The big switch-off: what the move from copper to digital phone lines means for you
By Adrian James, Sales Director. LinkedIn
Quick answer: The UK's old analogue phone network is being retired and phone calls are moving onto the internet, a service often called Digital Voice. For most homes the change is simple and reassuring: you keep your phone, you can usually keep your number, and calls run through your broadband router instead of the wall socket. The two things worth checking are how your phone works in a power cut, and whether any alarms or telecare devices need upgrading.
Key facts at a glance
- The switch-off completes on 31 January 2027, when the old Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is fully retired (House of Commons Library, 2026).
- The original target was 31 December 2025. It was pushed back to give more time to protect people who rely on landlines and telecare alarms (House of Commons Library, 2026).
- The number of homes still on the old network fell from about 5.2 million in July 2024 to about 3.2 million in July 2025, so most households have already moved or will be moved soon (House of Commons Library, 2026).
- A digital phone line will not work in a power cut on its own, because it depends on your router and the mains (Ofcom, 2023).
- Providers must give at least one hour of access to emergency services during a power cut, free of charge for vulnerable customers (Ofcom, 2023).
- Under industry commitments, telecare users should not be moved across until a compatible, working device is confirmed (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, 2025).
The short version
- The old copper phone line is being switched off, but this does not mean losing your home phone.
- In most cases your phone moves to Digital Voice and plugs into your broadband router or an adapter.
- Older alarms, telecare units, fax machines and card terminals may need checking or upgrading.
- If you are out of contract, this is a good moment to compare broadband deals by postcode.
What is the big switch-off?
The big switch-off is the retirement of the UK's old analogue phone network. For decades many homes made calls over a copper line plugged into the master socket on the wall. That network is being withdrawn, and phone services are moving onto broadband instead. You may hear this called Digital Voice, internet calling, VoIP, or simply a digital landline.
This sits alongside the wider move from older copper broadband towards full fibre, also known as FTTP. The two are linked but not the same. You can move to a digital phone service without getting full fibre straight away, and some homes will keep using broadband over older lines for a while.
If you want to review your options, a sensible starting point is the switching hub or a direct postcode comparison.
When is it happening?
All remaining PSTN services end by 31 January 2027 (House of Commons Library, 2026). The change is being delivered in stages, exchange by exchange, so many people will be moved well before that date.
Disruption actually begins earlier through a "stop-sell", which gradually prevents new copper-based orders and nudges customers onto fibre and digital services. In most cases your provider will contact you in advance to arrange the move, so there is no need to rush in a panic. That said, leaving it to the final months can reduce your choices, so a little planning pays off.
Why is the old network being retired?
The copper network is ageing, harder to maintain and no longer fits how most of us use connectivity today.
Spare parts for the old exchanges are getting scarce, the engineers who maintain them are retiring, and traditional call volumes have fallen as people use mobiles and internet calling instead (House of Commons Library, 2026). At the same time, providers are investing heavily in newer digital and full-fibre networks that are more reliable and easier to support.
For households, the engineering detail matters less than the practical point: anything that depends on the old line needs checking. That is most important if you still use a home phone regularly, have a monitored alarm, or run a small business from home.
What happens to your home phone?
In most cases your home phone keeps working, it just connects differently.
Instead of plugging into the wall socket, your handset usually plugs into the broadband router or an adapter supplied by your provider. You can normally keep your existing number, subject to your provider's transfer process. If you are already with BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone, EE or Plusnet, your provider may contact you about moving your voice service across.
The good news is that, once set up, the change is almost invisible for everyday calls.
Power cuts: the one thing worth planning for
This is the most important difference, and it is easy to plan for once you know about it.
A traditional analogue line could often keep working in a power cut. A digital phone line usually cannot, because it relies on your router and mains power (Ofcom, 2023). To protect people, Ofcom requires providers to offer at least one hour of access to emergency services during a power cut, supplied free of charge to customers identified as vulnerable (Ofcom, 2023). Under additional industry commitments, telecare users should not be migrated until a compatible solution is confirmed, and providers are working towards backup that lasts beyond the one-hour minimum (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, 2025).
If anyone in your home relies on a landline for emergencies, contact your provider before any switch date and ask how power-cut resilience is handled. Registering as a vulnerable customer unlocks extra support.
