn't work. The VoIP adaptor is the ATA I mentioned separately from the other company too. I don't know pricing very well for this type of service but £50ish setup for adaptor seems ok and £10/month doesn't seem too bad but shop around. Key is that they promise it will work or you get your money (and telephone number!) back..

seb

Thanks again seb

There are several companies who will provide you with a 'telephone number', what you need to decide is what is needed, I'm guessing you might want the original number to receive calls, or original number to make and receive calls, in which case you need to act ASAP to retain the number.

In reply to a post by burble:

There are several companies who will provide you with a 'telephone number', what you need to decide is what is needed, I'm guessing you might want the original number to receive calls, or original number to make and receive calls, in which case you need to act ASAP to retain the number.

Yes that’s going by to be awkward as the ISP we just left has been far from helpful (tried to charge us £90 the day after we initiated the switch, for a non-returned router we’d not even be asked to return) and I have a feeling it’s going to be a battle retaining our telephone number - which we’ve had for approx 50 years !
We will definitely try though.

In reply to a post by seb:

Check what the cancellation options are just in case it doesn't work. The VoIP adaptor is the ATA I mentioned separately from the other company too. I don't know pricing very well for this type of service but £50ish setup for adaptor seems ok and £10/month doesn't seem too bad but shop around. Key is that they promise it will work or you get your money (and telephone number!) back..

seb

Understood. I’ll check all this out. Thanks again seb

In reply to a post by Tbb1225:

Yes that’s going by to be awkward as the ISP we just left has been far from helpful (tried to charge us £90 the day after we initiated the switch, for a non-returned router we’d not even be asked to return) and I have a feeling it’s going to be a battle retaining our telephone number - which we’ve had for approx 50 years !
We will definitely try though.

If you've "lost" the number then yes this may be more of an issue. But very time sensitive so get on it asap.

+1 for voipfone. I have been a customer for 10 years. I also use A&A and Sipgate.

If your mother is comfortable using a mobile phone she could port the current landline number to a redirect service. An option is for incoming calls only, meaning folks calling her current number would be connected to her diffierent mobile number. The mobile would display and record the caller's actual number. Outgoing calls would only be possible from the mobile number though. This could preserve the number in the short term if VoIP is definitely required on the fibre line and its set up is proving to be problematic.

It might be worthwhile to check with various suppliers of a redirect service on whether that it is possible on a ceased voice line. IDNet certainly do port from an active voice line and it costs £6 per month on a one month minimum term for 25 hours of incoming calls plus a one-off £20 setup fee.

Generally a good idea to have a mobile phone account anyway in case of issues with VoIP such as internet downtime, power cuts etc - good luck.

Edit: by porting the the number from a FTTC line that would cease the broadband also.

Edited by 4M2 (Wed 10-Dec-25 21:05:42)

I would note that if you are using a smartphone, then a VoIP app on the phone will achieve the same at a much lower cost. I currently use A&A at £1.44/month to receive calls to our old landline number.

In reply to a post by burble:

I would note that if you are using a smartphone, then a VoIP app on the phone will achieve the same at a much lower cost. I currently use A&A at £1.44/month to receive calls to our old landline number.

That's a good deal!

In reply to a post by 4M2:

In reply to a post by burble:

I would note that if you are using a smartphone, then a VoIP app on the phone will achieve the same at a much lower cost. I currently use A&A at £1.44/month to receive calls to our old landline number.

That's a good deal!

Not as good as my Sipgate number, which receives calls with no monthly charges, but that's an oddity which may not continue.

In reply to a post by Tbb1225:

In reply to a post by burble:

There are several companies who will provide you with a 'telephone number', what you need to decide is what is needed, I'm guessing you might want the original number to receive calls, or original number to make and receive calls, in which case you need to act ASAP to retain the number.

Yes that’s going by to be awkward as the ISP we just left has been far from helpful (tried to charge us £90 the day after we initiated the switch, for a non-returned router we’d not even be asked to return) and I have a feeling it’s going to be a battle retaining our telephone number - which we’ve had for approx 50 years !
We will definitely try though.

you should be able to port your old phone number upto 30 days after disconnection.

When did you change service?

In reply to a post by Michael_Chare:

+1 for voipfone. I have been a customer for 10 years. I also use A&A and Sipgate.

That’s reassuring to know, thanks

In reply to a post by burble:

I would note that if you are using a smartphone, then a VoIP app on the phone will achieve the same at a much lower cost. I currently use A&A at £1.44/month to receive calls to our old landline number.

Interesting. I’ll look into this

In reply to a post by Taras:

you should be able to port your old phone number upto 30 days after disconnection.

When did you change service?

Only a week ago. The router was delivered back to the them yesterday.

In reply to a post by Tbb1225:

In reply to a post by Taras:

you should be able to port your old phone number upto 30 days after disconnection.

When did you change service?

Only a week ago. The router was delivered back to the them yesterday.

if the number was mostly used for incomming do A&A route, and pay the £15 admin fee, and then pay only £1.5 a month, Then its pay as you go. and they can recover the phone number.

either go with grandstream ata, gigaset or yealink brands, avoid the cisco spa atas as they are riddled with security holes.

