Customers of Plusnet, a popular broadband company owned by BT Group, have only a few weeks left to switch to a new mobile provider or risk losing their mobile numbers. The company confirmed in May that it would shut down its mobile phone division, with EE becoming BT’s main mobile brand.
Why Is Plusnet Closing Its Mobile Service?
Plusnet’s decision to close its mobile phone service affects tens of thousands of customers who must now switch providers to keep their numbers and maintain access to crucial mobile verifications from retailers and banks. This move is part of a larger trend for Plusnet, which has already stopped offering TV services and will cease providing landlines by December 2027, becoming a broadband-only supplier.
How Can Plusnet Customers Switch Providers?
Plusnet has informed its mobile users that their service will end from their June billing date. Customers have 40 days from this date to request a porting authorisation code (PAC) by texting PAC to 65075. This code allows them to transfer their number to a new provider without any exit fees, even if they are still under contract. Customers who do not act within this 40-day period will lose their number permanently.
In May 2023, Plusnet stopped selling new SIM-only deals in preparation for the switch-off. The company initially offered these SIMs to compete with rivals like Sky and Virgin, which bundled broadband, landline, and mobile services.
A Plusnet spokesperson stated that the company had been informing customers for months about the mobile service shutdown and is offering EE SIM-only deals starting at £4 a month. Customers can also choose to switch to any other provider while keeping their number.
Earlier this year, Plusnet announced it would stop offering landlines once analogue services are phased out, which is now expected by the end of 2027. Customers wanting a landline after this date will need to switch to another provider that offers such services.
