Analogue Landline drop dead date

[#1]

Hi

I have been looking at the options for keeping a landline with the impending analogue cut-off.

As my contract ends pretty soon I had pretty much decided to move away from plusnet to a provider that does digital voice.

Anyway, I have just been offered a 18 month contract on analogue by plusnet - with the sales person appearing confident that it can run fine until it's end.

Now I am mightily confused as I had read that the the absolute drop dead date was Jan 2027 and everyone had to be off by then. I am assuming that Openreach will want to phase this (not switch everyone off on 31 Jan 2027)  so am wondering whether if I take the contract today then in e.g. 3 or 6 months time I will hit the switch off? And at that point have to pay a termination fee to switch etc?

Thoughts appreciated

[#2]

@hairyfrog The current date for the PSTN closure is still January 2027, and personally, I can't see it being extended again, but you never know...

However, it will happen, and to be honest, I would start planning for it now, rather than waiting until it suddenly goes.

You could always do what many have done and get PN to switch you to a SOGEA (broadband only) connection and arrange a separate VOIP phone contract with one of the number of company's  who offer such a facility - that way the January '27 issue will not affect you.

[#3]

so am wondering whether if I take the contract today then in e.g. 3 or 6 months time I will hit the switch off? And at that point have to pay a termination fee to switch etc?

If you take out a new contract and Plusnet arent able to provide the contracted service in the future then they can't apply any termination fees

but as @jab1 says, I'd start planning now...

[#4]

@hairyfrog 

If you leave PN you will lose PN email and any other add ons you may have.

Your choices are move to an ISP who does both (have a look at Zen Internet) or stay with PN and set up a VOIP account with an appropriate supplier.

The other alternative is to accept the renewal of your contract with phone knowing that at some point you'll need to do something about the phone.

Note that PN will happily transfer you to EE for phone and internet FOC but you may not be happy with their service / prices.

Brian

[#5]

@hairyfrog 

An 18 month contract would take you to the end of 2026, so if you want to keep an analogue phone line (for a while) and assuming full fibre (fibre all the way to your home) isn't available currently, personally I would take that offer.

You will have to do something at the end of 2026 to keep the phone line and that might involve a change of ISP but the problem is postponed.    

[#6]

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@hairyfrog wrote:

Hi

I have been looking at the options for keeping a landline with the impending analogue cut-off.

As my contract ends pretty soon I had pretty much decided to move away from plusnet to a provider that does digital voice.

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The writing was on the wall as the end of my contract approached two years ago.
Moved to Zen – no hassle, no regrets.

[#7]

Strange, I phoned yesterday to extend my Broadband and phone line, non fibre as the contract was coming to an end and the same package was available on my renewals page online.  I want to keep my landline.

The advisor on the phone said this won't be available in 2 months and forced me to move over to EE with digital voice.

Was this just a sales tactic or can we see somewhere the end dates for our area.

DJ

[#8]

@DJ1UK 

You do not "have" to move to keep your landline number. As you're near your contract end you could look at other ISP's like Zen Internet.

You could also look at an independant VOIP provider if you want to stay with PN for internet.

You may have been mis-sold the move to EE. It does not appear all the choices were explained to you.

Brian

[#9]

Thanks for the response, I was happy to keep my current package but told my area would be "digital only" in the next 3 months.

I was planning to move to EE or BT, but not until it was actually needed.

Hmm.. never-mind.  Double speed for just under the existing cost.

DJ

[#10]

@DJ1UK 

If you were planning to move to EE anyway then no harm done.

Brian