This topic

How to move provider

Weareacc — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 21:22:30 GMT

Hi, apologies if this is a common question - if I want to change provider but want to use a separate VOIP service, how do I do that?

ie as BT don't provide full-fibre in my (rural) area, I want to cancel BT, plus start a contract with 1) the only full-fibre provider in my area and also 2) a separate VOIP provider.

EDIT: I meant to add that I need to keep my existing phone number!

thanks for any help

Re: How to move provider

Keith_Beddoe — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 21:11:45 GMT

@Weareacc

Welcome to this user forum for BT Retail phone and broadband customers.

You place a broadband only order with your new provider. Once that is working, then you then have to find a suitable VOIP provider.

As your new provider will not be using the Openreach network, you will have to let BT know you want to cease your service.

Re: How to move provider

Weareacc — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 21:16:06 GMT

Thanks, the ony part i'm concerned about is keeping my existing phone number.

Re: How to move provider

licquorice — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 06:59:41 GMT

That will be extremely unlikely if moving to a third party VoIP provider. You need to talk to a provider to find out if it is possible.

Re: How to move provider

iniltous — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 14:27:26 GMT

This is a question for the gaining provider not the losing provider, basically it’s upto whoever you decide to use to arrange what you want , if they do that correctly then your phone number will be ported , if they do it incorrectly it won’t be.

If you take FTTP from an Alt Net and they don’t supply any telephony with it ,then your Openreach service should not change , if you sign up with a VoIP provider and they arrange the port of your phone number from BT to themselves, and do this correctly, then your BT service with be ceased as a consequence of the number moving to the VoIP provider,

BT in this situation are reactive to the actions of others , not proactive.

Re: How to move provider

Weareacc — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 15:16:28 GMT

Thank you, much appreciated - due to the unknown quantity of the new provider I will simplify the process by taking the VOIP that they bundle. I daren't take the risk of losing my (business) number.

Re: How to move provider

licquorice — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 15:21:17 GMT

Not sure how that will help, it will still be a number port to a different provider. Whether your new broadband supplier or third party VoIP provider, the risk will still be the same.

Re: How to move provider

Keith_Beddoe — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 16:52:44 GMT

I daren't take the risk of losing my (business) number.

I assume you must be a BT Business user? This is the residential customer forum.

The chance of retaining your number when you move to another provider is very low as @licquorice has pointed out.

Re: How to move provider

Weareacc — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:17:30 GMT

Nope, residential. Number porting is a tickable option with the FTTP provider when choosing VOIP, which definitely simplifies things.

Re: How to move provider

Weareacc — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:20:29 GMT

Number porting is a tickable option when including the VOIP package with FTTP - a one-step process is certainly simpler than the two-step alternative.