Plexatalk and Phonely are both UK digital landline providers that let you make and receive calls over an internet connection rather than a traditional copper telephone line.
But there are some significant differences in how the two services are structured.
Phonely places a strong emphasis on its CallGuard call-protection features and provides a relatively packaged home-phone experience.
Plexatalk takes a more traditional SIP/VoIP approach, with rolling residential plans, optional hardware, support for different types of VoIP equipment and the ability to run your home phone independently of your broadband provider.
That distinction matters if you’re comparing more than just monthly minutes.
In this guide, we’ll compare:
Last checked: October 2026.
| Feature | Plexatalk | Phonely |
|---|---|---|
| Type of service | Independent SIP/VoIP provider | Independent digital landline/VoIP provider |
| Residential price | From £4/month | From £9.97/month |
| Entry allowance | 100 UK minutes | 1,600 UK minutes |
| 500-minute option | £10/month | Not currently offered |
| Unlimited option | £12.50/month | CallGuard plans include unlimited calls |
| Unlimited fair-use policy | 2,000 minutes/month | Fair-use policy applies |
| Residential minimum term | Rolling monthly; 30 days’ notice | 18 months currently advertised |
| Entry-plan setup fee | £15 on Micro and Basic | Check current plan/order terms |
| Number porting | Included | Available |
| Existing analogue handset | Yes, with ATA | Yes, with compatible adapter |
| Plexatalk ATA | Optional, £50 one-off | — |
| Phonely adapter | — | Included on some plans/payment options |
| Bring your own SIP hardware | Supported on Plexatalk SIP services | Phonely says it cannot guarantee or support third-party equipment |
| SIP credentials / softphones | Supported; authentication details can be requested | Not prominently advertised as a residential feature |
| Call forwarding | Included | Check current plan/features |
| Voicemail | Included | Included |
| Caller ID | Included | Included |
| 141 number withholding | Yes | Yes |
| Works independently of ISP | Yes | Yes |
| Starlink | Yes | Yes |
| Three 4G/5G broadband | Yes | Phonely states it works across broadband providers; check your particular setup |
| Fibre/FTTP | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile VoIP apps | Supported using SIP credentials | Not prominently marketed for residential service |
| TLS documented publicly | Yes, where configured | We could not find equivalent public residential technical documentation |
| CallGuard-style protection | No equivalent product | Available on CallGuard plans |
| UK-based support | Yes | Yes |
Prices and product details can change, so always check the provider’s current pricing and terms before ordering.
The easiest way to understand the difference isn’t actually price.
It’s how much control you want over your telephone service.
Phonely is designed to make digital voice feel like a packaged replacement for a traditional home telephone. You select a plan, use compatible equipment and Phonely handles the telephone service.
Its higher-tier CallGuard offering adds a substantial collection of call screening, recording, notification and trusted-person features.
Plexatalk comes from the other direction.
We operate a SIP-based VoIP service. That means you can take the straightforward route and use a preconfigured adapter with your existing telephone, but you’re not necessarily limited to that setup.
Depending on your requirements, Plexatalk can be used with:
For someone who simply wants their old telephone to ring, most of this technology can remain invisible.
For someone who understands VoIP—or wants more control later—it can make a considerable difference.
Plexatalk currently offers four main residential packages.
Includes 100 UK landline and mobile minutes.
There is currently a £15 connection and activation fee.
Includes 250 UK landline and mobile minutes.
There is currently a £15 connection and activation fee.
Includes 500 UK landline and mobile minutes with no connection fee.
Includes UK landline and mobile calling subject to a 2,000-minute monthly fair-use policy.
There is currently no connection fee.
Plexatalk also publishes out-of-bundle rates of 2p/minute for UK landlines and 5p/minute for UK mobiles.
An optional preconfigured Grandstream VoIP adapter is £50 one-off if you want to continue using a conventional telephone.
Phonely’s entry Digital Landline plan is currently advertised at £9.97/month, increasing to £11.97 on 1 April 2027, and includes 1,600 UK minutes.
Its CallGuard plan is currently advertised at £14.98/month, increasing to £16.98 on 1 April 2027, with unlimited UK calls subject to its fair-use terms.
CallGuard+ is currently advertised at £29/month, increasing to £31 from 1 April 2027.
CallGuard plans include additional services such as call screening, automatic blocking, recording, alerts, transcription and trusted-person functionality.
Those features may be valuable to some households. But if you’re primarily looking for a telephone service rather than a monitoring/protection platform, it’s worth comparing the underlying phone functionality separately.
This is one of the largest practical differences between the two providers.
Plexatalk’s current Home VoIP packages are rolling monthly.
There is no minimum residential contract term and customers are asked to provide 30 days’ notice.
That’s particularly useful if you’re trying VoIP for the first time or don’t want your telephone tied to a long-term agreement.
It’s important not to confuse these residential packages with other Plexatalk products.
Some business call packages have 12-month minimum terms, and promotional hardware bundles can have longer commitments. Always compare the contract attached to the particular product you’re buying.
Phonely’s current residential pricing pages advertise an 18-month contract.
Its terms also state that services may have a minimum period of up to 18 months and that cancelling during that minimum period can result in the remaining amount becoming payable.
So if flexibility is important, contract length deserves as much attention as the monthly charge.
Yes—with either provider, an ordinary analogue telephone can generally continue to be used with the appropriate VoIP adapter.
With Plexatalk, an optional preconfigured Grandstream ATA is currently available for £50.
The adapter sits between your broadband router and telephone:
Internet → Router → VoIP adapter → Existing telephone
Your phone can then behave much as it did on a conventional landline.
Phonely similarly supplies compatible VoIP adapter equipment depending on the package/payment arrangement.
There’s therefore no need to replace a perfectly good DECT cordless phone simply because the underlying telephone network has changed.
This is an area where the services differ more significantly.
Plexatalk’s wider VoIP service explicitly supports bring-your-own SIP hardware, provided the equipment supports the necessary SIP configuration.
Plexatalk also publishes connection information for third-party VoIP applications and discusses providing configuration details for customers’ own equipment.
That potentially gives technically confident customers considerably more choice.
You might use:
Compatibility should still be confirmed before buying equipment.
Phonely’s terms take a different approach.
They state that Phonely is responsible for and supports equipment it supplies, and that it cannot guarantee its services will work with other equipment.
That’s not necessarily a disadvantage for somebody who wants a completely managed home-phone replacement.
But technically confident users wanting to select and configure their own SIP equipment should establish exactly what Phonely permits and supports before signing up.
This catches a lot of people out.
A router having a telephone socket does not automatically mean that socket can be used with an independent VoIP provider.
Routers supplied by broadband companies such as BT, Sky, EE and Virgin Media may have telephone ports provisioned specifically for that provider’s own Digital Voice service.
The SIP configuration may not be available to the customer.
In that situation, an independent ATA or SIP phone is normally the cleaner solution.
Instead of:
Telephone → ISP’s locked phone socket
you can have:
Telephone → Plexatalk ATA → Router → Internet
Your telephone provider and broadband provider are then separate.
Yes.
This is one of the useful applications for an independent VoIP service.
Three Home Broadband provides the internet connection while Plexatalk provides the telephone service separately.
Your setup can therefore look like:
Three 4G/5G → Three router → Plexatalk ATA/SIP phone → Home telephone
Or you can use compatible VoIP software over the connection.
This means moving away from traditional broadband doesn’t automatically mean abandoning your existing landline number.
Plexatalk specifically publishes information for customers moving to Three and other 4G/5G broadband services.
As with any mobile broadband connection, call performance ultimately depends on the quality and stability of the underlying 4G/5G connection.
Yes.
Plexatalk specifically supports using VoIP over Starlink.
Starlink provides internet access but does not provide a conventional UK landline service.
Plexatalk can sit independently on top of that connection.
You can therefore use:
Starlink → Router/network → Plexatalk ATA → Existing telephone
or connect a compatible SIP telephone or VoIP application.
This can be particularly useful in rural properties where Starlink replaces an older broadband and landline package.
Your telephone number isn’t tied to Starlink either.
If you later move from Starlink to fibre, 5G or another broadband service, the Plexatalk account can continue independently.
Phonely also specifically advertises Starlink-compatible VoIP, so Starlink compatibility isn’t unique to Plexatalk.
Because Plexatalk is an independent internet telephone service, it isn’t normally tied to one broadband company.
Plexatalk publishes information about using the service when moving between providers and technologies including:
The important requirement isn’t the logo on the router.
It’s having a sufficiently stable internet connection and a network configuration that allows the VoIP equipment to communicate correctly.
Phonely similarly markets its service as working independently of your broadband supplier.
So both providers have an advantage over ISP-specific Digital Voice services if you want to change broadband without automatically changing telephone provider.
With an independent VoIP provider, usually very little.
Suppose you have Plexatalk running over Three 5G today and decide to install full fibre next year.
Your number remains with Plexatalk.
You reconnect the ATA or SIP telephone to the new internet connection and continue using the telephone service.
You don’t need to port the number again simply because your internet supplier changed.
That’s one of the less obvious benefits of separating internet access from telephone service.
Technical comparisons should be careful here because terms such as “encrypted VoIP” can refer to several different parts of a call.
There are two technologies commonly discussed:
TLS (Transport Layer Security) can protect SIP signalling between compatible endpoints and the VoIP platform.
SRTP (Secure Real-time Transport Protocol) can encrypt the audio/media portion of a compatible VoIP call.
They are not the same thing.
Plexatalk publicly documents TLS in its technical guides.
Our connection documentation describes UDP, TCP and TLS transport options and states that TLS can be selected where the service has been configured for secure SIP over TLS.
We also discuss using TLS as one method of avoiding problematic SIP ALG behaviour, and pairing TLS with SRTP where supported.
That doesn’t mean every Plexatalk residential call should be assumed to use end-to-end encryption.
The precise configuration depends on the service, endpoint and route involved.
If encrypted signalling or media is important to you, ask us about your particular configuration.
At the time this comparison was checked, we couldn’t find an equivalent public-facing Phonely residential document clearly specifying customer-accessible SIP transport options such as UDP/TCP/TLS or SRTP configuration.
That doesn’t mean Phonely doesn’t use encryption internally.
It simply means we don’t think it would be fair to make assumptions where the technical specification isn’t publicly stated.
Customers for whom TLS/SRTP is an important requirement should ask either provider to confirm exactly what is supported.
Here’s another subject most consumer comparison pages completely ignore.
VoIP has to operate through your router’s NAT and firewall.
Some routers have a feature called SIP ALG, intended to help SIP traffic pass through NAT.
Unfortunately, implementations vary, and SIP ALG can sometimes cause problems including:
Plexatalk publishes technical guidance covering SIP ALG and troubleshooting.
TLS can sometimes also help because the router can no longer inspect and alter encrypted SIP signalling in the same way.
Mobile and satellite connections can additionally use technologies such as CGNAT.
That doesn’t automatically make VoIP unusable—Plexatalk specifically supports services such as Three 5G and Starlink—but it makes good NAT handling and correct VoIP configuration more important.
For most home users, we’ll handle the technical side.
For technical users, however, it’s worth knowing what’s happening underneath.
Plexatalk supports third-party SIP applications such as Zoiper.
Authentication details can be requested where appropriate, allowing compatible software to register to the VoIP service.
That can mean your landline number isn’t necessarily confined to a telephone sitting in your hallway.
Depending on configuration, you can use a compatible VoIP client over Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Plexatalk does not currently rely on a proprietary Plexatalk-branded calling app; instead, it can work with compatible SIP software.
For some customers that’s less “all in one”.
For others it’s exactly the point: you’re using an open, established VoIP ecosystem rather than being tied to one manufacturer’s app.
Both providers support transferring existing telephone numbers.
Plexatalk includes UK number porting with its residential plans.
After ordering, we’ll collect the information required for the transfer and provide the relevant Letter of Authority.
A straightforward port commonly takes around a week, while previously ported or more complicated numbers can take longer.
The most important advice is simple:
Don’t cancel your existing telephone service before arranging the number transfer.
Doing so can make recovering the number substantially more difficult.
Phonely also supports number porting.
Plexatalk’s residential packages are unusual in that inclusive minutes can also cover selected international destinations.
The current residential page states that inclusive minutes cover more than 60 international destinations, with examples including the USA, Canada and Australia.
Check the current destination list before assuming a particular country is included.
Phonely supports international calling too, with rates varying by destination.
If you regularly telephone another country, don’t compare providers using UK minutes alone—calculate the likely international cost as well.
Neither Plexatalk nor Phonely magically restores the old copper landline’s ability to operate independently of household broadband equipment.
VoIP needs:
If your router and ATA lose power, the physical home telephone won’t operate through them.
Plexatalk offers some alternative approaches.
Calls can be forwarded to a mobile, and compatible SIP apps can potentially operate using mobile data if your home broadband is unavailable.
A UPS can also keep a router and ATA powered for a period during a local electricity outage.
Anyone who relies on a landline for a telecare device, medical alarm, lift phone, burglar alarm or other critical equipment should confirm compatibility with the equipment provider before switching.
Rolling residential plans
The standard residential packages have no minimum contract period and require 30 days’ notice.
Plans from £4/month
Light users don’t have to buy hundreds or thousands of minutes they won’t use.
Independent of your broadband provider
You can move between fibre, cable, 4G/5G, Starlink and other internet providers without automatically moving the telephone service.
Flexible hardware
Use an ATA and conventional phone, compatible SIP phone or—in supported configurations—your own SIP hardware.
Mobile/softphone support
SIP credentials can be used with compatible third-party applications where configured.
Published technical information
Plexatalk publishes information about SIP, TLS, SIP ALG and configuring third-party VoIP clients.
Free number porting on residential packages
You can transfer an eligible existing UK landline number.
Selected international destinations included
Current home packages include selected international destinations within the allowance.
Adapter isn’t automatically free
If you need Plexatalk’s preconfigured ATA, it currently costs £50 one-off.
£15 activation on the two cheapest plans
Micro and Basic currently carry a connection/activation charge.
