Porting an old BT number back to BT from a VOIP provider

[remvitosprey]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I originally lived in aa different house and had a telephone number I liked (example number 0208 944 6655 (example). As I understand the exchange is the 944 bit. When I moved to a different area the exchange number was different and I ended up with a new number 0208 785 1234 (example). The exchange but being 785. 

At the time I asked if I could port the original number over and was told this could not be done i.e. different exchanges mate the technology was not there at the time. This was a few years back circa 2010.

So plan B - I signed up with a VOIP provider and ported my original BT number to the VOIP service. I have VOIP handsets in the house and I am also able to access the service from an App on my phone, computer, tablet etc. And hey presto I now own the original number 0208 944 6655 (Example) forever more.

My question is can I now port this number back from the VOIP provider to BT?

[licquorice]

Personally, I would stick with the VoIP provider that way you are not restricted to using the BT Smart hub that is necessary for BT's Digital Voice system.

[remvitosprey]

Thanks but doesn't really answer the question.