End Of Pstn, Effect On Virgin Phones?

[barry1010]

Within five years all traditional landlines will be switched off and phone calls will be provided by VOIP - which needs broadband. Phones will have to be connected to the router.
Can anyone explain the affect this will have on Virgin Media customers? I have never had a BT landline to my house, no BT sockets or equipment.
My landline is connected to a VM socket in my hall.

Virgin is telling me when the big switch off happens I will have to connect my phone to my router. I don't understand it. How will switching off PSTN affect my none-PSTN phone line?

Can anyone explain?

[Fitzer]

Because Virgin connects into BT Openreach's network and they are switching off PSTN in 2025.

[barry1010]

Fitzer, there is no telephone line going to my home. My neighbours' have the lines going from the poles to their houses, but I don't.
My 'phone line' comes from the same outside Virgin box as my broadband and tv services.

[Fitzer]

As does mine, but from Virgin's green box it connects into Openreach's network; it has to, otherwise you'd only be able to call people who were on Virgin :-)

[barry1010]

That's an interesting point you make there, Fitzer. If phones had to be connected to the Openreach network then how do mobile phones connect to landlines?
As well as my landline I have been using a VOIP handset for many years, it is connected to my router and uses Skype. It has a geographical number that I pay for that looks like an ordinary phone number. I can call any landline phone anywhere in the world and any landline phone can call me. The other party has no idea I am using a VOIP phone service.
It is a very cheap, efficient way of getting a second phone line in the house. When I go on holiday, I can take my Skype phone with me and use it anywhere that I can connect to the internet.

[Tuvok]

What happens when there is a powercut?

No power, no router, no phone! No thanks.

(Especially for those with no mobile phone)

[Fitzer]

The mobile tower is connected to the network Barry. Tuvok, you're not going to get a choice, PSTN is being switched off. The whole 'power cut' thing is somewhat of a nightmare, Virgin are offering people who have those call alert buttons etc. a battery backup system but everyone else looks like they have to make their own arrangements

[barry1010]

Lots of things could be affected such as burglar alarms, lifts, gas monitors, chip and pin machines. Those without broadband will have to get it if they want a 'landline'. Not everyone can get a mobile signal in their homes and they are often the ones that can't get broadband.