In short: SoGEA (Single order Generic Ethernet Access) is broadband delivered over copper from the street cabinet with no phone service on the line. It replaces traditional FTTC broadband, which needed a separate phone line, wherever full fibre is not yet available. Calls move to a digital line or cloud phone system over the broadband.
What is SoGEA?
SoGEA stands for Single order Generic Ethernet Access. It is a wholesale product from Openreach that BT and other providers use to deliver broadband over the copper line between the street cabinet and your building.
The important words are *single order*. With traditional part fibre broadband (FTTC), your provider ordered two things: a phone line, and broadband that rode on top of it. With SoGEA there is only one order, for the broadband. The copper pair carries data, but there is no dial tone, no analogue phone service and no separate line rental.
That makes SoGEA the natural replacement for FTTC as the PSTN switch-off removes the old phone network. Openreach stopped selling new analogue lines in September 2023, and the PSTN switch-off date is 31 January 2027, so a new part fibre connection is now ordered as broadband on its own rather than broadband plus a phone line.
You may see the term written as SOGEA or SoGEA, and some providers call it "broadband without a landline" or "data-only broadband". It is the same thing: copper broadband with nothing else on the line.
How SoGEA works
The physical route is the same as FTTC:
- Fibre runs from the exchange to the green street cabinet.
- Copper runs the last stretch from the cabinet into your building.
- Your router connects to the master socket, as before.
What changes is what runs over it. Speed still depends on the distance between your premises and the cabinet and the condition of the copper, so a building close to the cabinet gets better speeds than one further away. For a phone service, you add a digital line or cloud phone system that runs over the broadband, such as one of BT's digital phone lines.
Your provider confirms at order whether moving from FTTC to SoGEA needs an engineer visit. Because the router now carries everything, including any calls, it is worth putting it on a battery backup (UPS) and considering Hybrid Backup, which switches to the EE Business 4G network if the line fails.
SoGEA vs FTTC vs full fibre (FTTP)
| FTTC with a phone line | SoGEA | Full fibre (FTTP) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route into the building | Fibre to cabinet, copper to premises | Fibre to cabinet, copper to premises | Fibre all the way |
| Phone service on the line | Yes (analogue) | No | No |
| Separate line rental order | Yes | No | No |
| Speed | Depends on distance from cabinet | Depends on distance from cabinet | BT offers up to 900Mbps |
| Future | Being withdrawn with the PSTN | The copper option where FTTP is not available | The long-term replacement |
| Calls | Over the analogue line | Digital line or cloud voice over the broadband | Digital line or cloud voice over the broadband |
If full fibre is available at your address, it is usually the better choice: faster, more consistent and not affected by distance from a cabinet. SoGEA is the sensible route where fibre has not yet reached your building, and it can be upgraded later.
What SoGEA means for your phones
Because a SoGEA line has no phone service, anything that used the old analogue line needs a new home:
- Business calls move to a digital line such as Cloud Voice Express, Digital Voice for Business or BT Cloud Voice.
- Your number can normally move across. Keep the old line active until the transfer has completed.
- Alarms, card terminals and lift phones that dialled out over the copper line need checking with their suppliers before the switch. See alarm and special lines.
- Power cuts now affect calls, because the router and phones need mains power.
SoGEA for Ethernet and multi-site networks
SoGEA is not only for broadband. BT can deliver its Ethernet Connect service over SoGEA or FTTP access as well as dedicated fibre, which can be a cost-effective way to bring a smaller branch onto a private network. See BT Ethernet and multi-site connectivity for how that fits together.
For sites where downtime is expensive, a dedicated leased line such as BTnet is worth comparing. Our guide to broadband vs a leased line covers the trade-offs.
How we help
Forever Communications Ltd is a BT Business Partner. We check whether your address can get full fibre or SoGEA, explain the difference for your building, and move your calls onto a digital service at the same time so there is no gap.
Contact us with your address and current bill, and ask us for a quote.
Why buy BT through Forever Communications
Forever Communications Ltd is a BT Business Partner, supplying BT Business connectivity, voice and mobile services to UK organisations. You get BT's network with a named team who knows your account.
- Impartial advice on the right BT product for each site, from Essential, Enhanced, Pro and Ultra business broadband to BTnet and BT Ethernet
- One point of contact for availability checks, orders, installations, moves, upgrades, faults and renewals
- Ready for the PSTN switch-off: digital phone lines, SoGEA, BT Cloud Voice, BT Cloud Phone and Digital Voice for Business, with your numbers kept where possible
- Multi-site and sector know-how for schools, GP surgeries, retailers, hospitality venues and growing offices
- Mobile and security too: EE Business mobiles from BT Group, Hybrid Backup on the EE Business 4G network, and BT security options alongside our wider Cyber Essentials help
We sell to businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations. We do not sell consumer or home products.
Want a BT Business quote for your sites?
Tell Forever Communications what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
What does SoGEA stand for?
SoGEA stands for Single order Generic Ethernet Access. It is broadband over the copper line from the street cabinet, ordered on its own with no phone service on the line.
Is SoGEA the same as FTTC?
It uses the same route, fibre to the cabinet and copper to the premises, so speeds are similar. The difference is that FTTC needed a separate phone line, while SoGEA has no phone service and needs no line rental order.
Can I make phone calls on a SoGEA line?
Not through the line itself, because it has no phone service. Calls run over the broadband using a digital line or cloud phone system, such as Cloud Voice Express, Digital Voice for Business or BT Cloud Voice.
Is SoGEA better than full fibre?
No. Full fibre (FTTP) is faster and not affected by distance from the cabinet. SoGEA is the right choice where full fibre is not yet available at your address, and you can upgrade later.
Will I lose my phone number when I move to SoGEA?
Not if the move is planned. Your number can normally be transferred to a digital phone service. Keep the old line active until the transfer completes.