Posted By: WillInAberdeenhttps://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/landline-phones/future-of-landline-calls

Seems to depend on how your present ISP sees their future business shaping up.

Thanks for the link but that seems to be talking just about the move to VOIP instead of PSTN. It doesn't seem to address whether FTTP is compulsory or not at all?

Posted By: WillInAberdeenFTTP is a completely separate (hardware) change from VoIP (software). VOIP is happening this year, but probably going to be another ten years before UK is ready to turn off FTTC.

Thanks, yes, I do know that. Do you have a link that explains what is happening with the hardware change and what my options are? Specific rather than general waffle.

Posted By: borpin

Posted By: djhSpecific rather than general waffle.

What specifically do you need?

I need a link to an authoritative statement that says they can use my existing duct, so I have grounds to object to a suggestion by the engineer that they can't use it. And I need a link to an authoritative statement that says I can continue to use my existing FTTC connection next year. Pretty please.

Has anyone seen an authoritative statement that they can't just keep using FTTC next year? Specific rather than general waffle?


Actually would have to be very specific, to their address, as no way any company could make that happen for large numbers of subscribers.

What makes me think FTTC has a use-by date is a letter I received from my ISP - Zen. But on looking at it again I think it may be ambiguously worded. It says "... copper ... broadband ... stop working" but they may be stretching the truth a lot. I'll ask them a direct question, since they are still selling SOGEA circuits. It could be they're trying to screw me for more money.

Some ISPs are interested in upgrading their customer base from FTTC to full fibre and apparently are using the VoIP switchover as leverage to persuade them to switch - "we will only support phone calls if you go to full fibre" - seems to be Rex's situation.

Nice to see that I am not the only one confused!!!

My ISP, PlusNet will discontinue the phone line, which is only copper from my house to the pole. However, EE will install fibre to the house [lus a VoIP converter for my existing phone so I can still use the copper within the house. What is the difference between a VoIP signal using copper within the house before plugging into the ONT or the same VoIP signal traveling via copper to the pole.

To add to my confusion, both PlusNet and EE are under BT ownership. Go figure?

Still have not been able to find the end of my fish wire. Now thinking of removing a section of plasterboard in the cupboard, hoping to get my arm inside and find the end (if that is where it is?) Downside is that cutting through the scrim will release a mini avalanche of Warmcel.

The main reason for my persistence is that the end of the fish rod can only be a few cms from where I want it; I just don't know here that few cms actually is.

Posted By: RexWhat is the difference between a VoIP signal using copper within the house before plugging into the ONT or the same VoIP signal traveling via copper to the pole.

VOIP is a communications protocol. It doesn't care what physical medium it is transmitted over. And a cable carrying a VOIP signal normally plugs into your router, which then connects to the ONT (or to the socket at the end of the copper from the pole).

Went mobile (EE) only here in about 2015 due to rubbish broadband over the poles (200KB yes you read that right) and no sign of Fibre anywhere nearby in the near future. We also have a Huawei WiFi router for laptops to connect to but that has a mobile Sim in it also (on 3).
Don't miss the landline one bit.

"We like the landline because we have several handsets around the house that all ring and can be answered by whoever is available. Our mobiles sit in the dining room most of the time and are of course personal. "

We feel the same way. But on a different note, at the end of last year, I had a NZ bank a/c hacked; lost quite a few K's but it has been reimbursed. The bank will not tell me anything but my feeling is it was an inside job. However, to allow me access to my a/c, I had a long phone conversation to reset all the security details and the bank would only do it over a landline as they maintain that security set-up over a mobile is not necessarily secure. Of course, I hope a similar situation will not occur again, but who knows?

This thread is certainly becoming longer than I had thought it would. Have not yet given up on getting a CAT6 cable to where I want it. In fact, I know I am about 19cms from where I can get hold of the end. If I am successful, the rest of the route will be easy peasy.

On a different note, called EE today, not having heard anything for around ten days. Apparently, OpenReach have found an issue and cancelled the order a second time without actually informing anyone. So now I am on the third order; guess that means EE will send me a third router and phone adapter. Of course, EE do not know what the OR issue is, only that there is a technical issue that needs to be looked into. Can't imagine what it is since I keep pointing out, and they tell me they can also see it in the road notes, that fibre is already to the pole, at least 30m from the house. Also, most of the other five houses on the same pole have fibre to the house.

What a racket!!!

I subscribe to the web site / forum, Nextdoor. While most of the threads hardly relate to anything 'Nextdoor' there is one guy calling himself WiFi Geek and has been posting some interesting stuff. He is obviously a pro and appears to know what he is saying. I am posting a recent complete thread that seems to exactly explain my Openreach / FFTH / VoIP situation. Perhaps it will be useful for others.

Seems that fibre to the house and a VoIP package is challenging so do them one at a time. Don't know yet as if I take that route, I can see that there is a chance to loose my existing number.