topic Re: Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade? in Broadband & Landline

Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade?

MenmuirMark — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:05:56 GMT

We got rid off our BT landline a few years ago (post on our premises and copper wire still in position). We have a rural exchange limited, for nearly twenty years, to a maximum of 512kb/s download and 256kb/s upload so it was no use for modern internet. BT are currently laying fibre to the exchange (it currently has a microwave link) and presumably to connected properties (no cabinets in the area, all lines are from the exchange).

Current estimates are that we should have access to broadband in a year. Menmuir Exchange, DD9

I'd like to move to EE broadband when it is feasible but want to know whether it would make financial sense to get my landline reconnected now to ensure that we are included as part of the upgrade rather than having to pay extra for a new connection once fibre becomes live. Any thoughts?

Re: Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade?

XRaySpeX — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:14:18 GMT

You can no longer reconnect landlines as new analogue landlines are now not sold by anyone. Now Fibre & Full Fibre BB is provided w/out a physical landline. So just wait until it appears in your area & then order it from whichever ISP you prefer.

What does BT Wholesale Broadband Availability Checker > Address Checker estimate for your address? Post the whole table and the line above it, blanking out your address.

Re: Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade?

juiceof2limes — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:23:58 GMT

Another thought if your current phones support it, is to use a VOIP/SIP supplier. Your new supplied number is not then tied into your EE/broadband account. It's separate and just uses the BB connection. If you then want to change BB supplier in the future it is easier to do without to your phone number etc.

Re: Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade?

XRaySpeX — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:28:32 GMT

@juiceof2limes : Presumably OP doesn't need any landline, VoIP or physical, as he got rid of it years ago & is getting his BB over some sort of SOADSL connection.

Re: Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade?

juiceof2limes — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:30:58 GMT

Yes agree @XRaySpeX but then OP said about getting a line which made me think they were now looking to have a phone service again. Ah well....there are options as they say 😊

Re: Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade?

MenmuirMark — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:33:56 GMT

Openreach currently says FTTP build planned between now and December 2026

broadbandchecker.service.gov.scot says Openreach has completed an engineering survey of your area. Your property has passed the first stage in the build process. Faster broadband access should be available by the end of June 2026.

Folk are currently laying a pipe for the fibre to and from the exchange. Lots of temporary closed roads around here.

Re: Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade?

MenmuirMark — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:49:02 GMT

Currently using an EE unlimited data SIM in a parabolic dish pointed through the trees and over the hill to a mobile mast about 7 miles away to provide broadband and wifi calling for our phones as we are in a bit of a mobile not-spot hole. It was the only practical (though not perfect) option available a few years ago.

Re: Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade?

MenmuirMark — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:53:59 GMT

I seem not to have made it clear enough. I was asking for a view on whether it was financially better to have a re-connected line now so we get automatically connected to the fibre as it is laid or to wait and get it when complete (but not connected to our property).

Re: Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade?

XRaySpeX — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:57:27 GMT

When Fibre comes you'll probably be able to get a digital landline with it & do away with the mobile BB & its dish.

Re: Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade?

XRaySpeX — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:01:28 GMT

Yes & I answered it. It is impossible to reconnect the landline & so you just have to wait. Finance does not come into it; it is physically impossible.

Re: Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade?

JimM11 — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:05:32 GMT

@MenmuirMark A lot will depend on how good the wi-fi calling feature off your mobiles will work on the new Fibre connection to the exchange, and through the medium that OR will then send forward but does sound like that will be dish or microwave linked outward. You could order it all at the start, but mobile wi-fi calling may just be the ticket!

Re: Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade?

Mustrum — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:10:23 GMT

@MenmuirMark even if you were able to get your line reconnected, you would not automatically get upgraded to fibre.

Even then depending where you live it might be a struggle. If you are in or close to the village, you should be fine, but if in an outlying farm they may only connect you if you pay additional costs. As already mentioned, you cannot order a copper phone line, and even an ASDL line will not be straight forward.

The fibres that are being laid at present will be going back to Brechin or larger exchange in the area., not your local exchange, that will close down when the fibre install has been completed.

Re: Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade?

MenmuirMark — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:21:04 GMT

I asked Openreach to update me and they now say our address is currently in their build plans. Real teuchter country here, no village just a dispersed hamlet and farms.

Re: Landline needed before BT exchange upgrade?

MenmuirMark — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:27:52 GMT

You are probably correct though I would have assumed (possibly too optimistically) that if I offered BT money to reconnect me to their current very poor connection they would not just tell me to keep my money and to wait a year. 😀