topic Re: Imminent end of landline in Home Phone

Imminent end of landline

Yorkie6 — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:53:10 GMT

I have FTTC broadband and a landline with PN (I believe the premises is suitable for full fibre though). I wish to retain the LL number once the digital VOIP change has happened. My end of contract date is in 3 weeks (at which point the out of contract price goes up to over £50).

I've read through many threads, which have been really helplul. For practical reasons (and also with a view to having to repeat the process with my 81-year old mother, who has a similar set up and is easily confused) I plan to retain BB and landline with one provider rather than stay with PN for BB and move elsewhere for VOIP.

I have 3 DECT phones with an answerphone on the base unit. The extensions connect wirelessly, I think, just plugged into power. I also have a mobile phone.

I still have some queries, if I may, to decide which way to go in provider selection / type of fibre BB:

1. Two providers I've seen mentioned here (I know there are more) are EE, who PN will help me move to; and Zen internet. Both seem to offer FTTC (SOGEA) as well as FTTP, from their website. Would I get a choice over SOGEA vs FTTP when switching to them, do you think? When I look on the Zen website, input my postcode, it only mentions the full fibre options.

2. If I went with FTTP for either, am I right that a fibre connection would need to be physically installed into the house?

3. It seems that Zen internet's FTTP is via City Fibre. If I went with them, and later changed BB/VOIP provider, would that mean that a different fibre connection would also probably need to be installed? If so, is EE the same or is its fibre connection more compatible with other providers?

4. Would my DECT phones and extensions be equally compatible with either provider's set up?

5. I can't make a direct comparison of initial and ongoing costs, but hope they would be similar.

6. Any other practical considerations I should bear in mind in making a decision, please?

Many thanks for any thoughts.

Re: Imminent end of landline

jab1 — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:06:09 GMT

@Yorkie6 Your questions in order:

1) If you are not in a Fibre Priority area, then both should still be available. I would contact Zen direct to see of they still offer their service over BTOR infrastructure, although it will be more expensive.

2) Yes, if you go for FTTP, it requires a different set of cabling, and connection changes.

3) If CF is the only option available for FTTP, then, should You decide to move to a provider who does not use CF, then yes it would entail the installation of alternative cabling/ONT. EE provide only over the BTOR infrastructure.

4) Yes

5) Get quotes and compare.

Re: Imminent end of landline

MisterW — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:14:23 GMT

@Yorkie6 just to add to Johns excellent answers

I have 3 DECT phones with an answerphone on the base unit. The extensions connect wirelessly, I think, just plugged into power.

I'm assuming you are thinking you can plug the base unit into the ISP supplied router and continue to use the existing handsets. Whilst the EE router does have that capability, there's anecdotal evidence that EE support have difficulty getting it to work and eventually supply other equipment. The Zen supplied router (Fritzbox 7530) has such a capability and in addition functions as a DECT base unit in its own right, so GAP compatible handsets can be connected directly to the router.

Re: Imminent end of landline

Baldrick1 — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:19:51 GMT

@Yorkie6 wrote:

3. It seems that Zen internet's FTTP is via City Fibre.

Zen use both the City Fibre and Openreach networks. If both are availkable you would need to talk to Zen regarding your options. Note that the City Fibre option is cheaper than Openreach.

Re: Imminent end of landline

Yorkie6 — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:22:33 GMT

@jab1 many thanks for confirming my thought processes.

Re: Imminent end of landline

Yorkie6 — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:25:12 GMT

@MisterW many thanks - I can only tick one 'Fixed' response, and @jab1 got there first!

Yes, that's what I had in mind.

The thought of having to re-enter lots of contacts into a new phone after technical issues (and even more so for my mum, at a distance) does make me think about that.

Re: Imminent end of landline

Yorkie6 — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:25:59 GMT

@Baldrick1 many thanks - I also couldn't select 'Fixed' for your reply.

I think a phone call to Zen might be my best next step.

Re: Imminent end of landline

jgb — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:33:37 GMT

@Yorkie6

In answer to your questions in as far as I am aware based on my experience moving to Zen almost two years ago---

If Zen are quoting a price to you via their website that will be, i think, the only option they will use at that address. I doubt that they would want to use both CF and OR to service the same address and CF are, as the name suggests a fuil fibre network, If they are using CityFibre (CF) for your address then they will be offering that as it will be cheaper for them than if they were using Open reach (OR) (assuming OR FTTP is available). It will also be cheaper for you as most if not all of their saving will be passed to you - in my case, the price quoted for FTTP via CF in July 2024 was £7 cheaper per month that the price their website offered a few months previously via OR (before CF was available to my address). A friend who investigated Zen around that time who se house was only fed by OR was quoted the £7 higher cost. I suspect there is still a saving to be made if the service is via CF rather than OR.