Unlimited doesn’t literally mean infinite
The Unlimited residential package has a 2,000-minute monthly fair-use limit.
More flexibility can mean more technical choice
Customers who deliberately choose their own SIP equipment may need to configure it. Customers who don’t want that can simply order a preconfigured adapter.
No equivalent to Phonely CallGuard
If features such as trusted-person alerts, live call joining and Phonely’s specialist call-protection ecosystem are your main priority, CallGuard offers functionality Plexatalk’s standard home service isn’t designed to replicate.
Large entry-plan allowance
The £9.97 Digital Landline plan currently includes 1,600 UK minutes, which could suit households making substantially more calls than Plexatalk’s smaller plans.
Packaged setup
Phonely is strongly geared towards customers wanting a straightforward replacement home-phone service rather than configuring SIP equipment themselves.
CallGuard
Its specialist plans offer an extensive collection of call screening, recording, alerting and trusted-person functionality.
Independent of broadband supplier
Like Plexatalk, Phonely isn’t tied to one ISP.
Starlink support
Phonely specifically advertises compatibility with Starlink broadband.
18-month commitment
Current Phonely residential plans advertise an 18-month contract, compared with Plexatalk’s rolling residential service.
Less emphasis on customer-configurable SIP
Phonely’s terms say it cannot guarantee compatibility with third-party equipment and only supports equipment it supplies.
Technical SIP details aren’t as prominent
We couldn’t find comparable public residential documentation detailing customer SIP configuration and TLS/SRTP options.
Entry pricing can be less attractive for light users
Someone making only 50 or 100 minutes of calls each month may not need a 1,600-minute allowance.
It depends on how you use your telephone.
Someone making fewer than 100 minutes of calls could pay £4/month on Plexatalk Micro, although the £15 activation fee and any required hardware should be included when calculating the first-year cost.
Someone using 200 minutes could choose the £6 Basic package.
Someone making around 500 minutes could choose Standard for £10.
A heavier caller could choose Plexatalk Unlimited for £12.50, subject to its 2,000-minute fair-use limit.
Phonely’s £9.97 entry package includes substantially more minutes—1,600—so comparing £4 with £9.97 without comparing the allowances would be misleading.
The better calculation is:
monthly service + setup + hardware + expected calls + contract commitment
rather than monthly subscription alone.
You want your telephone service separate from your broadband.
You prefer a rolling monthly residential service.
You make relatively few calls and want a low-cost package.
You want to use Starlink, Three 4G/5G or another internet-only connection while keeping a landline number.
You want the option of using SIP-compatible equipment.
You want to use a third-party VoIP app.
You prefer a provider that publishes more information about the underlying VoIP technology.
Or you simply want an ordinary home telephone without paying for a larger feature package.
You want a larger inclusive allowance on the entry package.
You prefer provider-supplied equipment and a more managed setup.
You specifically want CallGuard’s screening, recording, notification or trusted-person functionality.
You don’t mind an 18-month minimum commitment.
And you aren’t particularly interested in configuring your own SIP endpoints.
Plexatalk and Phonely can both replace a traditional UK landline, let you retain an eligible existing number and operate independently of your broadband supplier.
But they approach digital voice differently.
Phonely offers a more packaged home-phone product, with its strongest differentiation coming from CallGuard.
Plexatalk is closer to a flexible, independent SIP telephone service.
Our residential plans start at £4/month and are rolling monthly. You can keep things simple with a preconfigured adapter and your existing telephone, or use compatible SIP hardware and software where appropriate.
Plexatalk also works particularly well when your internet connection doesn’t come with a traditional telephone service—whether that’s Starlink, Three 4G/5G, EE 5G, Plusnet Full Fibre, CityFibre, Hyperoptic or another FTTP provider.
And because the phone service isn’t tied to the broadband company, changing internet provider doesn’t mean changing your telephone provider again.
That’s the difference we think matters most.
Not simply who offers the cheapest headline price.
But who gives you the telephone system, contract and level of flexibility that actually fits the way you want to use your home phone.
Plexatalk residential packages currently start at £4/month for 100 minutes, while Phonely’s Digital Landline starts at £9.97/month with 1,600 UK minutes.
They’re therefore not directly equivalent packages. Compare the number of minutes you actually use, any setup or hardware costs and the minimum contract period.
Plexatalk’s current residential Home VoIP packages are rolling monthly with no minimum term and 30 days’ notice.
Other Plexatalk business products and hardware promotions can have minimum terms, so check the particular product you’re ordering.
Phonely’s current residential pricing page states an 18-month contract.
Yes. Plexatalk VoIP can operate over Three 4G/5G broadband, subject to having a sufficiently stable internet connection.
Yes. Plexatalk specifically supports VoIP over Starlink and publishes guidance for Starlink customers who want to retain their landline number.
Yes. Phonely also specifically advertises a Starlink-compatible VoIP service.
Yes. Plexatalk’s telephone service is independent of your broadband provider.
Usually, yes. An analogue telephone can connect through an ATA. Plexatalk currently offers a preconfigured Grandstream adapter for £50 one-off.
Plexatalk supports SIP-compatible equipment on applicable services. Check your particular device with us before purchasing equipment specifically for the service.
Yes. Plexatalk publishes configuration instructions for third-party SIP applications including Zoiper, and authentication details can be requested where appropriate.
Plexatalk publicly documents SIP over TLS and describes TLS as available where a service is configured for it. Support should not be interpreted as meaning every endpoint or call automatically uses TLS/SRTP. Contact us if encrypted signalling or media is a specific requirement.
We couldn’t find a clear public residential specification detailing customer TLS/SRTP support when this article was checked. That doesn’t establish that Phonely doesn’t use these technologies; customers requiring them should ask Phonely for its current technical specification.
Both providers offer number porting. Plexatalk currently includes porting with its residential Home VoIP plans.
No. Arrange the number transfer before cancelling the existing service. Cancelling first can make retaining or recovering the number more difficult.
The ATA/router setup requires electricity and a working internet connection. Options such as mobile call forwarding, a SIP app using mobile data or a UPS can provide additional resilience.
Some equipment can work over VoIP and some legacy devices cannot. Always ask the alarm, telecare or device provider to confirm compatibility and test critical equipment before relying on a digital phone service.
If you were previously a TalkTalk customer and your service has recently moved to Fleur Telecom, you may now be looking at your options. Unlike a conventional switch, where you actively choose a new provider, some former TalkTalk customers have found themselves with Fleur following the transfer of their service.
That does not necessarily mean you need to change anything. If you are happy with Fleur Telecom, you can simply continue with your existing service. However, if you are already searching for a Fleur Telecom alternative, it is worth knowing that you have more than one way to approach the decision.
You might want to use a different broadband provider, prefer not to have your broadband and home phone tied together, or simply want more control over a landline number that you may have had for many years.
This is particularly relevant as the UK moves away from traditional analogue landlines towards digital telephone services. Increasingly, home phone calls are being delivered using an internet connection rather than the old analogue telephone network.
Crucially, changing your arrangements does not necessarily mean finding another company to replace both Fleur broadband and your home phone.
You can potentially separate your broadband and landline services. Your broadband can come from the provider that suits your household, while your existing home telephone number can be moved to an independent VoIP provider such as Plexatalk. This gives you another option for keeping your familiar landline number while choosing broadband separately.
If you were a TalkTalk customer and have recently received communications from Fleur Telecom, you are not alone. Around 13,500 residential broadband and telephone customers were transferred from TalkTalk to Fleur Telecom in 2026, with Fleur taking responsibility for the affected accounts from 1 September.
For customers included in the transfer, this was not the same as shopping around and choosing a new provider. TalkTalk notified the affected customers of the change, with their accounts then moving across to Fleur.
Importantly, the transfer itself was intended to cause as little disruption as possible. Customers were due to keep their existing package, pricing, terms and conditions, while Fleur states that their phone number and underlying network would also remain the same. In practical terms, the main immediate change was the company managing the account, providing support and issuing the bill.
Many of the customers being transferred were also using older types of telephone and broadband service, including what the telecoms industry calls WLR and ADSL.
You do not need to understand those abbreviations to understand what is happening. Broadly, these are older services associated with the traditional copper telephone network. That network is now being replaced by newer digital technology, meaning many households using older connections will need to be migrated to modern services.
This also helps explain why someone might now be searching for an alternative to Fleur Telecom. Being moved to a provider as part of a customer transfer is different from actively comparing the market and choosing that provider yourself. That does not mean there is anything wrong with staying with Fleur; customers who are happy with the service can continue using it.
For those who do want to review their options, however, the transfer comes at an important time. The UK’s traditional telephone network is undergoing a much wider move towards digital landlines, and that change opens up different ways to arrange your home phone and broadband.
At the same time as some former TalkTalk customers are getting used to having Fleur Telecom as their provider, another much bigger change is taking place across the UK: the move away from the traditional analogue telephone network.
For decades, a home landline worked through the familiar telephone socket in the wall. Your telephone service travelled over the traditional phone network, while broadband was often supplied over the same copper line. As a result, most of us became accustomed to thinking of the landline and broadband as two parts of the same service.
That is changing.
The old analogue telephone network is being retired, and home phone services are increasingly becoming digital. You may see terms such as the PSTN switch-off, WLR withdrawal, digital landline or VoIP used to describe different parts of this transition.
For an ordinary household, the important point is much simpler: your home telephone calls can now be carried using an internet connection instead of relying on the old analogue telephone service.
You can still have a home telephone number. You can still make and receive calls in much the same way. Depending on the equipment and service you choose, you may even be able to continue using your existing landline handset with a suitable VoIP adapter.
For former TalkTalk customers who have been transferred to Fleur, the timing is significant. You are potentially reviewing who provides your services at the same time as the technology behind the traditional home phone is changing.
That may sound like another complication, but it can also be an opportunity.
Once telephone calls are delivered digitally, it becomes easier to think of your internet connection and telephone service as two separate things. Your broadband provides the internet connection, while a VoIP provider can provide your home telephone service over that connection.
That leads to an important question:
If your landline is becoming digital anyway, does your home phone actually need to come from your broadband provider?
Not necessarily. With an independent VoIP service such as Plexatalk, you can potentially move your existing landline number to a dedicated home phone service while choosing your broadband provider separately.
If you are looking for a Fleur Telecom alternative, it is useful to start by considering what you actually want to change. You do not necessarily need to move everything to another provider.
Broadly, there are three approaches.
The first is simply to stay with Fleur Telecom. If the service, price and arrangements suit you, there is no need to switch purely because your account was transferred from TalkTalk.
The second option is to move your broadband and home phone together to another provider. This is the traditional approach: you compare packages available at your address and choose another company to provide both services. What is available will depend on your location, current arrangements and any contractual commitments you have.
There is also a third option that is sometimes overlooked: separate your broadband from your home telephone service.
Instead of searching for one company to replace everything Fleur provides, you can choose broadband based on what matters to you — such as speed, availability, price or the type of connection — and use a specialist VoIP provider separately for your home phone.
This changes the question from:
“Which company should replace Fleur?”
to two separate questions:
“Who do I want supplying my broadband?”
and:
“Who do I want looking after my home phone number?”
That distinction can be particularly important if your landline number matters more to you than the company supplying your internet.
Many households have kept the same home telephone number for years. It may be the number held by friends and relatives, doctors, tradespeople and other important contacts. You may therefore want to keep that number even if you decide to change how you receive your broadband.
With an independent VoIP provider such as Plexatalk, the aim is to separate those decisions. Your existing landline number can potentially be transferred to the VoIP service, while your broadband is supplied independently.
In other words, Plexatalk does not have to replace Fleur Telecom as an entire broadband-and-phone package. It can instead provide the home phone element, giving you greater freedom to decide where your internet connection comes from.
In many circumstances, yes. If you decide to leave Fleur Telecom, an existing UK geographic landline number can normally be transferred to another telephone provider rather than being lost when you switch.
This process is known as number porting. Put simply, it means moving your telephone number from your current provider to your new provider.
Plexatalk can arrange for an existing landline number to be transferred to its VoIP service, subject to the number being eligible for porting and the transfer being accepted.
From your perspective, very little needs to change for the people calling you. Your telephone service moves to Plexatalk, but the familiar number remains the one that friends and family use to reach you.
That can be particularly valuable if you have had the same home number for many years. Your number might already be held by your GP surgery, hospital, bank, utility companies, clubs, carers and other organisations. Friends and relatives may know it by heart or have had it saved in their address books for decades.
Keeping the number avoids having to contact everyone with a replacement.
There is, however, an important point to understand if keeping your number is a priority:
Do not simply cancel your existing telephone service before arranging the number transfer.
Number porting is generally much more straightforward while the existing service and number remain active. Cancelling first can complicate the process and potentially put the number at risk.
Instead, arrange the port with the new telephone provider before making changes to the existing service. Plexatalk uses a Letter of Authorisation as part of its switching process and can help customers through the necessary steps.
It may sometimes be possible to recover and transfer a number shortly after a service has already been cancelled. However, this should not be relied upon as your switching strategy.
If keeping your home phone number is particularly important to you, contact us at Plexatalk before cancelling or changing your existing Fleur telephone service. The team can check the circumstances of your number and explain the appropriate order for arranging the transfer.
For many years, home broadband and landline services have been sold together. Your broadband provider supplied the internet connection, looked after your telephone service and managed your landline number, usually as part of the same account.
That arrangement can be convenient, but it also creates a dependency between the two services. When you decide to change broadband provider, you may also have to think about what happens to your home phone and, importantly, the telephone number you want to keep.
Moving your landline number to an independent VoIP provider such as Plexatalk offers a different approach.
Instead of treating broadband and your home phone as one package, you can separate them:
Broadband → Provider of your choice
Home phone → Plexatalk
Existing number → Ported to Plexatalk
Your Plexatalk home phone service then uses your internet connection to make and receive calls, but Plexatalk does not need to be the company providing that internet connection.
The longer-term benefit is flexibility.
Perhaps today you choose full fibre from one broadband company because it offers the right combination of speed and price. In a few years, you might find a better deal elsewhere or decide that a different type of internet connection suits your household.
