topic Re: Switching to EE in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

Switching to EE

sstoddart — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:25:49 GMT

Hello,

A couple of questions occur that relate to EE's takeover of Plusnet.. First, will the existing Plusnet router still support broadband when the Digital Changeover happens?

Second, we still use our landline for telephony but I see that it is still possible for existing DEC handset to work if you use an EE router... but to get one, you have change over to EE (isn't that happening anyway??) and that means my contract with Plusnet is cancelled. What happens to my Plusnet email address in that event? Will that no longer be available?

I hope it will be - it will be a major pain if that too, is "cancelled" 🙂

Thank you

Steve

Re: Switching to EE

jab1 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:29:39 GMT

@sstoddart What gives you the idea that EE are 'taking over' Plusnet?

Re: Switching to EE

bmc — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:16:59 GMT

@sstoddart

You do NOT have to move to EE if you do not want to. How long have you got left on your contract?

However, you do have choices to make regarding your landline. You either move to an ISP who does both (like EE) or stay with PN and port your phone number to an independant VOIP provider.

If you leave PN before your email account is migrated to Greenby you lose the address. If it's afterwards then you can do what you like with internet without losing the PN address.

Brian

Re: Switching to EE

sstoddart — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:39:48 GMT

Hello John,

To answer your question, an email from Plusnet suggested it - if not directly saying as much 🙂 A wee while later, I recalled that BT own both EE and Plusnet and if I understand the machinations of big business even remotely, I read somewhere that BT are dissolving Plusnet into EE...

Could be wrong of course...

Steve

Re: Switching to EE

jab1 — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:44:47 GMT

Suppose it depends on how you read the email, but I certainly haven't seen anything to suggest it is likely - yet.

Re: Switching to EE

sstoddart — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:59:02 GMT

Greetings Brian 🙂

Thank you for your reply...

I have about 14 months left on the Plusnet contract.. as for VOIP, I had not considered that option though I should have. A brief look online and there are plenty of choices so I am grateful to you for reminding me of the option.

As to the email address, it looks as though I can keep the email address as long as I don't do anything rash like cancel the Plusnet contract 🙂

So all looks OK... thank you again!

Steve

Re: Switching to EE

sstoddart — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:01:31 GMT

Hello John,

I have just 'googled' this: "has EE bought out plusnet"

makes for an interesting read...

Cheers

Steve

Re: Switching to EE

jab1 — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:08:58 GMT

@sstoddart Not that it matters, but reading AI generated content has a disturbing habit of misleading.

Re: Switching to EE

bmc — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:11:25 GMT

@sstoddart

You are going to have to do something before the end of your contract. You should figure out now what you want to do so when PN say you phone line is being cancelled you're ready.

If staying with PN you'll need to start a new contract and they move you onto a SOGEA connection - basically internet without the phone. You then have 30 days to port your number to a VOIP provider.

As you say, there are multiple choices for VOIP - it depends on your phone usage. If you don't make many outgoing calls then A&A is a good option. Cheap with a good reputation.

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

There would be a few days downtime with the phone. The port can't be initiated until you're on SOGEA.

The easiest option is to go for an ISP who does both - have a look at Zen Internet. However, ETC's may be payable if you move to anyone other that EE.

Brian

Re: Switching to EE

sstoddart — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:09:17 GMT

Hello John,

True enough.... I don't take anything AI generated as Gospel... but looking further into it, the overall arrangement of BT, EE and Plusnet does appear to be as suggested..

Cheers

Steve

Re: Switching to EE

sstoddart — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:15:00 GMT

Greetings Brian,

Thank you for the heads up - and your mention of VOIP has already kicked off the business of looking into providers... I found A&A and it would our needs well -even better, you mentioned it in a favourable light 🙂

The "easiest option" is worth a gander... though it would mean (presumably) losing the PN email address...

Cheers

Steve

Re: Switching to EE

bmc — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:40:11 GMT

@sstoddart

I don't have VOIP (I use a mobile) but A&A have received good reviews on here in the past.

Although you have a one off exercise in getting phones to work with VOIP (you may well need an ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter)) it then means you have independance for your internet and phone needs and can go with any provider who meets your needs for each service.

Going with a provider who offers both is easiest as they provide the equipment required (the Zen router has a built in ATA) and probably less down time on the phone it ties you to one provider for both.

Remember whatever you do VOIP doesn't wotk in a power cut.

If you hold off doing anything until PN tell you you phone service is ending then your email may well have been migrated to Greenby which end the tie to your PN account. I got notification my email is to be migrated this month.

Brian

Re: Switching to EE

mystreet1 — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:59:31 GMT

Plus for A&A is that you don't need any hardware to have a landline number.

You can have an app on your mobile phone which you can answer the calls. Or just have A&A voicemail answer it and get an email with the message attached.