Whether a FTTP connection is provided via CF or OR, you need a new full fibre connection to the premises as the old copper wire becomes redundant.

If you get FTTP via CF then you could still have a choice of ISPs in the futue as there are several that use CF if that is available. If memory serves me correctly you can see who they are by using the CF website to search on your address.

If in the future you wanted to move to an ISP that only uses OR (as PN, BT and EE do being in the same commercial group as OR) than you would need another fibre connection to the premises as the two networks are separate.

My Dect phone system (five handsets with one base station) is an oldish Panasonic one and all I had to do was plug the base station into the Fon socket on the Fritzbox router that Zen supplied . Zen include a very short adaptor cable to facilitate this. The phone was transferred across within a few hours.

As for costs you should be able to get prices from most ISP websites and see what is covered / included. With Zen (and I suspect those ISPs whose routers include the necessary Fon socket) there is no additional kit needed to get your existing phone(s) working. You do need to get PN to clarify exactly what any "transfer" to EE involves /includes /costs.

As for Zen, there basic phone package includes 1000 minutes of calls (the usual 01,02, 03 numbers and freephone numbers plus mobile numbers but not special numbers or premium numbers) per month for £7.50 if the price is the same as when I recontracted for another 18 months in January.

Zen have many short videos on the web showing various aspects of the router, set up, etc which are quite useful.

As far as whether to go for FTTP or FTTC SOGEA if both options are available I would have thought that moving to FTTP gets the pain over in one move.

Happy hunting!

Re: Imminent end of landline

Yorkie6 — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:45:52 GMT

@jgb thanks very much for the details. I'll do a bit more investigating but that is really helpful.

Edit: interestingly, Mum's address isn't on the CF network. So it will have to be FTTC for her, if we choose Zen. I see that for me, various providers including Sky and vodaphone are available through CF.

Re: Imminent end of landline

bmc — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:02:17 GMT

@Yorkie6

Use the following (address version if necessary) to check for OR Full Fibre availability.

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

It shows up as WBC FTTP. If available, what does it say below the window for Fibre Priority Exchange (Y/N)?

Brian

Re: Imminent end of landline

jab1 — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:08:53 GMT

@Yorkie6 wrote:

@jgb thanks very much for the details. I'll do a bit more investigating but that is really helpful.

Edit: interestingly, Mum's address isn't on the CF network. So it will have to be FTTC for her, if we choose Zen. I see that for me, various providers including Sky and vodaphone are available through CF.

If FTTP is available at your mum's address via OR, the chances are it will be available via Zen, but a little more expensive.

Re: Imminent end of landline

Yorkie6 — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:30:09 GMT

For my address: WBC FTTP is available (speeds are cited). FTTP Priority Exchange - N.

For my mum's address: it says FTTP On Demand is available (WBC FTTP not mentioned) - but in the comments below the boxes, it says FTTP not available. FTTP Priority Exchange - N

Re: Imminent end of landline

jab1 — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:34:01 GMT

@Yorkie6 Out of interest, how far away is your mum, and is she on the same BT exchange? Ignore the 'FTTP on demand' - that is a very expensive option, aimed at businesses who are desperate for it.

Re: Imminent end of landline

Yorkie6 — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:35:15 GMT

She's 200 miles away - I'm up north, she's not far from the M25.

Re: Imminent end of landline

jab1 — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:36:43 GMT

Ah, OK, so totally different then. 😀

Re: Imminent end of landline

Yorkie6 — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:38:06 GMT

Indeed 😁

Trying to diagnose and fix issues at distance is not easy at the best of times, let alone when she finds it increasingly difficult to understand and follow instructions ...

Re: Imminent end of landline

bmc — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:26:54 GMT

@Yorkie6

Thanks for the information.

In moving ISP I assume PN email isn't a problem for you or your mother.

For yourself it appears you (like me) have a choice of two full fibre networks. SOGEA also appears available. Zen Internet will always give the CF option for Full Fibre if available - it's cheaper though they might quote an OR price if asked.

Although not the cheapest I would give Zen some serious consideration. They have a good reputation and supply a well regarded router that has a built in ATA (for the phone) plus a DECT Base Station.

At the moment SOGEA is availble but if your Exchange changes to Fibre Friority you would not be allowed to place an order as FF is available. It will change at some point in the future.

The one problem with going with Zen Internet on CF is that, should you wish to change ISP's in the future to one which doesn't use CF then you'd need to get a second ONT installed.

