Concern about Openreach Upgrade sequencing

[#1]

I am currently on Unlimited Fibre Broadband, which I understand is a FTTC product and therefore requires a Landline. I have a Line Rental and Phone service with BT for this and this had been my set-up with Plus.net for over 20 years (originally a dial-up  service then ADSL and now FTTC). 

My understanding is Openreach is in the process of upgrading the network and the copper network service will end "soon". When that happens, I will be forced to choose between either keeping my BT phone service or Plus.net internet (apparently you can't have both anymore?). I have already decided that when that time comes, I'll rather keep my Plus.net service and longstanding email address (which I know is being migrated to another platform).

I believe that Plus.net will have a Internet-only replacement product that, for my postcode, will still be FTTC but it would no longer require a landline. What I don't get is how do I get from my current set-up to it. 

I believe I shouldn't be doing anything with my current BT Line Rental + Phone service, because if I do that then my Plus.net service can no longer work and will get cancelled since it depends on the landline. If that is the case then how do I switch to a landline only service? I am guessing that it will become possible once Openreach have done a certain amount of work in my area but have no idea how do I know when this is the case.

Also, would I need to be contacting Plus.net or BT? Or do I need to do both one after the other (Plus.net first to switch then BT to cancel?). 

What I am worried about is doing things in the wrong order, or in the wrong time (or too late) and getting myself accidentally cut off from the Internet. 

Thanks in advance for any advice. 

Simon

[#2 · Accepted solution]

@SimonC1 

I am guessing that it will become possible once Openreach have done a certain amount of work in my area but have no idea how do I know when this is the case.

It doesnt require Openreach to do any work. The physical copper line to the cabinet does not change.

Plusnet already have an internet only product, its confusing called just Fibre! Its really Unlimited Fu=ibre Extra but without a phone service. Technically this broadband only is SoGEA(Singel order generic ethernet access) as opposed to FTTC which is the broadband & phone service.

 I believe I shouldn't be doing anything with my current BT Line Rental + Phone service, because if I do that then my Plus.net service can no longer work and will get cancelled since it depends on the landline. If that is the case then how do I switch to a landline only service?

Correct. You contact Plusnet and request to be changed to Fibre. This will automatically cancel your phone service with BT ( check that you arent still in a minimum term contract) and you will be left with a broadband only service from Plusnet.

You need no physical changes to your installation. The same router still plugs in to the same master socket. Any changes are done remotely.

Shout up if you have any further questions

[#3]

If you are still in contract with Plusnet then you don't need to do anything yet.

At some stage you may or may not be given a notice (by BT) that the landline service is ending.

If you are happy to give up the landline, Plusnet will usually allow you to recontract early (it will start a new contract period) and that will all be done.

If you wait until Plusnet migrates your email to the new provider you will be able to change provider (should you wish) to a service that provides a "landline" (but via their router) without loss of the email service.

[#4]

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@MisterW wrote:

@SimonC1 

 I believe I shouldn't be doing anything with my current BT Line Rental + Phone service, because if I do that then my Plus.net service can no longer work and will get cancelled since it depends on the landline. If that is the case then how do I switch to a landline only service?

Correct. You contact Plusnet and request to be changed to Fibre. This will automatically cancel your phone service with BT ( check that you arent still in a minimum term contract) and you will be left with a broadband only service from Plusnet.

Careful! If you "request to be changed to Fibre." these days it might be interpreted as a request for a change to the Full Fibre product. Nothing wrong with that, if that is what you want. Else you need the SOGEA product - landline fibre (FTTC) without a landline telephone service (which is on the chopping block one way or another). In my experience PN COTS can be a bit reluctant to offer SOGEA to existing customers, they want you to change to Full Fibre (FTTP).

[#5]

@SimonC1 

Contact the PlusNet Customer Options Team on 0800 013 2632 to discuss what options are available to you. Make it clear you want to stay with PN.

If Full Fibre isn't available to you then you would get moved onto a "Fibre" product which is basically FTTC without the phone element. It's called SOGEA. Fibre is used to the FTTC cabinet and then the existing copper copper wire to your house.

The key at the moment is how long does your BT contract have to run? You'd probably be charged Early Termination Charges if you leave early.

When the time comes you speak to PN only - do not speak to BT. When PN change you to a SOGEA product this automatically cancels your BT landline.

You can port your number to a VOIP service if you'd like to keep it - but only after you move to SOGEA (you have 30 days).

With email, once you've been ported to Greenby then you are no longer tied to PN as your ISP.

Brian

[#6]

Thank you everyone who have replied over the day. 

So to sum it all up:

• Since I am not in contract with either PN or BT, I shouldn't need to worry about early termination charges. 
• Full Fibre FTTP is not available to me, so my only switch option will be Fibre (part-fibre technology, aka SOGEA). This is basically the only choice I can see if I log-in to my account and look in the "offers and upgrade" section. It is practically the same as the Unlimited Fibre Broadband that I am using now - same equipment. The difference is I will no longer require a landline subscription (with BT). 
• Since I can see this option, I can presumably order it now if I want to, either via my account, or a phone call to PN. If I do so then PN will cancel my existing landline and home phone with BT. I don't need to contact BT myself. I will lose my existing landline number unless I act promptly with 30 days to port it to some VOIP service. 

Have I got the above right? What will happen to the line-rental? It seems a bit "too good to be true" for it to just go away entirely. 

If I got the above right then I will continue to hold-and-wait for now. That way I will have some more options if my plus.net email gets migrated before I am forced to switch. But if BT tells me that time-is-up then I will contact PN to change my service to SOGEA as above (I really want to keep my email address). 

Is there any danger that SOGEA / FTTC will become redundant in the near future and I will be forced to change to 'Full Fibre' FTTP? I expect Full Fibre FTTP will finally be available eventually (it's been 'available soon' for over a decade now) but it is nice to have the option to upgrade rather than being forced into it. 

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I know I am not the first person to be asking this topic, but the lack of clear official guidance and everyone else's circumstances seemingly being different to mine just makes me uncertain if I understand it. I am hoping by taking my time to write longer replies, it will be helpful to the next person in similar situation to me. 

Regards,

Simon

[#7]

@SimonC1 

You appear to have got things sussed.

While you need do nothing now you will be paying out of contract prices which tend not to be cheap.

Line rental as such is included in the overall price with SOGEA.

SOGEA will be available for a good while yet - it will be years before Full Fibre is available to every property.

Out of interest what does OR say if you put your post code in the OR website - www.openreach.co.uk

Brian

[#8]

Yes, I know I am paying more for being out-of-contract. I am always wary of being tied down, so foolish as it may be I rather pay a bit more and have room to chance. It's a bit ironic since I rarely change things once it's set up since I seem to be in perpetual fear of breaking something. I expect when I switch, I will actually be paying less than I do now, on top of not having the BT landline since you have to pick between a 12 month / 24 month / 36 month contract. 

I have checked the OpenReach site before and checking again now it says: 

• Full Fibre Broadband (this is a full fibre connection) = Available to order soon
• Fibre to the Cabinet Broadband (this is a part fibre connection) = Available to order now

FTTC is what I am using right now. I find it interesting it doesn't recognise it as being 'in use' and just says it's available. 

I swear the Full Fibre had been "available to order soon" since 2019, which was when FTTC became available to me and I upgraded to it. 

Regards,

Simon