My 87 year old mother doesn't have (or want) the internet, but the NBN has now come to her area, and she needs to find a provider who offers "phone only NBN", without the internet.
As far as I can see from their web sites, none of the main NBN providers seem to offer a phone-only service, but I'm assuming that Telstra will (and I'm on hold on the phone waiting to talk to them now).
Does anyone here have a phone-only NBN service? If so, who with, and what are the costs/inclusions?
As an added benefit, many mobiles now contain the bits for a 'loop system' or 'T switch' to work with hearing aids. So if she has a hearing aid, they might actually be a better bet.
I don't believe there is such a product on the market.
Main reason being, as far as the network is concerned, there's no (well, ok - almost no) difference between IP-telephony and other internet traffic.
I don't believe there is such a product on the market.
It was designed-in with the FTTP network, which has its own "channel" that is separate to the internet connection, but it's a VOIP add-on to any other form of NBN.
Get her an old school mobile phone (that has num pads e.g 3310) with a unlimited talk/text? might be cheaper than the fixed line.
If you choose a mobile make sure it is a 3g or a 4g handset as the 2g network will be shutting down soon
Good advice, i forgot about that.
I agree with the mobile phone option, provided coverage is good in her area. Also encourage her to carry it with her at all times in case of a fall/stroke/heart attack etc. My other half's mother was on the floor for about 1/2 a day until someone came to the door after she had a stroke. (She was relatively young so it was completely unexpected).
Also the NBN would require a battery to keep the NBN box active in case of blackout. They can be a pain to replace by calling the NBN or ISP. If you're in a blackout and need to make an emergency call you won't be able to. Mobiles can at least make emergency calls even without a SIM card, provided you're in a area with reception.
On the telstra home phone plans page each plan mentions (works on nbn). Its the same as registering for a monthly home phone line - the only thing that changes is the tech delivering the service.
As above, you'll need a battery backup on your NTD in a FttP area or a UPS for the modem/router if she's in a FttN or HFC area.
My 80 year old grandmother has a no internet nbn plan with Telstra. It is only a little extra to get some internet.
It was quite a long time ago when the nbn came but I remember nothing changed it was the same plan and everything. The installers were very nice and Telstra knew exactly how to keep everything the same for her.
Telstra said that she can remain on the same phone plan she's already on, at the same price, and the installer will get everything running and plug her existing home phone into the router and leave her with a working phone service (although it will actually be VOIP).
It's an HFC connection, so there's no phone when the lights go out, and no provision for battery backup.
Also, she already has a mobile phone.
HFC is good news is she has any phone extension points through the house too! I wonder if Telstra will hook up a splitter to connect the extensions into the HFC NTU/Modem?
FttN makes phone extension points not only useless, but actually a detriment to connection speed and stability, unless you have a fresh line installed from the termination point and disconnect the existing internal network from the outside world.
You used to be able to buy "landline" phones that take sims.
Add an unlimited talk sim for ~$15 .
Get a firm date, in writing, when her 'copper' phone line will be disconnected.
Until that date is due, do nothing re:NBN
I have just had the same issue with my mother and the NBN.We stayed with Telstra for the NBN home phone with no internet .She had a keypad type mobile but didn't like using it.
We also found that her care alert pendant would not work in a power outage/blackout which is a time that it would be needed most.
Have now gone to an SOS pendant on the mobile network with a built in speaker and pre set number dialing
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