If your telephone number is already with Plexatalk, changing broadband provider does not necessarily mean moving your home phone number again. Your broadband can change underneath it while your telephone service remains with the same VoIP provider.
That distinction can be particularly useful for households that view these two services differently. You might regard broadband as something to compare and shop around for every few years, while regarding your home telephone number as a permanent point of contact that you would prefer to leave alone.
Separating the services will not be the right choice for everybody. Some people prefer having broadband and telephone services with one company, receiving one bill and having one provider to contact.
But if you are already looking for an alternative to Fleur Telecom, it is worth knowing that another bundled provider is not your only option. You can potentially choose broadband on its own merits while keeping your established home number with a separate, dedicated telephone provider.
For many households, yes. Moving your landline to VoIP does not necessarily mean replacing the telephone you already know how to use.
If you have a traditional corded telephone or a cordless DECT phone with a base station, it can often be connected to Plexatalk using a small device called a VoIP adapter.
We can supply a pre-configured Grandstream HT802 VoIP adapter, currently priced at £50 as a one-off cost. Because the adapter is configured for the service before it reaches you, you do not need to understand complicated VoIP settings to get started.
The basic setup looks like this:
Existing telephone / DECT base → VoIP adapter → broadband router → Plexatalk
Instead of plugging your telephone into the traditional wall phone socket, you connect it to the adapter. The adapter then connects to your broadband router. It effectively acts as the bridge between a familiar home telephone and the newer internet-based phone service.
If you have several cordless handsets connected to one DECT base station, you would normally connect the base station to the adapter rather than replacing each individual handset. Compatibility can vary, so it is sensible to check your particular equipment before switching.
You are not limited to keeping an old-style telephone either. Plexatalk can also be used with compatible VoIP phones, while suitable smartphone or softphone applications provide another way to make and receive calls. Plexatalk notes that authentication details need to be requested when using compatible VoIP apps.
For someone who simply wants to keep their familiar home phone and number, however, an adapter can make the transition relatively straightforward: the telephone can stay familiar even though the technology carrying the calls has changed.
Potentially, yes. Looking for a Fleur Telecom alternative does not necessarily mean you want to stop using every Fleur service.
You may be perfectly happy with your existing broadband connection but want more control over your home telephone number. Alternatively, you might simply prefer to separate your phone service from your broadband so that the two can be managed independently in the future.
Plexatalk’s home phone service works using a suitable internet connection. That internet connection does not inherently have to be supplied by Plexatalk.
This means your arrangement could potentially look like this:
Broadband → Fleur Telecom
Home phone → Plexatalk
Existing landline number → Ported to Plexatalk
Later, if you decide to change broadband provider, your Plexatalk telephone service and number can potentially remain where they are. You would simply use the VoIP service over your new internet connection instead.
Equally, if you already know that you want to change broadband, you can choose a new broadband provider independently rather than limiting your search to companies that also provide the particular home phone service you want.
There is one important practical consideration. Before changing or cancelling anything with Fleur, check the terms of your individual package and contract. Removing or transferring the telephone element could affect your existing services, charges or contractual arrangements.
If keeping your current landline number is important, speak to Plexatalk about the number porting process before cancelling your existing telephone service. That way, the number transfer can be considered as part of the wider change rather than as an afterthought.
Before changing anything, take a few minutes to establish exactly what services you currently have and what would happen if you moved them. This is particularly important if your broadband and telephone are currently supplied together.
Start by checking:
The last point is especially important.
If you have had the same home phone number for years, do not simply cancel the existing telephone service and then try to move the number afterwards.
Instead, establish your contractual position with Fleur first. Then contact Plexatalk and explain that you want to transfer your existing landline number to its VoIP service. Plexatalk can check the details and guide you through the number-porting process.
Before making any changes, check with Fleur how transferring your telephone number could affect the broadband, telephone service, charges or contract you currently have. If keeping your number is important, also speak to Plexatalk before cancelling anything so the number transfer can be planned in the correct order.
We can sometimes recover a number when the previous service has already been cancelled recently, but this should be treated as a fallback rather than the preferred way to switch.
If your landline number matters to you, the safest principle is simple: check first, arrange the number transfer, and only then make the necessary changes to your existing telephone service.
For former TalkTalk customers, the move to Fleur Telecom may have been unexpected. At the same time, the wider transition from traditional analogue landlines to digital phone services means many households are having to think about how they want their home telephone to work in the future.
If you are happy with Fleur, remaining with them may be perfectly reasonable. But if the transfer has prompted you to review your options, remember that you do not necessarily have to move from one combined broadband-and-phone package straight into another.
You can separate the two.
Keep your familiar landline number with Plexatalk and choose your broadband independently.
Plexatalk’s residential VoIP plans can provide the home phone element over a suitable internet connection, while your broadband can come from whichever provider suits your household.
Most importantly, if keeping your existing telephone number matters to you, do not cancel your current telephone service first. Arrange the number port before terminating the existing service wherever possible.
Thinking of leaving Fleur Telecom but want to keep your landline number? Check out our plans here.
The Cisco 190 Series ATA is an analogue telephone adapter (ATA) that allows you to connect a traditional analogue telephone, fax machine or other compatible analogue device to the Plexatalk SIP telephone service.
This guide explains how to connect your Cisco ATA, find its IP address, access its configuration page and enter the SIP account details supplied by Plexatalk.
This guide covers the following Cisco multiplatform models:
Before you begin, you’ll need the SIP account details supplied by Plexatalk:
1000Enter these details exactly as supplied. SIP passwords are case-sensitive.
You’ll also need:
Connect an Ethernet cable between the NETWORK port on the Cisco ATA and your router or network.
Connect your analogue telephone to the PHONE 1 port.
If you have a Cisco ATA 192 and are configuring a second line, a second analogue device can be connected to PHONE 2.
Connect the ATA’s power supply and allow the device a few minutes to start.
Before you can configure the ATA, you need to find its IP address.
Pick up the handset of the analogue telephone connected to the ATA.
Dial:
****
This opens the ATA’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) menu.
Then dial:
110#
The ATA will read its current IP address aloud.
For example, you might hear:
192.168.1.123
Make a note of the IP address.
The address will normally begin with something such as 192.168. or 10. depending on how your network is configured.
If the ATA reports an address beginning with 169. or reports 0.0.0.0, it has probably not received a valid IP address from your network. Check the Ethernet connection and your router or network configuration before continuing.
Using a computer, tablet or phone connected to the same network as the Cisco ATA, open a web browser.
Enter the IP address you obtained in the previous step into the browser’s address bar.
For example:
http://192.168.1.123
The Cisco ATA configuration page should appear.
If the page doesn’t open, check that:
Sign in to the ATA’s administration interface.
If the ATA is new, has been factory reset or hasn’t previously been configured, its default administrator credentials may be:
Username: admin
Password: admin
If these credentials don’t work, the administrator password may previously have been changed.
If the ATA came from another telephone provider, that provider may also have changed or restricted access to the device.
Don’t confuse the password used to access the Cisco configuration page with the SIP Password supplied by Plexatalk.
The administrator password gives you access to the ATA’s settings.
Your Plexatalk SIP Password allows the ATA to register with our telephone service.
They are not interchangeable.
Once logged in, switch to the ATA’s advanced or administrator configuration view if required and locate the settings for Voice and Line 1.
The exact wording displayed can vary slightly depending on the Cisco ATA model and firmware version.
Enter the SIP account information supplied by Plexatalk.
Locate the Proxy or SIP server setting and enter the SIP Server supplied by us.
For example:
Proxy: your supplied SIP server
Do not add http:// or https:// unless we have specifically instructed you to do so.
Locate the User ID setting and enter the extension supplied by Plexatalk.
For example:
User ID: 1000
If the ATA provides a separate authentication or Auth ID field, enter your supplied extension unless Plexatalk has provided a different authentication ID.
For example:
Auth ID: 1000
Locate the Password setting and enter the SIP Password supplied by Plexatalk.
Password: your supplied SIP password
Remember that SIP passwords are case-sensitive.
Be careful not to enter the ATA’s administrator password in this field.
Locate the SIP transport or connection setting for the line.
Set this to the Connection Type supplied by Plexatalk:
The transport must match the connection type supplied with your Plexatalk SIP account. Selecting a different transport can prevent the ATA from registering.
Unless Plexatalk has supplied additional configuration information, leave other SIP settings at their existing or default values.
Save or submit your changes using the option provided in the Cisco configuration interface.
Allow the ATA a short time to apply the new settings and connect to Plexatalk.
The device may restart after its configuration is saved.
Once it has finished, pick up the connected telephone and check for a dial tone.
Try making an outgoing call.
Check that the analogue telephone is connected securely to PHONE 1.
Make sure the ATA is powered on and that the Ethernet cable is connected securely between its NETWORK port and your router or network.
If the ATA has registered successfully but there is still no dial tone, try another analogue telephone or telephone cable if available.
Check the SIP configuration carefully.
In particular, confirm that:
After correcting any settings, save the configuration and give the ATA a short time to register again.
Your ATA needs a valid local IP address before it can connect to the Internet and the Plexatalk service.
Check that the Ethernet cable is connected to the NETWORK port.
Connect an analogue telephone to PHONE 1, pick up the handset and dial:
****
Then dial:
110#
The ATA will read its current IP address aloud.
An address such as 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x will normally indicate that the ATA has obtained a local network address.
If the address begins with 169. or is 0.0.0.0, the ATA has probably not received a valid address from your router.
Check the Ethernet cable and router connection. If necessary, restart the router and ATA.
If your Cisco ATA was previously supplied or configured by another VoIP provider, it may still contain that provider’s provisioning information.
This can cause the ATA to reconnect to the previous provider or overwrite settings you enter manually.
If this happens, contact the previous provider and ask them to remove the device from their provisioning platform.
They may ask you for information including:
If you purchased the ATA secondhand, you may need assistance from the previous provider or Cisco before it can be used with another SIP service.
A factory reset should normally be a last resort, as it completely removes the existing configuration from the ATA.
Before resetting the device, make sure you have the Plexatalk SIP account details needed to configure it again.
To perform a factory reset through the Cisco web interface:
**** followed by 110#.After the factory reset, follow this guide again and enter the SIP details supplied by Plexatalk.
Important: A factory reset erases the ATA’s existing settings and customisations.
If the ATA automatically reconnects to a previous provider after being factory reset, it may still be linked to that provider’s remote provisioning system. Contact the previous provider to have the device removed.
If you’ve followed the steps above and your Cisco ATA still won’t connect, please contact Plexatalk Support.
When contacting us, it helps if you can provide:
Do not send us your SIP Password unless a member of our support team specifically requests it through an appropriate support channel.
We’ll then be able to help you get connected.
The Grandstream HT801 V2 is an analogue telephone adapter (ATA) that allows you to connect a traditional analogue telephone to our SIP telephone service.
This guide will walk you through connecting your HT801 V2, finding its IP address, logging into the configuration page, and entering the SIP account details supplied by us.
Before you begin, you’ll need the SIP account details we have supplied to you:
1000Please enter these details exactly as supplied. In particular, passwords are case-sensitive.
You’ll also need:
First, connect the HT801 V2 to your network.
Connect an Ethernet cable between the network/Ethernet port on the HT801 V2 and your router or network.
Next, connect your analogue telephone to the PHONE socket on the HT801 V2.
Finally, connect the power supply.
Allow the HT801 V2 a few minutes to start up before continuing.
To configure the adapter, you’ll first need to find its IP address.
Pick up the telephone connected to the HT801 V2 and dial:
***
You should hear a voice prompt asking you to enter a menu option.
Dial:
02
The HT801 V2 will read its current IP address aloud.
For example, you might hear:
192.168.1.123
Make a note of this address, as you’ll need it in the next step.
Using a computer, tablet or phone connected to the same network as the HT801 V2, open your web browser.
Enter the IP address you obtained in the previous step into the browser’s address bar.
For example:
Your browser may display a security or privacy warning when connecting directly to the adapter. If this happens, use your browser’s option to continue to the device.
You should then see the Grandstream login page.
The password required at this stage is not the SIP password supplied by us.
The HT801 V2 has its own administrator password, which can be found on the label on the underside of the adapter.
Look for the device’s admin/password information on the label.
At the Grandstream login page, enter:
Username: admin
Password: The administrator password printed on the adapter
Enter the password exactly as printed, including the correct upper and lower-case letters.
It’s easy to confuse the two passwords used during this setup.
The password printed on the HT801 V2 is used to log into the Grandstream configuration page.
The SIP password supplied by us is used later to connect the adapter to our telephone service.
They are not interchangeable.
Once you’ve logged into the Grandstream interface, navigate to:
Port Settings → FXS PORT 1 → General Settings
Under the Account Registration section, enter the SIP details supplied by us.
For example:
Profile Active / Account Active: Enabled / Yes
Primary SIP Server: Your supplied SIP server
SIP User ID: Your supplied extension, e.g. 1000
Authenticate ID: Your supplied extension, e.g. 1000
Authenticate Password: Your supplied SIP password
Unless we have specifically supplied an Outbound Proxy or Failover SIP Server, these fields can normally be left blank.
Other settings should generally be left at their default values unless we have instructed you to change them.
Next, navigate to:
Port Settings → FXS PORT 1 → SIP Settings
Locate the SIP Transport setting.
Set this to the connection type shown in the account details supplied by us:
Make sure you select the connection type we supplied, as using a different transport may prevent the adapter from registering.
Unless we have provided additional settings, leave the remaining SIP options at their defaults.
Once you’ve entered the details, click:
Save and Apply
Give the HT801 V2 a short time to apply the settings and connect to our service.
If necessary, restart the adapter after saving the configuration.
You can check whether the HT801 V2 has successfully connected to our service from the Grandstream interface.
Navigate to:
Status → Port Status
Find the registration status for FXS1.
If everything has been configured correctly, the status should show:
Registered
Your telephone should now be ready to use.
Pick up the handset and try making a call.
If the status shows Not Registered, don’t worry. In most cases this is caused by a simple configuration error.
