From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

Some of you have probably heard that BT is going to switch off the ol' publicly switched telephone network in january next year, to be replaced
by the new voip based digital voice system.

Curious to hear what yall think of this



---
Blue
why am i here?

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

Blue <usenet@randomstuffimade.uk> writes:

Some of you have probably heard that BT is going to switch off the ol' publicly switched telephone network in january next year, to be replaced by the new voip based digital voice system.

Curious to hear what yall think of this

I don't think it is going very well. I was told by my ISP that I had to
switch to fibre or I would be disconnected and have no phone or
internet. It wasn't very clear, referring to ISDN sometimes. But I
didn't want to risk having a house with no broadband, and I wasn't going
to pay the price for the only available option from them which was
superfast fibre, so I switched to a different company, and then
cancelled due to problems and switched to a different different company,
then was without phone for a month.

I have finally ended up with everything working (after being on a SIP
protocol learning curve troubleshooting for a long time) except
Truecall. I think Truecall.co.uk may have given up on their customer
support because of the onslaught of VOIP.

If you don't have broadband and you are with BT it looks like you get
special treatment and it is or will be all done for you.

This thing is instigated by the government with a deadline, but it is
done by corporations with corporate interests, there is a conflict. What
should happen is that the analog line is replaced by something which
works in the same way, but it isn't. The government website is
laughable, it says in most cases you just unplug your phone from a
socket and plug it into a router. Yeah, right. Much has to happen before
you do that, and much has to happen afterwards too.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

On 23/01/2026 14:18, Blue wrote:

Curious to hear what yall think of this

The previous thread on the end of the PSTN is still live ("FTTC"), so
just read that. The same themes come up every time this topic gets resurrected.

Incidentally, the network ceased to be publicly switched in any
meaningful sense in the mid 1980s, when BT was privatised. It's still a public network, in that anyone in the public could ask to be connected
to it, but the switching is done by a private company.

Incidentally, it is already live, in some places, and for most people requesting a new line, in others.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

On 23/01/2026 3:09 pm, David Woolley wrote:

On 23/01/2026 14:18, Blue wrote:

Curious to hear what yall think of this

The previous thread on the end of the PSTN is still live ("FTTC"), so
just read that.-a The same themes come up every time this topic gets resurrected.

Incidentally, the network ceased to be publicly switched in any
meaningful sense in the mid 1980s, when BT was privatised.-a It's still a public network, in that anyone in the public could ask to be connected
to it, but the switching is done by a private company.

Incidentally, it is already live, in some places, and for most people requesting a new line, in others.

Ah - my fault, apologies for the thread mixup. I guess you're right that
it's not really been publicly owned since the 80s, but the "public" in
PSTN i've always thought referred to the fact that the broadband/teleco providers all use BT copper wire anyway.


---
Blue
why am i here?
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

On 2026/1/23 14:18:27, Blue wrote:

Some of you have probably heard that BT is going to switch off the ol' publicly switched telephone network in january next year, to be replaced
by the new voip based digital voice system.

Curious to hear what yall think of this

It varies considerably, depending (among many other things) on who you
get you (a) broadband and (b) 'phone line service from. If you don't
have (or at least use) a landline number, it's pretty academic.

If you only _have_ 'phone (no broadband), especially if you fall into
certain "vulnerable" classes (e. g. certain medical conditions), all
will be done for you - the only difference you will notice after it's
been set up is extra equipment provided, you probably won't be able to
dial short 'phone numbers, and there'll be no coverage in a power cut
(if you're lucky, a few hours' may be provided).

If you get both broadband and 'phone from BT, much the same - they'll
provide (or already have) the equipment.

If you're with anyone else: the ISP _may_ provide the necessary
equipment; OR, they may provide the services, but you'll have to buy the equipment (basically a converter that goes between your existing
'phone[s] and the router - or a VoIP 'phone); OR, you'll have to set up
the VoIP provision yourself as well as buying the equipment.
(Ironically, PlusNet - which is actually a subsidiary of BT, though
seems to operate entirely independently - is one of the companies not
offering VoIP after POTS is turned off. You also have the _option_ of
getting your VoIP provision from a different company to the one you get
your broadband from, even if the broadband provider does offer VoIP.

The VoIP marketplace seems to me to have almost as much confusion and misinformation - or, at least, lack of provision of important
information - as the mobile (cellular) marketplace (which it resembles
in many ways); the one difference is that so far I've not _seen_
confusion between equipment "hire purchase" and service provision, but
I'll be surprised if that doesn't come soon.

