Landlines being phased out

LovesBach, we have the same problem. Every time it rains things get significantly worse. We have the additional problem that GigaNet is also fitting their cabling and seem to be in an out of the access tunnel on a daily basis. Each time they do, we lose the phone and internet.

But our wi-fi reception is worse than landline reception bcause it is not available everywhere in the house.

M0nica

But our wi-fi reception is worse than landline reception bcause it is not available everywhere in the house.

I really think that you should be complaining to the company that provides your internet. They should be providing a good signal to your whole house.

Nor is mine Monica, reception in my bedroom is always cutting out, very annoying

M0nica

But our wi-fi reception is worse than landline reception bcause it is not available everywhere in the house.

I have explained about a MESH system earlier in the thread. For 99% of places this will resolve internet signal issues. Talk to your internet company or change to one who will provide it or buy your own online.

I have a landline for emergencies but must admit I no longer like receiving phone calls and have given my new number to very few (family and close friends) Text messages/emails far better - I can see who it is and reply at once or not, as necessary. I feel a call out of the blue is intrusive. Would prefer to consider if/how to reply (or ignore). I have seen discussions describing this as a phobia - not at all! I just choose not to be available unless or until it suits me. Anyone else feel like this?

AJgranma

I have a landline for emergencies but must admit I no longer like receiving phone calls and have given my new number to very few (family and close friends) Text messages/emails far better - I can see who it is and reply at once or not, as necessary. I feel a call out of the blue is intrusive. Would prefer to consider if/how to reply (or ignore). I have seen discussions describing this as a phobia - not at all! I just choose not to be available unless or until it suits me. Anyone else feel like this?

I feel phones are intrusive as well. I rarely answer, except planned business or planned - family short one moment information.

I prefer silence - email. No mobile, no need.

icanhandthemback and I explained why mesh systems do not work well in our house, even though we have one.

I prefer phone calls, but emergencies apart, I do not want them on my mobile when I am out of the house. I am neuro-diverse and find phone calls in distracting places, like shops, in the street etc, with the background of sound, movement and light variation make it difficult to hear what is being said.

On the other hand, at home, when I can sit in comfort, at my desk or in the living room, but usually in a room by myself, I thoroughly enjoy long phone calls with AC or friends. But holding mobile phones for any time is very uncomfortable, and I find the rounded more narrow shape of the landline/VOIP phone much better and it does no exacerbate the problems I have with my hands.

We've not used our landline for years

I adore my phone, but never for phone calls. I only use it for calls to doctors etc etc

Family does all messaging via WhatsApp and Insta.

ExDancer

Like PamelaJ1 I'd like to know what people without broadband are expected to do, like one of my dementia suffering elderly relatives.
Will she be without any way of communicating by phone?
Is she expected to buy a mobile phone, and remember to keep it charged?
She will she be virtually isolated.

I think that no one knows the answer.

EXDancer Your elderly relation's phone will be replaced by a VOIP phone that looks and works like a landline.

Our landline has been replaced by a VOIP phone. It looks like our landline phone and is in the same places. Her phone supplier will put an internet line into the house to which the phone connects. So for everyday use she will continue to use the phone as she does now.

However, there are a couple of problems, one is that if there is a power cut the phone will go down and she will be unable to use the phone to tell anyone and ask for help.

owever Age UK has a Fact Sheet on this subject, which it may be helpful for you to read www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/consumer-issues/changes-to-landline-telephones/ so that you can help and advise your relative when the change comes and you can make sure she gets the battery backup. I found it a very useful read.

The other problem, which not many people have, but we do is that, if you have a big house you may find that you have to install a internet extender to get the signal all round the house, including bedrooms.

One other thing about VOIP phones I had forgotten.

When you dial a call on a VOIP phone, you have to put in the area code, even when it is your local area. This has caught me out several times.

Thank you MOnica

And thank you from me M0nica.

I got rid of mine in the end. Wasn't really using it and kept getting nuisance calls.

M0nica

One other thing about VOIP phones I had forgotten.

When you dial a call on a VOIP phone, you have to put in the area code, even when it is your local area. This has caught me out several times.

We’ve been doing this for years (the area code even to my next door neighbour) so that’s nothing new.
My landline also will not function in a power cut so we were advised to make sure we kept a charged mobile.
None of this is new-DH died nearly 6 years ago and these “changes” predate his death by several years.

*RosieMaw, I can only assume you were in one of the early or pilot areas.

BT only seriously began running out its VOIP for landline scheme in 2019 and paused it in 2022 when they began to realise the problems it caused people in areas with poor mobile or internet reception, and the problems facing some very elderly people who did not have mobile phones.

Most transfers are being done on an area by area basis. When ours was done last summe, they did the the phoneof the elderly people living next door and the school opposite, but not the ext house along as the VOIP stopped with us.

Perhaps we were M0nica but i can barely remember not using the area code andcwe moved into this house 30 years ago!

Broadband ISP BT has today confirmed that they will restart the national UK rollout of their new Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) based Digital Voice product from April 2023, which will start gradually with a series of expanded pilot schemes that will be made up of “lower usage landline customers” who already have full fibre broadband.
www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2023/03/bt-updates-on-expanded-pilots-of-new-uk-digital-voice-rollout.html

Which rather suggests that VOIP is the new kid on the block.
You must have something else entirely Rosiesmaw

We had ours installed earlier this year and fall into the definition of those falling into the pilot schemes definition for pilot schemes that will be made up of 'lower usage landline customers who already have full fibre broadband'

I've always been perfectly happy with the 2 tin cans and a piece of string, myself.
But to clarify
1)my landline will not function in a power cut
2) I have had to use the area code even for local calls for years and years.

If you know more about my landline you are more than welcome

All I was saying that the 2 "additional" changes referred to (use in power cuts and using area codes for local calls) have been in place for years.

I merely quoted a BT press release. Do not shoot the messenger.

I was half listening to radio 4 yesterday, it seems that EE is becoming very heavily involved in phasing BT out. Landline is just the beginning andEE already have bases in BT centres all over the place. It seems as though yet again, the end of a British institution

karmalady EE belongs to BT. It is a brand within BT

I suspect that EE will become the name of the retail side of BT. Just like (in reverse) British Gas is the name for the retail arm of Centrica, which was, of course once called british Gas.