Check the following:
After making any changes, click Save and Apply and allow the adapter a short time to register again.
You can optionally change the HT801 V2’s ring cadence to alter the pattern used when your telephone rings.
This is not required for the SIP service to work, so if you’re happy with the way your phone currently rings, you can leave this setting unchanged.
In the Grandstream configuration interface, locate the Ring Cadence settings for the FXS port.
For a UK-style ringing pattern, configure the cadence as required for your telephone and click Save and Apply.
The HT801 V2 also provides several settings that affect how your analogue telephone behaves. These do not normally need to be changed for the service to work, but can be useful depending on your telephone and personal preference.
These include:
We recommend leaving these settings at their defaults unless you have a particular reason to change them.
If you do make changes, make a note of the original values first so they can easily be restored if required.
If you’re using an older telephone with a rotary dial or pulse dialling, you may need to enable pulse dialling support on the HT801 V2.
This setting is not required for modern touch-tone (DTMF) telephones and should normally be left disabled unless you’re using a pulse-dial telephone.
In the Grandstream configuration interface, go to:
Port Settings → FXS PORT 1
Locate the Enable Pulse Dialing option and set it to:
Yes
Click Save and Apply to save the change.
Once enabled, the HT801 V2 can recognise the pulses generated when numbers are dialled on a compatible rotary or pulse-dial telephone and convert them for use with the SIP service.
After enabling pulse dialling, pick up the handset and wait for the dial tone before dialling the number normally using the rotary dial.
If you’re using a modern push-button telephone, leave Enable Pulse Dialing set to No unless the telephone has specifically been configured to use pulse dialling.
If you’ve followed the steps above and the HT801 V2 still shows Not Registered, please contact our support team.
Let us know that you’re configuring a Grandstream HT801 V2, and tell us whether the registration status currently shows Registered or Not Registered.
We’ll then be able to help you get connected.
Yes, in most cases you can keep your existing landline number when switching broadband provider. Instead of losing the number when you leave your current provider, you can transfer — or “port” — it to another phone service.
Importantly, your new broadband provider doesn’t need to provide your landline service at all.
This is becoming increasingly useful as broadband and home phone services move apart. Some broadband providers no longer offer a traditional home phone service, while you might choose an internet-only option such as full fibre, 4G/5G broadband or satellite broadband.
With Plexatalk, you can port your existing landline number to an independent VoIP phone service. Your number then works over your internet connection rather than being tied to your broadband company.
That means you’re free to choose the broadband service that gives you the best speed, coverage or price at your address, while continuing to use the landline number that friends, family and other contacts already know.
Changing broadband provider can be a little more confusing than it used to be because broadband and home phone services no longer necessarily come together.
Traditionally, many households bought broadband and a landline as one package. The same provider supplied your internet connection, telephone service and landline number, so changing broadband often meant moving everything to a new provider at once.
That is increasingly no longer the case. Modern broadband connections such as full fibre (FTTP), 4G/5G home broadband and satellite broadband are primarily internet connections and don’t inherently provide a traditional telephone line. Some broadband providers offer a digital phone service alongside them, while others focus on broadband only.
Home phone services are also moving from the old analogue telephone network to digital or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services. Instead of your telephone calls travelling over a traditional phone line, VoIP uses your internet connection to make and receive calls.
The useful part is that your VoIP provider and broadband provider do not have to be the same company. You can have broadband from one provider and move your existing landline number to an independent VoIP provider such as Plexatalk, allowing you to keep the two services separate.
Not every broadband provider offers a home phone service anymore. Increasingly, broadband is sold as an internet-only service, particularly as the UK moves towards full fibre and other modern ways of getting online.
You might encounter this when considering a provider such as Plusnet, or when moving away from a conventional fixed-line broadband provider altogether. Depending on where you live, Starlink, 4G or 5G home broadband might give you better speeds, availability or pricing than the fixed broadband services available at your address.
The problem for many households is simple: “I want that broadband, but I don’t want to lose my home phone number.”
Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between the two.
Your landline number can be moved to an independent VoIP provider such as Plexatalk instead of being supplied by your new broadband company. VoIP carries your calls over an internet connection, which means it can work with many different types of broadband.
For example, Plexatalk’s home VoIP service can work over FTTP full fibre, 4G/5G broadband and satellite internet such as Starlink.
This separates your home phone from your internet provider. You can choose the broadband connection that works best for your household while keeping the existing landline number that people already use to contact you. If you change broadband again later, your phone number can remain with Plexatalk rather than having to move with your broadband each time.
Yes. You can keep your existing landline number without taking a phone service from your new broadband provider. Your broadband and home phone can be supplied by two completely different companies.
Instead of looking for a broadband package that includes a landline, you can choose whichever broadband provider gives you the best connection, speed, availability or price at your address. Your existing telephone number can then be transferred to an independent VoIP provider such as Plexatalk.
With Plexatalk, your existing number is ported to our VoIP service and your calls are carried over your internet connection. This means your phone service can work independently of the company supplying that connection.
There is another advantage to separating the two services: your landline number no longer needs to move every time you change broadband provider.
Once your number is with Plexatalk, you could change from one fibre provider to another, move to 4G or 5G broadband, or use another suitable internet connection without having to port your landline number again. Your broadband can change while your home phone service and familiar number stay with Plexatalk.
For many households, this makes choosing broadband much simpler: pick your internet for the connection you want and your phone provider for the number and phone service you want.
There are several situations where you might find the broadband service you want doesn’t come with the home phone service you want. That doesn’t mean you have to give up your existing landline number.
Switching to broadband without a phone service: You may find a broadband-only package that gives you the speed or price you want, including when considering providers such as Plusnet. Rather than ruling it out because you want to keep your home number, you can have your broadband from one company and your phone service from Plexatalk.
Moving to Starlink: In some rural or poorly served areas, you might choose Starlink because the fixed broadband available at your property isn’t fast or reliable enough. Starlink provides the internet connection, while Plexatalk can provide your VoIP phone service over that connection.
Using 4G or 5G home broadband: Mobile broadband can sometimes provide a better or more flexible alternative to a fixed connection. Again, you don’t need a traditional telephone line from the broadband provider. Plexatalk VoIP can operate over a suitable 4G or 5G internet connection.
Moving onto full fibre: You may also be upgrading to FTTP but find that your chosen package doesn’t include a suitable home-phone option. Your existing number can instead be ported to Plexatalk and used as a digital landline over your new connection.
In each case, the principle is the same: your broadband provides the internet connection, while Plexatalk independently provides your home phone service and keeps your existing number.
If you want to change broadband provider without losing the landline number you already use, the order in which you switch is important. In particular, don’t cancel your existing phone service before the number transfer has been arranged.
Start by choosing the broadband service you want. This could be full fibre from another provider, broadband without a phone service, 4G/5G home broadband, Starlink or another suitable internet connection.
Your new broadband provider does not need to provide your home phone service.
Don’t prematurely cancel your existing landline or digital phone service.
Your number needs to remain available while the transfer to Plexatalk is arranged. Cancelling first can make keeping the number more difficult, so ideally wait until Plexatalk confirms that the port has completed successfully.
Choose your Plexatalk home VoIP package and tell us that you want to keep your existing landline number. Number porting is available with Plexatalk’s residential VoIP plans.
We’ll collect the information required to request the transfer. Make sure the details you provide match those held by your current phone provider, as incorrect information can delay the port.
Ideally, have your new internet connection up and running before you start relying on it for your Plexatalk phone service. Once installed, check that your broadband and router are working correctly.
Plexatalk will arrange the transfer of your existing landline number. Keep your old phone service active until we confirm that the number port has completed successfully.
Once transferred, connect your VoIP adapter or compatible VoIP phone, or configure your chosen app. Test both incoming and outgoing calls.
Your broadband provider has changed, but your familiar home phone number stays with you — and is now independent of your broadband provider.
If there’s one thing to remember when switching broadband and keeping your landline number, it’s this:
Don’t cancel your existing phone service before the number transfer has been arranged and completed.
Many people assume they can simply cancel their broadband and phone package, then ask for the number to be moved later. Unfortunately, that can put the number at risk. Once a service has been disconnected, recovering or transferring the number can become much more difficult and, in some cases, impossible.
Instead, the safest approach is to coordinate the switch. Order your new broadband, arrange for Plexatalk to port your existing number, and keep your current phone service active while the transfer takes place.
Plexatalk will advise you when the port has completed successfully. Only then should you consider cancelling any remaining services that you no longer need. This is the same approach we recommend for customers leaving providers such as Virgin Media, as it helps protect the number throughout the switching process.
A little planning can make the difference between keeping the number you’ve had for years and accidentally losing it during the switch.
Transferring your existing landline number to Plexatalk will typically take around one week if the number has never been ported before, or around two weeks if it has previously been transferred between providers.
These times aren’t guaranteed, as number ports can occasionally be delayed or rejected if the details supplied don’t match those held by your existing provider. If this happens, the port may need to be corrected and submitted again.
We can also schedule your number transfer for a future date, which can be useful when you’re changing broadband provider and already know when your new connection is due to go live.
The important thing is to keep your existing phone service active until the transfer has completed successfully. Once Plexatalk confirms that your number has moved across, you can start using it through your Plexatalk VoIP service over your new broadband connection.
Yes. In many cases, you can continue using the landline phone or DECT cordless phones you already have, even though your phone service has moved to VoIP.
Traditional home phones aren’t designed to plug directly into most modern broadband routers. Instead, you can use a small device called an ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter) or VoIP adapter. This converts your existing phone so that it can make and receive calls using your internet connection.
With Plexatalk, the setup can be as simple as:
Existing landline or DECT phone → VoIP adapter → broadband router/internet → Plexatalk
Plexatalk can supply a preconfigured Grandstream HT802 VoIP adapter for £50. You connect the adapter to your broadband router and plug your existing telephone equipment into the adapter. Because it arrives configured for your Plexatalk service, there’s no need to replace perfectly usable home phones just because you’ve changed how your calls are delivered.
Alternatively, you can use a compatible VoIP phone or a suitable smartphone or softphone app.
Whichever option you choose, calls to your ported landline number continue to reach you through Plexatalk — while your broadband can come from a completely separate provider.
Once you’ve separated your broadband and home phone services, changing broadband provider again becomes much simpler.
Your landline number stays with Plexatalk rather than being tied to whichever company currently provides your internet connection. If you find a better broadband deal, upgrade to faster full fibre, move to 4G/5G broadband or change to another suitable internet service, you don’t need to transfer your telephone number each time.
Instead, you simply get your replacement broadband working and then connect your Plexatalk phone service through the new internet connection. Your existing number and Plexatalk service remain the same.
This gives you much more freedom when comparing broadband in the future. You can choose broadband based on speed, reliability, availability and price without having to worry about whether the provider also offers the home phone service you need.
Your broadband can change as often as you need it to; your familiar landline number can stay with you.
Plexatalk’s residential VoIP plans currently start from £4 per month, making it possible to keep your home phone number without paying for a landline package from your broadband provider.
Our current home packages include:
The Micro and Basic packages currently have a one-off £15 connection and activation fee, while Standard and Unlimited include connection.
There is no additional charge for porting your existing landline number to or from Plexatalk.
If you want to continue using your existing analogue or DECT home phone, we can also supply a preconfigured Grandstream HT802 VoIP adapter for £50.
This means you can choose your broadband separately while keeping your familiar landline number and home phone service with Plexatalk.
Keeping your landline number doesn’t mean you have to stay with your current broadband provider or choose a broadband package that includes a phone service.
If another provider can give you faster broadband, better coverage or a better price at your address, you should be able to choose that connection without leaving your familiar home number behind.
With Plexatalk, you can port your existing landline number to our independent VoIP service and use it over your chosen internet connection. Your broadband and home phone are then separate, giving you much more freedom when choosing providers now and in the future.
Plexatalk residential VoIP plans currently start from £4 per month, with free number porting included.
Ready to keep your number and choose your broadband independently? View our residential VoIP plans or contact Plexatalk and we’ll help you get your existing landline number moved across.
Yes, you can normally keep your existing Virgin Media landline number when you leave Virgin Media. The key is to arrange the number transfer before your old phone service is disconnected, rather than simply cancelling the line and trying to recover the number afterwards.
With Plexatalk, your existing landline number can be transferred to an independent VoIP phone service. This means your phone number no longer needs to be tied to your Virgin Media broadband package, leaving you free to choose a new broadband provider that suits you.
The process is straightforward: arrange the transfer of your Virgin Media number to Plexatalk, choose your new broadband service, and once everything is ready, use your existing number through your new phone setup.
Yes. In most cases, you can keep your existing Virgin Media landline number when you leave by porting the number to another phone provider.
Importantly, your landline number does not have to move to the company providing your new broadband. Instead, you can transfer it to an independent VoIP provider such as Plexatalk and choose your broadband separately.
Moving your number to Plexatalk effectively separates your home phone service from your broadband connection. Your existing landline number is transferred to Plexatalk and then works as a VoIP number using an internet connection, rather than remaining tied to your Virgin Media package.
This can also make changing broadband providers much simpler in the future. Once your number has been moved to Plexatalk, you can switch broadband providers again without having to transfer your landline number each time.
The important thing is to arrange the number transfer at the right time, before your existing Virgin Media phone service is disconnected.
If you want to leave Virgin Media without losing the landline number that people already know, it is important to do things in the right order. The aim is to get your new broadband working while keeping your Virgin Media phone service active until your number has successfully transferred to Plexatalk.
Start by choosing and ordering your replacement broadband service. This could be from any broadband provider available at your address — your new broadband and your Plexatalk phone service do not need to come from the same company.
Ideally, get a confirmed installation or go-live date for your new broadband before arranging the rest of the switch. This gives you a clear date to work towards and helps minimise disruption to your home phone service.
Do not cancel or disconnect your Virgin Media phone service before the number transfer has been arranged.
Your existing landline number needs to remain available so that it can be transferred, or “ported”, to Plexatalk. Cancelling the service prematurely can put your number at risk and make the transfer more difficult.