As for how the switchoff is being presented, I think it's had - and
having - woefully little publicity at all; quite what the solution to
that is I'm not sure. But I think at the very least a few public
information films - with sufficient repeat frequency that we get sick of
them - would be a start. (Cf AIDS, CoViD, insurance mis-selling scams,
'flu jabs, ...)

---
Blue
why am i here?

Because you used "---" as a .sig separator :-)

I know that isn't what you were asking! But use "-- " - dash, dash,
space, on a line by themselves - as the separator; then, (some) news and
email clients will recognise it as a .sig sep., and won't quote anything
that follows it in replies/followups.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

You can't abdicate and eat it
- attributed to Wallis Simpson, in Radio Times 14-20 January 2012.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

On Fri 23/01/2026 15:03, Richmond wrote:

Blue <usenet@randomstuffimade.uk> writes:

Some of you have probably heard that BT is going to switch off the ol'
publicly switched telephone network in january next year, to be replaced by >> the new voip based digital voice system.

Curious to hear what yall think of this

I don't think it is going very well. I was told by my ISP that I had to switch to fibre or I would be disconnected and have no phone or
internet. It wasn't very clear, referring to ISDN sometimes. But I
didn't want to risk having a house with no broadband, and I wasn't going
to pay the price for the only available option from them which was
superfast fibre, so I switched to a different company, and then
cancelled due to problems and switched to a different different company,
then was without phone for a month.

I have finally ended up with everything working (after being on a SIP protocol learning curve troubleshooting for a long time) except
Truecall. I think Truecall.co.uk may have given up on their customer
support because of the onslaught of VOIP.

If you don't have broadband and you are with BT it looks like you get
special treatment and it is or will be all done for you.

This thing is instigated by the government with a deadline, but it is
done by corporations with corporate interests, there is a conflict. What should happen is that the analog line is replaced by something which
works in the same way, but it isn't. The government website is
laughable, it says in most cases you just unplug your phone from a
socket and plug it into a router. Yeah, right. Much has to happen before
you do that, and much has to happen afterwards too.

That statement from BT is largely true. They will swing a fibre optic
cable from the nearest pole to your house and run it down the wall to
the ONT or Optical Network Termination. They then run a Cat5e cable
through the wall and install a router on the end of it. The router
provides electrikery to the ONT, and carries a VoIP interface so that
you can just plug your phone into it. Theoretically it should work
straight off.
The ONT being outside means that if there is a fault a linesman can
attend and check even if you are not home. Appointment? Wassat?

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

On 23/01/2026 4:56 pm, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

On 2026/1/23 14:18:27, Blue wrote:

Some of you have probably heard that BT is going to switch off the ol'
publicly switched telephone network in january next year, to be replaced
by the new voip based digital voice system.

Curious to hear what yall think of this

It varies considerably, depending (among many other things) on who you
get you (a) broadband and (b) 'phone line service from. If you don't
have (or at least use) a landline number, it's pretty academic.

If you only _have_ 'phone (no broadband), especially if you fall into
certain "vulnerable" classes (e. g. certain medical conditions), all
will be done for you - the only difference you will notice after it's
been set up is extra equipment provided, you probably won't be able to
dial short 'phone numbers, and there'll be no coverage in a power cut
(if you're lucky, a few hours' may be provided).

If you get both broadband and 'phone from BT, much the same - they'll
provide (or already have) the equipment.

If you're with anyone else: the ISP _may_ provide the necessary
equipment; OR, they may provide the services, but you'll have to buy the equipment (basically a converter that goes between your existing
'phone[s] and the router - or a VoIP 'phone); OR, you'll have to set up
the VoIP provision yourself as well as buying the equipment.
(Ironically, PlusNet - which is actually a subsidiary of BT, though
seems to operate entirely independently - is one of the companies not offering VoIP after POTS is turned off. You also have the _option_ of
getting your VoIP provision from a different company to the one you get
your broadband from, even if the broadband provider does offer VoIP.

The VoIP marketplace seems to me to have almost as much confusion and misinformation - or, at least, lack of provision of important
information - as the mobile (cellular) marketplace (which it resembles
in many ways); the one difference is that so far I've not _seen_
confusion between equipment "hire purchase" and service provision, but
I'll be surprised if that doesn't come soon.

