Learn about battery backups

Have our traditional home phone over AT&T Fiber or digital phone service? Use a battery backup system to keep your phone working during a power outage.

Overview

A battery backup system keeps your phone working during a power outage. That way, you can still call 911 and maintain home alarms or medical alert services for short periods of time. It’s important to remember:

Each piece of equipment used to provide voice service to your home needs its own battery backup. You may need backups for:

Wi-Fi® gateways
Modems
Optical network terminal (ONT) devices

Many cordless phones require power to make calls. Test yours before an outage to see if it will work without power.

During a power outage, make sure you limit your use to emergency calls only. How long your backup will last depends on your equipment and how long you talk on the phone. Other AT&T services (such as U-verse® TV or AT&T Internet) will quickly drain your stored power.

Equipment details for 24-hour backup

The right battery backup depends on the type of phone service you have. Review the options for your Wi-Fi gateway and ONT (if needed).

We show how you can purchase a 24-hour battery backup, but you have a choice. You can also buy a backup option that lasts for less time. A single PSI Battery Kit can power your Wi-Fi gateway for up to four hours or more.

Remember, if you have an external ONT, it requires a separate backup power source. Not sure what equipment you have? Call us at 800.288.2020 for help.

Important: If you have medical or safety power needs, we suggest you choose a battery that offers up to 24 hours of backup time.

Single family homes

If you live in a single-family home, check your equipment. If you have a:

Wi-Fi gateway only: Review the Wi-Fi gateway tab to get back up details
Wi-Fi gateway and ONT: Review the Wi-Fi gateway tab to get backup details and call us to get the ONT info

Apartments & condos

If you live in an apartment, condo, townhouse, or duplex, there may be different requirements for your battery backup. Here’s how to find what you need:

Review this building and community list

If your complex:

Is on the list, learn more about your building.
Isn’t on the list, check your equipment.

Wi-Fi gateway only: Review the Wi-Fi gateway tab to get back up details
Wi-Fi gateway and ONT: review the Wi-Fi gateway tab to get backup details and call us to get the ONT info
Wi-Fi gateway and modem: Review the Equipment type for your modem to get back up details

Wi-Fi gateways

Details

If you have AT&T Phone provided over copper or fiber, you’ll need backup power for your Wi-Fi® gateway. You may have a BGW320, BGW210, Pace 5268, NVG599, NVG589, or others (model located on the gateway).

BGW320: internal ONT

BGW320s with an internal ONT connect with a fiber bridge inserted into the SFP port at the bottom of your gateway.

Power supply

4-hour gateway backup (low-cost solution): PSI Low-cost Battery backup kit

24-hour gateway backup: PSI 24-Hour Li-75 Battery Kit

Cost for 24-hour backup: Around $450

Setup guide: PSI Battery Backup Guide (PDF, 85KB)

BGW320: external ONT

BGW320s with an external ONT connect with an Ethernet cable in the top, red ONT port. These gateways will require a battery backup for both your gateway and your ONT.

Power supply

4-hour gateway backup (low-cost solution): PSI Low-cost Battery backup kit

24-hour gateway backup: PSI 24-Hour LI-75 Battery Kit

Cost for 24-hour backup: Around $450

Setup guide: PSI Battery Backup Guide (PDF, 85KB)

ONT backup: Contact us at 800.288.2020 to determine the correct backup solution for your External ONT.

Older gateways

The BGW210, Pace 5268, NVG599, NVG589 and other models require backup for the gateway (and an external ONT if you have Fiber service).

Power supply

4-hour gateway backup (low-cost solution): PSI Low-Cost Battery backup kit

24-hour gateway backup: PSI 24-Hour Li-75 Battery Kit

Cost for 24-hour backup: Around $450

Setup guide: PSI Battery Backup Guide (PDF, 85KB)

ONT backup: Contact us at 800.288.2020 to determine the correct backup solution for your external ONT, if you have Fiber.

ONT

If you have AT&T Fiber, AT&T Internet, or AT&T Phone, you may have an Optical Network Terminal (ONT). They are often located on the side of your house, in your garage, or on an inside wall.

To make sure you have the correct battery backup for your ONT, contact us at 800.288.2020. We’ll help identify what equipment you have and let you know what backup you need. Some backups you can install yourself. Others require a tech to install (charges apply).

Important: Installing the wrong battery backup for an ONT could damage it.

Nokia 010 and Nokia 020 – indoor ONT

Power supply

Backup: D-cell battery backup kit (requires 12 D-cell batteries, not included).

Setup guide: D-Cell battery Backup Guide (PDF, 100KB)

Nokia 210/240 ONT – outdoor ONT

Power supply

Backup kit: Select the battery kit identified for your ONT type. You only need one.

D-cell battery backup kit (requires 12 D-cell batteries, not included). Once you get the kit, call the toll-free number we gave you to schedule a tech install (charges apply). D-cell battery backup kit for $79.99
GT12080-HG extended power kit from GS Battery. Be sure to check out the installation instructions inside the kit.

Good to know: Have multiple phones lines? You may have more than one type of phone service to back up. Call us to get more info.

Nokia 250 – outdoor ONT

Power supply

Backup: D-cell battery backup kit (requires 12 D-cell batteries, not included). Once you get the kit, call the toll-free number we gave you to schedule a tech install (charges apply)