topic Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive in My Account/Billing

Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

Bella123 — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 08:01:01 GMT

There seems to be still the option to re-contract on my existing FTTC service, offering both 18mth and 24mth contracts.

Does this mean the existing phone line will remain for a further 2 years if i go with the 24mth re-contract?

Other than that there is no option with any provider to stay FTTC as far as i'm aware.

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

MisterW — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 08:10:49 GMT

@Bella123

Does this mean the existing phone line will remain for a further 2 years if i go with the 24mth re-contract?

Probably not! At some point Openreach WILL switch off the PSTN network. Its currently set for Jan 2027 but who knows what OR will do ? So at some point Plusnet will not be able to provide a landline service and will have to convert any FTTC accounts to SoGEA ( FTTC without phone service )

Other than that there is no option with any provider to stay FTTC as far as i'm aware.

Providers cannot place any new order with Openreach for a landline phone service, in fact they've not been able to since Sept 2023. A recontract on an existing FTTC service does not involve an order to Openreach hence IS still possible (at the moment!) but moving to a new supplier on FTTC isnt.

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

Bella123 — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 08:27:29 GMT

Hi, yeah i sort of thought that was the case.

If i stay on FTTC for now by recontracting will the broadband still work after pstn switch off?

Also please in the BT info below can someone tell me what the items below mean? (from BT wholesale website)

The exchange is not in a current priority programme

WLR withdrawal exchange

SOADSL is not restricted on exchange

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

MisterW — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 09:14:26 GMT

If i stay on FTTC for now by recontracting will the broadband still work after pstn switch off?

At some point prior to PSTN switch off, Plusnet will have to convert all FTTC accounts to SoGEA. At this point broadband will still work but the phone service will cease. The transition SHOULD give no ( or maybe a very short ) break in broadband service.

The exchange is not in a current priority programme

There is a 'Fibre priority' status that can be assigned to an exchange area when FTTP becomes available. If an exchange is Fibre priority then if FTTP is available to a particular address, then ONLY FTTP can be ordered at that address.

WLR withdrawal exchange

Means that new orders for a landline service (WLR - wholesale line rental) wil not be accepted. ALL exchanges are now classified as such.

SOADSL is not restricted on exchange

SOADSL is a broadband only version of the old ADSL product. Not many ISPs (PN included) will offer it even if available.

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

bmc — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 11:35:22 GMT

@Bella123

There is a lot of debate as to when PSTN will be switched off.

For the majority of users I believe it's the 31st December 2025. This is when OR plan to terminate all Wholesale Line Rental agreements. This is the product ISP's use to provide internet and phone. In exceptional circumstances OR will alow a phone service to continue. This is at OR's discretion on a line by line basis. The 31st January 2027 date is when even these lines will end - ie the final switch off.

As PN are withdrawing from providing phone services I believe they will issue 3 month termination notices by the end of September at the latest (assuming 3 months notice).

Brian

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

outcast — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 11:53:26 GMT

@Bella123

Why don't you take this opportunity to 'upgrade' your Plusnet FTTC line to SOGEA, and migrate your phone to VoIP ?

Your monthly broadband costs on SOGEA should be cheaper than FTTC
You would have sorted out your phone conversion before any deadline, and away from Christmas 2025.
VoIP is nothing to be scared of, I've been using it since 2013 and it's clearer, cheaper and more reliable than landline.
You can probably continue to use your existing handset with the use of a suitable VoIP ATA adaptor.
Not doing it now is just procrastinating on the inevitable, which is daft considering you'll need to do it within a year.
You can get plenty of help on this forum if you have any questions

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

Baldrick1 — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 11:56:35 GMT

@bmc

Whilst this December 25 date has been rumoured, it has never been, as far as I know, confirmed. The latest information that I have seen simply confirms Jan 27 as the current PSTN switch off date.

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

bmc — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 11:58:19 GMT

@Baldrick1

Give me a bit of time and I'll find the OR web page that states WLR's go at the end of December 2025.

Brian

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

MisterW — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 12:03:18 GMT

https://giacom.com/news/openreach-delay-pstn-switch-off-until-january-2027/

On 16th May 2024, BT and Openreach announced that they were delaying the PSTN Switch Off and WLR Withdrawal until 31st January 2027, giving Communication Providers (CP) an additional 13 months to migrate customers to future-proof All-IP solutions.

