Digital home phones use VoIP technology. Voice over Internet Protocol is a cloud communication technology that enables users to make voice calls over broadband Internet, rather than the traditional wired landline phone network (the PSTN.)

Users can access VoIP phone service from anywhere, and on any device, with a working WiFi, 4G LTE, or 5G Internet connection, offering a level of mobility that landlines cannot.

Note the terms “IP telephony,” “virtual phone system,” “cloud phones,” and “virtual telephony” are all similar terms to “VoIP.”

Landline phone calls have traditionally been delivered over a network known as the public switched telephone network (PSTN). This network is old, can’t keep up with the demands of modern life and becoming harder and more expensive to maintain.

For more information on Ofcom’s plan to move landline phones to digital technology, visit:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/future-of-landline-calls

The PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) switch off is the retirement of the old analog phone network that relies on copper lines and hardware. 

Landline phone calls have traditionally been delivered over the old telephone network (PSTN). This technology was developed and installed in the 80’s and is becoming increasingly harder and more expensive to maintain.

In November 2017, the telecoms industry announced its intention to retire analogue telephone networks such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) by the end of 2027.

This means that in future, landline calls will be delivered over digital technology called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which uses a broadband connection.

For most consumers, this change will be straightforward, although the exact migration process will depend on your communications provider and the equipment they use. If you already have an internet connection, the change may be as simple as plugging your phone into your broadband router rather than the socket on the wall.

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, converts your voice into a digital signal that can be shared between devices over the internet. It's a similar technology used by other voice and video services such as WhatsApp, FaceTime and Skype.

Yes, you can keep your existing number. This is a process known as number porting and involves moving your existing number from your current provider over to another. It’s easy to do, but there are a couple of really important steps:

Before you place an order, make sure you understand the differences between your existing landline service and those of a digital home phone service.

· To keep your phone number, tell us that you want to port the number when you place your order

· Keep the service you have with your current supplier going until the porting process has completed

· Be sure that all of the information you supply is accurate, because any mistakes could lead to delays or even the number being lost

A request to port your number will not be made until your broadband service has been activated, and could take up to 10 days.

This is a process also known as number porting and it involves moving your existing number from your current provider over to another.

You can request to port your number when you place an order with us.

It is important that you familiarise yourself with the differences between a traditional landline and a digital home phone before placing your order.

You must keep the line active with your current supplier until the porting process has been completed.

Porting requests are submitted after the broadband service has been activated and take on average 10 working days.

All information provided must be accurate. Any discrepancies will result in delays and may cause for the number to be lost.

Digital Home Phone Service (VoIP) is provided over our broadband connection so you must maintain a broadband service to continue receiving the VoIP service.

This service will not work if there is a disruption or outage to the broadband connection or power outage.

It your responsibility to ensure any additional services liked to your analogue phone systems are compatible with our VoIP service.

You will be able to use your digital home phone to call the emergency services 999 and 112, unless there is a power or network failure, in which case you will need to use an alternative phone to call the emergency services, for example, a mobile phone.

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Start by contacting your current telecoms provider and advising them of what you intend to do - they should confirm who the losing provider (your current provider) is for your ports if they use someone else for their porting. Then place your porting order with us and provide the below details:

• Number to be ported

• Your full name

• Your email address

• Full address (this must match the address registered to the phone number you want to port)

• Losing provider name (current provider)

• Ensure the landline is kept active with the current provider until the porting process has been completed.

Our team will then submit the porting request and notify you once it has been completed.

A number porting typically takes about 3 weeks after your broadband installation, depending on the existing supplier's porting process.

It is important that the information you provide is accurate and that you maintain your landline active with the current provider until the porting process has been completed and we confirm to you that the service can be cancelled with the original provider.

If a porting application is rejected, then we will let you know the reasons for rejection and ask for further details or for you to contact your current provider.

The most common reasons for rejection are:

• Incorrect customer name

• Incorrect number to be ported

• Address mismatch. Address does not match the address registered to the phone number to be ported

• Incorrect provider name (losing provider)

• Number is not active

If the reason for the request is because the number is not active. It is possible that the landline was cancelled before the porting was completed or it could also mean that you have outstanding charges on the account. You will need to contact your current provider for more details.

You can continue to use your current home phone when you switch to VoIP - simply plug it into the back of your broadband router.

Traditional analog phones can't be plugged directly into your IP network since they have analog RJ11 or RJ12 connectors instead of IP ports. To address this, you will need to purchase an ATA – Analog Telephony Adaptor. The ATA has both an IP port and RJ11/RJ12 connections.

Changing to a digital phone line means that all of the devices and services connected to your existing phone line will need to be able to work via a router and your service provider may need to provide you with a new one.

If you have other devices or services connected to your existing phone line, like a home security system, smoke or security alarm, we recommend you check whether the device or service will work over the new technology. You can check by contacting the company who provided the device or service or by checking the manufacturer's website.

Many security alarm systems use the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), your analogue phone line for alarm signalling. The alarm is plugged into the analogue telephone line and when an intruder is identified the alarm is raised via this phone line. So, once the switchover to digital happens, these devices will no longer work.

In most cases, a simple upgrade to your alarm system, for example replacing an analogue signalling device with a digital one, will make it digitally compatible.

Calls from your home phone are unlimited for UK landline and mobile phones.

View a full list of international call charges, per minute.

You won't be able to make any calls - including 999 calls - from your VoIP phone if there's a powercut or your broadband fails.