Keep Your Landline When Switching to giffgaff Broadband

Can You Keep Your Landline When Switching to giffgaff Broadband?

Yes, you can keep your existing landline number when switching to giffgaff Broadband—but not by using a traditional landline service. That’s because giffgaff Broadband is a broadband-only provider and doesn’t include a home phone line or digital voice service with its packages.

The good news is that you don’t have to lose a number you’ve had for years. Instead, you can transfer (or “port”) your existing landline number to a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) provider. VoIP lets you make and receive calls over your internet connection while keeping the same familiar phone number. Depending on the service you choose, you can use your existing home phone with a VoIP adapter, a dedicated IP phone, or even answer calls on your smartphone.

This approach is becoming increasingly popular as the UK moves away from the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). By pairing giffgaff Broadband with a reliable VoIP service, you can enjoy flexible, cost-effective home phone calling without giving up the landline number that friends, family, and customers already know.

In this guide, we’ll explain exactly how to keep your landline number when switching to giffgaff Broadband, how the transfer process works, and what you need to do to avoid losing your number during the switch.

Does giffgaff Offer a Landline?

No, giffgaff does not offer a landline service with its broadband packages. Unlike some broadband providers that include a Digital Voice or home phone option, giffgaff is a broadband-only provider. If you switch to giffgaff Broadband, you’ll receive a full fibre internet connection, but there isn’t an option to add a traditional landline or a digital home phone service.

This is largely because giffgaff’s broadband is built exclusively on full fibre (FTTP) technology. Full fibre connections don’t rely on the old copper telephone network, which means there’s no conventional phone line included with the service. Rather than replacing the old landline with its own Digital Voice product, giffgaff has chosen to focus solely on delivering straightforward, high-speed broadband.

For customers who still want to make and receive calls on a home phone, this doesn’t mean you have to give up your existing number. Instead, you can use a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service, which works over your broadband connection rather than the traditional phone network. A VoIP service provides the same functionality as a home phone while allowing you to keep your existing landline number through a simple number porting process.

If having a home phone is important, pairing giffgaff Broadband with a VoIP provider is the most practical way to enjoy full fibre broadband without losing your long-established landline number.

Can You Keep Your Existing Landline Number?

Yes. In most cases, you can keep your existing landline number when switching to giffgaff Broadband by transferring it to a VoIP provider. This process is known as number porting and allows you to continue using the same phone number even though your calls are no longer carried over a traditional telephone line.

Most UK landline numbers can be ported from major providers, including BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Plusnet, EE, Vodafone, Virgin Media, and many smaller telecom providers. As long as your number is eligible for porting, there’s usually no need to change the number that friends, family, or customers already know.

The most important thing to remember is not to cancel your existing landline service before your number has been ported. Cancelling first can result in the number being disconnected permanently, making it difficult—or even impossible—to recover. Instead, arrange the port with your chosen VoIP provider, who will normally manage the transfer process on your behalf.

Once the port is complete, your existing landline number will work over your broadband connection instead of the old telephone network. You’ll still be able to make and receive calls as normal, whether you use a traditional handset connected via a VoIP adapter, an IP phone, or a mobile app.

For most households, the process is straightforward and typically completed with minimal disruption, making it easy to enjoy giffgaff’s full fibre broadband while keeping the landline number you’ve used for years.

Important: Don’t Lose Your Number When Switching

One of the biggest mistakes people make when switching to giffgaff Broadband is porting their landline number too early. If your current broadband and phone service are provided over the same line, transferring the phone number before your new broadband is installed will usually cause your existing broadband service to be disconnected as well.

The safest approach is to arrange your giffgaff Broadband installation first. Thanks to the UK’s One Touch Switch process, changing broadband providers is now much simpler, with your new provider coordinating the switch and helping to minimise disruption. Once you have a confirmed installation date, you can then arrange to port your landline number to Plexatalk.