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

Protech — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 12:10:09 GMT

From Plusnet's web page FAQ section

https://www.plus.net/broadband/fibre-and-phone/

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

Baldrick1 — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 12:23:51 GMT

There are millions of PSTN subscribers who are perfectly happy with the PSTN, having received a clear reliable line that continues working during a power cut for decades.

I would assume that many of those are currently quite happy with their Plusnet service. They do not want to be bounced into giving up their landline and having to either change ISP or set up their own VoIP service with another company, not withstanding that the phone will no longer work during a power cut, until it is absolutely necessary.

If it ain't broke, don't mend it!

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

outcast — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 12:43:53 GMT

From ISPreview 26th March 2025 -

The big switch-off was recently delayed to 31st January 2027 in order to give broadband ISPs, phone, telecare providers, councils and consumers more time to adapt (details). But the main focus of this delay was the 1.8 million UK people who use vital home telecare systems in the UK (e.g. elderly, disabled, and vulnerable people), which aren’t always compatible with digital phone services. Take note that for everybody else, the switching deadline is still technically Dec 2025

also Openreach 23 January 2025

Phone lines and other analogue technology need to be ready for the big PSTN switch-off. We’re urging businesses to migrate off the aging PSTN to All-IP by the end of December 2025 to safeguard their services, well before the final shutdown of the network in January 2027.

Hopefully @bmc can find the Openreach document regarding residential connections, which said something to the effect of landline voice rental will end 31st December 2025, then only in exceptional cases would be allowed to continue and reviewed on a monthly basis to allow users that have specific technical reasons that so far have obstructed voice migration to quickly find alternative solutions.

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

bmc — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 13:03:36 GMT

So far no luck - I'm going to have to dig deep into my previous posts to find what I'm looking for. However I did find these two webpages.

https://evenetworks.com/news/wlr-pstn-switch-off-fibre-broadband-voip-sip/

https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/10147-openreach-updated-wlr-contract-terms

Brian

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

lahbrannan1 — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 13:05:34 GMT

Thank you for your recent message.

In order to discuss the recntract options I would recommend reaching out to our sales and retentions team- you can reach them on 0800 013 2632.

Lee

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

bmc — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 13:25:26 GMT

Got there in the end.

https://www.openreach.co.uk/cpportal/updates/briefings/general-briefings/gen06624

Brian

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

Protech — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 13:52:13 GMT

That's been superceed afaik
https://www.openreach.co.uk/cpportal/updates/briefings/general-briefings/gen04824

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

outcast — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 13:56:17 GMT

@Protech wrote:

That's been superceed afaik

No, that document #GEN048/24 is dated 16/05/2024, whereas @bmc 's document #GEN066/24 is 10/07/2024

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

Protech — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 14:06:30 GMT

@outcast
My error 🤦 misread that.
However the drop dead date for PSTN is still
31 January 2027.

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

outcast — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 14:17:44 GMT

@Protech No worries.

I think the point though is that there are two dates in play, which are being used interchangeably and causing confusion.

As you say, the 'drop dead' date for PSTN switch off is 31st January 2027

whereas the target date for ISPs migrating landline phone users to digital equivalents, is still 31st December 2025

leaving 2026 for Openreach to solve all the remaining 'difficult cases' for phone line connected alarms and instrumentation.

Re: Re-contracting on existing FTTC servive

Bella123 — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 14:42:01 GMT

Thanks all for replies.

In a rural area we have been happy with Plusnet Broadband and homephone service for a good few years now.

We don't need super fast internet connection, its around 40mb currently and i find that fine.

The main reason i have for not wishing to convert to FTTP is the work which would need to be done to get the new cable in.

Its a rural area, the existing comes underground from the pole on the roadside, under tarred drive, under the subfloor to phone socket in hallway.

As i understand the process, for FTTP a connection box is installed outside the property and then a smaller cable to the OTC inside the house, although sometimes i think the external box can be put inside also.

If the new cable was taken overhead from the pole to gable of house, then into roofspace maybe the external box could be mounted innside the roofspace, but the issue then is there is no conduit in the wall to bring the second smaller cable down to where the existing socket is.

I dont like any surface cables, and dont really want to dig up the driveway.

If i leave it for now, I understand the phone will have to go at some point but broadband will still continue to work.

I would need to see someone from Openreach to see how they would intend getting the cable done, and if i didnt agree with it could stay as it is on FTTC.