Many people see using a copper pair (AKA phone line) for actual telephony as somewhat antiquated and would like to move the copper pair to us for broadband but move their number to Voice over IP. Normally moving a number to VoIP kills the phone line and broadband, but we can do this without a break in service. This is called renumber and export.
We can port in numbers without the loss of the broadband and the copper pair service only if the broadband and copper pair are provided by us, we have a procedure to transfer the copper pair to us and then initiate the export to VoIP.
Once a number has been ported in it will be available on the Control Pages for you to configure. A number will then have the same features available as any of our other numbers.
You are a brand new customer, ordering broadband
You can place an order for broadband, and you will be offered an option for a "phone line take over".
You have broadband from us already but we don't provide the phone line
In this case we will take over the phone line service and will port the number to our VoIP service.
You have broadband and the copper pair from us already
In this case, please contact sales who can progress the renumber and port manually.
You don't have broadband on the line, you only want to port the number in
In this case, please use our VoIP order page and choose the option to port in your number. The existing phone line and services such as broadband on it will be ceased as part of the process.
Typically our charges for the copper pair (the land line to your premises) would be cheaper than from BT and many other providers
The invoice you get from us will include details regarding the copper pair and the broadband
Our call rates for calling UK landlines and mobiles are competitive
You'll be able to take advantage of our standard VoIP features such as voicemail, call recordings, Calling Line Identification and so on at no extra cost. There is more on our VoIP page.
Is this available to new or existing customers?
Both! The order form will give you the option for this whether you're a new customer ordering for the first time or if we are already providing broadband to you.
Order process, and how long does it take?
How is this ordered?
Simply order your broadband service. As part of the ordering process we will ask if you want a copper pair with your broadband and take details of where you need it.
Will my Broadband go down at all?
If the broadband is with us, then no. The whole idea behind this is that the broadband is not meant to be affected.
Will I get a new number?
Yes, your A&A landline (copper pair) will be given a new number.
What happens if the phone line or broadband is not with A&A
To keep the phone line active and the broadband active the services will need to be provided by us. If you simply want to port a land line in to us then we can do that but the remaining phone line (and services that use the phone line such as broadband) will end up being ceased. This cease will happen by your existing provider, so do check with them that the services will be properly ceased once the number port has been completed.
Will I still get SMSs?
Yes, you will still get calls from the BT Text service reading the text message to you.
Will emergency service calls work?
Calls to 999/112 will work on the VoIP service but not on the Copper Pair.
Have you some more technical information?
The copper pair itself is installed by Openreach just like a BT phone line, on our behalf. No telephone service is provided on this copper pair, it is purely for broadband use.
Whilst there is no telephone service as such, the pair does have some audio when connected to a telephone - this is purely to stop any engineers thinking the pair is unused and taking it for another installation or fault repair. It also allows a quiet line test so one can hear crackles or interference that may be the cause of a fault. As such we still expect customers to have a telephone handset available for fault repair and diagnostics.
We do not normally allow any calls. However, for customers where we have allowed calls on a line they are charged at whatever Openreach charge us plus 20%
