Is It Possible to Get a New Copper Phone Line Installed after Switching to nbn?

save my dollarydoos on 07/01/2022 - 11:47
Last edited 07/01/2022 - 12:02 by 1 other user

Hi there,

Since transferring to the NBN, we cancelled the old copper phone line and set up everything for the 21st Century. Unfortunately since then the MIL has had a stroke and one of the side effects that persist after recovery is mood swings and getting angry/irate about everything

This last happened the other day when the nbn phone that the old bird relies was disconnected/was going straight to message bank. There was no divert settings or weirdness that I could tell - and to fix it I just restarted the modem/router.

Anyway, the MIL arcced up - had a fit about the whole thing and wants to go back to a copper phone - in fairness she's 88 tried/failed to learn a mobile phone and obviously now it's kinda important to have a working phone line going through power outtages and whatnot.

Anyway - is it hard to go back to copper lines & keep my precious precious fibre to the curb connection going?

Cheers

Internet Broadband nbn

Comments

  • Benoffie on 07/01/2022 - 11:58
    +2

    No, no copper. However, contact Telstra (or whoever you are with) and have a service put in and flagged as 'Priority Assist' (if your MIL qualifies) - https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/customer-service/…

    Mum will need a bit of a chat regarding it - sometimes this is better coming from the Telstra tech than you.

    • Morien on 07/01/2022 - 12:56
      +1

      Good suggestion, however just be aware that Telstra are the only one (to my knowledge) that do do priority assist.

  • twobit on 07/01/2022 - 11:58
    +1

    Not easy.. the whole purpose was to removed old failing cables.. not that its working as planned

    Try speaking to Telstras Priority Assist group for a possible plan.. https://www.telstra.com.au/consumer-advice/customer-service/…

  • spackbace on 07/01/2022 - 11:59
    +15

    Try again

    Simple solution - 4G desk phone. Give her the old school feel

    There's a few options around like this which would save you alot of pain

    She'd never know it was over 4G

    $96 one here but do your own research :)

    • meowsers on 07/01/2022 - 15:38
      +2

      Run a fake cable out the back and glue a wall plate to her wall with gorilla glue.

      • WatchNerd on 07/01/2022 - 18:20

        2000mAh battery supports countless hours of continuous usage time

        Cool, can use it as a mobile when out at the shops or the pub.

        • meowsers on 07/01/2022 - 18:34
          +2

          I think this would be pretty cool tbh.

    • save my dollarydoos on 01/02/2022 - 21:59
      +1

      Sorry for the late reply, I think I was boozed when I made this post and completely forgot about it.

      That's super interesting. Thank you. Will show the missus.

  • xuqi on 07/01/2022 - 12:00
    +1

    I don't believe you can switch back as your whole area gets disconnected from the old network, once users are transitioned.

    MIL may be better off with a mobile or wirelss 4G device.

  • pharkurnell on 07/01/2022 - 12:06
    +1

    Does he also have an Personal Alarms ? My dad had one and it was brilliant..
    press the button and it called a call center and he could talk to an 'agent' who then called me… gave him peace of mind over a phone

  • AndyC1 on 07/01/2022 - 12:28

    NO.

  • AustriaBargain on 07/01/2022 - 12:59
    -5

    Redirect her landline number to her mobile phone. She's 88 so even if it's expensive it's not like she'll have to keep paying it much longer…

  • Morien on 07/01/2022 - 13:04
    +1

    As others have mentioned, you cannot get new copper lines anymore. There is a cease sale, and many, if not most areas with existing copper cabling have had them disconnected (if not outright removed).

    I like (and wasn't previously aware of) spackbace's suggestion of a 4g desk phone. Dual sim as well, so might even put in a Telstra and a Optus/Vodafone sim (depending on coverage) in case one or the other has an outage.

    Painful situation for you to deal with, but it is what it is.

