[Closed] Zen internet changes, and the end of phonelines.

Is this because you are on an old ADSL connection, I think there are additional costs with running the VOIP stuff. Openreach Begins ISP Pilot of All-IP Solution for ADSL Broadband

Thanks for the heads up about the price promise ending, I'm looking to switch back to them so might get that sorted.

I pay £23 a month for 30Mb broadband and a phone line with Plusnet which is the fastest we can get in our area.
That includes line rental.

https://www.plus.net/broadband/

It's strange that, for years, we've been told we need to pay for a phone line to get broadband. And now they've decided that we'll need to pay for broadband and extra for a landline! Regardless of why, I can't help feeling somewhat swindled.

@stumpy, I'd like to stay with Zen, for all sorts of reasons.

UrbanHiker

@stumpy, I’d like to stay with Zen, for all sorts of reasons.

Ah, OK. That wasn't clear to me from your post. Fair enough.

Interestingly, my current bill is made up of the following...

line rental, for the phone, £14, and
broadband, £12.50.

Wonder what will happen once there is no "line rental" any more once they turn it off in 2025! Might give them a call to see what the deal is.

@UrbanHiker: depends what the "broadband" is. If it's ADSL or FTTC then some ISPs (aaisp, for example) can provide a data-only phone line that can't take voice calls for less money. I've got FTTC on a data-only line which is £10/month.

If you've gone FTTP then you don't need a "phone line", as it's fibre to the door. With aaisp at least FTTP is a more expensive service but there's no line rental, so the final total is less if you disconnect the traditional line.

It's easy to get VoIP phones now for the glorious no-land-line future if you have FTTP, although obviously you have to pay someone for the number/routing. We had one but it was only used for spam calls, so we sold it.

We had one but it was only used for spam calls, so we sold it.

@rossburton what do you use to make spam calls now then? 😉

Back to the point that I failed to reply to:

…noticed phone lines end in 2025. So at that point if I want a phoneline* I’ll be forced to change contract, to include their “Digital Voice” service. The equivalent to my current contract with digital voice is £37, £6/mo more.

The glorious future involves people not having a traditional phone line (so that cost is removed from the bill), with any voice service *if required* being VoIP. I'd hope that the drop in the bill from the removal of the landline balances the addition of their VoIP service.

FWIW, aaisp (aa.net.uk) offer VoIP services at £1.20/month per number but no inclusive minutes.

I pay £23 a month for 30Mb broadband and a phone line with Plusnet which is the fastest we can get in our area.
That includes line rental.

I don't think PlusNet have said what they will do when the POTS system is turned off in 2025. I also think that the switchoff is something the vast majority of the public is unaware of. The industry seems to be saying 'it's fine, we'll think of something by 2025', but I'm not particularly reassured by that.

Just changed my ADSL + phoneline (9mbps actual speed for £49/month) with Zen to FTTP with Zen (actual 160Mbps for £39/month) - what's happening with the price promise?
My previous contract went for about 8 years without a change in price and I'm assuming my new contract won't change price in the future either.
Is this not the case for future contracts?

Edit: just found it. Bummer but not really surprising. Glad I got in before it ended!!

Nice one @rossburton, really useful info. Any idea about how much it would cost to call the aaisp phone from a "bt landline"?

I know most people use mobiles, but I can't help thinking landline lovers are going to be royaly stuffed when this change over takes place.

*I need a “landline” type phone, long story.

Can you summarise? I'm curious.

My mum can't get her head round phoning my mobile. So having a landline number, with a physical phone in my house, keeps her sweet. The only reason I have it, is for her. I never use it to phone out, and only mum has the number, so I never get called on it except from her. She loves having a hotline to her favourite son!

A voip would cover that, assuming that I could have a number with a local dial code, and was sensible price for her to dial into.

I might be wrong but I "think" incoming VOIP calls are free - someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

You could ditch the landline, go VOIP and have automatic forwarding of incoming calls to your mobile (although this would probably cost you/min).

The Zen Fritz!Box is all set up for an IP phone.

(and yes you could get a VOIP number with the same dial code - even the existing number although there's a cost involved with this. Sipgate are an option)

@UrbanHiker: as far as BT is concerned, the number is a landline.

I'd be looking at the services that will adopt a landline number and forward it to a mobile. 🙂

Nice one everyone. Think that's cleared up most things. Need to have a chat with Zen to see what's going to happen to the cost once the landline drops, and then I can make a decision.

Cheers All.

Hmmm. Wasn;t aware of this coming change. We have a landline for Mrs NBT's business, so will need to see what can be arranged. Happy to go for a "virtual" landlinee if that will be an option. Currently on PlusNet with the extra voicemail option

@nbt, just to be clear, the landline switch off isn't till 2025. Though obviously good to get your house in order sometime before then.

This thread prompted me to contact Zen, so thanks for that.

Just had a nice chat with them - only been a customer for 3 months on their fibre 300, so wasn't expecting anything. Their website was offering 500Mbps for the same price, they did this free of charge as well. Just a contract renewal and honoured the price freeze.

Sorry to hijack, just thought I'd share just in case anyone else was wondering what their options were! 🙂