By giving us your scheduled broadband installation date, we can align your number port to take place at the right time. This helps ensure your old broadband remains active until your new full fibre connection is live, reducing the risk of downtime and helping you keep your existing landline number.

Another common mistake is cancelling your current broadband or phone service yourself before the switch is complete. In many cases, this can lead to your phone number being ceased, making it impossible to transfer. Instead, leave your existing service active until both your broadband installation and your number port have been successfully completed.

Planning the switch in the right order—broadband first, then your VoIP number port—is the simplest way to enjoy a smooth transition to giffgaff Broadband without losing your long-standing landline number.

Why Use an Independent VoIP Provider Like Plexatalk?

Choosing an independent VoIP provider such as Plexatalk gives you far more flexibility than tying your home phone service to your broadband provider. Because your phone service is separate from your internet connection, you aren’t forced to change your phone number or calling service every time you switch broadband providers.

This means if you decide to leave giffgaff in the future, your landline number stays with Plexatalk. You simply connect your VoIP service to your new broadband connection, avoiding the hassle of transferring your number again or setting up a completely new phone service.

VoIP can also be a more cost-effective solution than traditional home phone services. Many customers benefit from lower monthly costs, competitive call rates, and flexible plans that suit both light and heavy phone users. Instead of paying for a bundled phone service you may not fully use, you only pay for the features you need.

Another advantage is the range of ways you can make and receive calls. If you’d like to keep using your existing home telephone, you can simply connect it using a VoIP adapter. Alternatively, you can use a dedicated IP phone for enhanced functionality or install the Plexatalk app on your smartphone to answer your home number wherever you are. This is particularly useful if you’re away from home but don’t want to miss important calls.

Because your service runs over your internet connection rather than the old telephone network, you’ll also be ready for the UK’s move away from traditional landlines. Whether you’re keeping a long-established family number or a business contact number, Plexatalk makes it easy to retain it while enjoying the freedom to choose whichever broadband provider offers the best deal.

Can You Still Use Your Existing Home Phones?

Yes—in most cases, you can continue using the home phones you already own after switching to giffgaff Broadband and moving your landline number to VoIP. Many people assume they’ll need to replace all of their handsets, but that’s usually not the case.

If you have a standard cordless or corded home phone, the simplest option is to connect it to an Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA). An ATA plugs into your broadband router and allows your existing telephone to work over a VoIP service, so you can carry on using familiar handsets without any major changes. At Plexatalk, we offer pre-configured ATAs for £50, so they’re ready to plug in and use with minimal setup. If you’d rather buy your own ATA elsewhere, that’s no problem—we can provide all the SIP settings you’ll need to configure it yourself.

If you have a DECT cordless phone system with multiple handsets around your home, these can also usually continue to work. Simply connect the base station to an ATA, and all of the paired handsets should operate just as they did before.

Alternatively, you may prefer to use a dedicated VoIP phone. These devices connect directly to your broadband network and often offer features such as HD voice quality, programmable buttons, call transfers, and advanced voicemail, making them ideal for home offices and small businesses.

For most households, switching to VoIP doesn’t mean replacing their existing phones. With the right equipment, you can keep using the handsets you’re familiar with while enjoying a modern, flexible home phone service over your full fibre broadband connection.

What Happens During a Power Cut or Broadband Outage?

Because VoIP works over your broadband connection, it relies on both your internet service and your networking equipment being powered on. This means that if your broadband connection goes down or there’s a power cut affecting your router or VoIP equipment, your home phone service will also be unavailable until the connection is restored.

While this is different from the traditional copper phone network, which could often continue working during a power outage, it’s worth remembering that the UK’s old landline network is being switched off, and digital phone services are becoming the standard.

The good news is that there are several ways to stay connected. With Plexatalk, you can set up call forwarding so that calls to your home number are automatically diverted to your mobile phone if needed. You can also use the Plexatalk mobile app to make and receive calls using your landline number whenever you have an internet connection, whether that’s over mobile data or Wi-Fi.

