Retain landline number when switching to full fibre with BT

[chrisdavenport]

I'm considering switching to BT full fibre from Sky broadband, but I don't want to lose our current landline number.  Is there some way to retain the number when using whatever VOIP service that BT provides?

[licquorice]

Yes, the number can be ported to BT Digital Voice.

[chrisdavenport]

Thank you.

Unfortunately, when I attempted to order full fibre the website is not letting me do so.  I guess I'll have to wait another few months and try again.

[iniltous]

Where are you looking ? ,

when you select BT broadband and add a phone plan  (PAYG or Unlimited Minutes) and progress though to the actual ordering screen  you are presented with a box  to tick indicating you want to keep your existing phone number thus prompting BT to approach the current supplier of the phone number ,not ticking this box you get a BT allocated phone number , but if you don’t go far enough into the ordering process you don’t see this option , I suspect you simply didn’t go far enough.

[chrisdavenport]

Thank you.

You're probably right and I'll bear it in mind if and when I try again.

Although USwitch says that 900Mbps fibre is available, it doesn't look like I can order it.  I've just tried PlusNet and they at least have the honesty to tell me that it's not available in my area (even though my neighbour has had it for almost a year).  I had ordered full fibre via Vodaphone about 6 months ago and OpenReach came to do a survey and agreed locations for a couple of poles to carry the cable.  A month went by then Vodaphone called me to say they were cancelling the order and to try ordering again at a later date.  I suspect they decided it would be too expensive.  Now I'm trying again, but this time I can't even get as far as being able to place the order.  Same for all the providers I've tried.  Very frustrating, especially given the lack of any explanation.  Customer service ain't what it used to be.

Thanks again and apologies for the rant.

[imjolly]

can you enter your address and post the results including notes and this may give some indication why problem ordering

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

[chrisdavenport]

Address SHREWSBURY on Exchange HARLESCOTT is served by Cabinet 8 Featured Products Downstream Line Rate(Mbps) Upstream Line Rate (Mbps) Downstream Handback Threshold(Mbps) WBC FTTC Availability WBC SOGEA Availability High Low High Low VDSL Range A (Clean) help 47.1 32.4 8.3 6 29.5 Unavailable Available VDSL Range B (Impacted) help 45.7 28.1 8.1 5.6 22.4 Unavailable Available G.fast Range A (Clean) help -- -- -- -- -- Unavailable -- G.fast Range B (Impacted) help -- -- -- -- -- Unavailable -- Featured Products Downstream Line Rate(Mbps) Upstream Line Rate (Mbps) Downstream Range (Mbps) Availability Date FTTP Install Process FTTP on Demand 1000 220 -- Available -- Other Offerings Availability Date VDSL Multicast Available Exchange Product Restrictions Status FTTP Priority Exchange N WLR Withdrawal Y SOADSL Restriction N FTTP is not available. The exchange is not in a current fibre priority programme As a WLR withdrawal exchange, product restrictions apply SOADSL is not restricted at the exchange For all ADSL and WBC Fibre to the Cabinet (VDSL or G.fast) services, the stable line rate will be determined during the first 10 days of service usage. For all SOADSL services,the stable line rate will be determined during the first 10 days of service usage. Actual speeds experienced by end users and quoted by CPs will be lower due to a number of factors within and external to BT's network, Communication Providers' networks and within customer premises. In order to be eligible for handback, downstream speed should be less than Downstream Handback Threshold values. If you decide to place an order for a WBC fibre product, an appointment may be required for an engineer to visit the end user's premises to supply the service ADSL, ADSL2+ and SOADSL availability: If shown at FTTP or SOGEA premises,ADSL, ADSL2+ and SOADSL are not available to order due to WLR Withdrawal stop sell rules. CPs should order FTTP or SOGEA. Copper products are only available by exception. Thank you for your interest

[licquorice]

Unfortunately, Openreach FTTP is not available to you.

[chrisdavenport]

Thanks for your help.

[iniltous]

What seems odd is that a comparison site at some point said FTTP was available, VF were able to raise an order and Openreach actually came out to survey , which suggests at some point FTTP did show as available when there is no availability showing now , ( presumably the survey visit was arranged as the ‘checker’ site showed your address a KCI2 installation with ‘work’ needed , over and above the normal installation activities ) ….so possibly, as you mention new carrier/feeder poles were discussed on the survey , when the ‘new pole’ notifications to the local authority  were submitted, a complaint were raised by a member of the public or the local planning committee, and effectively those new  pole applications denied, and as they were the only practical option to give you service (any other option simply  too expensive ) the order cancelled and the address ‘de-scoped’ hence now no availability being shown.

….unfortunately that also means in the short to medium term availability isn’t likely to change, so no FTTP order will be possible .