As for how the switchoff is being presented, I think it's had - and
having - woefully little publicity at all; quite what the solution to
that is I'm not sure. But I think at the very least a few public
information films - with sufficient repeat frequency that we get sick of
them - would be a start. (Cf AIDS, CoViD, insurance mis-selling scams,
'flu jabs, ...)

---
Blue
why am i here?

Because you used "---" as a .sig separator :-)

I know that isn't what you were asking! But use "-- " - dash, dash,
space, on a line by themselves - as the separator; then, (some) news and email clients will recognise it as a .sig sep., and won't quote anything
that follows it in replies/followups.

Noted! thank you!
I have to agree with the general sentiment that it's been woefully
publicised though, i only found out because im into telecom
infrastructure...
--
Blue
why am i here?
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

Woody wrote:

The router provides electrikery to the ONT

You'd think they'd do it that way, but ONTs have a wallwart.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> wrote:

Blue <usenet@randomstuffimade.uk> writes:

Some of you have probably heard that BT is going to switch off the ol' publicly switched telephone network in january next year, to be replaced by the new voip based digital voice system.

Curious to hear what yall think of this

I don't think it is going very well. I was told by my ISP that I had to switch to fibre or I would be disconnected and have no phone or
internet. It wasn't very clear, referring to ISDN sometimes. But I
didn't want to risk having a house with no broadband, and I wasn't going
to pay the price for the only available option from them which was
superfast fibre, so I switched to a different company, and then
cancelled due to problems and switched to a different different company,
then was without phone for a month.

I have finally ended up with everything working (after being on a SIP protocol learning curve troubleshooting for a long time) except
Truecall. I think Truecall.co.uk may have given up on their customer
support because of the onslaught of VOIP.

If you don't have broadband and you are with BT it looks like you get
special treatment and it is or will be all done for you.

This thing is instigated by the government with a deadline, but it is
done by corporations with corporate interests, there is a conflict. What should happen is that the analog line is replaced by something which
works in the same way, but it isn't. The government website is
laughable, it says in most cases you just unplug your phone from a
socket and plug it into a router. Yeah, right. Much has to happen before
you do that, and much has to happen afterwards too.

It's nothing to do with the government, it's BT who have instigated the
PSTN switch-off and come up with their deadlines. This is because they
sold their exchanges decades ago and are paying to lease them back, and
would rather not do that any more. That combined with the switch to FTTP (which the government /is/ encouraging via funding) means BT doesn't want to maintain their elderly copper network any more and would much rather people used as little of it as possible. The PSTN switch-off is purely a cost
saving gambit from BT, although an inevitable one as landline phone usage declines beyond the point it funds the network.

I agree the transition has been a mess, especially with the likes of popular ISPs like Plusnet just refusing to offer phone service any more which means they have no package they can transfer their phone customers on to. (They
will tell you to sign up with EE instead, but that means a supplier switch
with a new router, number porting etc).

Theo
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

On 23/01/2026 17:02, Woody wrote:

That statement from BT is largely true. They will swing a fibre optic
cable from the nearest pole to your house and run it down the wall to
the ONT or Optical Network Termination. They then run a Cat5e cable
through the wall and install a router on the end of it. The router
provides electrikery to the ONT, and carries a VoIP interface so that
you can just plug your phone into it. Theoretically it should work
straight off.

Er no.

The ONT is typically inside and needs its own power.

It may or may not have an operational phone socket.
Or it needs connecting via cat 5 to a router that does NOT supply it
with electricity. And the router in all likelihood gas the phone socket

The ONT being outside means that if there is a fault a linesman can
attend and check even if you are not home. Appointment? Wassat?

The ONT is not outside. What is outside is a fibre termination block
that feeds optical cable to the ONT inside.

see...my installation

http://vps.templar.co.uk/index.php?album=FTTP%20installation
--
Renewable energy: Expensive solutions that don't work to a problem that doesn't exist instituted by self legalising protection rackets that
don't protect, masquerading as public servants who don't serve the public.


--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

On 23/01/2026 17:36, Andy Burns wrote:

Woody wrote:

The router provides electrikery to the ONT

You'd think they'd do it that way, but ONTs have a wallwart.

..and live inside.
--
Renewable energy: Expensive solutions that don't work to a problem that doesn't exist instituted by self legalising protection rackets that
don't protect, masquerading as public servants who don't serve the public.


--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> wrote:

Blue <usenet@randomstuffimade.uk> writes:

Some of you have probably heard that BT is going to switch off the ol' publicly switched telephone network in january next year, to be
replaced by the new voip based digital voice system.