Choose the Plexatalk home VoIP package that suits you and let us know that you want to keep your existing Virgin Media landline number.
We will ask you for the details needed to arrange the number port. Make sure the information you provide matches the details held by Virgin Media, as incorrect information can delay the transfer.
Tell Plexatalk when your replacement broadband is expected to go live.
This allows us to coordinate your number transfer with your broadband move, rather than treating them as two completely unrelated events. The objective is to have your new internet connection ready before you start relying on it for your Plexatalk home phone service.
You have several straightforward options. If you want to keep using your existing telephone or DECT cordless phones, you can use a pre-configured Grandstream HT802 VoIP adapter for £50. Connect the adapter to your router and plug your existing phone equipment into the adapter.
Alternatively, you can use a compatible VoIP phone or make and receive calls using a suitable smartphone or softphone app.
When your new broadband goes live, check that the internet connection and router are working correctly.
Plexatalk’s phone service works over the internet, so you will need a working broadband connection to make and receive calls at home.
Plexatalk will arrange the agreed transfer of your existing Virgin Media landline number.
Important: keep your Virgin Media service active until Plexatalk confirms that your number port has completed successfully. Do not cancel the phone service early.
Once the port is complete, your number will be with Plexatalk rather than Virgin Media.
Finally, connect your VoIP adapter or phone, or set up your chosen app, and test both incoming and outgoing calls.
Your broadband provider may have changed, but your landline number hasn’t. Friends, family, businesses and other organisations can continue calling you on the same familiar number — while your phone service is now independent of your broadband provider.
Possibly, but don’t cancel your Virgin Media phone service before your landline number has been transferred.
There are three separate parts to consider when leaving Virgin Media: arranging your replacement broadband, porting your existing landline number to Plexatalk, and ending any Virgin Media services you no longer need.
Your new broadband can be ordered separately, while Plexatalk arranges the transfer of your existing phone number. Depending on how you switch broadband and which Virgin Media services you have, you may also need to take action to close your old account or cancel services you no longer require.
The important point is not to simply cancel your Virgin Media phone service first and assume the number can be recovered afterwards. Keep the service active until Plexatalk confirms that your number has successfully transferred.
Once the port is complete, you can make sure any remaining Virgin Media services are cancelled as required, without putting the landline number you wanted to keep at unnecessary risk.
Yes. In many cases, you can continue using the analogue or DECT phones you already have at home, so switching your landline number from Virgin Media doesn’t necessarily mean buying new handsets.
Plexatalk can supply a Grandstream HT802 VoIP adapter for £50, pre-configured for your Plexatalk service. The adapter allows a traditional home phone to work with your new internet-based phone service.
The setup is straightforward:
Existing analogue or DECT phone → Grandstream HT802 adapter → broadband router/internet → Plexatalk
Once connected, you can use your familiar home phones to make and receive calls through Plexatalk, including calls to your transferred Virgin Media number.
If you’d prefer different equipment, you can also use a compatible VoIP phone or a suitable smartphone or softphone app.
For more information, see our VoIP adapter and setup guide.
Once your landline number has been successfully ported to Plexatalk, it is no longer dependent on your Virgin Media broadband service. Instead, your number works through Plexatalk using your new internet connection.
You still keep the familiar geographic landline number that friends, family, businesses and other organisations already use to contact you. From their point of view, nothing needs to change — they can continue calling the same number as before.
The main advantage is that your phone number and broadband are now separate. If you decide to change broadband provider again in the future, your Plexatalk service can simply work over the new internet connection.
That means you don’t need to move your telephone number to each new broadband provider whenever you switch. Your number stays with Plexatalk, while you’re free to choose and change your broadband independently.
Yes. You can normally keep your existing Virgin Media landline number by porting it to another phone provider such as Plexatalk. Once transferred, your number can work independently of whichever company provides your broadband.
No. Do not cancel your Virgin Media phone service before the number transfer has been arranged. Keep the service active until Plexatalk confirms that your number has successfully ported. Cancelling too early could put the number you want to keep at risk.
Yes. Your new broadband package doesn’t need to include a phone service. Plexatalk provides your phone service separately using your internet connection, allowing you to choose a broadband-only package if you prefer.
In many cases, yes. Existing analogue and DECT phones can be connected using a Grandstream HT802 VoIP adapter, available pre-configured from Plexatalk for £50. This allows you to continue using familiar home phones with your new VoIP service.
No. The purpose of porting is to keep your existing telephone number. Once the transfer is complete, people can continue calling the same familiar geographic landline number, but calls are delivered through Plexatalk over your broadband connection instead of through your old Virgin Media phone service.
Leaving Virgin Media doesn’t mean you have to leave your familiar landline number behind. By arranging your new broadband first, keeping your Virgin Media phone service active while the transfer is organised, and porting your number to Plexatalk, you can continue using the number you already know.
Once transferred, your landline number is no longer tied to Virgin Media or any other broadband provider. Your Plexatalk phone service works over your chosen internet connection, giving you more freedom to change broadband providers in the future without moving your phone number again.
Ready to keep your landline number? View our residential VoIP plans here or for business customers please get in touch today.
If you’re switching to Rise Fibre, you may be wondering what happens to your existing landline number. The good news is that changing your broadband doesn’t necessarily mean giving up a phone number you may have had for 20, 30 or even 40 years.
The usual solution is to move, or port, your existing number to a VoIP home phone service. VoIP simply means your calls are carried over your internet connection rather than the old telephone network. Importantly, this also means your phone number doesn’t have to stay tied to your old broadband provider.
In this guide, we’ll explain whether Rise Fibre offers a home phone service, how to keep your existing landline number, when to arrange the transfer, and the mistakes that can cause a number to be lost. We’ll also explain how Plexatalk can provide your home phone service alongside a Rise Fibre broadband connection.
Moving to Rise Fibre? Explore Plexatalk VoIP for Home and keep your existing landline number.
Rise Fibre is primarily a full-fibre broadband provider. Unlike older broadband services, full fibre doesn’t rely on the traditional copper telephone line coming into your home. Instead, the connection is delivered using fibre-optic cable, so a traditional landline isn’t needed for the broadband itself.
That doesn’t mean you have to give up having a home phone.
If you’re one of the TalkTalk customers being transferred directly to Rise Fibre and you already have a landline service, TalkTalk currently says that you’ll keep your existing phone number as part of the move.
For customers choosing Rise Fibre separately, however, it’s important to check exactly what services are included with the package available at your address. Rise Fibre’s main broadband offering is centred on full fibre, and the services available can vary depending on your home and network.
The important thing to remember is that your broadband and home phone no longer have to come from the same company. You can use Rise Fibre for your internet connection while an independent VoIP provider supplies your home phone service.
That’s where services such as Plexatalk come in: your existing landline number can be moved to a VoIP service and used over your new fibre broadband connection.
Yes. In most cases, an eligible existing landline number can be transferred to a VoIP provider, so you can move to Rise Fibre without having to give up the home phone number you’ve used for years.
This is known as number porting. Your existing telephone number is transferred from your current phone provider to a VoIP provider such as Plexatalk. Once everything is set up, your home phone calls work over your new internet connection rather than the old telephone line.
The important part is getting the timing right.
We recommend arranging your move to Rise Fibre first. Once Rise Fibre has given you a confirmed installation or go-live date, you can sign up for Plexatalk and give us that date. We can then arrange the transfer of your existing phone number around your move.
That means you can keep the same number your friends, family and other contacts already know, rather than having to tell everyone you’ve changed it.
Important: Don’t cancel your existing landline yourself before your number has been successfully transferred.
Cancelling too early can cause the number to be ceased, which may make it difficult or sometimes impossible to recover. Arrange your Rise Fibre installation first, then let Plexatalk handle the number porting process.
If you’ve been told that your TalkTalk account is moving to Rise Fibre, you may be wondering what happens to your landline and the phone number you’ve had for years.
For customers being transferred from TalkTalk to Rise Fibre, the current advice is reassuring: if you have a landline service, TalkTalk says you’ll keep your existing phone number. You shouldn’t need to cancel anything or make changes simply because your account is being transferred.
However, if you’re making a separate change to your broadband or want to move your TalkTalk landline number to an independent VoIP service, it’s worth getting the timing right.
Before cancelling or changing your existing telephone service, find out exactly what is happening with your Rise Fibre connection and your current phone service. If you’re arranging a new Rise Fibre installation, we recommend waiting until you have a confirmed installation or go-live date.
Once you have that date, you can sign up with Plexatalk and tell us when your Rise Fibre service is due to go live. We can then arrange to move your existing TalkTalk number to Plexatalk, where your home phone will work over your internet connection.
Don’t cancel your TalkTalk landline yourself before the number has been successfully transferred. Doing so could cause the number to be ceased and make it much harder to recover.
With the move handled in the right order, you can have Rise Fibre for your broadband and Plexatalk for your home phone, while keeping the landline number people already know.
If keeping your existing landline number is important to you, the order in which you move your services matters.
The biggest mistake is cancelling your existing broadband or telephone service too early. Don’t assume that simply ordering Rise Fibre will automatically protect your old phone number. If the existing phone service is cancelled and the number is ceased before a transfer has been arranged, it can become much more difficult to get that number back.
We recommend arranging your move to Rise Fibre first and waiting until you have a confirmed installation or go-live date.
Once you know when your Rise Fibre connection will be activated, sign up with Plexatalk and give us the date. We can then arrange the number port at the appropriate time and guide you through what happens next.
Until then, keep your existing landline service active and don’t cancel it yourself. This is particularly important if your current broadband and home phone are supplied together as part of the same package.
A simple way to remember the order is:
Arrange Rise Fibre → Get your go-live date → Sign up with Plexatalk → Give us the date → We arrange the number transfer.
Following those steps gives you the best chance of moving smoothly to full-fibre broadband while keeping the home phone number you already know.
Moving to Rise Fibre can be a good opportunity to separate your home phone from your broadband provider.
The simplest way to think about it is:
Rise Fibre provides your broadband. Plexatalk provides your home phone service.
For TalkTalk customers in particular, this can make sense if you’ve had the same landline number for many years and would rather not have it tied to whichever company happens to provide your broadband.
By moving an eligible number to Plexatalk, your number stays with your VoIP service. If you decide to change broadband provider again in the future, you won’t necessarily need to move your phone number at the same time. As long as you have a suitable internet connection, your Plexatalk service can continue separately.
You can keep the familiar number that friends and family already use, while gaining more flexibility over how you receive calls. Depending on your setup, VoIP can also let you use your home number on different compatible devices and provide useful calling features that weren’t always available with a traditional landline.
For customers moving away from TalkTalk, it’s a chance to make this broadband change the last time your home phone number needs to move with your internet provider.
Your broadband can change in the future. Your home phone number doesn’t have to change with it.
In many cases, yes. Moving to Rise Fibre and a VoIP home phone service doesn’t necessarily mean replacing the telephones you already have.
If you have a traditional corded phone or a cordless DECT phone with a base station, you can usually connect it to VoIP using a small device called an ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter).
The adapter simply sits between your existing telephone and your broadband router. It allows an ordinary home phone to make and receive calls using your Plexatalk VoIP service instead of the old telephone line.
Plexatalk can supply a pre-configured Grandstream HT802 adapter for £50. We set it up for you, so when it arrives you don’t need to understand SIP accounts or complicated VoIP settings. Connect the adapter to your router, plug your existing phone or DECT base station into it, and you’re ready to use your Plexatalk home phone service.
You can also use a dedicated VoIP phone, or we can provide details for using a compatible VoIP app on a smartphone if that suits you better.
For many customers moving from TalkTalk to Rise Fibre, though, the simplest option is also the most familiar: keep your existing phone, keep your existing number, and let the adapter take care of the technical bit.
There is one important difference between a traditional landline and a VoIP home phone that you should be aware of.
VoIP uses your internet connection to make and receive calls. Your Rise Fibre broadband therefore needs to be working, and your router and VoIP equipment need electricity.
If there is a power cut, your router and Plexatalk adapter may switch off, so calls through your home phone won’t work until power is restored. Similarly, if your Rise Fibre broadband connection goes down, your home VoIP service may be temporarily unavailable through that connection.
There are, however, ways to make your home phone setup more resilient.
Plexatalk can forward calls to a mobile, so you can still receive calls away from your home phone. A compatible VoIP app can also be used on a smartphone and, where configured correctly, can work over mobile data if your home broadband is unavailable.
Another option is a small UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). This provides temporary battery power to equipment such as your broadband router and Plexatalk adapter during a power cut.
If reliable access to a phone is particularly important in your household, speak to us about the best setup for your needs.
If you want to move to Rise Fibre but keep your existing home phone number, getting things in the right order is important. Here’s the process we recommend.
Start by arranging your move to Rise Fibre. Wait until you have confirmation of your installation or broadband go-live date, as Plexatalk will need to know when your new connection is expected to be working.
Don’t cancel your existing landline yourself. Your number needs to remain active while the transfer is being arranged. Cancelling too early could result in the number being ceased.
Choose the Plexatalk home VoIP package that suits you and tell us that you want to keep your existing landline number.
Tell us when your Rise Fibre service is due to go live. We can use this information when arranging your number port and advise you on the timing of the transfer.
If you want to keep your existing telephone or DECT cordless phones, Plexatalk can supply a pre-configured Grandstream HT802 VoIP adapter for £50. Alternatively, you can use compatible VoIP equipment or a smartphone app.
On installation day, make sure your new Rise Fibre connection and router are up and running. Your Plexatalk home phone service needs an internet connection to work.
Plexatalk will arrange the agreed number port from your existing telephone provider. Keep your old service active until the port has completed and follow any instructions we give you during the switch.
Once the port is complete and your equipment is connected, you can make and receive calls through Plexatalk over your Rise Fibre broadband.
Your broadband has changed, but to the people calling you, your home phone number can stay exactly the same.
Rise Fibre is focused on full-fibre broadband, which doesn’t require a traditional copper telephone line. The exact services available can depend on your package and how you’re moving to Rise Fibre. If you need a home phone, you can also use an independent VoIP service such as Plexatalk alongside your Rise Fibre broadband.
