I recently switched from PlusNet’s fibre-to-the-cabinet service (50MB/s) to Virgin Media’s fibre-to-the-premises service (135MB/s out of 1GB/s max). I switched my landline from PlusNet where it runs over the old BT copper (now Openreach) to the Master Socket in the house to Virgin Media where I simply plug my phone into the back of the hub.
- The phones don’t work
What Virgin Media and presumably other modern providers don’t tell you is that their hubs can’t power older phones. You can only use modern DECT handsets using DOCSIS 3+ (some older cordless phones do work so try them out before upgrading). My older BT style phones can make outbound calls but don’t ring because there is no power supplied.
So if you make the switch be aware,
- All the phone wiring in your house is now redundant
- You may need to buy new DECT cordless phones
- If you have extensions around the house they will now need power sockets to power the phone bases.
- You landline will no-longer work if there is a power cut.
Given these issues you may find it much easier simply to tell everyone who has a record of your landline to use your mobile phone and discontinue the service. I think it is clear that landlines are a dying technology with little utility.
Dr James Bayley 
You’re right, if you have an older setup with multiple hard wired phones, you’re going to have a more complicated than plug-adjust-router-play. I recently switched to Voneus and initially had a similar problem. After speaking to their customer support and some remote jiggery-pokery with the router settings, my previous cordless BT premium phones work just fine (although they are DECT compatible, even if I had to dig into the specs to discover that). However, my non-DECT GPO phone from the 1950s does now work, admittedly only for incoming calls (I can but a box for £50 that will get around this issue, but not sure it’s worth it). A lot of the innards probably aren’t original but it’s pulse dial and non-DECT. It does seem strange that even a non-DECT wouldn’t work directly plugged into the router, I’d have a word with your new ISP about that.
Thanks for the information Matthew. The issue with my older phones is that they won’t ring because (I believe) the DOCSIS 3 standard supported by modern routers supplies too little power. They can still make outbound calls.
I have solved the problem (I hope) by buying some new DECT phones from eBay. I will then recycle the older phones and remove the wiring when I redecorate. I still remember the days I spent putting it all in 20 years ago!
When my Virgin contract lapses I will not renew the landline because I don’t really have any need for it anymore.
Related to this:
“This new type of fibre broadband doesn’t need a phone line to set up a connection. As part of the nationwide upgrade, Openreach are currently phasing out the old landline telephone system and this will be completely switched off in 2025.”
source: https://www.plus.net/help/my-account/changes-to-broadband-and-phone-faqs/#:~:text=As%20part%20of%20the%20nationwide,completely%20switched%20off%20in%202025.
Thanks Vik. It seems that the days of copper wiring are gone and with it all my old phones.