Contract question

[#1]

Hi,

I’m currently nearing the end of an 18 month contract, on a copper wire ADSL connection. This is due to be upgraded to fibre at a currently unknown point between now and December 2026. I can’t switch to a different ISP since none are offering an ADSL service to this phone number - I don’t think they’re allowed to at this point. (No complaints right now about PlusNet’s service; I’d just like to know where I stand!)

My question is, since I have no choice right now about my ISP, will the 18 month contract be enforceable when the fibre switchover happens?

[#2]

I can’t switch to a different ISP since none are offering an ADSL service to this phone number - I don’t think they’re allowed to at this point.

Correct, the problem is that Openreach won't allow any migration orders that include a PSTN phone service. So where only ADSL is available the only option is a move to whats called SoADSL ( ADSL broadband without phone ). The problem is that most ISPs arenlt offering that service (I think only BT retail is?).

You can (at the moment) recontract on an existing ADSL service, since it doesnt involve a new order on Openreach, but at some point next year they will switch off the PSTN network.

When fibre becomes available there is no problem upgrading whilst in contract. No Early termination charges would be applicable but it would require a new minimum term contract. Plusnet have also decided not to provide a digital voice service so you would also lose your landline phone service.

[#3]

I'm in a similar situation.

As also is my mother in law in Surrey.

We found that the only way to keep her landline and phone was to renew with Plusnet.  No-one else would entertain a "transfer" of a phone line based service.

Our predicament, at our house, is that I can never see BT upgrading our 2km copper wire to fibre......ain't never going to happen.  They've upgraded the lines at either end of our road to fibre but have absolutely no plans to upgrade our road.

So we are stuck with a slow speed and a very unstable connection.  Line resets once, or twice, every hour.  Speed diminished up to 10pm and then is practically zero around then.  I have to do a HELP and REFRESH every day to get any sort of speed from around 9.30pm.

I guess there is always Starlink.  😞

[#4]

Is there a decent 4g/5g mobile signal ?

[#5]

@tjh 

If you need a landline then you need to start thinking about VOIP now so you're in a position to move when the time comes.

I believe PSTN is due to be withdrawn by 31st December 2025 with only exceptional circumstances being given an exception. You might have qualified for this but with PN withdrawing from phone services who knows. PN support staff certainly won't.

At present your ony real option is probably to commit to a new contract. You may have to move th BT (free of ETC's) to get a SoADSL line and  BT's Digital Voice service. This is their version of VOIP but it is hassel free move (probably!!).

Are you served by an overhead or underground connection? If the former, keep an eye out for boxes being added to the top of the poles. This is for FTTP.

Brian

[#6]

@KenMavor 

When does the OR site say about the address? - www.openreach.co.uk

Have you enquired about the Universal Service Obligation (USO)?

Brian

[#7]

Hiya.

BT Openreach says between now and December 2027...which I think means nae happening mate.  🙂

How do I enquire about USO?  Through BT I presume.

The copper cable is above, and below, ground wrapped in a nice grey tube.

Sheep regularly have a chew of it and two upended trees have pulled the cable out of the ground over the last 12 months or so.

[#8]

We will probably just renew with Plusnet.

Fibre runs at both ends of the road we live along......road is about 2 miles long with 8 houses dotted along it.  They did the fibre at both ends about a year ago but no plans to do it along our road so they told me.

The copper cable is above, and below, ground wrapped in a nice grey tube.

Sheep regularly have a chew of it and two upended trees have pulled the cable out of the ground over the last 12 months or so.

The last time I walked along the road a tractor had had an argument with one of the poles but the farmer had straightened it out.

The copper cable runs about half a mile along a pole, then under ground for about another 3/4 of a mile, then up onto poles and then finally underground to the last house.

[#9]

Tried EE one and the only speed they can guarantee is what we curebtly get .....10 to 15 mbps.

I would really like to try the 4g/5g option in parallel for a month and see if it is any more stable and maybe a wee bit faster.

Two months left on current contract so I need to investigate the options.  We could do without the land line but with no other options available I guess we're stuck with it.

[#10]

I would really like to try the 4g/5g option in parallel for a month and see if it is any more stable and maybe a wee bit faster.

If you've got a 4g/5g capable Smartphone with a decent data package, then try using it as a hotspot and see what sort of performance you get.

[#11]

---

@MisterW wrote:

Correct, the problem is that Openreach won't allow any migration orders that include a PSTN phone service. So where only ADSL is available the only option is a move to whats called SoADSL ( ADSL broadband without phone ). The problem is that most ISPs arenlt offering that service (I think only BT retail is?).

---

AAISP also offer SoADSL, but it costs 35pm.

As far as I know we don't yet know what will happen with Plusnet ADSL lines when PSTN is withdrawn - will they then offer SoADSL, pass customers to BT, or just say bye?

[#12]

@KenMavor 

Did it say 2027 or 2026 - if the former I think that's the first time I've seen it. It could be argued that OR do plan on upgrading as they have stated a "by" date. But who knows?

USO- may not be cheap but worth asking as it costs nowt to do so.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/access-to-decent-broadband/broadband-uso-need-to-know

Brian

[#13]

Fibre runs at both ends of the road we live along......road is about 2 miles long with 8 houses dotted along it.  They did the fibre at both ends about a year ago but no plans to do it along our road so they told me.

@KenMavor if you think you might be eligible fro the USO, then try and get all the 8 houses to apply. Then it MIGHT be possible to get Fibre within the £3400 ECC limit 

[#14]

@MisterW 

OR says it will be upgraded to 'full fibre' (presumably that means FTTP?) by December '26. I think it's actually changed from a couple of weeks ago, when the wording was vaguer, so... promising..

[#15]

@MisterW 

The specific thing I'm not clear about is whether, if the fibre upgrade happens during my contract, I could switch to another ISP without penalty, on the basis that when the contract started I had no choice of ISP.