Curious to hear what yall think of this

I don't think it is going very well. I was told by my ISP that I had to switch to fibre or I would be disconnected and have no phone or
internet. It wasn't very clear, referring to ISDN sometimes. But I
didn't want to risk having a house with no broadband, and I wasn't going
to pay the price for the only available option from them which was superfast fibre, so I switched to a different company, and then
cancelled due to problems and switched to a different different company, then was without phone for a month.

I have finally ended up with everything working (after being on a SIP protocol learning curve troubleshooting for a long time) except
Truecall. I think Truecall.co.uk may have given up on their customer support because of the onslaught of VOIP.

If you don't have broadband and you are with BT it looks like you get special treatment and it is or will be all done for you.

This thing is instigated by the government with a deadline, but it is
done by corporations with corporate interests, there is a conflict. What should happen is that the analog line is replaced by something which
works in the same way, but it isn't. The government website is
laughable, it says in most cases you just unplug your phone from a
socket and plug it into a router. Yeah, right. Much has to happen before you do that, and much has to happen afterwards too.

It's nothing to do with the government, it's BT who have instigated the
PSTN switch-off and come up with their deadlines. This is because they
sold their exchanges decades ago and are paying to lease them back, and
would rather not do that any more. That combined with the switch to FTTP (which the government /is/ encouraging via funding) means BT doesn't want to maintain their elderly copper network any more and would much rather people used as little of it as possible.

So they can sell the copper at a high price because of the increasing
demend from the electricity supply and the automotive industry.
--
~ Liz Tuddenham ~
(Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
www.poppyrecords.co.uk
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

On Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:02:19 +0000, Woody wrote:

That statement from BT is largely true. They will swing a fibre optic
cable from the nearest pole to your house and run it down the wall to
the ONT or Optical Network Termination. They then run a Cat5e cable
through the wall and install a router on the end of it. The router
provides electrikery to the ONT, and carries a VoIP interface so that
you can just plug your phone into it. Theoretically it should work
straight off.

No, no.

There is an external junction box (in most cases, anyway). That is NOT the ONT. From there, fibre goes inside to the ONT, which isn't weatherproof anyway. The ONT is powered by a wall wart.

The ONT has an Ethernet connection, and that goes to an Eithernet port on
the router. For DV, that provides the connection point for an analogue telephone.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

On 2026/1/23 18:46:9, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

On 23/01/2026 17:02, Woody wrote:

That statement from BT is largely true. They will swing a fibre optic
cable from the nearest pole to your house and run it down the wall to
the ONT or Optical Network Termination. They then run a Cat5e cable
through the wall and install a router on the end of it. The router
provides electrikery to the ONT, and carries a VoIP interface so that
you can just plug your phone into it. Theoretically it should work
straight off.

Er no.

The ONT is typically inside and needs its own power.

It may or may not have an operational phone socket.
Or it needs connecting via cat 5 to a router that does NOT supply it
with electricity. And the router in all likelihood gas the phone socket

The ONT being outside means that if there is a fault a linesman can
attend and check even if you are not home. Appointment? Wassat?

The ONT is not outside. What is outside is a fibre termination block
that feeds optical cable to the ONT inside.

see...my installation

http://vps.templar.co.uk/index.php?album=FTTP%20installation

Thanks for those pictures - they clarify that what you say is true.

I see you've labelled one of the sockets "OR VOIP" (appears to be a
normal UK telephone socket); is that OpenReach? I didn't know they
provided VoIP. (Or is it just that they do, but you buy the VoIP
_service_ from someone else?)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

If a cluttered desk is characteristic of a cluttered mind, what does an
empty desk mean ?
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

On 2026/1/23 17:21:50, Blue wrote:

On 23/01/2026 4:56 pm, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

On 2026/1/23 14:18:27, Blue wrote:

Some of you have probably heard that BT is going to switch off the ol'
publicly switched telephone network in january next year, to be replaced >>> by the new voip based digital voice system.

Curious to hear what yall think of this

[snip]

As for how the switchoff is being presented, I think it's had - and
having - woefully little publicity at all; quite what the solution to
that is I'm not sure. But I think at the very least a few public
information films - with sufficient repeat frequency that we get sick of
them - would be a start. (Cf AIDS, CoViD, insurance mis-selling scams,
'flu jabs, ...)

---
Blue
why am i here?

