Can I use Fibe Home Phone during a power outage?

[PebbleBeach]

During the storm on December 23rd, our Bell land line phone worked for a short while, after the power went out. It then went dead? In the past, before we were hooked up to the new fibre optic cable, our phone would work even during a black out! Now it will not last more than a few minutes! Does this have to do with the modem, that has battery back up and the battery(s) went dead?

Once power was restored (28 hours later), we called a Bell techy, on our cell phone and it took him about two or three minutes to restore our land line phone? We have kept our land line phone, only because we wanted to have a means of communications, even when the power goes out! Is the land line phone now a waste of money?

[Inf · Accepted solution]

With the new fibre optic service, the home phone signal is sent over the internet instead of a phone line. Unfortunately, that means the phone stops working if the internet connection is interrupted or the modem battery dies.

Cellphones are a better backup option over fibre home phone since they don’t require a wired internet connection and require less power (smaller batteries) to run. I’d recommend keeping a good capacity power bank (10k-20k mah) or two charged at home to power the cellphones during a power outage. Make sure to unplug the power bank after it’s fully charged. Keeping it plugged in will degrade the battery over time.

[JRT]

If your land line is connected to a Fibe modem, can you still make unlimited phone calls during a power outage from a "corded" phone that's plugged into a wall jack?  

[Vandh]

Hi, my home was just switched to Fibe. Now that it has been switched, I just realized that this means that the home phone now won't work if the internet is down, or if the power is out...in other words the only reason for having a home phone has just been removed. Is there going to be a solution for this problem in the future? This doesn't sound like a good idea.

[Andyoopla]

No dial tone when power is out

[druch]

Recently, my mother was coerced into having Fibe for landline. I noticed a modem so this became voip, Major problem. Power was out for 3 hrs and no way to communicate not even 911 9she is 97). Had there been a catastrophe would Bell be responsible.

[druch]

Old hardwired copper did not go out with power outage as the phone is low voltage battery from Bell office and not connected or associated with and electric service. So if on Fibe you are done. My MIL is old they put her on Fibe now isolated when power goes out

[dks]

Bell does make it clear that when fibre goes out, the phone goes out. A cell phone is useful in that situation. 

[WelshTerrier · Accepted solution]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

If your Bell home phone is on fibre, your Bell Home phone service, including 9-1-1 emergency services, will not work during a power outage without a battery backup. If you wish to maintain phone service during a power outage, you will need to purchase a battery backup, also known as an uninterrupted power supply (UPS).

Please check out the following.

Stay connected during a power outage

Take care.