Yes, in most cases an eligible landline number can be transferred to a VoIP provider through a process called number porting. With Plexatalk, you can keep your existing number and use it for calls over your Rise Fibre internet connection.
If TalkTalk has told you that your service is being transferred to Rise Fibre, don’t cancel or change anything without first checking what is happening to your phone service. TalkTalk currently says customers being transferred who have a landline service will keep their existing phone number.
In most cases, an eligible TalkTalk landline number can be ported to Plexatalk. If you’re also moving to Rise Fibre, arrange your broadband first. Once you have your Rise Fibre installation or go-live date, sign up with Plexatalk and give us the details so we can arrange the number transfer.
Usually, yes. A traditional corded phone or DECT cordless base station can normally be connected to Plexatalk using an Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA). Plexatalk offers a pre-configured Grandstream HT802 adapter for £50, allowing you to continue using your familiar home phone over VoIP.
We recommend arranging Rise Fibre first and waiting until you have a confirmed installation or go-live date. Then sign up with Plexatalk and give us that date so the number port can be arranged appropriately. Don’t cancel your existing landline yourself before the transfer is complete.
It can affect existing services where your broadband and telephone are linked, so this needs to be handled carefully. Don’t assume you can port or cancel one service without affecting another. Tell Plexatalk about your broadband move and existing provider so the number transfer can be planned correctly.
Yes. One advantage of keeping your home phone with an independent VoIP provider such as Plexatalk is that it isn’t tied to Rise Fibre. If you change broadband provider again, your Plexatalk phone service can usually continue over the new internet connection without needing to move your number again.
The way home phone services work in the UK is changing. Traditional telephone services delivered over the old copper network are being replaced by newer digital services, with more calls now being carried over an internet connection using VoIP.
That’s particularly relevant when moving to a full-fibre provider such as Rise Fibre. Full fibre brings the internet connection directly into your home using fibre-optic cable, rather than relying on the old copper telephone line. As a result, broadband and home phone services no longer need to be supplied together in the way many of us have been used to.
For customers who still want a home phone, VoIP provides a practical replacement. Your familiar telephone number can be transferred to an internet-based phone service and used over your broadband connection.
Using an independent provider such as Plexatalk also means your phone number can be kept separate from your broadband provider. If you decide to move away from Rise Fibre in the future, you can change your broadband without necessarily having to move your home phone number again.
Switching to Rise Fibre doesn’t mean you have to lose a landline number you’ve had for years.
The key is to get the timing right: arrange your Rise Fibre broadband first, keep your existing phone service and number active, and then arrange the number port with Plexatalk once you have your Rise Fibre installation or go-live date.
With Plexatalk, your home phone service can be kept separate from your broadband provider. You can keep your familiar number, continue using your existing phone with an adapter if needed, and take your number with you even if you change broadband providers again in the future.
Moving to Rise Fibre? Explore Plexatalk VoIP for Home and keep your existing landline number.
Yes, it is still possible to have a landline without broadband in the UK, but the options are becoming more limited as the old telephone network is phased out.
The traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), including services provided through Wholesale Line Rental (WLR), is being retired. BT plans to switch off its PSTN by 31 January 2027, and new analogue WLR services have already been subject to a nationwide stop-sell.
BT does have an interim solution for some existing landline-only customers. Its consumer service is called Home Phone Standard and allows customers without BT broadband to keep using their existing telephone and number without installing a router or taking broadband. The underlying Pre-Digital Phone Line (PDPL) technology is intended as a transitional solution rather than the long-term replacement for traditional landlines.
For most households, the long-term alternative is VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), where calls travel over an internet connection instead of the old telephone network. VoIP therefore requires internet access, but your broadband and VoIP services do not have to come from the same provider. For many households, switching to VoIP now is the more future-proof option rather than relying on a transitional landline service.
Yes, but it depends on what you mean by a landline.
If you genuinely don’t have broadband, your options are now limited. BT is moving existing landline-only customers onto Home Phone Standard, which lets them continue using a home phone without taking broadband. However, this is a transitional service designed to keep certain existing customers connected while the old network is retired, rather than a straightforward replacement for the traditional landline that new customers can necessarily order. (bt.com)
The reason is that the UK’s traditional PSTN/WLR telephone system is being withdrawn. Openreach stopped selling new analogue phone lines nationally in September 2023, and BT Group plans to retire the PSTN by 31 January 2027. (openreach.com)
The situation is different if you already have broadband but simply don’t want your broadband provider’s phone service. You can use an independent VoIP provider instead. Your internet connection might come from BT, EE, Virgin Media or another ISP, while your home phone service comes from a separate VoIP provider such as Plexatalk.
| Option | Broadband required? | Availability | Long-term option? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional PSTN/WLR landline | No | No new analogue lines; existing services being retired | No |
| BT Home Phone Standard | No | For eligible/existing BT customers being migrated | Transitional |
| Independent VoIP | Yes | Widely available with a suitable internet connection | Yes |
So, if you already have broadband, moving to VoIP is generally the more future-proof choice rather than trying to obtain or retain a traditional analogue landline.
The UK’s traditional landline system is based on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). It has carried home and business phone calls for decades, with much of the equipment used by the current network dating back to the 1980s.
That technology is now reaching the end of its useful life. The PSTN is becoming harder and more expensive to maintain, with ageing equipment and replacement parts increasingly difficult to source. Ofcom says the network also needs replacing to ensure reliable home phone services can continue in the future.
At the same time, the UK’s wider telecommunications infrastructure has changed significantly. Providers are investing in Full Fibre and other modern networks, which are designed primarily to carry data using Internet Protocol (IP). Full Fibre connections don’t support traditional PSTN telephone services in the same way as the old copper network.
Rather than maintaining two separate systems indefinitely, telephone services are therefore moving onto the same type of IP-based infrastructure used for internet data.
For home phone users, this means traditional analogue calls are being replaced by VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), sometimes marketed as a “digital phone” or “digital voice” service. Instead of your voice call travelling through the old PSTN, it is converted into digital data and carried over an internet connection.
BT plans to retire its PSTN by 31 January 2027, and providers using the Openreach network are moving customers to digital alternatives ahead of that deadline.
Importantly, landline phone numbers aren’t being abolished. It’s the underlying technology used to provide the service that’s changing. You can still have a home telephone number and make and receive calls much as before — they’ll simply be carried over a digital network instead.
PSTN stands for Public Switched Telephone Network. It is the traditional telephone network that has been used to provide landline calls in the UK for decades.
With a traditional PSTN landline, your telephone connects to the telephone network through a physical line, historically using copper wiring between your property and the local telephone exchange. The network was built specifically to carry telephone calls, rather than relying on an internet connection.
One useful feature of the traditional PSTN is that the telephone line can receive power from the exchange. This means a basic corded telephone can usually continue working during a power cut at your home — something that isn’t automatically true of a VoIP phone service.
The PSTN shouldn’t be confused with WLR (Wholesale Line Rental). PSTN refers to the underlying traditional telephone network, while WLR is a wholesale service that has allowed communications providers to offer phone services using Openreach’s network.
As the PSTN is retired, traditional analogue calling is being replaced by IP-based telephone services such as VoIP, where calls are carried digitally over an internet connection instead.
WLR stands for Wholesale Line Rental. It is a wholesale product that allowed telephone providers to offer traditional landline services to their own customers using Openreach’s infrastructure.
Under WLR, Openreach provided, maintained and repaired the physical telephone line, while another communications provider could sell the phone service under its own brand. WLR3 is the current generation of this Wholesale Line Rental product and includes traditional analogue telephone lines. (btwholesale.com)
It’s important not to use PSTN, WLR and copper as though they all mean the same thing.
The PSTN is the traditional telephone network used to carry analogue calls. WLR is a wholesale product that providers used to supply services over that network. Copper, meanwhile, refers to the physical cabling that has traditionally connected many homes and businesses to the Openreach network.
That distinction matters because the move to digital doesn’t necessarily mean every copper cable will disappear at the same time. Some newer broadband services can continue to use copper for part of the connection without providing a traditional PSTN phone service.
Openreach stopped the national sale of new WLR services in September 2023, and BT Wholesale says products including WLR3 analogue are being withdrawn as part of the move to an all-IP network. The current WLR withdrawal is scheduled for January 2027. (btwholesale.com)
For customers, the practical result is that providers can no longer treat a traditional WLR landline as the default way to supply home phone service. Instead, voice services are moving to IP-based alternatives such as VoIP.
Traditional landlines are being replaced by digital phone services that use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Instead of sending your calls through the old PSTN telephone network, VoIP converts your voice into digital data and carries it over an internet connection.
For most people, using the phone can still feel much like using a traditional landline. You can have a UK landline number, make and receive calls and, depending on the service, continue using an existing home telephone. The main difference is what happens behind the scenes: the call is travelling over an IP-based connection rather than the traditional PSTN.
You will often hear this replacement described as Digital Voice or a digital landline. These terms can be confusing because Digital Voice isn’t a completely different technology from VoIP. For example, BT’s Digital Voice service uses VoIP to deliver home phone calls through a BT broadband connection. With BT, customers typically connect their telephone to a compatible BT Smart Hub or Digital Voice Adapter rather than the traditional wall telephone socket.
However, you don’t necessarily have to get your phone service from your broadband provider.
An independent VoIP provider can supply your telephone service separately from your internet connection. For example, you could have broadband from one company while using another provider for your home phone service. Depending on the VoIP service and equipment, you may be able to connect a conventional telephone using an adapter, use a dedicated VoIP phone or make calls through an app.
The important requirement is that VoIP needs a suitable internet connection to carry calls. It doesn’t necessarily matter which company provides that connection. This gives households the option to choose their broadband and home phone services separately rather than being tied to their ISP’s own digital phone product.
Yes. You need an internet connection to use VoIP. Unlike a traditional PSTN landline, which carries calls over the old telephone network, VoIP sends your calls as digital data over an internet connection.
This means that to use a residential VoIP service such as Plexatalk, you need a suitable internet connection at your home. This could be Full Fibre (FTTP), standard fixed broadband, 4G or 5G home broadband, or another reliable internet service such as satellite broadband.
However, your broadband and phone service do not have to come from the same company.
For example, you could have your broadband connection with BT, Sky, Vodafone, Virgin Media or another internet provider, while using Plexatalk separately for your home phone service. Plexatalk works over a reliable internet connection rather than requiring you to take a particular provider’s broadband package.
This is one of the key differences between choosing an independent VoIP provider and simply taking the digital phone service offered by your broadband provider. Your broadband supplies the internet connection, while your VoIP provider supplies your telephone number and calling service.
So, while you cannot use Plexatalk VoIP without an internet connection, you don’t need to change broadband provider simply because you want to move your home phone to Plexatalk.
If you don’t have broadband and only want a home telephone, there are still options for some customers, so you won’t necessarily have to give up your landline.
BT, for example, has an interim solution for eligible existing landline-only customers that allows them to continue making calls without installing broadband. However, services of this type are intended to help with the transition away from the PSTN rather than preserve traditional analogue landlines indefinitely.
Ofcom says the number of landline-only customers is shrinking over time and expects landline services eventually to be provided over broadband-based connections.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have to pay for a full broadband package you don’t want. Ofcom says that if you don’t already have broadband when moving to a digital landline, your provider can supply a connection specifically to support the VoIP phone service.
The important distinction is between having the connection required for digital calling and subscribing to a conventional broadband package for internet use.
If you currently have a landline but no broadband, it’s therefore worth speaking to your existing provider before making any changes. The options available will depend on your provider and circumstances, particularly as the UK moves towards fully digital telephone services.
BT’s Pre-Digital Phone Line (PDPL) is a temporary service designed to help certain customers move away from the PSTN when switching directly to an all-IP service isn’t yet suitable.
Rather than keeping customers connected to the old PSTN, PDPL uses equipment in the telephone exchange to emulate many of the characteristics of a traditional analogue phone line. The service is presented as an analogue connection over the existing copper line to the property, allowing many existing telephones and other compatible analogue devices to continue working without broadband.
BT Wholesale describes PDPL as a bridge between analogue and digital. It is particularly relevant to single-line, voice-only PSTN services and situations involving legacy equipment such as telecare devices, alarms, lift lines, payment terminals and other equipment that may not yet have a suitable IP replacement.
However, PDPL is not a new version of the traditional PSTN and isn’t intended as a permanent alternative to broadband and VoIP. BT explicitly describes it as an interim or temporary solution and says customers should move to an all-IP service wherever possible. Its published customer information currently describes PDPL as a temporary solution running to 2030.
There are also important restrictions. PDPL is designed for migrating existing standalone WLR3/PSTN lines; it isn’t a general replacement for every type of analogue line, and broadband cannot be provided over a PDPL service. BT also warns that it doesn’t perfectly replicate every PSTN feature, so some legacy equipment may need compatibility testing.
In other words, PDPL buys time for customers who can’t yet move fully to IP. The long-term direction remains digital, IP-based telephone services such as VoIP.
No. You cannot have broadband on a Pre-Digital Phone Line (PDPL).
BT’s documentation states that PDPL is a standalone service and cannot be provided alongside broadband on the same line. That means services such as ADSL and FTTC broadband that use an underlying traditional phone line aren’t eligible to migrate to PDPL.
There is also an important restriction on who can move to PDPL. It isn’t a service that can simply be ordered on any new line. BT Wholesale says that only existing, working standalone WLR3 services have a migration route to PDPL. Stopped lines and WLR3 lines associated with broadband don’t qualify.
This reflects the purpose of PDPL. It is a temporary transitional service for certain customers who need to retain an analogue-style phone line while moving away from the PSTN, rather than a replacement for a combined phone-and-broadband package.
If you need both broadband and a home phone service, the longer-term solution is therefore an IP-based phone service such as VoIP, used over your internet connection. Your broadband and VoIP don’t necessarily have to come from the same provider.
BT Home Phone Standard is BT’s consumer-facing home phone service for certain customers being moved away from the traditional landline network without switching to BT Digital Voice.
