Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes?

From	Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com>
Newsgroups	uk.telecom
Subject	Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes?
Date	2026-07-05 11:26 +0100
Organization	A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID	<112dbgm$vv1d$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References	<112arbi$3gli$1@dont-email.me> <nasam0F1j83U1@mid.individual.net> <112bn8j$d7sq$1@dont-email.me> <112brc5$985v$1@dont-email.me>

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On Sat 04/07/2026 21:44, David Wade wrote:
> On 04/07/2026 20:34, Woody wrote:
>> On Sat 04/07/2026 12:56, Andy Burns wrote:
>>> Woody wrote:
>>>
>>>> Unlike many we still have a BT landline phone - Panasonic DECT.
>>>>
>>>> Ever since we have had it, if a call with number withheld called, 
>>>> then it just showed 'Withheld' on the CLI.
>>>>
>>>> This last week we have had two calls:-
>>>> one said "Private?" and there was no number attached;
>>>> the second said "Nuisance?" but there was a number - apparently 
>>>> Barnsley but looks to be issued by a VoIP provider in Belgium. A 
>>>> further check showed it was indeed a nuisance/scam call.
>>>>
>>>> Has anyone else encountered this change in operation or been advised 
>>>> by that BT are/were doing it?
>>>
>>> Do you use "BT Call Protect", apparently that can display "nuisance?"
>>>
>>> <https://www.bt.com/help/landline/digital-voice-calling-features-/bt- 
>>> call-protect-for-digital-voice>
>>>
>>> That page is in relation to Digital Voice, but it wouldn't surprise 
>>> me if they push analogue calls through the same system ...
>>>
>>
>> Ah, well, you see, there may be something in that, except that we are 
>> not on DV AFAIK.
>>
>> Having said that a month or two ago we had to start dialling the full 
>> area code as well as number even for local calls. When I asked why I 
>> was told that because I don't have B/B from BT but am over pension age 
>> they are interfacing me to (what I assume is) VoIP (DV) at the 
>> exchange. I suspect that this is about BT not being able to meet the 
>> HMG digital targets so they are sidestepping some customers like me so 
>> they can change us to digital ops in their own time (how many years?) 
>> after the end of January 2027 and otherwise meet the HMG target. In 
>> other words a fiddle. So much for the 'need' to change everyone to 
>> fibre and remove all of the copper/aluminium cabling!
> 
> 
> I don't believe there are any HMG targets. BT have targets because the 
> exchanges are leased and the leases end in 2030 and they want to close 
> the exchanges.
> 
> To enable this there are two migrations in progress. One is the move to 
> fibre, and the other is the removal of the old Public Switched Telephone 
> Network, or PSTN and converting all users to VOIP allowing the old 
> analogue exchanges to be de-commissioned
> 
> So you have been put on the "pre digital phone line" product which as 
> you suspect puts the voip conversion in the exchange. It allows the 
> analogue exchange kit to be removed without putting fibre into your 
> house. It is intended to be a "transitional" service, so at some point 
> before 2030 you will be switched to fibre.
>> For the record my B/B provider is VM which includes a phone service 
>> but is so expensive for daily needs that it is only used if I need to 
>> ring them for faults or support, calls to which are free, plus it is 
>> cabled so still works if the mains fails.
>>
> 
> Are you sure it works in a power cut?
> 
>> PoI: I do note that since the changeover that now requires me to dial 
>> the area code, call set-up is in many cases significantly slower. If I 
>> ring a friend at the other end of the country I get ringtone almost 
>> the instant I finish dialling; if I ring a local number even on the 
>> same physical exchange as me it can be 6-8 seconds sometimes more 
>> before I get ringtone. 
> 
> You are not connected to a physical exchange as such, which I suspect 
> may be why "local" calls are slow, as if there are any real lines left 
> the system has to figure out if it needs to route the call out to the 
> old exchange equipment. I would expect this will improve when all lines 
> in your exchange are removed. Should be 31st Jan 2027.
> 
> 
> The worst is if I ring a DDI number at the local hospital
>> who use VM, the call will divert to voicemail after about 15 secs of 
>> ring no answer but the first I hear is the answer message - no 
>> ringing. If however I call the same number from my mobile (on 
>> GiffGaff) I get ringtone within a second of finishing dialling. How 
>> stupid is that?!
>>
> 
> A bit strange, but I wonder if the hospital is still connected to the 
> old exchange kit. Why calls from giffgaff are slow I don't know...
> 
> 
> Dave
> 
> 
Read again. Calls to local number via GG are almost instant.The 
concentrator has a gas powered generator on site as it handles all local 
B/B as well. Having said that the power failed a couple of weeks ago and 
it seems the genny didn't start which meant B/B was down for about 2 
hours until Northern Power got their act together. It affected about ¼ 
of the town.

VM phone is twisted pair to the local concentrator AFAIK as the original 
install in this area was done by Bell Cablemedia who had a reputation 
for reliability and quality workmanship.

Thread

Have BT been making unannounced changes? Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> - 2026-07-04 12:38 +0100
  Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-07-04 12:56 +0100
    Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> - 2026-07-04 20:34 +0100
      Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-07-04 20:49 +0100
        Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> - 2026-07-05 11:27 +0100
      Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> - 2026-07-04 21:44 +0100
        Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> - 2026-07-05 11:26 +0100
          Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> - 2026-07-05 12:28 +0100
        Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? David Woolley <david@ex.djwhome.demon.invalid> - 2026-07-05 18:54 +0100
          Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? angus@magsys.co.uk (Angus Robertson - Magenta Systems Ltd) - 2026-07-05 19:18 +0100
            Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-05 20:42 +0100
              Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> - 2026-07-05 21:27 +0100
              Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? angus@magsys.co.uk (Angus Robertson - Magenta Systems Ltd) - 2026-07-06 14:25 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? David Woolley <david@ex.djwhome.demon.invalid> - 2026-07-07 09:13 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? angus@magsys.co.uk (Angus Robertson - Magenta Systems Ltd) - 2026-07-07 10:45 +0100
          Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> - 2026-07-05 19:22 +0100
      Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-07-05 12:12 +0100
        Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-05 13:33 +0100
          Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-07-05 14:03 +0100
            Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> - 2026-07-05 14:20 +0100
              Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-07-05 14:33 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Trolleybus <ken@birchanger.com> - 2026-07-06 09:43 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> - 2026-07-06 10:51 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2026-07-06 13:52 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> - 2026-07-06 15:42 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2026-07-06 18:26 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> - 2026-07-06 19:13 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-07-07 08:50 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-06 22:34 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2026-07-06 22:49 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Nick Finnigan <nix@genie.co.uk> - 2026-07-06 23:35 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-07 22:23 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2026-07-07 23:03 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-07-07 23:35 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Nick Finnigan <nix@genie.co.uk> - 2026-07-11 16:52 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-07-07 08:46 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> - 2026-07-07 09:01 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2026-07-07 11:05 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-07-07 13:41 +0100
              Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? David Woolley <david@ex.djwhome.demon.invalid> - 2026-07-05 18:49 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-07-05 19:03 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-07-05 19:10 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? David Woolley <david@ex.djwhome.demon.invalid> - 2026-07-05 19:27 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-07-05 20:13 +0100
                Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? David Woolley <david@ex.djwhome.demon.invalid> - 2026-07-05 19:20 +0100
      Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-07-11 09:48 +0100
        Re: Have BT been making unannounced changes? Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> - 2026-07-11 11:14 +0100

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