Digital Voice: Switch now or later?

[mfs_420]

I've received communication from BT, saying they are ready to switch our line over to Digital Voice and inviting me to arrange an appointment.

We will be moving house during the first half of next year - within the same exchange area - and are very keen to retain the number we've had for the last 30 years. Having read the forums here and the problems people have had with migrating long-held and cherished numbers, I'm not sure whether having Digital Voice now would be a hindrance or a help. Will it be easier to migrate the number from analogue to digital or from digital to digital? I've read so many posts about DV having restrictions and being more rigid than you'd expect.

Any advice will be most gratefully received.

[jac_95]

Hi mfs_420,

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.

[chrisjp]

It's not clear why BT wants you to arrange an appointment. Migrating from PSTN to DV doesn't normally require any engineer/technician to visit - it's all done at the exchange and/or street cabinet. All BT does is send you a new Broadband Smarthub 2 into which you plug your "landline" phone instead of plugging it into the wall socket.
Maybe you can find out what the appointment is for, and then someone on this forum may be able to advise about your question on ease of transfer of your number to a new house

[mfs_420]

Thanks @chrisjp for the quick reply. I should have mentioned that they will be installing Full Fibre at the same time. At present, we're on copper wire through a cabinet that is right opposite our house.

The message I've had, by both letter and email, says:

"What happens next?
1: We’ll be in touch to arrange for an engineer to install Full Fibre at your property.
2: You’ll select a day that works for you, and an engineer will come and carry out the work. We recommend booking in at your earliest convenience.
3: You can sit back and relax, knowing your home phone service and broadband are future-proof."

So I'm wondering whether 'future-proof' includes respecting the value of a legacy number.

[iniltous]

It does seem that BT / Openreach are now using the migration to DV from PSTN as a way to also convert customers onto FTTP  when FTTP is available , although there is a way to refuse if it’s not wanted , for example  if living in a rented property , and the landlord isn’t willing to agree to a new installation .

As to wether it’s better to migrate to DV and then home move , that’s a DV to DV home mover , or remain on PSTN and them move home , that’s a PSTN to DV and home mover ….I suspect the less elements involved in a single transaction the better , so on that basis I would be inclined to migrate to DV ( and take FTTP if that’s wanted ) and then later , the home mover should be a simpler proposition 

[mfs_420]

@iniltous: Thanks. Sounds like DV to DV would be the most straightforward option, as I suspected.

But now I'm wondering what's involved in getting FTTP. My understanding of Full Fibre was that the fibre-optic cable came right into the home. From forum posts here, I see all that's required for Digital Voice is to install a new connection point ('ONT') and Smarthub 2 (at present I use my own, very reliable TP-Link router).

If an engineer visit isn't normal, I'm wondering what work would be carried out. Can Full Fibre be delivered via poles or only underground? - I don't want them digging up my drive. As mentioned, the BT street cabinet is right opposite, just 50 feet away, and the PSTN line comes from a street pole into the house eaves.

I feel the BT comms is disingenuous, as it implies the 'broadband upgrade' to 'Superfast Fibre' is part of the mandatory DV transition, which I can now see is not the case. How would I refuse the one and take the other?

[jac_95]

@mfs_420 

The policy is if you are in a Openreach full fibre area then you'll also be moved to onto the full fibre infrastructure as part the order processed for Digital Voice.

Also some areas are now a Full fibre priority area and copper based services are in a stop sell 

This is due to another initiative on providing and connecting homes and businesses to full fibre across the UK.

If you can post the results following here it will give some indications on how the fibre drop cable is delivered to your property 

https://landlinesgo.digital/checkmyline

[licquorice]

Just to clarify, the ONT is requirement for full fibre. DV only requires a BT smart Hub2 to be used, there is no other change. You can't use your third party router with DV.

[iniltous]

If you are already fed overhead from a telegraph pole , that how FTTP will be delivered, in cases like yours the ‘change’ is pretty small , the existing copper dropwire replaced with an optical one , you do get an ‘extra’ block on the wall ( called a CSP ) and as stated internally the ONT ( which needs power ) effectively replaces the master socket …..as also stated , FTTP or stay on copper hybrid FTTC the phone plugs into the router when on DV .

Openreach , understandably want to use FTTP when it’s available, so they incentivise ISPs to give their customers a push towards it , ( when it’s available ) it makes perfect sense , obviously some in underground fed areas with no duct ( so digging is needed to get the cable to the house ) may be reluctant, but that’s not the case with you , what’s more, if you are moving out shortly, the new occupant may appreciate that the house will be ready to order speeds upto 1.6Gb with an appropriate ISP 

[mfs_420]

Wow, this is all great information. Thanks to everyone.

Here are the results from the checker recommended by @jac_95. It confirms that I'm in a FTTP Priority Exchange and the service can be delivered by overhead wire. The tree mentioned has been lopped recently and shouldn't be a problem.

Existing property

With my increasing knowledge (and confidence!), I also checked the new address which has a very similar profile. It confirms that an ONT is already installed, which is as I thought. The vendors haven't mentioned this but it's used by the son and they don't seem to know what they're paying for.

New Property

Overall, this is very encouraging. I just have to hope that the eventual number migration works without any hiccups.