For many years, Plusnet customers have enjoyed straightforward broadband packages, competitive pricing, and reliable service. That’s why many people have been surprised to learn that Plusnet is no longer offering traditional home phone services and is encouraging customers who still want a landline to move to EE instead.
While moving to EE may be the right choice for some households, others would prefer to stay with Plusnet. Whether it’s because you’re happy with your current broadband deal, want to avoid changing providers, or simply don’t see a reason to pay more for a bundled phone package, there is another option available which is why we wrote this guide on how to stay with plusnet an dkeep your landline number.
The good news is that you can keep your Plusnet broadband and retain your existing landline number by moving it to a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone service. VoIP allows you to make and receive calls over your internet connection, often at a lower cost than a traditional landline, while keeping the phone number that friends, family, and businesses already know.
In this guide, we’ll explain why Plusnet customers are being asked to move, what alternatives are available, and how you can stay with Plusnet while keeping your landline number through Plexatalk.
But first, the short answer:
Can I stay with Plusnet and keep my landline?
Yes. Plusnet customers can usually keep their broadband service and transfer their existing landline number to a VoIP provider such as Plexatalk. The safest approach is to move your broadband to SoGEA first and then transfer your number.
Why Is Plusnet Moving Customers Away from Traditional Landlines?
The UK’s traditional telephone network is undergoing one of the biggest changes in its history. By January 2027, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) — the analogue phone system that has powered home and business landlines for decades — is scheduled to be switched off across the country. As part of this nationwide upgrade, copper-based phone services are being retired and replaced with modern digital alternatives that use broadband connections instead.
Because Plusnet is part of the BT Group, it has been affected by these changes. Rather than developing its own digital home phone service, Plusnet has chosen to stop providing traditional landline services and is encouraging customers who want to keep a home phone to move to EE, another BT Group brand. EE’s Digital Voice service allows customers to make and receive calls over their broadband connection, replacing the need for a traditional phone line.
From BT Group’s perspective, this approach simplifies its product offering and allows investment to be focused on fewer brands and platforms. However, for many Plusnet customers, moving to EE may not be the most attractive option. Some customers are happy with their existing Plusnet broadband package, while others may prefer Plusnet’s pricing, customer service, or contract arrangements.
The important thing to understand is that losing your traditional landline service does not automatically mean you must move your broadband to EE. There are alternative ways to keep your existing phone number while remaining a Plusnet broadband customer. By separating your broadband service from your phone service and moving your number to a VoIP provider, you can continue enjoying Plusnet broadband while retaining the number you’ve used for years.
Can You Stay with Plusnet and Keep Your Phone Number?
Yes, you can stay with Plusnet and keep your existing phone number.
Many people assume that their broadband service and home phone service have to come from the same provider, but that’s no longer the case. Thanks to modern broadband technology, it’s now possible to separate the two services and choose the best provider for each.
Your broadband can remain with Plusnet, while your phone number is moved to a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) provider. VoIP is simply a digital phone service that works over your internet connection rather than a traditional copper phone line. From a user’s perspective, it still functions much like a normal home phone service—you can make and receive calls, keep your existing number, and use compatible handsets or adapters.
This approach has become increasingly common as the UK’s traditional phone network is phased out. Thousands of households have already moved their landline numbers to VoIP services while keeping their preferred broadband provider.
For Plusnet customers who are happy with their broadband package and don’t want to move to EE, transferring their number to a VoIP provider can offer the best of both worlds: keeping the broadband service they know while retaining the phone number they’ve used for years.
What Is SoGEA?
SoGEA stands for Single Order Generic Ethernet Access, but don’t worry too much about the technical name. In simple terms, SoGEA is a broadband-only service that delivers internet access without requiring a traditional phone line.
Historically, most UK broadband services were linked to a copper telephone line. Even if you rarely used your home phone, your broadband was still dependent on the same infrastructure that provided your landline service. This is why broadband and phone services have traditionally been bundled together.
As the UK moves towards the nationwide PSTN switch-off, providers are increasingly moving customers away from these older phone-line-based services. SoGEA was introduced to support this transition by allowing broadband to be provided independently of a traditional landline.
For Plusnet customers, migrating to SoGEA can be an important step in keeping their broadband service while moving their phone number elsewhere. Once your broadband is delivered via SoGEA, there is no traditional phone service attached to the line, making it much easier to use a separate VoIP provider for your calls and phone number.
There are several benefits to SoGEA. The service is often simpler to manage, removes reliance on ageing telephone infrastructure, and is designed for the UK’s future digital network. Because there is no traditional phone service included, customers can choose a VoIP provider that best suits their needs rather than being tied to a specific phone package.
The main difference between SoGEA and traditional broadband is that a SoGEA connection is purely for internet access. Traditional broadband services are typically linked to a copper phone line and may include or support analogue telephone services. With SoGEA, your broadband remains in place, but any phone service is handled separately through a digital VoIP provider, giving you greater flexibility and control over your services.
