Changes to UK Telephone Landlines – Are You Prepared?
Traditional analogue telephony services provided over the copper network are changing. Aging and difficult to maintain telecoms infrastructure is being retired. By December 2027, all landline users in the UK will move onto fully digital services. This timetable has been pushed back 2 years from 2025 in support of a better transition for all, including more vulnerable people. The Switch over involves migrating your traditional landline to a digital voice service known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) which should provide better quality services. However, this may impact how telecare devices work, such as alarm pendants, as well as other equipment and services which rely on a landline. VoIP services will not operate in the event of a powercut without access to battery backup. If you rely on your landline, ensure you are prepared. If vulnerable, notify your telephone service provider when they contact you about being moved over and request a battery backup.
The upgrade of the UK’s telephone lines is not a government programme and does not result from a government decision or policy – it is led by the telecoms industry. You should direct specific questions to the provider of your telephone services about how the upgrade programme might affect you.
You will not lose your landline and do not need to have a broadband service in order to take up a VoIP service.
This switch to digital is happening across the world.
What are the affected devices or systems?
This migration will affect landline voice services. Your landline phone equipment will need to be IP compatible. It will also affect other devices that rely on a traditional phone line. For example:
- Emergency alarms in lifts,
- Telecare services and personal home care devices such as emergency pendants,
- Some EPOS machines,
- Door entry systems
- Some CCTV, fire or burglar alarm systems
What do I need to do?
Review devices and systems you use at home or for business. See if the equipment has an option to switch to IP when the change happens or if these will need to be replaced or reconfigured to continue working. You can discuss this with your telephone service provider when they contact you about the switch.
What are the timescales?
A phased migration by 2027 is underway across the country.
You may find that some telephone service Providers only offer VOIP telephone services. Your landline provider will contact you about the migration process.
What are the benefits of VoIP?
VoIP (a voice service over the internet) offers consumers clearer and better quality phone calls as well as new features such as anonymous caller rejection or three-way calling. To function correctly, VoIP requires a stable internet connection speed of around 1Mbps.
Digital landline only services should still be available for those not wanting to take up broadband services. If you don’t have a broadband connection, your provider will supply one specifically to support the VoIP service, but you shouldn’t pay extra for your VoIP service if you don’t take up a broadband service.
The process of upgrading for most users will involve unplugging their existing landline phone from the wall and instead plugging it into the back of a broadband router.
I depend on my landline - is VoIP reliable?
VoIP services can be provided over copper landlines. If fibre is not available at your home, you can still access voice calls after the switch over.
VoIP services rely on mains power and will not work in a power cut. Ofcom has issued guidance on how telecoms companies can fulfil their regulatory obligation for access to emergency services in such circumstances.
When moving to VoIP services, if you are reliant on your landline, you should discuss your situation and needs for a back-up solution with your service provider before you are moved over. It is important to make your provider aware of any special needs.
Ensure that the equipment you have has a decent battery back-up in the event of a power cut. If you are a vulnerable person and you rely on your landline for medical or other reasons, your service provider should provide you with a battery backup unit for your router with a minimum of one hour of power, in accordance with OFCOM guidance. If you wish to add more power, these can be purchased independantly from some service providers and other independent suppliers.
View Ofcom’s full guidance for further information:
Government and Telecoms Charter
The closure of the traditional copper telephone landline network (the “Public Switched Telephone Network” (PSTN)) is a critical programme for the telecoms industry and its customers. For the vast majority of consumers, this change will cause little if any disruption. However, for some, particularly those more vulnerable and with additional needs, sufficient support needs to be in place to support the switch to digital services and managing the implications of this where people may be reliant on their landline.
Government and some communication providers have agreed a voluntary Charter which sets out further steps which industry will take to protect vulnerable consumers through the transition. The Charter is available to view here
Digital switchover partner toolkit | Local Government Association
Find Out More About the Change to Landlines
There is a lot of available information about the telephone network switch over to digital.
Find out more via the links below:
- Ofcom – Upgrading landlines to digital technology – what you need to know
- UK transition from analogue to digital landlines – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Which – Digital Voice and the landline phone switch-off: what it means for you
Information from Openreach for homes and businesses is available below:
The digital phone switchover. What you need to know?
What is the digital phone switchover?
The UK’s telephone network is changing. Between now and 2025 most telephone providers will be moving their customers from old analogue landlines over to new upgraded landline services using digital technology.This means services that rely on the old landline system such as home phones and healthcare devices will be switched over.
How will it affect me/what do I need to do?
The good news is – your landline isn’t going anywhere and for most consumers and businesses, this change will be straightforward. In fact, many customers are already making the switch when they upgrade to full fibre broadband.Your telecoms provider such as Virgin Media O2 or BT should contact you before the switchover to check in and discuss what you need to do to make sure your service isn’t affected. However, we’re encouraging everyone to know what to expect.If you have an internet connection, the change may be as simple as plugging your phone into your broadband
Do you or someone you know depend on their landline and/or use a telecare device connected to a phone line such as a fall monitor, lifeline or personal alarm?
If yes, then please notify the communications provider now (the provider of this service) so that they can advise on how the switch might affect the service of the devices or home phone.
If you have other devices connected to your phone line, such as alarm systems, your alarm service provider might need to upgrade your device to make sure it is compatible. If you are unsure about how a device in your home or business might be affected, it is recommended you contact the equipment supplier or device manufacturer to find out whether it will still work on a digital phone line.
In an emergency
Digital landlines cannot carry a power connection, so in the event of a power cut they will not work. If you have a mobile phone this can still be used, but if you’ve no other means of calling the emergency services your telecoms provider will offer a solution to allow calls to be made to emergency services.
You should tell your telecoms provider now if you have no other way of making emergency calls.