BT Digital Voice Options...

[ChristopherPovey]

We have BT Infinity broadband via FTTC (phone line).

On Monday we are being switched to BT Digital Voice. BT have sent me a new Smart Hub 2. We have also received an extender (as the router is upstairs. The phone is downstairs).

Now I don't use the existing BT hardware. I am using a Draytek Vigor 2766ac.

Thing is I don't want to plug the Smart Hub 2 in at all if I can help it. But I understand it has to be connected to the phone line socket for Digital Voice to work. Mainly because the SH2 does not allow WiFi band width splitting (using the BT SH2 on its own). I would like to avoid a double NAT issue (phone socket --> SH2 --> Draytek).

There is an option that I continue to use my Draytek Vigor and port my number to a different VoIP provider that uses generic hardware rather than BT propriety hardware.

However, I have done some researched and there are worrying reports that if I port my existing number to another provider. BT see this as a contract termination and will turn off my landline. Hence my Internet connection will also terminate. Obviously I don't want this!!!

Questions:

1. If I wait until after Monday when my home phone number becomes a BT Digital Voice number. Does it get decoupled from my landline? So if I port the VoIP number to another provider, will I not lose my Internet connection? We porting a normal landline number would terminate it?
2. If I ring BT and switch to a broadband only setup. Will they lock me into a new 12-18 month contract? Will my phone number be free to transfer to another VoIP provider?
3. Can you have two VoIP's numbers going to the same property? So could I just cut my losses. Get a new VoIP number with a new provider and just abandon the BT phone number?

Thanks.

[jac_95]

Hi ChristopherPovey,

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.

[Keith_Beddoe]

Porting out your number will cease the broadband.

If you do not want to use the Smart Hub 2 as the primary connection to the BT network, then your only option would be to choose a third party VOIP provider, provided you are happy to have a new number.

Then when your contract comes up for renewal, select a broadband only package, you will lose your phone number, and it will not be possible to get it back.

[ChristopherPovey]

So what would happen (after Monday) if I decided to move to another, not BT/EE broadband supplier? Would I still lose my home phone number? Or would it depend if I went to another FTTC solution or a new FTTP solution?

At the moment there is only one FTTP option where I live (not a mainstream company), plus several FTTC options (the usual suspects).

Part of me thinks that I rarely use the landline anyway. Mobile coverage where I live is poor. So the mobiles are configured to WiFi calling to my Draytek router when I am at home. So it is more a backup, but if the Internet goes down I will lose both anyway!

I also have a NAS drive which I can access remotely. I am worried that a SH2 (DMZ mode, WiFi off, Ethernet ports not used) to Draytek Vigor (WiFi on, all Ethernet ports used one of which is to the NAS). That the double NAT will cause me issues accessing the NAS remotely... ☹️

Edit: Should mention I am well out of contract!

[licquorice]

You can port your number to another supplier, assuming they offer a VoIP service.

[Keith_Beddoe]

If you moved to another provider that still offered a phone (VOIP) service, then you could request that you keep your number, although its never guaranteed.

The porting request must be initiated by the gaining provider, and the number must still be active at that point.