- SOGEA stands for Single Order Generic Ethernet Access and delivers broadband over the line without a separate analogue phone service.
- SOGEA uses the same VDSL2 part-fibre technology as FTTC, so speeds are broadly similar, commonly up to around 80 Mbit/s.
- Because there is no analogue voice service, SOGEA removes the traditional separate line rental for a phone line.
- SOGEA is an Openreach wholesale product introduced to support the move away from the analogue PSTN.
- Openreach plans to switch off the analogue PSTN around the end of January 2027, which is a key reason products like SOGEA exist.
SOGEA is broadband delivered over the line without a separate analogue phone service. It uses the same part-fibre technology as FTTC, removes traditional line rental, and supports the move away from the old PSTN.
Last reviewed: June 2026
What SOGEA is
SOGEA stands for Single Order Generic Ethernet Access. In plain terms, it is broadband supplied over the existing line without a traditional analogue telephone service bundled with it. Older broadband products were sold alongside a phone line, even for customers who never used the phone, because the broadband technically rode on top of the voice line. SOGEA separates the two by providing the broadband on its own.
The technology underneath is the same VDSL2 used by FTTC, so SOGEA delivers comparable speeds. The difference is administrative and structural rather than a change in raw performance: there is a single order for the data service, with no analogue voice line underneath it.
Why SOGEA exists
SOGEA was introduced by Openreach as part of the wider move away from the analogue telephone network. The traditional PSTN, which carried analogue voice calls, is being withdrawn, with the switch-off scheduled around the end of January 2027. As that happens, the old model of selling broadband on top of an analogue voice line no longer makes sense. SOGEA provides a data-only product that does not depend on the analogue voice service, making it a natural stepping stone in the transition.
For households that want a phone service, voice can still be provided digitally over the broadband connection, often described as a digital voice or Voice over IP service, rather than over the old analogue line.
| Feature | SOGEA | FTTC |
|---|---|---|
| Underlying technology | VDSL2 part fibre | VDSL2 part fibre |
| Typical download | Up to about 80 Mbit/s | Up to about 80 Mbit/s |
| Analogue phone line | Not included | Included by default |
| Separate line rental | Removed | Usually applies |
| Voice option | Digital voice over broadband | Analogue line or digital voice |
SOGEA compared with FTTC
Because SOGEA uses the same VDSL2 technology, its speeds are broadly the same as FTTC, commonly up to around 80 Mbit/s download for homes close to the cabinet. The main practical differences are that SOGEA does not include a traditional analogue phone line and removes the separate line rental associated with it. For a household that never used its landline, this simplifies the service without reducing broadband performance.
Where a phone is still wanted, it moves to a digital voice service delivered over the broadband. This means the handset connects through the router rather than directly to a wall socket, which is a change worth planning for, particularly for anyone who relies on the line during a power cut.
What happens to your phone number
Moving to SOGEA does not have to mean losing an existing landline number. Where a digital voice service is taken, the existing number can usually be carried across so calls continue as before, although the handset connects through the router. Anyone who does not want a phone service at all can take SOGEA as a data-only product. The exact arrangements depend on the provider, so it is worth confirming number handling at the point of ordering.
Who offers SOGEA and how to get it
SOGEA is an Openreach wholesale product, which means it is sold to households by the retail providers that use the Openreach network. Availability at an address can be confirmed through the usual Openreach or Ofcom availability checks. In areas where full fibre is available, providers may steer customers towards FTTP instead, as full fibre is the longer-term replacement for both FTTC and SOGEA.
Voice, power cuts and the move to digital
Because SOGEA carries no analogue voice line, any phone service runs as digital voice over the broadband. This brings a practical change worth planning for. The old analogue line drew power from the exchange and could work during a local power cut, whereas digital voice relies on the mains-powered router inside the home. If the power goes off, a digital voice service stops unless a battery backup is in place. Providers offer battery backup for customers who depend on a phone line, including those identified as vulnerable, and keeping a charged mobile phone is a sensible additional safeguard.
For households that rely on a landline for personal alarms or emergency calls, it is worth confirming these arrangements before switching. The change is part of the wider industry move from analogue to digital that the PSTN switch-off is driving.
Where SOGEA fits in the transition
SOGEA is best understood as a bridge between the old copper-and-voice model and the full fibre future. It lets households drop an unused analogue line while keeping the part-fibre speeds they already had, and it gives providers a clean data-only product to migrate customers onto ahead of the PSTN switch-off. Where full fibre has been built, FTTP is the natural next step, offering higher speeds and greater reliability. SOGEA remains a useful option in areas where full fibre has not yet arrived.
The name itself helps explain the design. Single Order means the broadband is bought as one product rather than as a data service layered on top of a separate phone line order. Generic Ethernet Access describes the standard data connection it presents to the provider. Stripping out the analogue voice element simplifies the order, removes a line that many households no longer used, and aligns the product with a network that is moving wholesale from analogue to digital.
For most customers the change is invisible in day-to-day use. The router connects in the same way, the broadband performs as it did under FTTC, and the main practical differences are the absence of a separate line rental and the shift of any phone service to digital voice. Anyone weighing up SOGEA should mainly consider whether they still want a landline, and if so how digital voice and its power-cut behaviour fit their needs, since the broadband side is unchanged from the part-fibre service they may already know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a phone line for SOGEA?
SOGEA is broadband supplied over the line without a separate analogue phone service, so there is no traditional voice line or its line rental. Where a phone is wanted, it can be provided as a digital voice service over the broadband instead of a separate analogue line.
Is SOGEA the same as FTTP?
No. SOGEA uses the same part-fibre VDSL2 technology as FTTC, with fibre to the cabinet and copper to the home. FTTP runs fibre all the way into the property and offers much higher speeds. SOGEA simply removes the analogue voice line from a part-fibre connection.
How much does SOGEA cost?
Pricing is set by each retail provider rather than fixed nationally, so figures vary between deals and over time. The structural difference from older products is that SOGEA does not carry the separate analogue line rental, because there is no analogue voice service underneath the broadband. Where a digital voice service is added, that may carry its own charge, so it is worth comparing the total cost rather than the broadband element alone.
Which providers offer SOGEA?
SOGEA is an Openreach wholesale product, so it is sold by the retail providers that use the Openreach network. Availability at an address can be confirmed through the Openreach or Ofcom availability checkers.
What happens to my phone number with SOGEA?
An existing landline number can usually be kept by taking a digital voice service, where the handset connects through the router rather than a wall socket. Households that do not want a phone at all can take SOGEA as a data-only service. Number handling depends on the provider, so it is worth confirming at the point of ordering that an existing number will be carried across and how the digital voice service behaves during a power cut. Where a phone is kept, a battery backup can keep digital voice working if the mains fails.
