topic Re: Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26? in Home Phone

Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26?

outinthesticks — Mon, 04 May 2026 10:09:26 GMT

Disappointed not to have heard anything from Plusnet about this. I live in an isolated rural area where mobile signal is non-existent. I gather that to maintain a landline I need to opt for a digital version that Plusnet won't be providing. That doesn't deal with the question of what happens when there's a powercut. And I guess I'll have to find a new email provider also?

Re: Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26?

pvmb — Mon, 04 May 2026 11:40:53 GMT

@outinthesticks

This power failure problem is the one significant issue with the end of landlines.

There are others here who may be able to better advise you, however a few pointers:

Plusnet are approaching costumers with landlines and asking if they want to keep them, if yes they offer a no exit fee transfer to EE. There are DIY alternatives to keeping your old landline phone number on a VoIP home phone.

What are you on now, FTTC/FTTP? Is Full Fibre (FTTP) an option where you are or likely to become so?
The reason I ask is not because it will 'solve' your problem so much as it helps make battery backup more feasible. Because with FTTC, whatever the customer's backup capability, the FTTC cabinet is only likely to survive a power cut for half an hour to an hour or so. FTTP is better in this respect as it ultimately goes back to a main building - though you do have an extra device needing backup, the ONT. Though this is not a power hungry device.

When FTTC/FTTP is in operation and you do have a mobile phone, you can use it as a battery operated 'home phone' via Wi-Fi Calling through your router. So no problems with weak mobile signals. Oh course, that leaves the thorny issue of keeping things going during a power cut.

If anyone is registered as 'vulnerable' at home this could help with getting support for installation of a backup battery. Otherwise it will be a DIY job.

If already transferred to Greenby you can keep your Plusnet email address (free for the first two years, then £15 pa). I am unsure what happens if you have been transferred to Greenby and then leave Plusnet. You might have to start paying to keep the account open. Anyone know?

Re: Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26?

PhilipHeyes — Mon, 04 May 2026 11:59:45 GMT

The question of what happens when there's a Powercut is very often
the customer realises cordless phones need mains power to work.

Re: Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26?

bmc — Mon, 04 May 2026 12:56:45 GMT

@outinthesticks

You have 3 questions that need answering - phone/ internet, power cuts and email.

Starting with the latter PN are in the process of migrating emails to Greenby. Once migrated you don't lose the email address if you leave PN though ultimately it will cost £15 a year to maintain. Personally this, to me, is preferable than trying to change all my logins etc to a new email address.

Are power cuts a problem for you? You may be able to "blag" a power back up unit from your new ISP if you change.

With phone / internet you have two basic choices - stay with PN and transfer your phone to a VOIP provider or move ISP to one who offers both. The latter is the easiest way but may not be cheapest. PN will transfer you FOC to EE for phone / internet. How long do you have remaining on your contract?

Given you location your specific options may depend on what's available to you. Can you post a screen image of the following after hiding your details. Include the narrative below the results window.

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

Brian

Re: Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26?

Baldrick1 — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:10:01 GMT

@outinthesticks wrote:

Disappointed not to have heard anything from Plusnet about this. I live in an isolated rural area where mobile signal is non-existent. I gather that to maintain a landline I need to opt for a digital version that Plusnet won't be providing.

My understanding is that Plusnet will be in touch soon and give you the option of giving up your phone or they will transfer you to the EE broadband plus digital phone service for the remaining period of your contract, at the same price.

Re: Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26?

outinthesticks — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:44:05 GMT

thanks, this is really helpful. FTTC/FTTP - you must be joking! Its copper all the way from my house in rural Herefordshire to the exchange 6 miles ago. No prospect of fibre despite repeated promised from here today gone tomorrow providers over the last decade.

Sounds sensible advice re the email position, Thank you.

Re: Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26?

outinthesticks — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:46:41 GMT

Thanks - my postcode is HR20AR, no prospect of fibre of any kind any time soon. Just had a helpful conversation with PN & it looks like transferring phone & broadband to EE is the best bet & I can leave the email with PN as you say.

Re: Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26?

MisterW — Mon, 04 May 2026 15:00:58 GMT

@outinthesticks

Just had a helpful conversation with PN & it looks like transferring phone & broadband to EE is the best bet & I can leave the email with PN as you say.

Dont do it UNTIL your email has transferred to Greenby otherwise you WILL lose your email!

Re: Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26?

outinthesticks — Mon, 04 May 2026 15:04:41 GMT

Noted, thank you!

Re: Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26?

bmc — Mon, 04 May 2026 15:13:14 GMT

@outinthesticks

Have you looked at the OR website to see what they say about FTTP?

www.openreach.co.uk

If you are on ADSL rather than FTTC then that changes things I believe. To the best of my knowledge EE do not offer the digital version (SOADSL) of ADSL so you would in fact be moved to BT.

As advised, hold on for as long as possible to ensure your email has been migrated.

If you are moved to BT / EE ask for a battery backup unit - you never know your luck. You may need to supplement this with another consumer unit if power cuts are a problem where you live.

Brian

Re: Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26?

Baldrick1 — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:04:50 GMT

@bmc wrote:

…You may need to supplement this with another consumer unit if power cuts are a problem where you live.

Why? All that’s needed is a small back up battery unit.

Re: Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26?

pvmb — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:12:26 GMT

Both the Plusnet Hub 2 and my Adtran ONT work from a 12 VDC supply so, in principle, with a suitable setup, that could simplify battery backup - i.e. no need for mains inverters etc. Even an old car battery? 😊

Re: Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26?

Spik3y — Mon, 04 May 2026 17:39:49 GMT

@bmc wrote:

@outinthesticks

You have 3 questions that need answering - phone/ internet, power cuts and email.

Starting with the latter PN are in the process of migrating emails to Greenby. Once migrated you don't lose the email address if you leave PN though ultimately it will cost £15 a year to maintain. Personally this, to me, is preferable than trying to change all my logins etc to a new email address.

Are power cuts a problem for you? You may be able to "blag" a power back up unit from your new ISP if you change.

With phone / internet you have two basic choices - stay with PN and transfer your phone to a VOIP provider or move ISP to one who offers both. The latter is the easiest way but may not be cheapest. PN will transfer you FOC to EE for phone / internet. How long do you have remaining on your contract?

Given you location your specific options may depend on what's available to you. Can you post a screen image of the following after hiding your details. Include the narrative below the results window.

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

Brian

Have you any idea if the greenby email continues with no immediate charge (until the 2 free years are up) when transferred to EE. Or do they start charging from when ee take over the contract.

The other issue is plusnet are only transferring fee free to EE. If you decide to go to another provider now there will be penalty charges. On the face of it its probably easier to go to EE then make the change to another provider at the end of contract. That would be OK if the change to EE was efficient and worry free, but I suspect with the numbers transferring it wont be, So instead of just transferring out at the end of the contract, we have to deal with it twice.

If I stay with plusnet bb only and contract with another VOIP provider does the phone still plug into the plusnet router (or through an adapter)? I understand how to tranfer but not the physical process.

I get the general impression that most younger people think the problem is that we are scared of technology. The issue is safety (ie ability to call for help in powercut) in an area with poor or vulnerable mobile signals.

Re: Should I have heard from Plusnet that they won't be offering landline service from January 26?

bmc — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:30:12 GMT

@Spik3y

The phone port on the PN router does not work. You either have to buy a touter with a working phone socket or an ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter) which plugs into the router via ethernet cable.

A&A have a good FAQ page on VOIP.

https://www.aa.net.uk/voice-and-mobile/voip-information/

Brian