For existing BT customers who have a landline but no broadband, BT says it is upgrading their service to Home Phone Standard. Customers can keep their existing phone number and continue using their existing telephone, without installing broadband or connecting their phone to a router. The main noticeable change is that the full area code must be dialled for all outgoing calls, including local numbers.
Home Phone Standard shouldn’t, however, be confused with keeping an old-fashioned PSTN service indefinitely. It is part of BT’s arrangements for moving customers away from its retiring traditional telephone network.
BT also describes a less common arrangement for customers who need both home phone and broadband but can’t yet move to its usual fibre broadband and Digital Voice setup. In this situation, BT Home Phone Standard can remain on one line while broadband is supplied separately by EE over another line. The phone stays connected to its original wall socket rather than the new broadband socket.
This is quite different from BT Digital Voice, where the telephone service runs through the customer’s BT broadband connection and hub.
For customers considering their longer-term options, Home Phone Standard is therefore best understood as part of BT’s transition away from traditional landlines, rather than evidence that conventional PSTN landlines will continue indefinitely.
Yes. Your broadband and home phone service don’t have to come from the same company.
With an independent VoIP provider, your broadband connection simply provides the internet access needed to carry your calls. Your VoIP provider supplies the telephone service separately.
For example, you could have:
Plexatalk works with any reliable internet connection, including fibre broadband, 4G/5G and satellite connections such as Starlink.
This can be particularly useful if you’re happy with your current broadband provider but it doesn’t offer the home phone service you want. Plusnet, for example, says its newer broadband-only packages don’t provide a phone line service. Rather than changing broadband provider simply to get a home phone, you can potentially keep your broadband and use an independent VoIP provider for calls instead.
Separating the two services can also make it easier to switch broadband providers in the future. Your phone service and number aren’t tied to your ISP’s broadband package, so you can shop around for a different internet provider without necessarily having to move your VoIP service at the same time.
With Plexatalk, you can also port an existing UK landline number to the VoIP service, subject to successful number porting, or choose a new number. If you want to continue using a traditional home telephone handset, this can usually be connected using a compatible VoIP adapter.
One important precaution: don’t cancel an existing phone or broadband service before checking how transferring your number will affect it. Porting a number away from some bundled or legacy services can trigger other changes, so it’s best to arrange the transfer before cancelling anything.
Yes, in most cases you can keep your existing landline number when moving to VoIP. The process is known as number porting: your existing telephone number is transferred from your current provider to your new VoIP provider, so friends, family and other contacts can continue calling the same number.
Plexatalk can port existing UK landline numbers to its residential VoIP service, subject to the number being eligible and the port completing successfully. Once transferred, calls to your old landline number are delivered through Plexatalk over your internet connection rather than through your previous phone service.
If keeping your number is important, don’t cancel your existing phone service before arranging the port. The safest approach is to request the transfer while the existing service is still active and wait for confirmation of how the switch will be handled. Ofcom also recommends checking with your existing provider if your phone and broadband are linked, as transferring the landline number can sometimes affect the associated broadband service.
Already cancelled? You may still be able to recover and port the number: Ofcom says you can normally request to keep it for up to one month after the old service ends.
Want to keep your current number? Check with Plexatalk whether your landline number can be moved to our Home VoIP service before cancelling your existing service.
Yes, in most cases you can continue using your existing home phone when you switch to VoIP. You don’t necessarily need to replace familiar corded phones or a DECT cordless phone system.
The usual solution is an Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA), sometimes simply called a VoIP adapter. This is a small powered device that converts the analogue signals used by a traditional telephone into the digital data required for VoIP.
The setup is straightforward:
Existing analogue or DECT phone → VoIP adapter → broadband router → internet → Plexatalk
If you have a DECT cordless system with several handsets, you would normally connect the DECT base station to the adapter. Your cordless handsets can then remain paired with the base and continue to be used around your home as before.
It’s worth noting that an ATA is an electronic device, not simply a plug converter. It needs power and connects to your router, usually by Ethernet. Plexatalk can supply a preconfigured adapter, so you don’t need to enter SIP usernames, passwords or other technical settings yourself.
Some specialist or older telephone equipment may require compatibility checking, but most households can continue using their existing phones.
For more information, see our guide to VoIP adapters and whether you need one
Unlike a traditional PSTN landline, a standard VoIP setup will not normally work during a power cut. Your broadband router, VoIP adapter (ATA) and, depending on your setup, telephone equipment all require electricity. If they lose power, your VoIP phone service cannot make or receive calls through that connection.
Traditional corded PSTN phones were different because the telephone line could receive power from the local exchange, allowing a basic corded phone to continue working during many household power cuts. (ofcom.org.uk)
There are ways to add resilience to VoIP. A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) or suitable battery backup can keep equipment such as your router and VoIP adapter powered for a period of time. Other options can include using a mobile phone or arranging call forwarding to another number if your home connection becomes unavailable.
If you rely on your home phone for emergencies, make sure you have an appropriate backup arrangement in place.
For more detail, see our guide to using VoIP during a power cut.
Strictly speaking, no — you don’t always need broadband to have a landline in the UK today. Some existing landline-only customers can continue using transitional services, including arrangements such as BT Home Phone Standard and the underlying solutions designed to support the move away from the PSTN.
However, these shouldn’t be mistaken for the future of home phone services. The UK’s traditional telephone network is being retired, and digital, IP-based calling is replacing it. Ofcom expects landline services eventually to be provided over broadband-based connections.
If you choose VoIP or Digital Voice, you need a suitable internet connection because your calls are carried digitally rather than over the traditional PSTN.
The good news is that your broadband and home phone don’t have to be supplied by the same company. If you already have a reliable internet connection, you can potentially keep your existing broadband provider and choose an independent VoIP provider such as Plexatalk for your home phone.
That gives you greater flexibility, particularly if your broadband provider doesn’t offer a phone service or its own Digital Voice product isn’t suitable for you.
Yes, in some circumstances. Some existing landline-only customers can use transitional services that don’t require a conventional broadband service. However, traditional PSTN landlines are being retired, and the long-term replacement is IP-based calling.
BT’s current Home Phone Standard information is primarily aimed at existing landline-only customers being migrated away from the traditional network. It shouldn’t be assumed that a new customer can order a conventional analogue BT landline without broadband in the way they could previously.
No. BT says customers moved to Home Phone Standard can continue using their home phone without installing broadband. This is different from BT Digital Voice, which operates over a broadband connection.
VoIP is the technology used to carry telephone calls over an IP connection. Digital Voice is a term used for digital home phone services that use this technology. BT, for example, uses Digital Voice as the name of its broadband-based home phone service.
No. VoIP requires an internet connection to make and receive calls. This could be provided through technologies such as Full Fibre, other fixed broadband, 4G/5G home internet or a suitable satellite internet connection.
Yes. Plexatalk is an independent VoIP service, so your internet connection can be supplied by another company. You don’t have to move your broadband to Plexatalk to use Plexatalk for your home phone.
Yes, provided the connection is suitable and reliable enough for VoIP. This means you can potentially have a home phone even if your internet isn’t delivered through a conventional fixed broadband line.
Usually, yes. Existing UK landline numbers can often be ported to a VoIP provider such as Plexatalk. Eligibility depends on the number and circumstances, so check that your number can be transferred before cancelling your existing telephone service.
In many cases, yes. A conventional analogue or DECT telephone can usually be connected to a VoIP service using an Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA). The adapter connects your existing phone to your broadband router.
Not normally without backup power. Your router, VoIP adapter and other equipment require electricity. A suitable UPS or battery backup can provide temporary power, while a mobile phone can provide an alternative way to make calls during an outage.
If you’ve received a letter from Trooli telling you that your existing landline phone service is coming to an end, you may be wondering what happens to your telephone number — especially if it’s a number you’ve had for many years.
The good news is that losing your Trooli phone service doesn’t necessarily mean losing your landline number.
Existing UK landline numbers can usually be transferred, or ported, to a VoIP provider such as Plexatalk. This means you can continue using Trooli for your broadband while moving your existing telephone number to Plexatalk separately.
Once transferred, your number works over your internet connection rather than a traditional landline service, allowing you to keep receiving calls on the number your friends, family or customers already know.
The important thing is not to leave the transfer until the last minute. Ideally, arrange the port while your existing Trooli phone service and number are still active.
Want to keep your existing number? View our Plexatalk Home VoIP packages and sign up online.
Some Trooli customers have received letters advising them that their current telephone service is coming to an end and that they will need to make alternative arrangements if they want to continue using their landline number.
At Plexatalk, we’ve been told on multiple occasions by Trooli customers that their letters give the end of September as the deadline. However, this may not apply to every Trooli customer, so you should check the date stated in your own letter.
Importantly, this doesn’t mean you need to change your Trooli broadband. Full-fibre broadband (FTTP) doesn’t require a traditional telephone line to provide your internet connection.
Your broadband and phone service also don’t need to come from the same provider. You can continue using Trooli for your broadband while moving your existing landline number to a separate VoIP provider such as Plexatalk.
Yes — in most cases, your existing landline number can be transferred to another provider.
This process is called number porting. Put simply, your existing telephone number is moved from your current phone service to Plexatalk, so you can continue using the same number that friends and family already know.
You don’t need to move your broadband away from Trooli to do this. Trooli can continue supplying your full-fibre broadband, while Plexatalk provides your telephone service separately.
Once the number has been transferred, calls made to your existing landline number are delivered through Plexatalk’s VoIP service using your broadband connection. Depending on the setup you choose, you can continue using a home telephone with suitable VoIP equipment.
So, just because your existing Trooli telephone service is ending, you don’t automatically need to give up your number or start again with a new one.
Plexatalk includes number porting with our Home VoIP plans.
View Plexatalk Home VoIP plans from £4/month.
If your Trooli phone service has an upcoming end date, it’s important to allow enough time for your number to be transferred.
If your landline number has never previously been ported between telephone providers, the transfer to Plexatalk will typically take around one week.
If your number has previously been transferred from one telephone provider to another, the port will typically take around two weeks.
These are typical timescales rather than guaranteed completion dates. Occasionally, a number port can encounter a delay, require additional information or need to be resubmitted before it can complete.
For that reason, if your Trooli letter gives you a deadline for the end of your existing phone service, don’t wait until the final few days to start the transfer. Starting the process early gives you more time to deal with any unexpected delays while your existing number is still active.
Moving your existing Trooli landline number to Plexatalk is straightforward, and you can start the process online.
Visit our Home VoIP page and choose a package based on the number of monthly call minutes you need.
During signup, select the option to transfer your existing landline number rather than receiving a new number.
We’ll need some information about your existing telephone service. You’ll also complete a Letter of Authorisation, which gives us permission to transfer the number on your behalf.
We’ll submit the number port for you. Most numbers take approximately one week, while numbers that have previously been ported typically take around two weeks.
Once the transfer completes, calls to your existing number will come through Plexatalk.
If you want to continue using your existing home telephone, you may also need a VoIP adapter, available from Plexatalk for £50. It connects between your broadband router and existing phone. Adapters supplied by us arrive preconfigured, making setup as simple as possible.
See our Home VoIP prices and start your number transfer online.
In many cases, yes. Moving your landline number to VoIP doesn’t necessarily mean replacing the home phones you already use.
Traditional analogue and DECT phones can’t normally connect directly to a standard broadband router. However, Plexatalk offers an optional VoIP adapter, which connects between your broadband router and your existing telephone equipment.
This can be particularly useful if you already have cordless phones around the house and are happy with them. Rather than buying a completely new phone system, the adapter allows compatible existing phones to work with your Plexatalk VoIP service.
You don’t necessarily need a physical home phone either. Depending on how you want to receive your calls, your number can be used with compatible VoIP phones or apps, or calls can be forwarded to another number where appropriate.
For more information, see our guide: Do You Need a VoIP Adapter?
Keeping your existing landline number doesn’t need to be expensive. Plexatalk Home VoIP plans start from £4 per month, with a choice of packages depending on how often you use your home phone.
Number porting is included, so there’s no additional porting charge for transferring your existing landline number to Plexatalk.
If you’d like to continue using your existing home telephone, you can also order an optional VoIP adapter for £50. Adapters supplied by Plexatalk are preconfigured and connect your existing phone to your broadband router.
Our residential Home VoIP packages are rolling monthly, so you’re not tied into a lengthy phone contract.
For current prices, full package details and online signup, visit our Home VoIP page.
View Home VoIP Pricing & Sign Up
No. You can keep your Trooli broadband and move only your telephone number to Plexatalk.
Your broadband connection and home telephone service don’t have to be supplied by the same company. If your existing Trooli phone service is ending, that doesn’t mean you need to cancel or replace your Trooli broadband.
Your setup can simply be:
Trooli → your broadband connection
Plexatalk → your existing home telephone number
Plexatalk VoIP works over your internet connection, so once your existing number has been transferred, your calls are handled through Plexatalk using your Trooli broadband.
This means you can continue with your existing Trooli broadband package while keeping the landline number you already know and use — there’s no need to move everything to another provider.
If your Trooli letter gives you a date when your existing telephone service will end, it’s a good idea to arrange your number transfer well before that date.
Most straightforward landline number ports typically take around one week. If your number has previously been transferred between telephone providers, the process will typically take around two weeks.
These are typical timescales rather than guaranteed completion dates. Occasionally, a port can take longer if there’s an issue with the information supplied, additional details are required, or the transfer needs to be resubmitted.
Starting the process earlier gives you more time to resolve any unexpected issues while your existing telephone service and number are still active.
Yes. An existing UK landline number can be transferred, or ported, to a VoIP provider such as Plexatalk. This allows you to keep the number your friends and family already use.
A straightforward number port typically takes around one week. If your number has previously been ported between telephone providers, it will typically take around two weeks. Occasionally, transfers can take longer.
Yes. Your broadband and telephone services don’t need to come from the same provider. You can keep Trooli for your broadband and use Plexatalk for your existing telephone number.
Usually, yes. A compatible existing home phone can be connected to the Plexatalk VoIP service using an optional VoIP adapter.
