This topic

Digital Voice Switchover

Bren146 — Wed, 22 May 2024 14:18:49 GMT

I have BT Fibre 1 with Halo 1: Broadband and Calls
I also have a Smart Hub 2

Can anyone explain this paragraph in a letter I have received from BT about switching to ‘your new home phone service’

“We’ll be in touch to arrange for an engineer to install Full Fibre at your property. By booking the appointment, you’ll be providing consent to proceed with the switch over to Digital Voice.”

Why would I need an engineer to visit me to switch to Digital Voice, when I have Fibre and when my Smart Hub 2 has a socket on the back for Digital Voice.

I don’t want Full Fibre, but I do want the Digital Voice option.

Shouldn’t the letter have read: By booking the appointment, you’ll be providing consent to proceed with the switch over to Full Fibre.”

Then as a throwaway line the letter says: “If you rarely use your home phone, you could switch to a Broadband Only plan.”

However, it fails to say what type of broadband that would be. Would it still be the Fibre 1 with Halo 1: Broadband WITHOUT CALLS

If it means that I have to have Full Fibre to get Digital Voice then I am prepared to just take a Broadband Only Plan. I only want to switch to Full Fibre when it is absolutely necessary and I understand that there is still time before that happens.

My connection comes via Cabinet 1 in Prestatyn and whilst I understand that no more copper products can be sold, I am given to believe that if you currently have a copper product or package, you won’t be forced into Full Fibre until absolutely necessary.

Re: Digital Voice Switchover

jac_95 — Wed, 22 May 2024 14:22:39 GMT

Hi Bren146,

Thanks for the post and welcome to the Community.

This is an automated response as I can see you have a question about BT’s Digital Voice service. Rather than waiting for a response from the Community, you may find an answer to your question by using the search bar on the Community homepage. We also have a thread that contains a wealth of info related to BT’s Digital Voice, click this link to take a look, Digital Voice FAQs.

Got some questions or want to learn more about BT’s Digital Voice rollout? BT are running localised events as part of the regional rollout of Digital Voice - Click here to view the Digital Voice events

To learn more about the nationwide change to this Internet based voice service visit landlinesgo.digital

If you have already looked for the answer to your question and have not found anything that can help, then please ignore this message. One of our Community members will be along shortly to help you further.

Re: Digital Voice Switchover

iniltous — Wed, 22 May 2024 14:48:03 GMT

You could have added this query to your existing post ,as that’s essentially the same subject.

Has this communication from BT with the paragraph in question arrived out if the blue without you making any contact to BT first ? Or have you instigated this dialogue by getting in touch with BT ?

Unless things have changed , being migrated to Digital Voice , when instigated by BT , as it suits their plans , does not extend your minimum term and doesn’t need FTTP to be installed as a consequence of getting DV , if you instigated the change by asking BT to move you to Digital Voice at your request , rather than waiting to be advised of the change at a time of BT’s choosing , then that may require you to accept FTTP , being told you are getting DV by BT and requesting BT to move you to DV are not the same thing .

Re: Digital Voice Switchover

Bren146 — Wed, 22 May 2024 14:56:44 GMT

Thanks for replying. Not very familiar with forums and community, but got desperate.

No I did not contact BT about anything.

Re: Digital Voice Switchover

iniltous — Wed, 22 May 2024 15:07:51 GMT

Perhaps you can post the entire letter , removing any personal information like name , address , phone number etc.
If BT has changed policy and they are now proactively asking or even insisting that customers to take FTTP , once it’s available, rather than simply encouraging FTTP take up at contract renewal or when the customer requests adding or removing products, ( so not instigated by BT ) then it would be interesting to see the exact wording , obviously some may have , what others may see as ‘odd’ reasons for not wanting FTTP if it’s available ( especially as the most common complaint is from those that want FTTP but are not in an area where it’s available) but some could have ‘genuine’ reasons for avoiding an FTTP installation ( for example ) they could be tenants and to change to FTTP ( with the tiny amount of new equipment required) without the landlords agreement may breach the tenancy agreement.