Re: Switching to EE

Townman — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 02:50:57 GMT

I do not read anything in the Google AI which suggests EE has bought / absorbed Plusnet... quoting the full narrative offered...

Plusnet is part of the EE and BT Group family, with Plusnet serving as the value brand while EE is the main mobile and speedier broadband brand, so they share ownership under BT but operate as separate services, though Plusnet Mobile has been closed, directing users to EE.

Key Points:

Shared Ownership:

Both Plusnet and EE are owned by the BT Group (British Telecommunications).
Brand Strategy:

BT has positioned EE as its flagship brand for mobile and faster broadband, while Plusnet focuses on value.

Plusnet Mobile Closed:

Plusnet Mobile services have ceased, with customers encouraged to switch to EE for mobile plans.

Plusnet Broadband Continues:

Plusnet broadband and home phone services remain unaffected and continue to operate as usual.

Perks & Bundles:

Because they're in the same family, Plusnet customers can often get perks like EE SIM-only deals with their broadband.

In summary...

Plusnet, EE (and BT Retail) are peers in the BT Group
Plusnet and EE have different target markets for broadband
Plusnet has discontinued voices services
1. the mobile offering has been transferred to EE
2. where users want an included digital voice service from a single provider, the group recommendation is to migrate to EE (there are other choices available)
Plusnet broadband users can benefit from EE mobile deals

As ever AI content is not entirely accurate: unless EE are offering the 1.2Gbps product, it is not speedier than Plusnet's offering ... but in no way does the narrative suggest that EE is the 'owner' of Plusnet.

Re: Switching to EE

sstoddart — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:08:44 GMT

Greetings Townman 🙂

Thank you for putting me straight!!

One thing puzzles me though: "Plusnet broadband and home phone services remain unaffected and continue to operate as usual."

... up until the switchover but after the switchover? I thought that was definitely going 🙂

Cheers

Steve

Re: Switching to EE

jab1 — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:13:40 GMT

@sstoddart Once Openreach confirm the switch-off of the PSTN network, the service will cease.

Re: Switching to EE

Townman — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:54:55 GMT

@sstoddart

Indeed the AI summary does not comment on the future of home phone line services with Plusnet.

There remains masses of work to be done by BT if the Jan 2027 PTSN switch off date is to be met...

There are vast swathes of rural countryside where there are no fibre services of any description (still ADSL only) circa 84,000 properties
There are about 1m phone line only users who frankly do not want (need) internet (and the associated costs)
About 20% of all connections are still FTTC which need to be migrated to SoGEA or FTTP

Will BT get this done within the next 12 months is anyone's guess. Plusnet have made the decision (or BT group has done that for them) that they are going to be a data connect supplier only - no voice or any other add on service. It you cannot beat the competition then skin them to the bone!!

Sadly the days of Plusnet being a technology rich four-fold-bundled provider (broadband, phone, mobile and TV) along with email and website / domain hosting are very much long gone. One is therefore faced with looking for other providers for these services, either individually or at least broadband and phone conjoined. Only Sky and Virgin appear to still be doing all four services as a bundle.

Re: Switching to EE

sstoddart — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 10:17:59 GMT

Hello Townman,

"Plusnet have made the decision (or BT group has done that for them)" I love it...

I live out in the sticks but in recent years, BT (or should I say Openreach) huffed and puffed their way through backlanes to provide FTTC.. Our connection to the cabinet is via copper - well.. aluminium, to be accurate. Broadband speed/quality is perfectly OK for our needs.

Telly is via FreeView and mobile via 3 (or should I say "Vodaphone") so no issues there.

"Sadly"... yes. PlusNet, like so many others seems to be rolled up all too easily.. A bit like independent retailers in the high street, don't you think? Getting a bit off topic here... appologies.

Cheers

Steve

Re: Switching to EE

Townman — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 09:15:01 GMT

The independent retailer analogy is an interesting one, which has helpful similarities.

With PTSN all of the call management is done by BT Openreach / Network Operations: they count the calls, their duration and type and pass that data to the CP as a wholesale bill. The CP then applies their tariffs to that data and bills individuals.

Switching to VoIP entails the CP building all of that call management capability for themselves as well as the infrastructure to facilitate VoIP. Such makes it easy to understand why PN might not be playing in that space. Within the group, why replicate what BT Retail and EE have already for a diminished market place.

It is similar to expecting a local retailer to attempt to set up an online store and distribution capability to stay competitive when that’s not within their investment capabilities.

Re: Switching to EE

smeech — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:57:58 GMT

Following Plusnet's advice, I switched to EE at the end of my Plusnet contract in order to retain a home phone. All fairly straightforward to set up (and continue use of my mesh WiFi).

However, since the switch I am unable to send my Plusnet emails (although incoming ones arrive OK). The Greenby website is no longer recognising my login, and it's not sending me a password reset code.