Changing from broadband to fibre.

[#1]

Please could someone explain what will happen to the existing phone line/wiring if I was to upgrade to fibre. I understand the old phone lines are due to be turned off anytime soon so will I have to have fibre in order to get an internet /landline service?

Thank you.

[#2]

What do you actually mean -  change from ADSL to FTTC, or FTTC to Full Fibre (FTTP)?

[#3]

@jab1  is that relevant ?

ANY change of product will result in @carolynbell1 's phone being disconnected, as ADSL and FTTC can no longer be ordered !

[#4]

@Anonymous It is relevant if she is changing from ADSL/FTTC to FTTP - as  that will require the installation of an ONT.

Sorry I forgot to mention the loss of the landline - that would have been in my next reply.

[#5]

I’m not familiar with all the abbreviations you mention but basically I want to know what will happen to the old BT phone line which comes from the telegraph pole into my house. If I change to fibre will the old phone line back to the telegraph pole be removed?

[#6]

@carolynbell1 If you change to Full Fibre (if it is available to you), the chances are the phoneline itself will probably be left in place, but as mentioned above, you will not have a land-line service for your phone.

Can you post a screenshot of the result from this site (obscuring your phone number) https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL and then we can advise further?

[#7]

[#8]

Ideally I would just be upgrading to the basic fibre package. Does this make a difference to the installation?

[#9]

@carolynbell1 the good news is that Full Fibre ( shown as WBC FTTP ) is available to you.

Your exchange is showing as 'Fibre priority' which means that if you either upgrade (with your existing ISP)  or change ISP then you can ONLY change to a Full fibre product.

A Full fibre installation will run a new cable from the pole to your premises ( and may remove the existing cable ) and a new box , called an ONT (Optical newtowrk termination) will be installed inside. There's a good guide here https://www.openreach.com/help-and-support/full-fibre-broadband-installation-checklist. The ONT will need to be within 1m of a mains socket and is connected to your router with an ethernet cable

[#10]

@carolynbell1 

There is a great deal of confusion concerning the installation of fibre to the home and the switch off of the existing landline phone service. 
There is no direct connection between the two processes.

1. The landline phone service is being discontinued and will be totally closed by the end of 2025. Those who still want to keep their current landline number will need to transfer this to a digital service, with the phone calls being transmitted over the Internet.. This Internet connection can still be your existing copper cabled service or a new full fibre to your home line.

This is not a problem with most Internet Service Providers but a corporate decision has dictated that Plusnet will not currently offer a ‘Digital Phone’ in BT parlance, service. Therefore if you want to change to a different broadband product and keep your landline phone number then you need to change to a different ISP who offer both digital phone (also called VoIP) and internet, or set up a third party phone service, this is not trivial if you are not techie. If you are in contract then ring the Customer Options Team on 0800 013 2632 and they can probably move you to BT without triggering cancellation charges.

2. This is totally separate from the other ongoing activity of BT slowly replacing the existing copper cabling with fibre.

[#11]

@MisterW  thank you for your help. My main concern is that we are due to have a new front door installed in the new year and the old phone line was drilled through the old side panel which will have to come out. We don’t want to have the new door fitted to incorporate the old wire and then have someone come along and re-drill through the new door side panel. I hope this makes sense!

[#12]

@Baldrick1  Thank you for your explanation. I find the whole thing very confusing! So, if I wanted to keep my old broadband package with Plusnet and still use my landline phone in the future, you are saying I would have to change my provider to another company?

[#13]

I hope this makes sense!

@carolynbell1 it makes prefect sense. There is some leeway (within reason) as to where the new Fibre would enter your house as it doesnt have to follow the existing telephone cable exactly. I'm not sure they (Openreach) would install Fibre where it was necessary to go through a door surround anyway! . They need to install the CSP (external grey box in the video) on the outside, usually opposite the ONT on the inside and that doesnt seem practical with a door surround. Don't quote me, but with an overhead install, the CSP and ONT could probably be installed anywhere on the house wall facing the pole subject to discussion with the installation engineer.

So, if I wanted to keep my old broadband package with Plusnet and still use my landline phone in the future, you are saying I would have to change my provider to another company?

You will not be able to retain a phone service using the existing copper line irrespective of which supplier you use. With some other suppliers you could have a Digital phone service (with your existing landline number) which would use your Fibre broadband to provide the phone service. Plusnet have decided not to offer such a service as they believe that many people no longer use a landline and to provide such a service is not economical.

edit: as @Baldrick1 says , you can continue with your existing package until sometime in 2025

[#14]

@carolynbell1 

As long as you don’t change your current package then it will continue for now. However assuming that Plusnet policy is unchanged then yes, you will need to either set up a new service by the end of 2025 or set up the transfer of your phone to a third party provider.

However if you change your current Plusnet package you will immediately lose your landline phone unless you set up an alternative landline service.

[#15]

@carolynbell1 

When the fibre gets installed a CSP (Consumer Splice Point) is installed on an external wall. While they'll use the incoming copper access if possible they'll drill a new hole if required. As such, you have a bit of leeway as to where the ONT goes. Any desired location can only be confirmed on the day of install.

The router connects to the ONT with an ethernet cable so can go anywhere you're happy to run ethernet cable.

As to your phone service you have three choices.

Lose your landline and phone number - you've already stated this is not an option.

Move to an ISP that offers both phone and internet. You can move to BT free of any early termination charges if done through PN.

Transfer (port) your number to an independant VOIP provider. This can only be done after FTTP is installed and working and will result in a few days down time.

There are many VOIP providers out there - A&A is one who appears to offer good deals and has good FAQ pages.

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

https://support.aa.net.uk/Openreach_FTTP_ONT

Hope this helps

Brian