This topic

FTTP with no copper lines - switching options?

eggstraspeshal — Sat, 28 May 2022 19:30:27 GMT

Hello, my mum bought a new build apartment about a year and half ago. The apartment is wired for FTTP but (as far as we understand it) no old style copper landline wire.

When she moved in her previous supplier Plusnet said they weren't able to provide a service so she took the easy route and went for the BT full fibre option with digital voice phone, which meant a new phone number.

She really doesn't need the speeds of fibre and is a bit annoyed at having to pay so much more than she used to for internet. I've gone to the sites of the FTTP providers like Sky and looked at their explicit FTTP deals and BT is still the cheapest.

But what I find confusing is what happens when I go to a site like uswitch and put in her postcode and select her address, I see lots of deals like the ones I see with my old fashioned 1970s flat, some of which include landline.

Is that because those comparison sites are just too unsophisticated to know that the property is FTTP and they're not really available, or can providers now offer slower packages plus landline over FTTP only connections? For example uswitch offers Plusnet packages, yet if I go direct to Plusnet's site and put in her postcode, select her address, and enter her DV phone number, their broadband checker throws up error messages.

It's pretty confusing trying to figure out what her options are.

Is there a simple way to find out?

If it makes a difference, the phone is very important to her so if she can change providers she needs to keep her DV number.

Thank you!

Re: FTTP with no copper lines - switching options?

jac_95 — Sat, 28 May 2022 19:39:24 GMT

What package have they got at the moment?

Even with FTTP you don't have to go for top speeds you can still go for the slower speeds such as the 36meg or 50 meg one

Re: FTTP with no copper lines - switching options?

eggstraspeshal — Sat, 28 May 2022 19:45:56 GMT

Thank you @jac_95 so does that mean that even minor providers like Shell Energy (which comes up in the uswitch results) can offer slow broadband and landline through an FTTP connection, and she can keep her number?

Re: FTTP with no copper lines - switching options?

licquorice — Sat, 28 May 2022 19:49:41 GMT

This is a BT retail forum, discussing other providers is not allowed. As far as BT is concerned, delivery medium is irrelevant, the price for a given package us the same regardless of whether it is delivered by copper or fibre.

Re: FTTP with no copper lines - switching options?

jac_95 — Sat, 28 May 2022 19:50:26 GMT

It all depends on how they've marketed their products. For example some only offer data only packages for those on full fibre. This forum can only talk about BT Consumers offerings, however one thing to note that PlusNet (part of BT Group) do now offer Full Fibre but don't have a digital voice offering at present so only do data only packages for those on full fibre.

You can even try calling the options or FTTP team to negotiate a cheaper package

Re: FTTP with no copper lines - switching options?

imjolly — Sat, 28 May 2022 19:52:15 GMT

I think you are confusing landline and line rental. Whether you have FTTP, FTTC OR ADSL you still need to pay line rental which is included in all the packages. You need the line whether fibre or copper to get your broadband. You can however decide whether you want the ability to make/receive landline calls and without ability you may receive a small reduction in cost

Re: FTTP with no copper lines - switching options?

eggstraspeshal — Sat, 28 May 2022 19:52:34 GMT

I'm only using these other providers as examples.

All I'm trying to do is find out what options she has when she has an FTTP connection and nothing else.

Re: FTTP with no copper lines - switching options?

licquorice — Sat, 28 May 2022 19:56:04 GMT

The same as copper, there is no difference.

Re: FTTP with no copper lines - switching options?

eggstraspeshal — Sat, 28 May 2022 19:58:31 GMT

Thank you @licquorice

So does that mean she can port a DV number to another provider offering slower speeds in the same way she could port her old copper based number when she switched ADSL providers in the past?

Re: FTTP with no copper lines - switching options?

jac_95 — Sat, 28 May 2022 20:06:05 GMT

Here's an example of what from the BT Consumer website what they offer to those on FTTP.

You also have social tariffs to at: https://www.bt.com/broadband/home-essentials

Re: FTTP with no copper lines - switching options?

eggstraspeshal — Sat, 28 May 2022 20:02:01 GMT

Now that's small print 🙂

Re: FTTP with no copper lines - switching options?

jac_95 — Sat, 28 May 2022 20:23:25 GMT

hahaha apologies @eggstraspeshal, took the print screen on my phone and had to compress it to upload here. I've redone it, see my previous post.

You can always call up the options team too to discuss the current package and negotiate a more suitable one at a better price.

Also to note the ones you see on comparison websites that are like 10meg or 11meg are for properties on the older ADSL technology and not available for properties with full fibre.

Re: FTTP with no copper lines - switching options?

iniltous — Sun, 29 May 2022 08:58:01 GMT

If the apartment is OR FTTP only ( no copper pair service ) then obviously only Telcos that offer service over that FTTP network will be able to offer any service, those company’s products and prices are not discussed on this BT Consumer forum so you would have to do your own research ( for example, some company’s only offer broadband , with no telephony , some don’t offer FTTP products at all, and only copper pair based products )

As already stated , slower speed profiles are available on BT FTTP , at the same price as those on copper pair delivery , so 40,55,80Mb are available on FTTP , you don’t have to take hyper fast speeds if you are on FTTP .

Comparsion / switching sites have generally ( in the T&C’s ) things along the lines of ‘ not all products are available in all locations’ , so how accurate they are , is nothing really to do with BT .

If you , or your mother are considering switching provider , and want to move the BT DV telephony number to another provider , there is no BT imposed barrier to why a new provider couldn’t import that number , number portability is a requirement the regulator insists on , but confirmation that it can be provided, is a question for the new provider , and should the outcome be problematic ( in other words the number is lost ) that would be something for the new company to resolve, and how successful they will be is again not really a question for BT.

Some people port phone numbers to VoIP providers , that way the number is separate from any broadband provider , but obviously a broadband connection is needed to access it , should that be considered, porting the number to VoIP will cease the broadband, obviously a new company could reinstate service with or without a telephony service ( depending on what provider is selected ) but would currently result in a period without broadband service, but obviously there is no reason why switching broadband service provider and porting the phone number cannot be done , but it’s the responsibility of the gaining provider not the losing one , is it a risk worth taking , only you and your mum can answer that.

Re: FTTP with no copper lines - switching options?

eggstraspeshal — Sun, 29 May 2022 11:45:21 GMT

Thank you @iniltous I think that answers the question.