ADSL/VDSL connection with analogue phone line after January 2027

[damiansmart]

Can anyone shed some light on what will happen to Talk Talk ADSL/VDSL customers who use a Talk Talk modem/router connection with their analogue telephone line after January 2027 when the analogue phone system is turned off?

The information about this seems a little sketchy. Are Talk Talk intending to contact customers who are using DSL via copper wire to inform them about what they will be offering to keep customers broadband and phones working?

We have the option to switch to either of two full fibre providers (Gigaclear and Swish Fibre) who have installed fibre outside our property. However, their prices are way too expensive after the initial 18 month contract period, especially as we don't require the additional bandwidth they offer, even for their slowest speed fibre connections.

At the moment I am quite happy to stay with Talk Talk as my broadband provider. When the analogue phone system is switched off next year I would still like a DSL connection via copper, but It's unclear if this will be possible.

Apologies if this has already been answered elsewhere.

[siphosethu-TT]

Great, I take it you already have the number to call. 

[damiansmart]

Yes, my mistake you are correct. It would take it to the end of contract. But I would be looking to set up an alternative before the expiry of the current contract, so I would be looking to switch before hand.

[siphosethu-TT]

I agree with @Gliwmaeden2 on this one. 

[Gliwmaeden2]

@damiansmart, if you renewed for 18 months last July, that's pretty much perfect timing for making decisions for the end of January '27. You wouldn't have a further 6 months to run - not following your reasoning!

[siphosethu-TT]

As your current broadband is only fibre to the cabinet, it means your speeds can be affected by a variety of reasons. This reasons could include:

how far you are from your local exchange

how many people in your area are using internet at peak times.

With full fibre, you get a high-speed fibre optic cable straight into your household which means the speed you’ve ordered is the speed you’ll get.
It doesn’t matter how far you are from an exchange, and you don’t have to worry about being slowed down during peak times.

This is why TalkTalk will be making this change, it's specifically adapting in order to give better service, if you wish to keep your landline services we do have VoIP.

[Catwoman1]

Hi Damian,

Sorry to have hijacked your thread. We seemed to be pursuing the same information. Hence, my jumping in. I'm a dog with a bone. 😉

If you look at my later posts and the replies from a TalkTalk staff member on thread entitled "SOGEA". Link attached below. You will see it may not be all doom and gloom after all.  And, managed to tease out far more information. 

https://community.talktalk.co.uk/t5/Fibre/SOGEA/m-p/3142794#M405067

[damiansmart]

Thank you very much for taking the time on the phone to Talk Talk, and for posting the information here.

So now we know why information about what may, or may not, happen to FTTC customers at the end of Jan 2027 is being kept rather quiet. I get why this is the case, as Talk Talk don't want to loose customers if the word gets out.

[Catwoman1]

Thank you, @fr8ys.

I replied here, with what I've since found out, after a 1hr and 15 mins of discussions with TalkTalk on the phone. As @Gliwmaeden2 informed me the thread had been moved to the lounge.

Apologies, if my posts keep alerting staff. When they shouldn't, now.

[siphosethu-TT]

Thank you so much for the information, I'm glad you were able to get help on this. Is there anything else we can do for you?

[Catwoman1]

So, after a lengthy 50 minute phone call to Loyalty, who could not give any further information.

He passed me to the Technical department, who also couldn't provide further information about future plans for FTTC. Only to tell me if my fibre broadband ceased working alongside the phone services on 31st January 2027 I could call them to get an engineer out or book Full Fibre. Cue weeks/months without internet whilst millions of people call with the same issue. 😤🙄

The Loyalty guy called me back. After the initial 50 min call, seeking to get me to renew my FTTC contract for 18 months. Whilst I had been speaking to Technical, he and his manager did a bit of research for me, as to the state of play... 

Currently, TalkTalk does not have access to SoGEA services on OpenReach (Plusnet and other ISPs do). However, are mid-negotiations with OpenReach to gain access to SoGEA. As yet, no guarantee they will. Which means FTTC customers' fibre broadband service beyond Jan 2027 is up in the air. If TT does not get access to SoGEA to switch all FTTC customers over to a digital only FTTC service before Jan 2027, we could all lose our access to internet services and phone, on switch off day. Needless to say, I have not renewed my contract. However, appreciate his honesty and research.

The reason I've resisted swapping to Full Fibre with TalkTalk is my OpenReach line comes into the back of my house, where I least need internet. Whereas, my DSL socket is at the front of the house, where internet is most used and where I connect my smart TV via ethernet, Philips Hue hub etc. If I allowed an ONT and router to be installed at the entry to the back of my house, I'd have to trail ethernet cables across floors from one room to another. Messy! And, my router would no longer be in the centre of my home. Degrading my WiFi signal, too.

Whereas, a Virgin Media line would enter the front of my house, straight into my living room where most of my devices live.

I'd rather not have to jump ship after 12 years with TalkTalk, to Virgin Media. Happy to stay with TalkTalk if they can provide SoGEA to guarantee us FTTC customers another decade, perhaps longer, with service.

I hope this information helps other FTTC customers who are concerned. TalkTalk staff here and elsewhere refuse to answer our pressing questions, because they just don't know, for now!!! There is no definitive plan for us FTTC folks come switch off.

[mandisa1-TT]

That is true, hopefully it will be resolved as it was flagged.

[fr8ys]

@mandisa1-TT 

No problem, but it does seem to be a long standing issue with your queue when threads are moved to the Lounge, or Containment.

[mandisa1-TT]

My apologies as it came in my queue and appearing to be on the same thread.

[fr8ys]

@mandisa1-TT 

This was moved to the lounge by @Gliwmaeden2 so it can continue as a discussion thread and any insights can now be added here by anyone without compromising it as a help thread.

[mandisa1-TT]

We apologize for any inconvenience caused. Kindly start you own thread so we can address all concerns you have.

[Catwoman1]

Okay, I understand, sorry.

I *really* think TalkTalk should make it clear what is going to happen. Rather than leave customers wondering, when they ask here. What's the big mystery?! 

[siphosethu-TT]

You will need to start a new thread @Catwoman1 as @Gliwmaeden2 said, appreciate you @Gliwmaeden2.

[Gliwmaeden2]

@Catwoman1, you'll see this thread is now in the Technology section of the Lounge.

[siphosethu-TT]

I think we would all appreciate that, thank you.

[Gliwmaeden2]

@Catwoman1, if you want to follow up, please start your own thread. 

This topic was begun by another customer and for help topics they sometimes then get flooded by notifications of other replies in their inbox. 

For a general discussion it's best to post something in the LOUNGE area of the forum, but, if you need specific help for your issue, post on the relevant message board by clicking on start a topic.