Plusnet has stopped selling traditional home phone services as part of its broadband packages. New customers can no longer order broadband with a copper landline, while existing customers who still want a bundled phone service are generally being encouraged to move to EE instead.
However, this doesn’t mean landlines are disappearing altogether. Instead, it’s part of the UK’s nationwide switch away from the ageing copper telephone network to modern digital phone services that run over your broadband connection. Rather than using the old PSTN network, most home phone services are now delivered using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). If you’re unfamiliar with the technology, our guide to VoIP for Home explains how it works and why it’s replacing traditional landlines.
In this guide, we’ll explain why Plusnet made this decision, what it means for existing and new customers, and, most importantly, how you can continue using Plusnet broadband while keeping your existing landline number. If that’s your goal, see our detailed guide on staying with Plusnet and keeping your landline number, which walks you through the process step by step.
Plusnet has chosen not to launch its own Digital Voice service and is instead focusing on broadband-only products. As the UK’s traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is retired, the company is no longer offering new customers a conventional landline service alongside broadband. Existing customers who still want a bundled home phone are typically being directed to EE, which offers BT Group’s Digital Voice service.
Fortunately, you still have several options. You can stay with Plusnet and transfer your existing landline number to a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) provider, move your broadband and phone service to EE, or switch to another provider altogether. The right choice depends on whether you want to keep your current broadband, retain your existing phone number, or bundle everything with a single provider.
Want to keep your Plusnet broadband and your existing phone number? Read our guide: Stay with Plusnet and Keep Your Landline.
Plusnet hasn’t stopped offering landlines because the technology no longer works—it’s because the UK’s entire telephone network is changing.
For decades, home phone services relied on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a nationwide network of copper telephone lines that carried analogue voice calls. While this infrastructure served the UK well for many years, it has become increasingly expensive to maintain and is no longer suited to modern communications.
Openreach is now retiring the copper-based PSTN network as part of the UK’s move to a fully digital telecommunications infrastructure. Ofcom has supported this industry-wide migration to digital phone services, with traditional analogue landlines due to be withdrawn as the PSTN reaches end of life. As a result, providers are replacing traditional phone lines with digital services that run over broadband using technologies such as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). The transition also supports the UK’s wider rollout of full fibre (FTTP) broadband, which doesn’t support analogue phone signals.
As a result, every broadband and phone provider has had to adapt. Some have launched their own digital phone services, while others have changed the way they package broadband and home phone products.
Unlike BT and EE, Plusnet has decided not to develop its own Digital Voice platform for residential customers. Instead, BT Group has focused its investment on EE as its primary consumer brand for bundled broadband and digital phone services.
That means Plusnet is gradually becoming a broadband-only provider. New customers can no longer take out a traditional landline with their broadband, and existing customers who still want a home phone are generally encouraged to move to EE’s Digital Voice service.
It’s important to understand that this is a commercial decision rather than a technical limitation. Plusnet broadband works perfectly well with digital phone services. The company has simply chosen not to offer and support its own voice platform, instead concentrating on delivering competitively priced broadband while leaving digital telephony to other BT Group brands.
Many customers assume that because Plusnet no longer provides a landline, they must switch broadband providers as well. In reality, that’s not the case.
Modern digital phone services are independent of your broadband provider, meaning you can keep your Plusnet broadband while transferring your existing landline number to a dedicated VoIP provider. Your calls are made over your internet connection, allowing you to retain your familiar phone number without moving to EE or changing your broadband package.
If you’d like to understand how VoIP works, read our VoIP for Home guide. Alternatively, if your goal is simply to stay with Plusnet and keep your existing phone number, our guide on Stay with Plusnet and Keep Your Landline explains the process step by step.
Yes, but exactly how you’re affected depends on whether you’re already a Plusnet customer or you’re looking to join.
If you’re an existing Plusnet broadband and landline customer, your phone service won’t stop overnight. However, the traditional analogue phone service you’ve been using will eventually be withdrawn as the UK’s copper telephone network is retired.
From conversations we’ve had with Plusnet customers, many are being offered two main options when their account comes up for renewal or migration. They can either move to a broadband-only service (such as SoGEA) and arrange their own digital phone solution, or switch to EE if they want to continue receiving broadband and phone services from the same provider.
If you want to keep your existing phone number but stay with Plusnet broadband, you don’t have to move to EE. You can transfer your number to a VoIP provider instead. Our guide on Stay with Plusnet and Keep Your Landline explains how this works.
If you’re renewing your Plusnet contract, it’s worth checking whether your package still includes a traditional phone service. Many customers are now being migrated to broadband-only products as part of the industry’s move away from analogue landlines.
If you’re moving house, you may find that Plusnet can only provide a broadband-only service at your new address. This is particularly common in areas served by full fibre (FTTP), where traditional landlines are no longer available.
If you’re thinking about joining Plusnet, you can no longer order broadband with a traditional landline. Plusnet is now focused on broadband-only services, so if you need a home phone you’ll need to use a digital service such as VoIP or choose a provider like EE that offers an integrated digital voice package.