Re: Digital Voice Switchover

Bren146 — Wed, 22 May 2024 15:14:11 GMT

Yes, I am a tenant myself but that is not my main concern. I am sure the landlord wont mind as he does not care about anything in the house at the best of times. Others may not be able to get permission I know. My main concern is, I am not ready. We have multiple pc's, printers, gadgets etc. as we have a small sole trader home business. We would not have enough electrical sockets etc for the full fibre set up and still be able to plug everything else in and a lot of the stuff is not wireless. It is worrying to me that forcing it on me will render a lot of the stuff unusable or we would have for fork out for extra wall sockets. I will scan the letter in and post as soon as I can. Got a visitor now, but will definitely do it. Many thanks for helping.

Re: Digital Voice Switchover

Bren146 — Wed, 22 May 2024 16:07:54 GMT

Hi,

Here is the letter.

Like I said, I can switch to Digital Voice myself with no problem via the Hub. It has socket at the back for this purpose.
The most important part is under the heading 'what happens next'

Thanks again

Re: Digital Voice Switchover

derekscarborough — Wed, 22 May 2024 16:23:40 GMT

Just to say that I also received the exact same letter last week. I live in South Wales.

Re: Digital Voice Switchover

iniltous — Wed, 22 May 2024 17:56:28 GMT

Presumably if you never book an appointment then FTTP cannot be fitted , that may delay the switch to DV , or they may still switch you to DV but over your current FTTC , that part is unclear .

You could always call the number on the leaflet , presumably that will delay the migration to DV as well as suspending any change to FTTPas they will assume it’s DV is the issue rather than FTTP.

FWIW , I suspect this leaflet is crafted to suggest that moving to FTTP is non negotiable so you may as well get it out of the way ASAP .

As far as the OP , there is probably no reason why the FTTP ONT cannot be sited close to where the router currently is , or an Ethernet cable ran from the ONT position to the current router position, and as far as power sockets , extension leads or socket doublers are acceptable to provide power to the ONT .

Re: Digital Voice Switchover

Bren146 — Wed, 22 May 2024 18:03:24 GMT

A bit disappointed with your reply.
I understand that Digital Voice can be delivered over any broadband connection.
I feel that I am being forced into Full Fibre when it is not necessary in order to receive Digital Voice - that is all I am saying.

Re: Digital Voice Switchover

jac_95 — Wed, 22 May 2024 18:13:24 GMT

@Bren146

Your exchange Prestatyn is a FTTP priority exchange where a copper product stop sell applies

Therefore you need to move to FTTP as that's now the only product providers can offer in your area

https://www.openreach.com/fibre-broadband/retiring-the-copper-network

So when you move to Digital Voice as you are in a FTTP priority area meaning only FTTP services are available (where also available at property level)

Re: Digital Voice Switchover

Bren146 — Wed, 22 May 2024 18:17:36 GMT

So, if I dispense with the landline and move to broadband only plan, can I delay the move to full fibre/

Re: Digital Voice Switchover

jac_95 — Wed, 22 May 2024 18:23:56 GMT

@Bren146

Afraid not, stop sell rules will apply for any changes such as upgrading to a different service or regrading as well as changing providers.

Meaning of you were to change to broadband only product or change from fibre 1 to fibre 2 as an example then you would need to move to FTTP

Re: Digital Voice Switchover

iniltous — Wed, 22 May 2024 19:34:12 GMT

As already stated , if you don’t contact BT to arrange an appointment then you cannot be changed to FTTP , Openreach are not going to speculatively turn up unannounced and force you onto FTTP , so just don’t respond to the leaflet and any subsequent leaflets

Its possible at some point ( probably years away ) the refuseniks will be given an ultimatum to have FTTP or be disconnected ( and if that has already happened somewhere, I’m sure it would have been in all over the ‘news’ ) so just ignore the leaflet .

As you appear to want DV , and the PSTN switch off is no later than Jan 2027 presumably you will be migrated to DV at a date of BT chosing, if you still are on FTTC when that date arrives you will receive DV via FTTC , by not responding to the FTTP installation invitation it may or may not change the date BT will offer , obviously if BT have plans for your particular local exchange to be switched off before Jan2027 , then the ultimatum may be before Jan 2027