Another 137 areas of the UK are set to lose their traditional analogue landline connections as Openreach continues its digital phone switchover. By January 2027, the entire UK will no longer have a traditional landline connection, instead being forced to use internet-based home phone services delivered with broadband connections.
Campaigners have argued that the changes will affect the elderly and vulnerable customers as landline phones won’t work during internet outages. This week, Openreach has listed another 137 areas where landlines are going to be switched over to digital over the next 12 months as part of its Stop Sell programme. It means phone calls in these areas will soon be carried over a broadband connection instead of through copper wires.
The analogue network is being replaced as it is slower and becoming difficult to maintain, but with a digital landline calls should be faster, better quality and offer some additional features, like protection from scams.
Once households are moved to the new digital system, known as ‘Digital Voice’, landline phones will predominantly still work as normal but if there is a power cut, households will need a backup option like a mobile phone or battery unit for emergency calls as it won’t work in this case.
The full switchover from analogue to digital is due to be completed in the UK by January 2027, although timescales may differ depending on who your service provider is.
Customers will be contacted by their telephone provider ahead of the change to let them know when the switch to a digital landline will be made.
Anyone in these 137 who wants to upgrade or switch to a new phone and broadband package will also have to move to the new digital system.
James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Manager, said: “The stop sell programme is a critical part of ensuring that the UK’s communication infrastructure is ready to meet the demands of the future.
“Taking advantage of the progress of our Full Fibre build and encouraging people to upgrade where a majority can access our new network is the right thing to do as it makes no sense, both operationally and commercially, to keep the old copper network and our new fibre network running side-by-side.
“As copper’s ability to support modern communications declines, the immediate focus is getting people onto newer, future-proofed technologies.”