Potentially, yes. If your telephone service has already been disconnected, it may still be possible to recover and port your existing number.
Typically, there is a 30-day period after disconnection during which a landline number can still be ported.
However, we strongly recommend not relying on this window. It’s much safer to request the transfer while your existing telephone service is still active, as this reduces the risk of complications or losing access to the number.
If your Trooli service has already ended and you want to keep your old number, contact Plexatalk as soon as possible so we can check whether the number can still be transferred.
If your Trooli telephone service is coming to an end, you don’t have to give up the landline number you’ve used for years.
With Plexatalk, you can keep your existing telephone number while continuing to use Trooli for your broadband. If you want to keep your existing compatible home phones, you can also add an optional preconfigured VoIP adapter.
Home VoIP plans start from £4 per month, with number porting included. Most straightforward number transfers take around one week, or around two weeks if the number has previously been ported.
View Plexatalk Home VoIP packages, choose the plan that suits you and request to transfer your existing number during signup.
If you’ve heard about VoIP, digital landlines or changes to the UK phone network, you may be wondering whether it’s time to switch your landline to VoIP — and what doing so would actually mean for your home phone.
The good news is that moving to VoIP doesn’t necessarily mean giving up your landline number or changing the way you use your phone.
Instead of your calls travelling over a traditional copper phone line, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) sends them over your internet connection. With the right service and equipment, you can often keep your existing phone number and continue using familiar home phones, including cordless handsets.
So, if you still like having a home phone, the decision isn’t necessarily landline or no landline. It’s whether an internet-based home phone service is now a better fit than a traditional landline.
For many UK households, switching a landline to VoIP is worth considering, particularly as the UK moves away from the traditional copper-based phone network and towards internet-based phone services.
If you’ve heard this described as the landline switch-off or PSTN switch-off, it doesn’t mean home phone numbers or landline-style phones are disappearing. Instead, traditional phone services are being replaced by digital alternatives, with calls increasingly carried over an internet connection.
VoIP lets you make that transition while potentially keeping your existing landline number and familiar home phones. It can also give you more choice over who provides your phone service, rather than having your home number tied to your broadband provider.
However, VoIP isn’t right for every household. It relies on an internet connection and usually mains power, while some alarms, telecare systems and other equipment may need checking before you switch.
For most households that still want a home phone but no longer need — or can no longer get — a traditional phone line, VoIP can be a practical replacement as the UK’s old landline network is phased out.
The biggest change is how your calls are carried. With a traditional landline, calls travel over the old telephone network. With VoIP, your voice is converted into digital data and the call travels over your broadband connection instead.
For everyday use, however, surprisingly little needs to change.
You can usually keep your existing landline number by transferring, or “porting”, it to your new VoIP provider. Once the transfer is complete, people can continue calling the same number they’ve always used.
You may also be able to keep your existing phone. Traditional analogue and many DECT cordless phones can often be connected to a VoIP service using an ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter). The adapter sits between your phone and internet connection, allowing an ordinary home telephone to work with VoIP.
Once everything is set up, making and receiving calls can feel much the same as before. You pick up the handset, dial a number and answer incoming calls in the usual way.
The important difference is happening behind the scenes: your home phone is now using your internet connection rather than relying on the traditional phone network. That also means factors such as your broadband connection and power supply become important to the reliability of your phone service.
One of the main reasons is the UK landline switch-off. The traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) is being retired, with phone services moving towards digital, internet-based technology. For households that still want a home phone, VoIP provides a way to keep that familiar service without depending on the old telephone network.
The move to full fibre broadband is another factor. Full fibre connections don’t rely on the traditional copper phone line into the home in the same way, so households moving to these services may find that a conventional landline is no longer part of their broadband package.
Broadband providers are also increasingly offering their own digital phone services instead of traditional landlines. While these can be convenient, you don’t necessarily have to take your home phone service from the same company that supplies your broadband.
An independent VoIP service can separate the two. You can have broadband from one provider and your home phone number and calling service from another. This can be particularly useful if you regularly switch broadband providers for better prices or faster speeds but want to keep your home phone service consistent.
Other households switch because they want more flexibility or potentially lower calling costs, particularly for international calls.
Ultimately, many people aren’t switching because they want to stop using a landline-style phone. They’re switching because the technology behind the home phone is changing, and VoIP allows them to keep many of the things they value — including their number and familiar handsets — while moving away from the traditional phone network.
For people who still value having a home phone, VoIP can offer many of the benefits of a traditional landline while providing more flexibility over how the service is set up.
One of the biggest advantages is the ability to keep your existing landline number. In many cases, your number can be ported to a VoIP provider, so friends, relatives and other contacts don’t need to learn a new one.
You can often keep your existing phones too. Many analogue and DECT cordless phones can be connected to a VoIP service using a suitable adapter, meaning there may be no need to replace handsets you’re already comfortable using.
Another benefit is greater independence from your broadband provider. With an independent VoIP service, your home phone doesn’t necessarily have to be bundled with your broadband. If you later change broadband supplier, you can potentially leave your VoIP service and phone number exactly as they are.
VoIP can also offer competitive call charges, particularly if you regularly make international calls. Depending on the provider and plan, you may also get useful features such as voicemail, caller ID, call forwarding and the ability to manage aspects of your service online.
There’s greater portability as well. Because a VoIP number isn’t tied to a traditional copper line at a particular property in quite the same way, moving home doesn’t necessarily mean changing your phone number or arranging an entirely new phone service.
For many households, that flexibility is the main attraction. You can keep the familiar experience of having a home phone while gaining more control over the provider, number and service behind it.
VoIP has plenty of advantages, but there are some important differences from a traditional landline that you should understand before switching.
The biggest is that VoIP depends on your internet connection. If your broadband goes down, your VoIP phone will normally stop working until the connection is restored. Call quality can also be affected by a slow or unreliable broadband connection, although a stable connection should generally be sufficient for ordinary voice calls.
VoIP equipment also usually needs mains electricity. During a power cut, your broadband router, VoIP adapter and cordless phone base station may stop working. This is different from some traditional corded landlines, which could continue operating during a local power failure because they received power from the telephone network. A battery backup or another means of communication, such as a charged mobile phone, may therefore be important for some households.
You should also consider 999 and other emergency calls. VoIP services can support emergency calling, but they don’t work in exactly the same way as a traditional copper landline. Your provider may need an up-to-date address associated with your number, and your phone may be unavailable during a broadband or power outage. Check how emergency calling works with your chosen provider before switching.
Particular care is needed if your landline is connected to an alarm, telecare system, medical alert device or other specialist equipment. Older equipment designed for an analogue telephone line may not work correctly over VoIP. Don’t assume it will be compatible — check with the equipment or service provider before moving your number or disconnecting the existing line.
There may also be some initial setup involved. Depending on the service, you might need a VoIP adapter, compatible handset or changes to your home phone wiring.
None of these issues automatically makes VoIP a poor choice. They simply mean that switching should be planned properly, particularly if someone in the household relies on the home phone for emergency contact or essential services.
In most cases, yes — you can keep your existing landline number when switching to VoIP. The process is known as number porting, where your existing telephone number is transferred from your current provider to your new VoIP provider.
This can be particularly important if you’ve had the same home number for many years. Rather than telling friends, relatives, businesses and other contacts that your number has changed, they can continue calling you as normal after the port has completed.
The most important thing is to check that your number can be ported before cancelling your existing landline service. If you cancel the old service first, you could make the number more difficult — or in some circumstances impossible — to recover and transfer.
Your new VoIP provider should explain the information they need and how the transfer will be handled. There may also be a short period while the number is being moved, so it’s worth understanding what to expect before starting the process.
If keeping your existing number is a priority, arrange the port as part of the switch rather than treating it as something to sort out afterwards. Don’t cancel your existing landline until you know how and when your number will be transferred.
In many cases, yes — you can continue using your existing landline phone after switching to VoIP.
Traditional analogue phones don’t usually connect directly to a VoIP service, but they can often be used with an ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter). This small device connects your existing telephone to your internet connection and converts the calls so they can be made and received over VoIP.
This means you may be able to keep a familiar corded phone or your existing DECT cordless phone system, including multiple handsets around the house, rather than replacing everything with specialist VoIP phones.
Compatibility does vary, however. Very old telephones, certain specialist equipment and some features that relied on the traditional analogue line may not work in exactly the same way.
If keeping your current phones is important, check their compatibility with your chosen VoIP provider and adapter before switching. For many households, though, moving to VoIP changes the technology behind the phone rather than the phone they actually use each day.
Usually, no — switching your landline to VoIP doesn’t mean you need to change your broadband provider.
VoIP works over an internet connection, so an independent VoIP service can generally be used with broadband from a different company. For example, you could have your broadband with one provider while another provider looks after your home phone number and calls.
This is an important difference between independent VoIP and the digital phone services bundled with some broadband packages. A broadband provider’s digital voice service will typically form part of its own package, whereas an independent VoIP service isn’t tied as closely to whoever supplies your internet connection.
That can give you more freedom when it’s time to change broadband deals. Instead of worrying about what will happen to your home phone every time you switch broadband provider, you can potentially keep the same VoIP service and number while changing the internet connection underneath it.
You don’t normally need full fibre either. VoIP can work over many types of broadband connection, provided the connection is stable enough for voice calls.
So, if you want to keep a home phone without having your phone service bundled with your broadband, choosing a separate VoIP provider can be a useful option.
VoIP can make sense for a wide range of households, but it’s particularly useful if you still want the benefits of a home phone while moving away from a traditional landline.
If you’re moving to full fibre broadband, for example, VoIP can provide a straightforward way to continue having a home phone even when your new broadband connection doesn’t include a traditional telephone line.
It’s also worth considering if you have a long-held landline number that you don’t want to lose. Provided the number can be ported, you can move it to a VoIP service and continue receiving calls on the number that friends and family already know.
VoIP may also suit older people who prefer using a familiar home phone, particularly if mobile phones aren’t their preferred way to make and receive calls. Existing handsets can often continue to be used with a suitable adapter, although any telecare or alarm equipment should be checked separately for compatibility.
Another good use case is households that change broadband providers regularly. Keeping your VoIP service separate means you may be able to shop around for broadband deals without moving your home phone service each time.
It can also suit anyone who wants a landline number without bundling it with broadband, as well as households that make regular international calls and could benefit from a VoIP provider’s calling rates.
In short, VoIP is particularly worth considering if you want to keep the idea of a landline — your number, your handsets and the convenience of a home phone — without keeping the traditional phone line behind it.
VoIP won’t be the best option for every household. If your internet connection is unreliable, frequent broadband outages could also leave your home phone unavailable, making an internet-based service less suitable.
You should be particularly careful if your current landline is used by an alarm, telecare system, medical alert device or other specialist equipment. Some older systems were designed specifically for analogue phone lines and may not work reliably with VoIP. Check with the equipment or service provider before making any changes.
VoIP may also be less suitable if you need a home phone that will continue working during a local power cut or broadband outage and you don’t have suitable backup arrangements. Most VoIP setups rely on mains-powered broadband equipment, so losing electricity can also mean losing your phone service.
These issues don’t necessarily rule out VoIP, but they may require additional equipment or planning. If your home phone is essential for safety or emergency communication, make sure you understand how your replacement service will work during an outage before switching.
Switching a landline to VoIP is usually straightforward, but it’s important to do things in the right order — particularly if you want to keep your existing phone number.
Start by choosing a VoIP provider and checking that the service meets your needs. Consider call charges, monthly costs, emergency calling, equipment requirements and whether you can use your existing home phones.
Next, check that your current landline number can be ported. If keeping your number is important, don’t cancel your existing phone service before arranging the transfer. Your new VoIP provider should guide you through the porting process and tell you what information is required.
You can then set up your VoIP service and equipment. If you’re keeping an analogue or DECT phone, this may involve connecting it to an ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter), which in turn connects to your broadband router.
Once your number has been transferred, test both incoming and outgoing calls and check that your phones, voicemail and any other required features work correctly.
Your old phone service can then cease at the appropriate point as part of the switch. If it forms part of a broadband package, check with the relevant providers first so you understand whether transferring or cancelling the phone service could affect anything else.
For the complete process, follow our How to Switch Your Landline to VoIP guide, which covers each stage in more detail.
For most people who still value having a home phone, switching from a traditional landline to VoIP is a sensible option.
It allows you to keep many of the things you already like about your landline — including, in many cases, your existing number and familiar handsets — while moving to the internet-based technology that is replacing the UK’s traditional phone network.
An independent VoIP service can also give you more control. Your home phone doesn’t have to be tied to your broadband provider, making it easier to change broadband deals while potentially keeping the same phone number and VoIP service.
There are important exceptions. If you have unreliable broadband, rely on a landline during power cuts, or use alarms, telecare or other specialist equipment, you should check that VoIP is suitable and put any necessary backup arrangements in place before switching.
If those issues don’t apply, there’s little reason why moving away from the old copper phone network should mean giving up your home phone altogether.
Usually, yes. Most landline numbers can be transferred to a VoIP provider through a process called number porting. If keeping your number is important, don’t cancel your existing landline before the port has been arranged, as doing so could risk losing the number.
In many cases, yes. An existing analogue or DECT cordless phone can often be connected to VoIP using an ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter). Compatibility can vary, so check your handset and any other equipment connected to the line before switching.
Usually not without backup power. Your broadband router, VoIP adapter and cordless phone base station typically require mains electricity. If having a working home phone during a power cut is important, ask your provider about battery backup and make sure you have another way to make calls if necessary.
No. You don’t need full fibre broadband to use VoIP. It can work over different types of broadband connection, provided the connection is stable enough to carry voice calls reliably.
In many cases, yes. An independent VoIP service can usually be used separately from your broadband provider, so you don’t necessarily need to buy your internet and home phone services from the same company.
VoIP services can support 999 emergency calls, but you should check exactly how this works with your chosen provider. Because VoIP can be used from different locations, providers may use a registered address to help identify where you are calling from. VoIP may also be unavailable during a broadband or power outage, so households should consider an alternative means of making emergency calls.