Bt

[jennyjoan]

My contract is being renewed some time in June - my neighbour came over on Monday and spoke to BT value team for nearly an hour.

Anyway apparently BT want to give me digital faster fibre etc and a guy has to come out and drill a little hole in my house. This I didn't want but apparently it is the done deal.

On top of that they are giving me free handsets. Can anybody tell me if these are mobile phones of which I truly don't want as I can't hear on them. I'm worried that they will take the place of my big old fashioned phone.

Why are they giving me them. I tried to contact BT myself on their chatline but can't get through. Thanks for any answers.

[barry1010]

All landlines are changing to VOIP (voice over internet protocol) and the old telephone lines will be redundant. To continue using your phone you will need a VOIP adapter that connects your phone to the router. I don't know if BT will provide that or if you will have to buy one.
I also don't know when your telephone line will be disconnected but the fact that BT want to put fibre in your house and is supplying new handsets indicates that the change is imminent. You really do need to talk to BT and find out exactly what is going on.

[barry1010]

https://www.bt.com/broadband/digital-voice#:~:text=If%20you're%20getting%20Digital,be%20completely%20free%20of%20charge.

[jennyjoan]

OMG Barry - that'll be awful for me if I lose my big phone

[barry1010]

Reading that link you will have the choice of two free handsets; one handset with Alexa built in OR an adapter so you can continue to use your current phone

[barry1010]

JJ, I thought I made it clear that you can continue to use your phone with the right adapter

[jennyjoan]

OK - have briefly looked at your link - say I could be bothered and I changed to another provider - can I avoid the digital thing

[barry1010]

No, all landline cables are being disconnected by 2025.

[jennyjoan]

ok - thanks - what happens to my sister who doesn't have any broadband/internet in her home but is with BT

[barry1010]

Those that don't want broadband will have to have it in the sense it will be enough to make the new style phone lines work, at a price similar to line rental.

[New Judge]

//...say I could be bothered and I changed to another provider - can I avoid the digital thing//

Only if you choose a provider who does not use BT's network and who provides a service using analogue technology.

[jennyjoan]

ok - thanks for answers

[barry1010]

As far as I know that is only Hull, NJ, and they are changing to VOIP too

[barry1010]

It's going to difficult in a power cut for those that can't use mobile phones.

[Buenchico]

Worth a read:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-59564480

[Giggsie]

I have digital voice now. You can get new phone free or a free adapter to connect your old phone if it is not digital. My hubby is quite deaf JJ but has speaker on phone he hears it fine.