    • spackbace on 07/01/2022 - 19:05

      I like (and wasn't previously aware of) spackbace's suggestion

      Yeah I didn't know about them till a few months ago maybe when they were suggested on here for someone in a retirement village, and I took note of what a good thing it is

  • SF3 on 07/01/2022 - 13:42

    getting angry/irate about everything
    MIL arcced up

    Hence, why she is your MIL…

  • rektrading on 07/01/2022 - 14:09
    -7

    Anyway, the MIL arcced up - had a fit about the whole thing and wants to go back to a copper phone

    Ask her if she wants a fax, dial-up and CRT to go with the PSTN.

    Boomers have to learn to let go of the 20th-century tech and move on. It's all TikTok, IG and metaverse from here on.

    • spackbace on 07/01/2022 - 14:18
      +3

      Boomers

      Sarcasm aside, 88yo aint a boomer…

  • hmac on 07/01/2022 - 17:43
    +1

    The fact that she has a life threatening medical condition and is prone to it is why Telstra offers Priority Assist

    I know you are all gonna hate on Telstra, but they are legally the only provider who can provide the service

    And no, you cannot switch back to PSTN

  • RockyRaccoon on 07/01/2022 - 19:01

    You can depending on how long ago your phone line was disconnected set up a westnet seniors NBN plan where the phone is still a landline, and she can use her old handset (unless its not digital handset) for $40 a month inc freee local and national calls (mobile calls are charged)

    https://www.westnet.com.au/internet-product/broadband/nbn/pl…

    • spackbace on 07/01/2022 - 19:04

      That's still via internet (nbn), which OP doesn't want

      • RockyRaccoon on 08/01/2022 - 18:47

        Of course you are right. I guess I was giving an alternative given she cant have the copper back on. (alvian explains it below)

        Isnt the real issue that the MIL wants what she thinks is the same as she had before, a PSTN (aka POTS) line.

        We know that if set up properly a VOIP system would appear to be the same, (except if she wanted a rotary dial phone).

        • spackbace on 08/01/2022 - 19:19
          +1

          We know that if set up properly a VOIP system would appear to be the same

          Would be, but unfortunately drop-outs happen, or just simple networking issues

          Shame OP hasn't come back to partake in the conversation they started…

  • alvian on 08/01/2022 - 13:12

    The following information is supplied to Telco Service Providers. Retail customers are thus also affected by it. In broad term, no new connections (or reconnections, or churning) can be made to PSTN after nbn becomes available, except in areas served by nbn Fixed Wireless and nbn SkyMuster Satellites.

    Copper Migration: Enabling your transition to the nbn™ network

    The nbn co MTM rollout and Telstra’s migration plan contains a number of ‘cease sale' provisions that affect the types of service we can provide to customers in nbn rollout regions.

    Cease sale provisions prohibit us from supplying most types of new copper and HFC services to customers after the Cease Sale Commencement Date for a rollout region. Generally, the Cease Sale Commencement Date occurs 10 Business Days after the Region Ready for Service Date (RRFSD) for an nbn rollout region and applies to premises that are either:

    • nbn serviceable; or
    • Identified in the nbn co service qualification system as being ‘frustrated’.

    In most instances we will no longer be able to supply new copper services, churn or transfer copper services (including line rental, ADSL and ULL) to premises within the regions which are nbn serviceable, once the Cease Sale Commencement Date has passed.

    This means that wholesale customers will not be able to place orders for new copper services, such as Wholesale Line Rental (WLR), ADSL, Spectrum Sharing (SSS) and Unconditioned Local Loop Service (ULLS) that are delivered to end users using Telstra’s copper network, to premises where cease sale applies. In these cases, wholesale customers will need to place orders for nbn services.

    You can find out more on the nbn Rollout Schedule on Telstra Wholesale.

  • save my dollarydoos on 01/02/2022 - 22:00

    I want to thank everyones contributions to this thread after I completely forgot about it. (I may have been drunk at the time and completely forgot I did this)

    So everyone - thank you very much

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