Alarms, telecare and other devices
This is the part many households miss, and it is worth checking early. Some older equipment was designed around the analogue line and may not work properly on a digital service. That does not mean every device fails, but you should not assume it is compatible.
| Device or service | What to check | Likely action |
|---|---|---|
| Home phone handset | Does it only plug into a wall socket? | May need to connect via the router or an adapter |
| Burglar alarm | Does it dial out over an analogue line? | Ask the alarm provider for a compatibility check |
| Telecare or pendant alarm | Is it approved for a digital phone service? | Arrange an upgrade if required |
| Fax machine | Does the business still rely on it? | Consider a digital alternative |
| Card terminal | Does it use the phone socket? | Check with the terminal supplier |
For older relatives this matters most. If a telecare unit or emergency alarm is in use, confirm it is digital-ready with the equipment supplier, care provider or housing association before any switch date, not after.
Small firms and sole traders should take the same approach. If your business uses older line-based kit, the business broadband hub is a good place to plan a more suitable setup.
What does this mean for your broadband?
Broadband becomes more central, because your calls now travel over it.
For most homes the move is smooth. But if your current connection is slow, patchy or expensive, the switch-off can expose those weak spots, since calls, working from home and everyday browsing all lean on the same line. A quick health check can tell you where you stand. You can test your current speed, run a quick line performance check, and use RightSpeed to estimate the speed your household actually needs so you do not overpay.
This is one reason many people review full-fibre availability now. Full fibre is not everywhere yet, and it is not always the cheapest option, but where it is live it can be a clean, long-term replacement for older line-dependent services. You can explore full fibre deals or compare the wider market through the providers guide. Availability is always address-specific, so a postcode check is the only reliable answer.
Do you need to switch provider?
Not necessarily, but it is often a good time to review the whole package.
Many households will simply be migrated by their current provider. Others may be near renewal, moving home, or unhappy with price or service. In those cases the switch-off is a useful prompt to compare total cost, setup fees, in-contract price rises and installation times, rather than accepting the default.
Switching is also far simpler than it used to be. Since September 2024, the One Touch Switch process means you only contact your new provider, who arranges the move and cancels your old service for you. You can read more in the One Touch Switch guide. Phone-number transfers and specialist devices still need care, so confirm how your number and any connected equipment will be handled before cancelling anything.
If budget is the priority, it can help to compare lower-cost options such as deals under £25 or deals under £30. For eligible households, social tariffs are well worth checking too.
Your five-minute action checklist
- Ask three questions. Do you still use your home phone number? Does anyone rely on telecare, a medical alert or a monitored alarm? Is your broadband contract due for renewal?
- Protect the vulnerable first. If someone depends on a landline in an emergency, call your provider about power-cut backup and register as a vulnerable customer.
- Check connected devices. Confirm alarms, telecare and card terminals are digital-ready with the device supplier.
- Test your connection. Use UKSpeedTest and HowFast, then RightSpeed to see what speed you really need.
- Compare if it makes sense. If you are out of contract or want better reliability, compare deals by postcode.
Frequently asked questions
Will my landline stop working completely?
Not usually. In most cases it moves to a digital service and your handset connects to the router instead of the wall socket.
When is the switch-off?
The old network is fully retired on 31 January 2027, though many people are moved earlier in stages (House of Commons Library, 2026).
Do I need full fibre to use Digital Voice?
No. Digital Voice works over different broadband types. Full fibre may be a better long-term option where it is available, but it is not required.
What happens in a power cut?
A digital phone line usually stops working in a power cut unless there is backup power. Providers must offer at least one hour of access to emergency services, free for vulnerable customers (Ofcom, 2023).
Will my alarm or pendant alarm still work?
Possibly, but older systems may not. Check with the alarm or telecare provider before any migration date.
Can I keep my phone number?
Often yes, but it depends on the provider's transfer process. Confirm this before placing an order or cancelling an existing service.
Does this mean I should switch broadband now?
Not automatically. But if you are out of contract, moving home, or want better reliability, it is a sensible time to compare your options.
If the switch-off has prompted you to review your setup, now is a good time to compare broadband deals by postcode. The right choice depends on your address, your contract status, and whether your home still relies on devices built for the old phone network.
References
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. (2025). Telecare national action plan. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/telecare-national-action-plan
GOV.UK. (2023). UK transition from analogue to digital landlines. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-transition-from-analogue-to-digital-landlines
House of Commons Library. (2026). The switch to digital landlines (Research Briefing No. CBP-9471). UK Parliament. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9471/
Ofcom. (2023). Protecting customers during the migration to digital landlines. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/landline-phones/protecting-customers-during-the-migration-to-digital-landlines
Last reviewed: May 2026.