Why Some Customers Don’t Want to Move to EE
For many Plusnet customers, the issue isn’t that they need a new phone solution—it’s that they’re perfectly happy with their existing broadband service and don’t see a reason to switch providers.
Plusnet has built a loyal customer base by offering straightforward broadband packages and competitive pricing. If your broadband is working well, moving to a completely different provider can feel like an unnecessary change. Some customers also have concerns about potentially higher monthly costs, new contract terms, or the hassle of learning a different system and managing services through a new provider.
Another consideration is flexibility. When your phone service is tied directly to your broadband provider, changing broadband companies in the future can become more complicated. By keeping broadband and phone services separate, you have greater freedom to shop around for the best broadband deals without affecting your phone number.
Cost can also be a factor. For example, EE’s entry-level Digital Home Phone service starts at around £5.73 per month on a pay-per-call basis, while unlimited UK calling packages can cost significantly more. In comparison, dedicated VoIP services such as Plexatalk offer plans from £4 per month including 100 minutes, with unlimited UK calling available from £12.50 per month. Features such as voicemail, caller ID, call forwarding, and number porting are also included as standard.
For customers who want to keep their Plusnet broadband, retain their existing number, and maintain maximum flexibility in the future, using an independent VoIP provider can be an attractive alternative to moving everything to EE.
Pricing
prices correct as of 29th of May 2026 – prices taken from Plexatalk and EE
| Feature | EE Digital Home Phone | Plexatalk |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level plan | £5.73/month (Pay Per Call) | £4/month including 100 mins |
| Unlimited UK calls | ~£20.66/month | £12.50/month |
| Keep existing number | Usually yes | Free porting included |
| Existing phone support | May require compatible setup | Optional adapter available |
| Router flexibility | Primarily EE hardware | Works with most routers |
| Change broadband provider later | Phone tied to EE | Number stays independent |
| Mobile/app flexibility | Limited EE ecosystem | Wider VoIP app/device support |
| Included features | Varies by package | Voicemail, caller ID & forwarding included |
| International calling | Extra plan required | Select destinations included |
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How to Keep Your Plusnet Broadband and Move Your Number to Plexatalk
If you’d like to stay with Plusnet but keep your existing landline number, the process is relatively straightforward. The key is making sure the timing is coordinated correctly so that your broadband remains active and disruption to your phone service is kept to a minimum.
Step 1 – Contact Plusnet and Request a Move to SoGEA / Broadband Only (Without Landline)
The first step is to contact Plusnet and ask to be migrated to a SoGEA broadband service. This removes the traditional phone service from your line while allowing your broadband to continue working.
When arranging the migration, ask Plusnet to schedule the changeover date at least 7 days in the future. This gives enough time to organise the transfer of your phone number and ensure everything is prepared before the switch takes place.
Make a note of the agreed SoGEA activation date, as you’ll need this for the next step.
Step 2 – Sign Up with Plexatalk
Once you have your confirmed SoGEA migration date, sign up with Plexatalk and submit a request to transfer your existing landline number.
During the signup process, let us know the date Plusnet has scheduled your move to SoGEA. This information is important because it allows us to plan the number transfer around the broadband migration and avoid unnecessary delays.
Step 3 – We Prepare the Number Transfer
After receiving your port request, we’ll begin coordinating the transfer process behind the scenes.
Timing is critical because transferring a number too early could unintentionally affect the broadband service linked to the line. By knowing your planned SoGEA migration date in advance, we can prepare everything so the number transfer takes place at the appropriate time.
Our team will monitor the process and work with the relevant providers to ensure the transfer proceeds as smoothly as possible.
Step 4 – Your SoGEA Service Goes Live
On the agreed date, Plusnet will move your broadband service to SoGEA.
Your broadband connection should remain active, but your traditional phone service will cease as part of the migration. At this point, your broadband and phone service are effectively separated, creating the ideal conditions for the number transfer to proceed.
Step 5 – Your Number Transfers to Plexatalk
In most cases, your existing phone number can be transferred to Plexatalk on the next working day after the SoGEA migration has completed.
Once the port is finished, you’ll be able to make and receive calls through your Plexatalk service while continuing to use Plusnet for your broadband. For most customers, this means only a short period without phone service—typically around one day—while the transfer is completed.
The result is the best of both worlds: you keep your Plusnet broadband, retain your long-established phone number, and gain the flexibility and cost savings of a modern VoIP service.
Why Timing Is Important
When transferring a landline number away from a traditional broadband and phone package, timing is one of the most important factors in the process.
This is because, on many older broadband services, the phone number and broadband connection are linked together. If a number is transferred to a new provider before the broadband service has been moved to SoGEA, the transfer can sometimes trigger the cancellation of the underlying line. In practical terms, that could mean your broadband service is unexpectedly disconnected when the phone number leaves the account.
This isn’t a problem with VoIP or number porting itself—it’s simply a consequence of how traditional broadband and telephone services have historically been delivered over the same infrastructure.
