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[Bowdon]

I was thinking rhetorically earlier and wondering, if I wanted in to future to change ISP's, I'm on BT, what would happen with the phone situation?

I think most people will be using the ISP's own VOIP service. I'm thinking I'd hold my number if I transfered to another OR FTTP connection? But if I moved to say CityFibre, would I lose my phone number during transfer?

I know having a separate VOIP is the best way to go.

I suspect the majority of people will just assume they can move around without problems. It was simpler when it was only OR and VM running separate networks.

[gt94sss2]

There will be a new “one touch” switching process coming into force from April 2023 to help customers changing physical networks

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-2/simpler-broadband-switching

[Bowdon]

That is a good thing. Because I can see the moving between ISP's and Networks and its connection to VOIP as the next big issue. So its good they are already looking at the situation.

[craigski]

What about the many consumers that have not only bundled their landline VoIP number with broadband, but have also bundled in TV packages/subscriptions, and multiple mobile phones for the family all in one contract?

[Alex Atkin UK]

That's clearly deliberate to make it too complicated to leave.

[aesmith]

I was thinking rhetorically earlier and wondering, if I wanted in to future to change ISP's, I'm on BT, what would happen with the phone situation?

There's two issues really. Firstly number porting, can you move your number to a different provider?  Secondly technical compatibility, can you reconfigure your existing hardware to suit the new provider? Like with ISP-provided DSL routers even if the technical standards are the same, the hardware might be locked so it can't be reconfigured.

I suspect the best way is going to be using an independent SIP service, a bit like email where people initially just used their ISP's provided email service, but nowadays people don't want to change address if they change ISP.

[Dwight]

Have a nightmare with wrong numbers on my current number. So the last thing I am going to do is port!
But can see the pain for parents with two or three kids and multiple phone contracts!
Dwight1379