topic Re: Battery Backup Unit in Everything else

Battery Backup Unit

TR11Falmouth — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 16:50:31 GMT

Following on from the recent Storm Goretti, we in Cornwall experienced the brunt of it, with loss of power for 96hrs+ and much more.

Do Plusnet therefore offer a BBU (Battery Backup Unit) for their customers ?

I’m on full fibre, no digital voice, but rely on my broadband to make WiFi calls on my mobile (signal is rubbish) ..

I’m also on the Priority Register for utilities due to health issues and medication in the fridge.

Local news ran a segment very recently where OFCOM was quoted as saying that Service Providers have to provide BBU where necessary.

Any thoughts ?

Re: Battery Backup Unit

MisterW — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 17:01:15 GMT

Local news ran a segment very recently where OFCOM was quoted as saying that Service Providers have to provide BBU where necessary.

I think you'll find that the OFCOM requirement to provide battery backup, only applies where the ISP is providing a VOIP service.

To quote

Ofcom’s General Conditions of Entitlement place an obligation on communications providers to
ensure ‘uninterrupted access to emergency organisations as part of any publicly available telephone
services offered’.

Plusnet don't provide a phone service over FTTP

Re: Battery Backup Unit

TR11Falmouth — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 17:06:06 GMT

Fair enough .. it was worth asking.

For what it’s worth, EE are happily sending out BBU’s to their customers even if they don’t have VOIP.

BT / EE & Plusnet are all the same company, so maybe it’s time they had a re-think ?

It’ll certainly influence my decision in a few months when my contract is up

Re: Battery Backup Unit

mystreet1 — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 18:15:07 GMT

A battery backup will only last for about 4 hours ish. If you were out for 96 hours I doubt if there is a home system that would last that long.
Also, you have to take in account any mains supplied hardware on the router back to the exchange, and indeed the exchange itself. Your local telephone exchange may not be the one that provides the fibre to you.

Re: Battery Backup Unit

Dan_the_Van — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 18:22:09 GMT

This thread UPS required for domestic use might be a useful read.

If something is free I would suspect it will cover the minimum requirements.

Re: Battery Backup Unit

dvorak — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 10:20:52 GMT

Moderators Note

This topic has been moved from Full Fibre to Everything Else

Re: Battery Backup Unit

Baldrick1 — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:22:43 GMT

@TR11Falmouth wrote:
For what it’s worth, EE are happily sending out BBU’s to their customers even if they don’t have VOIP.
BT / EE & Plusnet are all the same company, so maybe it’s time they had a re-think ?
It’ll certainly influence my decision in a few months when my contract is up

Plusnet is the BTplc budget provider, supplying a basic ‘broadband’ service, BT/EE are the premium brand, which includes additional bells and whistles. This is reflected in the price of the service.
It’s a personal choice whether to pay for a premium service every month and get a free BBU, or buy your own.

Re: Battery Backup Unit

TR11Falmouth — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:49:35 GMT

Plusnet the budget provider ? Really ?? Don't make me laugh

I'm currently paying £42.99 for full fibre 900

BT (new customer price) is currently £34.99 increasing to £38.99 fpr 1 year, then £42.99 in year 2 - with £160 cashback / gift card

EE are currently charging the same prices, but include all the bells & whistles as you put it.

So, Plusnet are far from the budget provider it seems.

Roll on contract renewal time, as that kind of reply makes me want to jump ship for sure. In fact EE were offering to pay the remainder of folks contracts in order to gain new customers ... I wonder if there still running that offer ?

Re: Battery Backup Unit

Baldrick1 — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:39:04 GMT

You must compare like for like. Special offers especially for new customers, are ever present.

To compare like with like, the Plusnet equivalent deal at the moment is £30.99 per month with the same in contract increases plus a £110 gift card.

The trick is to wait until the beginning of the last month of your contract and armed with comparative prices, ring the Customer Options Team on 0800 013 2632 and see what sort off deal you can negotiate.

Edit.

Regarding the option of moving to EE and EE picking up the Plusnet ETCs, if you check the EE eligibility requirements you will find that it excludes transfers from BT or Plusnet.

Re: Battery Backup Unit

bmc — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:54:51 GMT

@TR11Falmouth

If the length of hte power cut was a one off then there's not much you can do (apart from the following) other than get a backup unit for up to 4 hrs.

However, if blackouts are a regular occurence have you considered getting a portable generator.

Brian

Re: Battery Backup Unit

TR11Falmouth — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:26:05 GMT

I'm luck in the sense that I've experienced two short power cuts in the 30 years I've been living at my current address.

4hrs would keep me happy, just knowing I'm able to make phone calls via my mobile if needed

Re: Battery Backup Unit

bmc — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:47:27 GMT

@TR11Falmouth

Fair enough on the generator idea.

As far as I can see no one has yet stated the obvious - phone PN and ask. If you don't ask you don't get. Try the PlusNet Customer Options Team on 0800 013 2632. Remember to make sure they know you're on the Vunerable Register.

Brian

Re: Battery Backup Unit

Baldrick1 — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:21:08 GMT

I have one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CQR5GMN4?ref_=pe_109253361_1103576791_t_fed_asin_title.

I assume that most mobile masts have battery back up and the one covering our village is a rarity? Anyway, the last time we had a power cut, the mobile network immediately went down.

Re: Battery Backup Unit

TR11Falmouth — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 20:39:44 GMT

Hmm .. thanks for that link.

Does the supplied cable / adaptors connect ok to the Plusnet SmartHub v2 and the Openreach ONT ?

Re: Battery Backup Unit

spile — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:12:05 GMT

For less than £100 you can get a Cyberpower BR700 ups which give you a longer backup time and it accepts Uk mains plugs.

Re: Battery Backup Unit

Baldrick1 — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:47:47 GMT

@TR11Falmouth wrote:
Does the supplied cable / adaptors connect ok to the Plusnet SmartHub v2 and the Openreach ONT ?

Unfortunately not, you need adapters. 'Standard' 5.5mm outer diameter barrel connectors come with a dizzying number of pin sizes.

BT and Plusnet hubs use a non standard 5.5 x 3mm barrel connector. They are available see https://toothbrushbattery.com/buy/bt-smart-hub-home-hub-dc-power-plug-adaptor/. I have read of brave souls managing to jam a 5.5 x 2.5mm connector in, but would not recommend trying.

You will also need one for the ONT, The ONT connector is 5.5 x 2.1mm. These adapters are readily available

Re: Battery Backup Unit

bmc — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:17:56 GMT

Although not directly related to this thread here's a guide on power backup.

https://www.thinkbroadband.com/guides/how-to-stay-online-if-uk-experiences-rolling-power-cuts

Brian

Re: Battery Backup Unit

Baldrick1 — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:12:43 GMT

@bmc

An excellent article, It's a bit lengthy but includes all the salient facts relating to the best way to provide back up power tor a router and ONT during a power cut.