Ebay, pmc telecomm, broadbandbuyer, ilgo and amazon are your go to places.

Really appreciate the advice. Yet to decide (mother yet to decide) what to do. Will try and get it resolved asap.

In reply to a post by Taras:

...if the number was mostly used for incomming do A&A route, and pay the £15 admin fee, and then pay only £1.5 a month, Then its pay as you go. and they can recover the phone number.

If from a FTTC broadband only line would that be porting a phone number to A&A rather than a recovery?

In reply to a post by 4M2:

In reply to a post by Taras:

...if the number was mostly used for incomming do A&A route, and pay the £15 admin fee, and then pay only £1.5 a month, Then its pay as you go. and they can recover the phone number.

If from a FTTC broadband only line would that be porting a phone number to A&A rather than a recovery?

its basicalldy a post cease port, i said recovery as the op (Tbb1225) hadn't really thought about porting the number piror to ceasing the line. Regardless if Tbb1225 does want to keep the number, some urgency is required. Even if Tbb1225 doesn't use A&A long term but they do want to keep the number going to them to voip the number is probably the best route given A&A's voip experience

OP just calls it a "fibre line", if its SoGEA the consequences from porting the phone number away could be troublesome. But indeed some urgency is required if the priority is to retain the original phone number.

Although I'm having FTTP installed first by one of the smaller ISPs, and then moving my number to VOIP, my neighbour is a bit more cost sensitive and has FTTC BB and landline (which isn't really used).

I'm checking if the landline needs to be retained. If it does and my way forward is too costly then I'm looking at PlusNet FTTP SOGEA. PlusNet get mixed reviews recently, but they would offer a cost competitive offering with a hub that matches my neighbours BT SH2. Also offer a 12 month contract. If PlusNet is chosen then the neighbours BT number will need to be recovered within 30 days, which should be achievable by A&A. This is assuming that the switch to PN would terminate the current BT copper and would not be treated as a new install. I cannot see option to ask PN for an install instead of a migration. Perhaps speaking on the phone may be the way forward.

I'd be interested to hear how the OP progresses, should they wish to retain their number.

Separate FTTP broadband and mobile phone accounts maybe the solution where FTTP is currently available. Especially so if retaining a landline number is not vital. Choice really depends upon the availability of FTTP, mobile signal and the needs for retaining a current landline number - which are things you are probably aware of.

I will add though, if you are not aware, that Openreach will increase line rental charges in stages up to 100% next year https://www.openreach.com/news/openreach-announces-p... and this will probably be of concern for users who currently have bundled FTTC broadband and PTSN voice on one month minimum terms.

Obviously costs also come into the equation together with, i.e. the possible needs for a router, ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), etc.

Personally I've gone for FTTP broardband and my landline number redirected (for incoming calls only) to my mobile phone, both on one month minimum terms. I want to keep the old landline number active for a while longer. However I had separate accounts for FTTP broadband and PTSN voice so porting the landline number did not cease the broadband service.

I hope things work out satisfactorily for you and your neighbour - good luck.

Edited by 4M2 (Wed 17-Dec-25 20:56:39)

@4M2, thanks for the info.

I've had a test VOIP number for sometime and I'm familiar with ATA, IP phones and apps.

For the neighbour, if the landline number is required then we will go down the mobile app route.

Looks like PN will allow "keeping phone line with current provider", so should be able to order FTTP, keep FTTC + landline for a while, and then when happy with FTTP migrate the landline to VOIP which will terminate the out of contract FTTC. Standard process and easier / less risky than trying to recover a number within 30 days.

Although I'd still like to know what happened from the original poster.

In reply to a post by BarkingMad:

Looks like PN will allow "keeping phone line with current provider", so should be able to order FTTP, keep FTTC + landline for a while, and then when happy with FTTP migrate the landline to VOIP which will terminate the out of contract FTTC. Standard process and easier / less risky than trying to recover a number within 30 days.

That's a very good plan, for various reasons it's worth the cost of having both FTTC and FTTP for a while, just be sure that the FTTP installer doesn't disconnect/remove the copper pairs...

In reply to a post by 4M2:

In reply to a post by BarkingMad:

Looks like PN will allow "keeping phone line with current provider", so should be able to order FTTP, keep FTTC + landline for a while, and then when happy with FTTP migrate the landline to VOIP which will terminate the out of contract FTTC. Standard process and easier / less risky than trying to recover a number within 30 days.

That's a very good plan, for various reasons it's worth the cost of having both FTTC and FTTP for a while, just be sure that the FTTP installer doesn't disconnect/remove the copper pairs...

This is what I did as the son has autism and is very sensitive to the internet going down.
I set up a new connection through a cityfibre provider and once I got everything working I ported the phone to a VOIP provider which ceased the old plusnet FTTC connection, was worth it for me to pay the extra month or so on the old plan so it was a seamless move and now have the home phone through an app on my mobile. I did mean to set up an ATA in the house but did not bother in the end, most of the landline calls I get are junk and I just let them go to voicemail which I check later if they even bother to leave a message