For customers who want extra resilience at home, it’s also possible to use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to keep your broadband router and VoIP adapter running during short power cuts.

For most households, these options provide more than enough flexibility, ensuring you can continue receiving important calls even if your home broadband or power is temporarily unavailable.

Step-by-Step: How to Switch to giffgaff and Keep Your Number

Keeping your existing landline number when switching to giffgaff Broadband is straightforward, as long as you complete the steps in the right order.

1. Order your giffgaff Broadband. Sign up for your chosen full fibre package and wait for your installation to be confirmed. You’ll be given an installation date for your new broadband connection.
2. Keep your current broadband and phone service active. Don’t cancel your existing provider or request to transfer your landline number yet. If your phone number is ported too early, your current broadband service could be disconnected before your new connection is ready.
3. Sign up for a Plexatalk VoIP plan. Once you have your confirmed giffgaff installation date, visit the Plexatalk VoIP for Home page and choose the plan that’s right for you. During the order process, let us know your broadband installation date so we can schedule your number port accordingly.
4. Arrange your equipment. If you’re planning to use your existing home phone, order a pre-configured ATA from Plexatalk or purchase your own compatible adapter. If you supply your own device, we’ll provide the SIP settings needed to configure it.
5. Wait for your broadband to be installed. Once your giffgaff connection is live, connect your ATA or VoIP phone to your broadband router and make sure it’s ready to use.
6. Your number is ported to Plexatalk. On the agreed port date, your existing landline number will transfer to your Plexatalk VoIP service. There may be a short interruption while the port completes, but it’s usually brief.
7. Start making and receiving calls. Once the port has finished, your existing landline number will work over your broadband connection. You’ll be able to make and receive calls using your home phone, a VoIP phone, or the Plexatalk mobile app, depending on how you’ve chosen to use the service.

Following these steps helps ensure a smooth switch to giffgaff Broadband while keeping your existing landline number with minimal disruption.

Keep Your Landline When Switching to giffgaff – FAQs

The UK Landline Switch Off: Why VoIP Is the Future

Even if you’re not switching to giffgaff Broadband today, the UK’s traditional landline network is being retired. By January 2027, the old Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and ISDN services are scheduled to be switched off, marking the end of analogue landlines across the UK.

If your home phone currently relies on a copper telephone line, you’ll eventually need to move to a digital phone service. For many people, this will happen automatically when they upgrade to full fibre broadband or when their existing provider migrates them to a Digital Voice service. Others may choose to move their number to an independent VoIP provider instead.

Using an independent VoIP provider offers greater flexibility. Rather than having your home phone tied to a particular broadband company, your landline number remains separate from your internet service. This means you can switch broadband providers whenever you like without having to move your phone number or learn a new phone system each time.

Making the switch now also gives you more control over the process. Instead of waiting until your provider requires you to migrate, you can choose when to port your number, continue using your existing home phones with an ATA, and take advantage of features such as call forwarding, voicemail, and mobile apps.

Whether you’re moving to giffgaff Broadband now or planning ahead for the UK’s landline switch off, transferring your number to a VoIP service helps future-proof your home phone while ensuring you keep the landline number you’ve relied on for years.

Ready to Make the Switch?

Switching to giffgaff Broadband doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to your home phone number. While giffgaff doesn’t offer a landline or Digital Voice service, you can keep your existing number by transferring it to a VoIP provider and continue making and receiving calls over your broadband connection.

The key is to complete the switch in the right order. Arrange your new broadband first, wait for your installation date, and then organise your landline number port so everything happens at the right time. This helps avoid unnecessary downtime and protects your existing broadband service until your new connection is live.

At Plexatalk, we make the process as straightforward as possible. Whether you want to keep using your existing home phone with a pre-configured adapter or prefer to use a VoIP phone or mobile app, we’ll help you transfer your number and get everything set up with minimal disruption.

If you’re planning to switch to giffgaff Broadband and want to keep your landline number, explore our VoIP for Home plans and we’ll help you make the move as smoothly as possible.