The collapse of a family of telecommunication companies, which left tens of thousands without phone lines, has led to a call for a provider people can turn to when telcos fail.

It comes as more than 50,000 people who had their phone lines terminated – many of them pensioners – have been reassured they will be able to retrieve their old numbers.

Telstra says phone numbers of thousands of senior citizens can be recovered. Credit:Virginia Star

The phone lines were disconnected after Conec2 and its subsidiaries, including the ONEseniors, OneTelecom and iboss brands, went into administration on May 2. Administrators Ferrier Hodgson sold their 50,000-strong customer base to Vocus Communications days later.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has pushed for changes to the Telecommunications Act to create a default provider, calling it "completely unacceptable and outrageous" that people were inconvenienced when companies collapse.