For many households, separating broadband and phone services actually provides greater flexibility. You can keep the broadband provider you prefer while choosing the phone service that best suits your needs, rather than being tied to a single bundled package.
The short answer is no—you can no longer get a traditional landline with Plusnet.
If you’re a new customer, Plusnet no longer sells broadband packages that include a conventional home phone service. Existing customers with analogue landlines will also need to move to an alternative solution as the UK’s old copper telephone network is retired.
However, that doesn’t mean you have to give up having a home phone.
The confusion often comes from the word “landline.” Most people use it to mean a home phone with a familiar geographic number (such as 01234 or 020), regardless of how the calls are actually carried.
Traditionally, a landline used the UK’s copper telephone network (the PSTN). That network is being switched off and replaced with digital technology.
Today, you can still have:
The difference is that the calls travel over your broadband connection using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) instead of the old analogue phone network.
Unlike some broadband providers, Plusnet has chosen not to launch its own residential digital phone or VoIP service. Instead, customers who want a bundled broadband and phone package are generally encouraged to move to EE.
That doesn’t mean you’re forced to change broadband providers.
You can keep your Plusnet broadband and use an independent VoIP provider, such as Plexatalk, for your phone service instead. Your broadband remains with Plusnet, while your landline number is transferred to Plexatalk, allowing you to continue making and receiving calls from your home phone over your broadband connection.
If you already have a cordless phone or standard home handset, you can usually continue using it with a simple VoIP adapter, so there’s often no need to replace your existing equipment.
If you’d like to learn more about how digital home phones work, read our VoIP for HomeWhat Are Your Options?
If you’ve discovered that Plusnet no longer offers traditional landlines, you don’t have to give up your home phone. There are three main options available, and the best one depends on whether you want to keep your current broadband provider, retain your existing phone number, or simply have the easiest migration.
Because Plusnet is part of the BT Group, customers who still want a bundled broadband and home phone service are often encouraged to move to EE, which provides Digital Voice.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Customers who prefer having a single supplier for both broadband and phone services and don’t mind changing provider.
If you’re happy with your Plusnet broadband, there’s no requirement to move to EE just because your landline is being withdrawn.
Instead, you can keep your broadband with Plusnet and move your existing phone number to an independent VoIP provider such as Plexatalk. Your broadband and phone service become separate, giving you much more flexibility in the future.
With this option you can:
The one caveat is that the migration needs to happen in the correct order. Plusnet first needs to move your service to a broadband-only product (typically SoGEA), after which your landline number can be transferred to a VoIP provider.
From the Plusnet customers we’ve helped, the move to broadband-only typically takes around three working days, while a landline number port generally requires at least five working days. Because of this, there’s usually a short gap where your traditional phone service has ceased but your number hasn’t yet transferred to VoIP. Although this outage is normally brief, it’s something worth planning for.
Plexatalk coordinates the number transfer to minimise disruption and helps you through the process, making it as straightforward as possible.
Best for: Customers who are happy with their Plusnet broadband, want to keep their existing phone number, and value lower costs and greater flexibility.
Read our complete guide on keeping your Plusnet broadband while moving your phone number for a step-by-step walkthrough of the process.
The third option is to move both your broadband and phone service to another provider altogether.
This can make sense if your Plusnet contract is ending, you’re looking for faster broadband, or you’ve found a better overall deal elsewhere.
In some cases, switching broadband provider can also simplify the process of moving your phone number. Because the broadband migration and number transfer can often be coordinated together, it’s sometimes possible to avoid the temporary gap in phone service that customers may experience when first converting an existing Plusnet line to broadband-only before porting the number to VoIP.
Best for: Customers who were already planning to change broadband provider or who want the smoothest possible transition with minimal interruption to their phone service.
Ultimately, if you’re happy with Plusnet’s broadband, there’s no technical reason to leave. Pairing Plusnet broadband with an independent VoIP provider such as Plexatalk gives you the flexibility to keep your existing number, enjoy modern digital calling, and avoid being tied to a single provider for both services. guide. If your goal is to keep your Plusnet broadband while retaining your existing phone number, our guide on Stay with Plusnet and Keep Your Landline explains the process step by step.
If you’re signing up to Plusnet today, things are much simpler than they used to be.
Unlike in the past, new Plusnet broadband packages don’t include a traditional home phone service. You’ll receive a broadband-only connection, with no analogue landline attached. This reflects Plusnet’s move to become a broadband-focused provider as the UK transitions away from the old copper telephone network.
The good news is that if you’d still like a home phone, you don’t need to choose a different broadband provider. You can simply pair your new Plusnet broadband with an independent VoIP provider.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) lets you make and receive calls over your broadband connection while giving you all the features most people expect from a traditional landline. You can choose a new geographic phone number or, if you’re moving from another provider, transfer your existing landline number. You’ll also be able to continue using a home phone handset with a compatible VoIP adapter or use a purpose-built IP phone if you prefer.
