Fibre cable connection

[Geoff2026]

Hello.

I hope you could clarify a couple of points in relation to our BT-Broadband account we have had for many years.

We have been advised that the role of copper wire connections will be replaced by glass fibre wire.

In our case we are interested in this but have two areas of concern which I wonder if you could help with.

i.e.

Since 2012 we have used a BT4600 telephone and answering machine and we have been very pleased with it. If we went to glass fibre connection, we would want to keep this machine and, importantly, the same telephone number. Would this be possible?

With respect to our mobile phones which again we have had for some time. Both of our phones are “Pay-as-you-Go” types and are only used for emergencies etc. and cost us less than £10/year to top up. We do not disclose the numbers to any individual or organisation. The only exception is that BT is aware as we have had voice calls and texts. Under no circumstances do we want our mobiles to be part of any glass fibre system. Is this possible?

In conclusion, we are prepared to go down the glass fibre system because we are told that copper is on its way out. We do not need this system as I am perfectly happy with speeds etc. of our current computer connections. I would be grateful for your thoughts and guidance here.

Please respond via this email address only and not by phone.

Best Regards

Geoff

[Kimberlin]

@Geoff2026  Rather than a long winded paragraph, it might help if you take the time to read through these links first:

https://www.openreach.com/news-and-opinion/2023/openreach-change-telephone-network

https://www.bt.com/help/broadband/your-switch-over-day--everything-you-need-to-know-about-your-mov

[iniltous]

Yes your phone will work with FTTP , if it’s not already connected to your broadband router it will need to be , so that may require some thought about power requirements, as FTTP has a mains powered ‘box’ , so if you require the ONT , (the mains powered box ) the broadband router and your phone/answer machine near each other you may need 3 power outlets (or an extension cable)
Moving to FTTP has no impact at all on your mobiles .
Watch this for an idea what’s done on an installation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XDl0-KkPy8

[WSH]

As has been said, the mobiles are completely separate, with no relationship between the two, so the move will have no effect on the mobiles.

Even the old landline phone and going Full Fibre are really separate issues, although they have become linked in so-far-as you are expected to move to Digital Voice (DV) when you move to Full Fibre (FTTP).  (DV will work fine over the old copper, in fact, and does not necessarily need optical fibre).

The differences will be that a new box will be put on the wall for the fibre, called an ONT (or Optical Network Terminal).  This requires plugging in and so needs to be within 1.5m of a power point.  An extension lead will work fine, however.

The box does not necessarily need to be where the old phone socket is.  This can be negotiated with the installer, but it must be practical for the him to do in the time he is allowed and the rules he has to follow.

The Home Hub then plugs into the ONT via cat 5e or cat 6 cable.  The cable supplied by BT is about 2m, but it can be up to 100m long and so the hub does not necessarily need to be next to the ONT.  (But most people find this the most convenient position anyway).

The phone now plugs into the back of the hub.  Again, you can use an extension lead (and any existing extensions will work but will need reconfiguring to connect to the hub instead of the old master phone socket.  That’s not something the installer will do, as internal extensions are your responsibility).

In practical terms, the phone works exactly the same way as before with the exception that, as the ONT and hub need power, the phone no longer works in a power cut.  It is possible to get battery backup units for these.

I think that covers the main points in a nutshell.  Hope that helps.

[Geoff2026]

Hello WSH.

Firstly an apology for not coming back earlier to thank you for the response below which I found most informative for the future.

I would like to ask a small last question.

When I have contacted the commercial side of BT with respect as to whether i should or should not have a fibre cable right to my house they have stated, in effect, that I have no choice because by 2027 everybody has to be on the FTTP system. You have stated that because of the low level way i use my computer (no significant downloads) that I do not need FTTP and the current copper wire will suffice. Therefore, is it correct that eventually I will have no choice?

Once again, thanks for your help.

Best Regards

Geoff

[WSH]

Essentially, it is just the old copper-based PTSN phone system that will shut down in January 2027.

At the moment, although they share the same wire, broadband and phone are separate systems.  After January 2027, the phone service will be part of the broadband signal. 

Copper-based broadband will continue long after 2027, it’s just that the phone system will only be delivered via a broadband connection from that date, albeit copper-based broadband or fibre based.

The only real change you will see is that the phone plugs into the back of the router rather than the traditional socket on the wall. 

However, a lot depends on what is going on in your own area.  For example, some exchanges have already stopped installing new copper-based products, although any existing copper-based broadband connections will continue, (probably for many years).

Have a look on here.  If it says 'Fibre priority exchange Y' at the bottom, then your exchange is one of these that has stopped installing new copper-based connections, but as I said, this does not usually affect existing copper-based services.

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

If you give me the exchange name, I may be able to look up a bit more detail for you.  (DO NOT post any user identifiable information like address or phone number).

[Jane2018]

I believe the goal is to move everyone (but in my area BT does not offer it (outer London) so  I have moved to Community Fibre which do having waited and waited for BT. What I did as I was similarly very worried about losing my 30 year + landline number was I got the alternative company to install this very fast broadband - fibre to the premises. Had BT and Community Fibre both running fine with my telephone still on the BT account. Then I moved the telephone number to Voipfone (which costs £6 a month) plugged into the new Community Fibre internet. The transfer of the landline went fine and then on the same day BT also terminated the broadband which was fine as we had had Community Fibre running for a few months anyway.

In your case you are lucky BT is offering the fibre to the premises. It sounds like you do not currently really need it and I wasn't sure either but I thought I might as well move to the faster service. My telephone had already been moved to digital voice by the way earlier last year all with BT.

On the fibre to the premises installation I was very worried about where the cable would be brought into the house as I had to have it into the back into my home office where the BT lines come in and I did not want the new service without that. On the day I had cleared loads of space for the man, we had a nice chat, I regularly checked what he was doing. I explained I wanted him to follow where the existing broadband went in (he was even able to use the existing holes into the garage and round the back BT had already there and then just drilled one hole into the back wall to let in the fibre to the premises cable.. In y case with communityt fibre there is a tiny box on the back wall of my office near my computer and landline and then 2 devices on the desk  - the router things and then one goes straight into my computer. The  completely separate company Voipfone sold me a device that plugs into my hub, plugs into an electric socket and plugs into my 1990s landline and it has worked very well. I could have tried to move the number to Community Fibre but decided now was the time to separate telephone call provision from broadband as previously I had felt a bit tied to BT as landline number provider and broadband.

If you say no to fibre to the premises it is possible it might be rationed and you might not be able to get it later. That is one reason when our group of residents paid Community fibre about £40k to do an installation up here that I rushed to sign up immediately. Also sometimes you get some roads where only half the houses are technically able to get fibre to the premises. I would probably get it if I were you whilst you have the chance. I joked to my sons as I get up to 5GB   (it is 4.1GB this morning - I just checked) ((extremely fast) that it is a pity I am not a computer gamer. I also upgraded the network card in my new computer myself so as to get faster speeds than 1GB.