No, your Hub must have power for you to be able to make calls using our Digital Voice service.
If there's a power cut, you'll need an alternative method to make calls, such as a mobile phone.
If you live in an area where you believe you have no mobile reception, or you don’t have access to a mobile phone please give us a call on 150.
What if I'm vulnerable or have medical equipment that uses my phone line?
A Battery Backup Unit (BBU) provides power to your hub for at least an hour if there’s a power cut. This is so you can still make emergency calls from your Digital Voice phone or existing corded handset.
We're working with medical equipment providers while they update their equipment, but please make sure with your own equipment provider that they will have a backup available for you.
If you would like to register as a vulnerable customer, visit our Here For You page.
Set up Battery Back Up Unit
You’ll need to make sure you've connected your digital handset to your Smart Hub or plug your corded handset into the phone port in the back of your hub.
You’ll have received one BBU for your Smart Hub, and another if you have Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) to power the Openreach Optical Network Terminal (ONT).
Connect your Battery Back Up Unit with your Smart Hub
Slide open the battery compartment of your Battery Back Up Unit and remove the battery.
Slide the battery back in part of the way so you can connect the red wire to the red terminal.
Slide the battery in fully and replace the cover.
Plug the Battery Back Up Unit into the mains using the power cable.
Turn On the mains power.
The Battery Back Up Unit status light will show green.
Unplug your hub’s existing power cable.
Connect the hub to the Battery Back Up Unit using the supplied hub connector cable.
Your hub light will show green, then amber, then finally blue once the hub is up and running
The battery takes 24 hours to become fully charged but you can still use your hub in the meantime.
If you have Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and you need a BBU to power the Openreach Optical Network Terminal (ONT)
Connect one Battery Back Up Unit to your hub and one to the ONT.
Connect to the ONT
The ONT is also known as a fibre box and it allows the fibre optic cable to be connected from inside your home, out through your property and to the fibre network. It's usually in your hallway, by your front door
Slide open the battery compartment of your Battery Back Up Unit and remove the battery.
Slide the battery back in part of the way so you can connect the red wire to the red terminal.
Slide the battery in fully and replace the cover.
Plug the Battery Back Up Unit to into the mains using the power cable.
Turn On the mains power.
The Battery Back Up Unit status light will turn green.
Unplug your ONT’s existing power cable.
Connect the ONT to the Battery Back Up Unit using the supplied ONT connector cable.
When your hub light is on or flashing, it's ready.
The battery takes 24 hours to charge fully, but you can still use your ONT in the meantime.
Using Digital Home Phone during a power cut
Your Smart Hub must have power to make calls using Digital Home Phone.
If there’s a power cut, the Battery Back Up Unit will give you at least an hour of service. You need to make sure you've connected your digital handset to your Smart Hub or plugged your existing corded handset into the phone port in the back of your hub.