Because you’re starting with a broadband-only service, the process is often even easier than it is for existing Plusnet customers. There’s no need to wait for your phone line to be removed before setting up VoIP—you can order your broadband, sign up with your chosen VoIP provider, and start using your digital home phone as soon as your broadband is live.
Plexatalk works perfectly alongside Plusnet broadband, giving you a modern home phone service without tying you to a particular broadband provider. If you decide to switch broadband companies in the future, your phone number can remain with Plexatalk, making future moves much simpler.
Browse our Home VoIP packages and pricing to see plans from £4 per month, with free UK number porting, rolling monthly contracts, and optional pre-configured adapters that let you continue using your existing home phones.
For many years, most UK households bought their broadband and home phone from the same provider. It was simply how telecoms worked. Your broadband was delivered over the same copper telephone line as your landline, so the two services were naturally bundled together on a single bill.
As the UK moves away from the old PSTN network, that model is rapidly changing.
Today, your broadband and phone service no longer have to come from the same company. Modern broadband connections—whether they’re SoGEA, full fibre (FTTP), or another digital service—can be paired with an independent VoIP provider, allowing you to choose the best provider for each service rather than accepting a bundled package.
For many households, this offers several advantages.
If your phone number is managed independently through a VoIP provider, changing broadband companies becomes much simpler. You can shop around for faster speeds or better deals without worrying about losing your phone number or moving your phone service each time.
Your landline number is often one of the main reasons people hesitate to switch providers. By moving it to a dedicated VoIP provider, your number becomes independent of your broadband contract, making it much easier to keep it for years to come.
Bundled phone packages aren’t always the cheapest option, especially if you don’t make many calls. Dedicated VoIP providers often offer lower monthly prices, flexible plans, and features that would previously have cost extra, such as caller ID, voicemail, and call forwarding.
Broadband providers primarily focus on internet connectivity, whereas dedicated VoIP providers specialise in phone services. That means they can often offer better advice on number porting, home phone equipment, call features, and digital voice solutions.
Separating your broadband and phone service also gives you greater flexibility for the future. If you decide to change broadband provider, upgrade to full fibre, or move home, your phone number can stay with your VoIP provider rather than being tied to your internet connection.
For Plusnet customers, this approach makes particular sense. You can continue enjoying the broadband service you’re happy with while using an independent provider such as Plexatalk for your home phone. The result is a modern, future-proof setup that lets you keep your existing number, benefit from competitive pricing, and switch broadband providers whenever it suits you.
Yes. Plusnet no longer sells traditional home phone services with its broadband packages. New customers can only order broadband, while existing customers with analogue landlines will eventually need to move to a digital phone solution as the UK’s PSTN network is retired.
The decision is linked to the UK’s nationwide switch away from the old copper telephone network. Rather than developing its own Digital Voice service, Plusnet has chosen to focus on broadband-only products, with BT Group directing customers who want a bundled broadband and phone package towards EE.
In most cases, yes. You can usually transfer your existing Plusnet landline number to a VoIP provider such as Plexatalk and continue using it over your broadband connection. This means friends, family, and businesses can continue calling the same number even after your traditional landline has been switched off.
No. While Plusnet often recommends EE for customers who want a bundled broadband and phone service, it’s not your only option. You can keep your Plusnet broadband and move your phone number to an independent VoIP provider instead, giving you greater flexibility and often lower monthly costs.
Usually, yes. If you already have a cordless phone or a standard home telephone, you can normally continue using it with a VoIP adapter. The adapter connects to your broadband router and provides a traditional phone socket, so there’s often no need to buy new handsets.
Yes—but not directly from Plusnet. New Plusnet customers receive a broadband-only service, so if you’d like a home phone you’ll need to choose a separate digital phone provider. Services such as Plexatalk work alongside Plusnet broadband, allowing you to have a home phone, keep or choose a phone number, and continue using compatible home handsets over your broadband connection.
Plusnet stopping traditional landlines doesn’t mean you have to give up your home phone. It’s simply a reflection of the wider changes taking place across the UK as the ageing copper telephone network is retired and replaced with modern digital services.
While Plusnet has chosen to become a broadband-only provider rather than launching its own Digital Voice service, customers still have plenty of options. Whether you want to keep your existing broadband, retain your long-standing phone number, or switch to a different provider altogether, there’s a solution to suit your needs.
If you’re already a Plusnet customer and want to keep your broadband while retaining your existing landline number, we’ve put together a detailed step-by-step guide explaining the process, including how to move to broadband-only and transfer your number safely.
→ Read our guide: Stay with Plusnet and Keep Your Landline
If you’re signing up to Plusnet today, getting a home phone is even simpler. Because new Plusnet connections are broadband-only from the outset, you can add a digital home phone service alongside your broadband from day one. With Plexatalk, you can choose a new number or transfer an existing one where applicable, continue using your current home phones with an optional pre-configured adapter, and benefit from flexible monthly plans starting from just £4 per month with free number porting where available.
→ Browse our Home VoIP packages and pricing
Whichever route you take, the end result is the same: a modern, future-proof home phone service that works alongside your broadband, keeps you connected, and gives you more flexibility than the old analogue landline ever could.