Because you used "---" as a .sig separator :-)

I know that isn't what you were asking! But use "-- " - dash, dash,
space, on a line by themselves - as the separator; then, (some) news and
email clients will recognise it as a .sig sep., and won't quote anything
that follows it in replies/followups.

Noted! thank you!
I have to agree with the general sentiment that it's been woefully publicised though, i only found out because im into telecom infrastructure...

Yes, I fear there will be lots of tears before bedtime.

--
Blue
why am i here?

Unfortunately, you missed out the space, which is important. (If you
included it but your news client removed it, there's more of a problem.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

If a cluttered desk is characteristic of a cluttered mind, what does an
empty desk mean ?
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

On 24/01/2026 01:02, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

http://vps.templar.co.uk/index.php?album=FTTP%20installation

Thanks for those pictures - they clarify that what you say is true.

I see you've labelled one of the sockets "OR VOIP" (appears to be a
normal UK telephone socket); is that OpenReach? I didn't know they
provided VoIP. (Or is it just that they do, but you buy the VoIP
_service_ from someone else?)

The engineer said 'no, we wont be using that for any phone service'
But they certainly could come up with a fibre termination unit that has
no Ethernet - only a phone socket.
--
The biggest threat to humanity comes from socialism, which has utterly diverted our attention away from what really matters to our existential survival, to indulging in navel gazing and faux moral investigations
into what the world ought to be, whilst we fail utterly to deal with
what it actually is.


--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:

I see you've labelled one of the sockets "OR VOIP" (appears to be a
normal UK telephone socket); is that OpenReach? I didn't know they
provided VoIP. (Or is it just that they do, but you buy the VoIP
_service_ from someone else?)

An early iteration of the Openreach FTTP offering had them providing copper phone service from the ONT - I think the idea was they'd offer copper phone termination to ISPs just like previous BT Wholesale offerings. ISPs weren't having that because they wanted to handle the VOIP side of things themselves and not be locked into an Openreach monopoly. That's why you plug an
analogue phone into your ISP's router not the ONT.

I'm not sure if very many people got service actually provisioned using the
ONT phone port. Currently-installed ONTs don't have the analogue port any more.

Theo
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

On 23 Jan 2026 14:18, Blue wrote:

Some of you have probably heard that BT is going to switch off the ol' publicly switched telephone network in january next year, to be replaced
by the new voip based digital voice system.

Curious to hear what yall think of this

Things aren't looking good.

For a while I had Digital Voice (DV) on a BT Smart Hub 2 and it worked relatively well. DV is provided by the mechanism of an ATA in the Hub
and then an enhanced DECT connection to cordless handsets. I say
"enhanced" as it supports things like simultaneous ring if a second
call comes in and similar things.
BT also offered a "DECT Socket" which is a DECT device to pair with the
hub and then you can plug in an ordinary phone or device.

The downside with all this is that it is constrained by the range of
the DECT basestation in the hub so, instead, I plumbed in my existing
home extension wiring into the socket on the back of the hub.

Then I was encouraged to move to EE (almost the same company) and did
so, switching to a Smart Hub Plus. The extenders were a little better
than the ones that came with the BT Smart Hub 2 but couldn't cope with
more than 4. [Also the Guest Wi-Fi didn't extend :-(]
The UI was worse - unreliable in the App and not great via the browser
and with fewer features (no dynamic DNS, no setting of the DNS servers
and some other things)

BUT the worst bit was that EE could not make DV work for more than a
couple of weeks without needing a router reboot. We got to "deadlock"
and, in the end, EE told the Ombudsman they couldn't be expected to
make it work as the equipment wasn't made by them and the service
wasn't theirs. The Ombudsman agreed.

So, I ported my number out to A&A and bought a GrandStream ATA which
has been mostly reliable. It did go a bit funny after about 6 months
but not since.

I have switched to an Smart Hub Pro which gave me back dynamic DNS and
some other things but not all I wanted. And it exhibits something
similar to the DV problem on Wi-Fi Calling with my Samsung A35 - the
phone somehow falls off the network.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: uk.telecom

On 24/01/2026 14:07, Theo wrote:

I'm not sure if very many people got service actually provisioned using the ONT phone port.

My son did, in his new build flat he moved into in Dec 2017 using BT
internet.

He migrated to Sky in 2020, and the phone service (he didn't use with
either BT or Sky) was then provided using the port on the Sky router.

Amazingly, (with no request or otherwise), the Sky provided phone number
was the original BT one ! Fancy that !
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2