Porting BT number without losing ADSL broadband connection

[Stedman57]

This topic seems to feature widely on these forums but I have to ask if there is yet a definitive process of porting an existing BT landline number to a VOIP provider without the associated BT ADSL broadband connection being automatically cancelled and disconnected ??

We would like to do this to allow our existing number to be setup and active on our chosen VOIP provider prior to converting to BT FTTP broadband only. Eg. is it possible for BT to allocate a random number to the existing analog line as part of the porting process until BT FTTP can be installed as broadband only ??

[imjolly]

@Stedman57 

There does not appear to be a process that lets you terminate your phone without terminating your broadband which will happen if you port your number to a third party VOIP provider. Hopefully  BT wiil get a process in place as it becomes more popular

[Stedman57]

Thanks for the reply. It is as it is which seems to be that BT appears to be making it difficult to move away from their own Digital Voice service using their own router hub. I do hope they can get their act together on this issue which seems to be affecting others and not just me.

Surely it is just a matter of allocating a random number to lines when numbers get ported away and so keep lines and broadband active ?? As it is there seems to be too much risk of losing our cherished number. Or having no broadband service until BT turn up to convert to FTTP.

[Keith_Beddoe]

@Stedman57 

When you are talking about ADSL, I assume you are referring to standard copper broadband which is delivered direct from the exchange, and can be up to 19Mbs download and 1Mb upload, depending on how far you are from the exchange, is that what you have?

People have been calling VDSL as ADSL, which is incorrect, as VDSL comes from the cabinet and is not so resilient.

Digital Voice on ADSL has not yet been implemented, although I believe that a trial is running at some rural exchanges.

[rbz5416]

There was mention a little while back of a similar cunning plan. The theory was that you ask for a renumber of your landline, which then frees up the number you want to port. You then should be able to ask a VOIP provider to port the original number to the new VOIP service. We just need a guinea pig to try it...

[Stedman57]

Therefore I guess we do have VDSL as we have copper from the cabinet in the street. We get around 55mbs download which is just fine for us. Apologies for the confusion.

BT want to convert us to FTTP but we want to use our own Draytek router and not the BT hub which is required for their own Digital Voice system. And if we do not convert to FTTP then BT have hiked the monthly costs so are trying to force the issue.

[Keith_Beddoe]

@Stedman57 

If you have an analogue phone line at the moment, then you will not have to convert to DV unless you regrade, renew your contract, or be forced to migrate to DV because your exchange is part of the latest plan.

Its odd that BT want to move you to FTTP, unless Openreach are wanting to offload the FTTC cabinet. Its possible that the cabinet is full, and they want to free space for other customers who are not part of the FTTP rollout.

[garybs29]

The prices won't be being "hiked" purely due to you not taking FTTP, sounds like your contract is ending & any discounts are coming off but it's in a FTTP priority area so is only option

[iniltous]

TBH , it’s the company that you want to use for telephony that is responsible for arranging importing the number , not the company that’s losing it , so it’s unfair to suggest it’s ’BT’ erecting barriers, before the Ofcom directive that ceased numbers have to be kept available for 30 days incase a port request comes along , it was apparently possible to have a renumber and port order that maintained the ADSL/VDSL service but that was always the new ( VoIP ) provider’s responsibility, and it would seem that it was rarely used ( there was a poster on another forum that had managed to get this done , proof of it’s availability )

The OP here given there need to maintain the phone number but use a third party router has several options, easiest would be to use both the SH2 and the third party router together , the SH2 effectively only for accessing DV , or they could ( given that FTTP is available ) order a standalone FTTP service, and when that’s in and working , port the number which by default ceases the VDSL/FTTC service, or simply renumber the VDSL service ( this possibility will carry a charge for the renumber ) and during the 30 day period the ‘old’ number is in abeyance , contact the VoIP provider to import the number .

[Stedman57]

You are correct - our BT contract has expired. They will only allow us to go on contract with FTTP so there is the problem. If we want to stay as we are, which we want, then BT appear not to allow us to go on contract so the price hike applies.

So, back to the original question, how do we persuade BT to tidy up handling of the number porting without losing the existing line until they can install FTTP and go on contract ??