That’s why we recommend arranging your Plusnet migration to SoGEA first. Once SoGEA is active, your broadband service becomes a standalone broadband connection with no traditional phone service attached. At that point, the phone number can be transferred separately without risking the broadband connection.
By waiting until the SoGEA migration has completed and then transferring the number, the process becomes much safer and more predictable. It also helps minimise disruption, with most customers experiencing only a brief gap between the traditional phone service ending and their number becoming active on Plexatalk.
The good news is that this is a process we handle regularly. We understand the relationship between broadband migrations and number porting, and we’ll guide you through the timing requirements to help ensure everything happens in the correct order. By planning ahead and coordinating the transfer properly, you can keep your Plusnet broadband and your existing phone number with minimal hassle.
What Equipment Will You Need?
One of the most common concerns people have when moving from a traditional landline to VoIP is whether they’ll need to replace all of their existing phones. In most cases, the answer is no.
If you already have a cordless phone system or a standard home telephone that plugs into a phone socket, you can usually continue using it with a VoIP adapter. This small device connects to your broadband router and provides a traditional phone socket for your existing handsets.
For customers who want a simple plug-and-play solution, Plexatalk can supply a pre-configured Grandstream HT802 adapter for £50. The device arrives ready to use, allowing you to connect your existing phones with minimal setup required.
You’ll simply connect the adapter to your broadband router using an Ethernet cable and plug your phone into the adapter. Once connected, your calls will be handled over your internet connection rather than the old copper phone network.
Some Plusnet routers include a phone port, which can understandably lead customers to assume they can connect a phone directly. Unfortunately, these ports are typically designed for the provider’s own digital voice services and generally don’t support third-party VoIP providers such as Plexatalk.
The good news is that you don’t need to invest in expensive new equipment. For most households, an affordable VoIP adapter and your existing phones are all that’s required to continue using your home phone number.
What Happens After the Transfer?
Once your number has been successfully transferred to Plexatalk, day-to-day life is much the same as it was before—except your phone service is now running over your broadband connection rather than the old telephone network.
You’ll keep your existing landline number, so friends, family, and businesses can continue to contact you as normal. If you’re using a VoIP adapter, you can also continue using your existing home phones, meaning there’s no need to learn a new system or change the way you make and receive calls.
Many customers find that moving to VoIP can also reduce their monthly phone costs. Depending on the package you choose, you may benefit from inclusive call allowances and lower call charges compared to traditional landline services.
You’ll also gain access to modern phone features that are often included as standard. Plexatalk plans include features such as voicemail, caller ID, and call forwarding, helping you get more from your phone service without paying extra for add-ons.
Most importantly, your broadband remains with Plusnet throughout. You’ll continue using the broadband package you’ve chosen, while Plexatalk handles your phone service independently. This gives you the flexibility to keep the broadband provider you prefer while retaining complete control of your phone number.
Frequently Asked Questions – Stay with Plusnet and Keep Your Landline Number
Can I Keep My Plusnet Broadband and Phone Number?
Yes. If Plusnet moves your broadband service to SoGEA, you can usually transfer your existing landline number to Plexatalk without changing broadband provider. This allows you to keep your Plusnet broadband package while continuing to use your existing phone number.
How Do I Keep My Plusnet Landline Number When Moving to SoGEA?
The safest approach is to arrange your SoGEA migration with Plusnet first and then start the number porting process. Once your broadband has been moved to a broadband-only service, your phone number can be transferred to Plexatalk without risking your internet connection being cancelled.
How Long Does It Take to Transfer a Plusnet Landline Number?
Most number transfers are completed shortly after your SoGEA migration takes place. In many cases, customers are without their landline service for only one working day while the transfer is completed.
Do I Need Full Fibre Broadband to Use VoIP?
No. You do not need Full Fibre to use VoIP. Plexatalk works over most broadband connections, including SoGEA, FTTC fibre broadband, Full Fibre (FTTP), and many mobile broadband services. As long as you have a reliable internet connection, VoIP can be used as a replacement for a traditional landline.
Can I Use My Existing Cordless Phone with Plexatalk?
Yes. Most customers can continue using their existing cordless DECT phones. By connecting a VoIP adapter to your broadband router, your existing handsets can work much like they did with a traditional landline.
Is VoIP Cheaper Than EE Digital Voice?
For many households, VoIP can be a cost-effective alternative to EE Digital Voice. Because your broadband and phone services are separate, you have more flexibility over call plans and features while keeping your existing Plusnet broadband package.
What Happens to My VoIP Phone During a Power Cut?
Like EE Digital Voice and other internet-based phone services, VoIP relies on your broadband router and phone equipment having power. During a power cut, calls cannot usually be made or received unless you have a battery backup solution such as a UPS. Customers who rely on a phone line for emergencies should consider backup options before switching.
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Looking to sign up to one of our VoIP packages or explore prices? See our VoIP for home page here.