As for your mother SOGEA is available so it just depends on the length of her contract with PN whether or not it's worth changing to Zen. The EE change is done FOC if organized through PN.

Brian

Re: Imminent end of landline

jgb — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:40:41 GMT

@Yorkie6

Do you know if any Altnets other than CF are serving your mother's address with FTTP? If OR are not doing so it is possible some other network is operating there.

This link will give you some info (with a bit of digging):

Browse Maps and Check Broadband Performance and Coverage Across the UK

That is from the Think Broadband website which contains a lot of info about services across the uk. The site URL is:

UK Broadband Data, Tools, News and Independent Analysis | thinkbroadband.com

If you find a likely candidate you can delve into their website and possibly find which ISPs are using them.

Zen do use some other networks if available in the location you are interested in, e.g Freedom Fibre, Trooli, ITS, MS3. Of these Trooli And Freedom Fibre seem to operate in and around so,me parts of the M25.

Re: Imminent end of landline

Yorkie6 — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:35:16 GMT

Thanks @jgb

Looking at the second link, and applying the alt-net filter, Vfast internet is the only one shown for my mum. I've had a look at their website and they only seem to offer their own services. They may be fine but I think a more well recognised provider would be best for her.

Applying (separately) the FTTP filter, it's the usual possibilities of vodaphone, Sky, BT, Virgin media (most of them only showing their social tariffs, interestingly!).

To be honest, Mum is nearly 84. I think FTTC will be easiest for her. No drilling into the house. She has no need for full fibre services (she's not gaming or streaming, and when I visit, her current intranet is sufficient).

Having done the maths both for her and for me, I'm minded to go with Zen internet for both of us.

FTTP for me - I think probably the Fibre 100 plan (80 Mpbs guaranteed download)? Current speeds are about 9 up / 36 down (I do occasionally watch iPlayer and do work from home, but no gaming)?
FTTC for mum - I think probably the Unlimited Fibre 10 (8-9 up / 26 guaranteed download).

Plus 1000 minutes VOIP calls for me, unlimited for her.

Thinking about hardware:

Mum has a main handset with an answerphone base unit. Plus 3 other handsets.

I know that the main handset will plug into the new router. Do you think it likely she will be able to continue to use her current answerphone? Just set the Zen answerphone facility to kick in after a greater number of rings? She is familiar with it and how to see whether anyone has left a message
One of the extension handsets only has one wire into it - I assume this will be a power lead. Another has two wires, though, so I assume one of those will be to a phone socket / let which has been run up from the master phone socket. I have seen comments that such cabled extensions will no longer work without some further cabling intervention. Does anyone know if that is correct?
Assuming that is right, and we're not up for redoing cabling, what is the most cost-effective solution to retaining a handset in her bedroom? Can extension handsets that don't need a cable be easily acquired?
I'm loathe to pay a lot of money for wi-fi extenders from a provider. I am aware of extenders which work with current set up (like TP-Link). Are these likely to be compatible with the new set up, do you think, if required in a home?

Many thanks again.

Re: Imminent end of landline

jgb — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:14:54 GMT

@Yorkie6

As I said , I use my old Panasonic dect phones (base unit plus 4 satellites). The main unit with answerphone plugs into the Zen supplied Fritzbox 7530AX router (I assume they still offer the same router for all but the fastest services). All the satellites work as before with only power connections to their base units (i.e. none were plugged into phone sockets before and none are now). I do not use the answerphone facility but I do not see why it should not continue to work. - perhaps someone else can clarify this

You say that your mum has a main handset with answerphone plus three other handsets. Assuming they all work, any that only have a power cord must be part of the dect set with the main unit. If one of these is located in the bedroom with the main set plugged into the router. You may be able to buy additional compatible satellite phones for the dect set. You would need to do a bit of research to see if they are still available and can be set up to work with the existing base unit. Another option would be to buy a new dect set with the number of phones you need. You only need a dect landline set similar to what you have and not a VOIP set which are much more expensive and would not use the Fon socket anyway. I have seen this which may be suitable: Panasonic KX-TGB613EB DECT Cordless Landline Telephone with Nuisance Call Blocker and Shock Resistant Handsets (Triple Handset Pack) – Black : Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Other makes / suppliers are available!

I am afraid I do not know how to cable existing extensions to work with a VOIP service.

As for wifi extenders, I use a TP-link AC1900 extender (which will now be superseded by a later model) for one awkward area in the house and this seems to work for me, although the Fritzbox coverage is pretty good on its own. The Zen mesh system is relatively expensive unless you really need it.