topic Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline. in Broadband & Landline

Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

Jez2k — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 12:49:51 GMT

We're currently with Virgin's M250 broadband via a dedicated fibre optic wire, which doesn't affect our landline. Its costing us 65 quid every month so we're looking around for a better deal. The problem is, everywhere I look (including here), the issue of the landline comes up. Why can't we just use the existing fibre optic wire? We don't want our landline to be affected in any way. Is staying with Virgin the only option?

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

Chris_B — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 13:57:39 GMT

@Jez2k That line is for virgin media and it’s their line. You need an open reach line to have fibre. Two separate company’s that each have their own lines. You can have a landline it’s just digital now not analog so the phone is plugged into the router, but what broadband package are you looking at ? It’s only the 1.6G package doesn’t have landline or EE TV capabilities at present.

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

Jez2k — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 14:53:38 GMT

Not sure exactly but we don't have 4K and we're happy to stream at 720p if it will save a bit extra by going for a slightly slower speed. However, I still don't understand how any company's fibre can have an affect on the current landline. They're two separate things as far as I can see.

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

Profile closed — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 15:27:57 GMT

@Jez2k

Others will chip in if I’m wrong, but I’m guessing VM run their dedicated fibre optic line into your house separate to the original copper wire providing your landline.

If you go for EE’s fibre to the home the copper wire is removed.

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

Matt_124 — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 15:45:59 GMT

Hi @Jez2k,

Just to be clear it's not really the deals that you're confused about here, but moreso the specifics how the service would be installed/provided and keeping your landline number? Would that be a fair assessment? I will try and lay out some of that below.

Virgin Media use separate infrastructure to deliver your Broadband service and this should also be responsible for delivering your landline if they are both with the same provider. How is your current Virgin landline plugged in? Does it plug into your router or into a separate cable entirely at the wall?

With EE they operate on the Openreach network/infrastructure and as such if a customer is switching from an alternative network like Virgin, it requires their own separate cable (Copper or Fibre depending on the area) to be installed/present at the property to provide their services through.

With EE, the landline service is known as Digital Home Phone and it operates via plugging into a phone port on the back of the router and using the Internet connection for calls. This is how all landlines will be going forward.

When placing an order on EE you would be using the One Touch Switch service and before confirmation in the order process you should be told whether your landline number is able to kept successfully or not. There are a range of packages you can choose for your Digital Home Phone and it is on a 1-month rolling contract meaning you can switch packages or get rid of it entirely later to save a few quid (but you would then lose your number).

If you don't want your landline to affected in any way, your only option is to stay with Virgin. If your landline is still on the old analogue system, they will be moving it to their Digital landline system regardless within the next year or two I would imagine.

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

JimM11 — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 15:46:51 GMT

@Jez2k EE cannot use anything apart from an Open Reach line, wither it is copper or fibre, the VM line is NOT available for them to use in ANY way/shape/or format.

Your current landline, who does it belong to, if it is also VM then they own it also.

Used the OR Fibre checker to your address, it will advise if an OR line is there/close by or available in the near future link below.

Fibre Checker

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

XRaySpeX — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 16:01:43 GMT

You say your VM BB via a dedicated fibre optic wire doesn't affect your landline. Does that mean they are separate? If so, who is your landline provider?

What does BT Wholesale Broadband Availability Checker estimate for your phone number? Post just the whole table and the line above it, blanking out your phone number. If it doesn't recognise your phone number or you don't have one, use the Address Checker.

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

Jez2k — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 18:31:12 GMT

Thanks everyone.

The landline provider is BT and the Virgin broadband connection comes through a wall and into the router.

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

JimM11 — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 18:39:04 GMT

@Jez2k Follow @XRaySpeX request to see what is available to you, then post up and hide personal details.

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

XRaySpeX — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 18:53:08 GMT

Then wherever you go for your BB you don't touch your landline & you can keep it. I just done that. When you apply for BB don't give them your landline no.

Your contract for the landline is with BT & it can stay that way wherever you get your BB from.

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

Jez2k — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 19:42:58 GMT

@XRaySpeX

Thanks. This is the answer I was hoping for. As far as I can see though, the providers all want to replace your landline and I haven't yet seen a way of opting out.

The checker is "unavailable at the moment".

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

JimM11 — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 20:00:45 GMT

@Jez2k Checker appears to be working fine, just checked my address.

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

Jez2k — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 20:28:52 GMT

Must have been temporarily down. Was unable to post with the table pasted into it. This site doesn't like HTML in replies. It was too wide to fit anyway, so I typed up a slimmer version.

Telephone Number XXXXXXXXXXX on Exchange CHELTENHAM is served by Cabinet 56

Downstream Line Rate (Mbps)
VDSL Range A (Clean) High = 80, Low = 67
VDSL Range B (Impacted) High = 80, Low = 64.7
G.fast Range A (Clean) --
G.fast Range B (Impacted) --

Upstream Line Rate (Mbps)
VDSL Range A (Clean) High = 20, Low = 19
VDSL Range B (Impacted) High = 20, Low = 19
G.fast Range A (Clean) --
G.fast Range B (Impacted) --

Downstream Handback Threshold (Mbps)
VDSL Range A (Clean) = 60
VDSL Range B (Impacted) = 55.4
G.fast Range A (Clean) --
G.fast Range B (Impacted) --

WBC FTTC Availability = All unavailable

WBC SOEGA Availability
VDSL Range A (Clean) High = Available
VDSL Range B (Impacted) High = Available
G.fast Range A (Clean) --
G.fast Range B (Impacted) --

Let in Jumper = All nothing

WBC FTTP
Downstream Line Rate (Mbps) = Up tp 1000
Upstream Line Rate (Mbps) = Up to 220
Downstream Range (Mbps) = --
Availability Date = Available
FTTP Install Process = 1 Stage

Precise Environment
Bridge Tap = U
VRI = N
NTE FacePlate = N
Last Test Date = 28-12-2024

Exchange Product Restrictions
FTTP Priority Exchange = N
WLR Withdrawal = Y
SOADSL Restriction = M

Our records show the following FTTP network service information for these premises:-Single Dwelling Unit Residential OH Feed with no anticipated issues.

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

JimM11 — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 20:51:32 GMT

@Jez2k So fibre is available looks like it's coming of a pole, overhead feed, you just got to deal with the VM/EE fibre swap over now. Complete install for the EE Fibre so do keep that in mind. KEEP away from the landline NO MATTER WHAT!

@Jez2k Ask @XRaySpeX the best way for you to go about this, as he has just added FF to replace an existing line, with you having a BT Landline, do not want this to become the issue for you, if you are adamant that the line is to be left alone, worst case scenario, they just take over the copper landline, and give you FF Broadband and DV landline with your existing number, then you have to deal with cancelling VM by yourself.

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

XRaySpeX — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 22:32:44 GMT

You can use the Camera icon above your text to upload an image file to here.

The fibre comes as a separate cable from the pole parallel to the copper landline cable.

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

XRaySpeX — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 22:39:03 GMT

@JimM11 : The best way for OP to go about this is DON'T MENTION THE LANDLINE!

Why would OP need to deal with cancelling VM by himself? Won't OTS handle this?

Re: Confused about deals. Want to keep landline.

JimM11 — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 22:40:44 GMT

@XRaySpeX Only issue i see is that the BT Line will be on the address, if VM fibre to EE fibre can be done that way without the address being an issue then all good, if EE see the Address, then they will take the BT line with no hesitation in doing so.

Was may be not a problem when EE and VM were separate, not sure what will happen now.