How to Keep Your Landline When Switching to Cuckoo Full Fibre

Cuckoo Full Fibre: Broadband Without a Landline

Unlike traditional broadband services that bundled internet and phone lines together, Cuckoo Full Fibre doesn’t include a landline at all.

That means:

• No copper line is installed
• No dial tone or master socket
• No phone number is issued with your package

Cuckoo’s philosophy is clear: focus on broadband, drop the extras. That keeps things simple and cuts out unnecessary line rental charges.

But what if you’ve had the same phone number for 10, 20, or even 30 years? What if it’s tied to your business, your security alarm, or the only way elderly relatives reach you?

If you cancel your old package without making a plan, you’ll lose your number permanently.

Why Landlines Still Matter

A lot of people assume landlines are “dying out.” It’s true fewer people pick up the home phone to call family now — mobiles and messaging apps dominate — but there are still plenty of reasons a fixed phone number remains useful.

For households

• Continuity – Everyone already knows your number; no need to inform banks, doctors, schools, or friends.
• Elderly relatives – Simple cordless phones are much easier for some to use than smartphones.
• Emergency services – Landlines can be more reliable during outages if paired with a UPS (battery backup).
• Devices that depend on it – Telecare alarms, home entry systems, fax machines, and some monitored security setups still rely on a “landline-style” connection.
• Poor mobile coverage – In rural areas or older buildings, the broadband-powered line often works better than mobile calls.

For businesses

• Professional presence – A geographic number (like 01632…) reassures clients you’re local and established.
• Marketing stability – Changing numbers means updating websites, directories, printed materials, vehicle livery — a costly exercise.
• Call handling – Features like auto-attendants, call queues, and voicemail-to-email aren’t possible on standard landlines but work seamlessly with VoIP.
• Remote teams – A landline number can be answered from multiple devices anywhere in the world with VoIP apps.

So even in the fibre age, landlines still play a role — especially when backed by VoIP.

The PSTN Switch-Off – What It Means for You

The UK’s Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) — the copper-based system that powered every landline call for decades — will be switched off in January 2027.

That means:

• No more copper-only lines
• All fixed-line voice services must use VoIP (calls over the internet)
• Any number not ported to a VoIP system will eventually be lost

In short: every landline in the UK is moving to the internet. Switching to Cuckoo Full Fibre puts you ahead of the curve, but it also means you’ll need to plan how to keep your number now.

The Solution: Move Your Number to VoIP

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is the technology that lets you make and receive calls over broadband instead of copper wires.

Think of it like this: instead of your voice travelling through old telephone cables, it’s converted into digital signals and carried across your internet connection. To the caller, nothing changes — they still dial your familiar number.

With Plexatalk VoIP, you can:

• Keep your existing landline number
• Use your current cordless or corded phones with a simple adapter (ATA)
• Upgrade to modern VoIP desk phones with HD audio and business-class features
• Answer landline calls on your mobile or laptop anywhere with SIP apps like Zoiper
• Forward calls automatically to mobiles, landlines, or other extensions

And because Cuckoo Full Fibre is fast, stable, and low-latency, it provides the perfect backbone for crystal-clear VoIP calls without dropouts.

Why Plexatalk Works So Well with Cuckoo

Choosing Plexatalk with Cuckoo Full Fibre gives you:

• UK-based support – Speak to real people who understand the UK fibre rollout
• Future-proof setup – Ready for the PSTN switch-off in 2027
• No line rental – Pay only for the VoIP service, not an unused copper line
• Flexible options – Mix and match handsets, ATAs, and mobile apps
• Provider independence – Keep your number forever, even if you leave Cuckoo later

How to Keep Your Landline Number When Switching to Cuckoo

The key is to act before you cancel your old broadband + phone service.

Here’s how it works step-by-step:

1. Contact Plexatalk – We’ll confirm your number is portable.
2. Sign a Customer Letter of Authority (CLoA) – This allows us to transfer your number.
3. Choose your setup – Keep your old phones with an adapter, or upgrade to VoIP handsets/apps.
4. We port your number – We handle all communication with your old provider. Porting usually takes 7–10 working days.
5. Plug in and call – Once the port completes, your number is active on VoIP. Calls work immediately.

Using Your Existing Phones with Cuckoo

If you don’t want to buy new handsets, that’s fine. With an Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA), you can plug your old phone into your Cuckoo router and use it as normal.

Benefits:

• Familiar experience for you and your family
• No rewiring needed
• Low-cost option

Modern Alternatives: VoIP Desk Phones

For businesses or home offices, a dedicated VoIP desk phone can unlock extra features:

• HD voice quality
• Call blocking and caller ID
• Voicemail-to-email
• Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection
• Plug-and-play with Cuckoo routers

Perfect for:

• Customer-facing businesses
• Freelancers needing a “work line”
• Busy households who want modern features

Take Calls Anywhere with a VoIP App

Not everyone wants a physical phone. With VoIP apps like Zoiper:

• Answer landline calls on your smartphone or laptop anywhere in the world
• Keep personal and work calls separate
• Use one number across multiple devices

This is especially popular for freelancers, remote workers, and anyone who travels often.

Practical Tips for Using VoIP on Cuckoo

• Place your router centrally for strong Wi-Fi coverage to VoIP devices (unless hardwired)
• For best reliability, connect ATAs and desk phones via Ethernet cable
• Enable QoS (Quality of Service) on your router to prioritise voice calls
• Use a small UPS battery backup if your household relies on telecare alarms

Real-World Examples

Case 1: Family in Cornwall
Moved to Cuckoo for faster fibre but needed their old BT landline for a telecare system. We ported their number, supplied an ATA, and confirmed compatibility with the alarm provider.

Case 2: Small Marketing Agency in Manchester
Cuckoo fibre gave them stable broadband for remote work. We set up three VoIP desk phones with hunt groups and voicemail-to-email so no client call is ever missed.

Case 3: Rural Couple in Shropshire
Poor mobile signal made their landline essential. We ported their number, added Zoiper on their mobiles, and now they can take calls anywhere on the property via Wi-Fi.

FAQ – Keep Your Landline When Switching to Cuckoo Full Fibre

Future-Proof: Your Number Works with Any Broadband Provider

One of the best things about VoIP is that it’s independent of your broadband provider. Unlike the old copper landlines that were tied directly to BT exchanges, your Plexatalk number is portable — it stays with you no matter how often you change internet providers.

That means if you move away from Cuckoo in the future, your landline will continue to work seamlessly. For example:

• 📡 Switching to Starlink satellite broadband
• Upgrading to Toob full fibre
• Trying Three’s 5G home broadband
• Other FTTP providers.

This flexibility gives you confidence to shop around for the best broadband deals without worrying about losing your long-held landline number.

Your VoIP line is yours for life — no matter who provides your internet connection.

Ready to Switch Without Losing Your Number?

Moving to Cuckoo Full Fibre gives you incredible internet speeds and a future-proof connection. With Plexatalk VoIP, you can keep your trusted landline number at the same time — no line rental, no hassle, and features that copper lines could never provide.

📞 Call us today on 0330 057 6699
📧 Email support@plexatalk.co.uk

Explore our Residential VoIP Packages or Business VoIP Solutions and see how easy it is to make the move.