Landline switch-off: what the 1 October price rise means

Written by (LinkedIn) • Reviewed by Adrian James (LinkedIn)

Last reviewed: 1 October 2026

Quick summary: Openreach's price for old copper phone lines doubled on 1 October 2026. What it means for your bill, the January deadline and how to move on your terms.

Landline switch-off
Illustration: Landline switch-off: what the 1 October price rise means

Still on an old landline? From 1 October it costs your provider twice as much to keep it

On 1 October 2026 Openreach made its final price rise on old copper phone lines, so the wholesale rental providers pay is now double what it was in November 2025. That is a cost to your provider, not an automatic rise on your bill: we found no major provider announcing a matching increase, although at least one smaller provider, IDNet, now adds £12 a month for customers who stay.

The date that matters most is 31 January 2027, the last day to order a move, after which lines left behind may go onto a limited emergency voice service or lose service altogether. About 1.2 million lines still need to move.

The switch itself should not involve any fees, you keep your number, and full fibre now reaches 82% of UK homes. Check what reaches your address, tell your provider about any alarm or health device, and move on your own terms before the deadline.

What it means for youVerified 1 October 2026

If you have a landline and broadband from the same provider: you will most likely move with a phone plugged into your router instead of the wall. Reply to your provider's letters, and use the moment to check what full fibre reaches your address.

If you have a phone-only landline, or someone relies on telecare: tell your provider now, ask for a free battery backup, and work through our household plan for the switch-off.

If someone calls asking for payment to keep your line: hang up. The switchover should not involve any fees, and our Last Dial Tone report explains what real providers do and don't do.

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Key facts, verified 1 October 2026

  • Openreach raised the wholesale rental of its basic WLR phone line from £10.65 a month by 20% on 1 April, 40% on 1 July and a further 40% on 1 October 2026, taking it to double the original price (Openreach, 31 July 2026).
  • Every traditional phone line must move to a digital service by 31 January 2027 (Openreach, checked 1 October 2026).
  • After the deadline, lines still on the old network may be moved to a temporary emergency voice-only service called EVAc, or may lose service altogether (Openreach, checked 1 October 2026).
  • About 1.2 million lines, including about 350,000 business lines, were still to move in late September 2026 (Openreach, as reported by ISPreview).
  • Openreach extended its free or discounted migration offers, which were due to end on 31 October 2026, to 31 January 2027 (Openreach briefing, as reported by ISPreview on 29 September 2026).
  • More than 70,000 telecare users had been upgraded through Openreach's Prove Telecare service by 24 September 2026 (Openreach, as reported by ISPreview).
  • Providers must offer at least one way to reach the emergency services for at least an hour in a power cut, free to customers at risk because they depend on their landline (Ofcom guidance).
  • Full fibre reached 24.9 million UK homes (82%) in January 2026, and Ofcom says around half of households with access have yet to sign up (Ofcom, 2026).
  • Broadband customers in contract pay £7 to £9 a month less than those out of contract, and 28% of customers are out of contract (Ofcom, 26 February 2026).
  • Ofcom fined Virgin Media £23.8 million in 2025 for putting vulnerable telecare customers at risk during its move to digital landlines (Ofcom).

Who this is for: Anyone who still plugs a phone into the wall socket, and the families who look after them. If a parent relies on a landline or a telecare alarm, or a letter about a digital landline is sitting unopened on the side, this is the five-minute version of what to do.

What changed on 1 October 2026?

Direct answer: Openreach's third and final price rise on old copper phone lines took effect, so the wholesale rental providers pay for a basic line is now double its November 2025 price. It is a cost to providers, designed to move the last lines onto digital services before 31 January 2027.

Openreach is the network that most UK phone and broadband providers rent their lines from. In November 2025 it announced three rises on its old Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) products for 2026, each worked out on the November 2025 price: 20% on 1 April, 40% on 1 July and a further 40% on 1 October. For the basic WLR line, which cost providers £10.65 a month, that comes to about £21.30 a month from 1 October by our arithmetic.

The point of the rises is to nudge providers into moving customers, and Openreach has paired them with carrots. It offers free or discounted connections for moves to full fibre or a digital line over existing copper, and on 29 September 2026 it extended those offers, which were due to end on 31 October, to the deadline of 31 January 2027, according to ISPreview's report of an Openreach industry briefing.

Will my landline bill go up?

Direct answer: Not automatically. The doubling is a wholesale price paid by providers. We found no major provider announcing a matching rise for customers on old lines, but smaller providers can pass the cost on, and one already has.

On 30 September 2026 we checked the public pages of BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Post Office, Utility Warehouse, Vodafone and Plusnet and found no announced price rise tied to old copper lines. That is an absence of evidence rather than a promise, so read any letter from your provider carefully and check your next bill.

At least one smaller provider has passed the cost straight on. IDNet's own website lists a monthly surcharge on its old WLR phone services that has risen in three steps to £12 including VAT from 1 October, and IDNet sets an earlier end date of December 2026 for its own customers.

One provider's surcharge on old copper phone lines: IDNet, as published on its own website
FromMonthly surcharge excluding VATIncluding VATNotes
1 April 2026£2.50£3Also £2.50 excluding VAT a month on ADSL, FTTC and G.fast broadband
1 July 2026£5£6Phone line surcharge doubles
1 October 2026£10£12Phone line surcharge doubles again
A note on the headlines: some reports this week have said the cost of a landline doubles today. The price that doubles is the wholesale rental Openreach charges providers. What you pay depends on your provider.

How many lines still need to move, and where?

Direct answer: About 1.2 million in late September 2026, including around 350,000 business lines, down from around 3 million in November 2025. Around 15 million lines have already been upgraded.

The pace has picked up sharply this year. Openreach's mid-September figures for ten big cities show where the work is left: London has the most lines still to move, while Liverpool is furthest ahead, having moved more than 93% of the lines it had in 2020 (our arithmetic from Openreach's figures).

Ten big cities: old phone lines still to move, 17 September 2026 (best first)
CityLines leftLines in 2020Share still to move
Liverpool42,351667,215
6.35%
Manchester55,961761,491
7.35%
Sheffield51,870687,208
7.55%
Cardiff37,959454,527
8.35%
Leeds62,411723,694
8.62%
Edinburgh39,132443,783
8.82%
Bristol43,775486,612
8.99%
Birmingham37,825416,780
9.08%
Glasgow30,653289,111
10.60%
London235,9341,826,151
12.92%

Source: Openreach figures for 17 September 2026, as reported by ISPreview. Together these ten cities had 637,871 lines left (our sum). Bar colours: teal under 8%, amber under 10%, pink 10% or more.

What happens on 31 January 2027?

Direct answer: It is the last date to order a move. From 1 February 2027, lines left on the old network can be moved onto EVAc, a temporary emergency voice-only service, and Openreach warns that some customers may lose service altogether.

EVAc is a safety net, not an option. Openreach says it keeps basic calls working for a limited time and may not support caller display, call forwarding or voicemail. Anyone still on the old network after the deadline "may lose your service altogether", in Openreach's words, which is why it urges people to speak to their provider now.

It is also expensive for providers. ISPreview reports that EVAc will cost them £35 a month excluding VAT for a basic line from February 2027, about 64% more than even the doubled WLR price (our arithmetic). Providers have every reason to move you before then.

What is Vodafone doing from October?

Direct answer: Vodafone's wholesale arm, which supplies some smaller providers, plans to start withdrawing old copper services from October 2026. It affects customers of those providers, not necessarily Vodafone's own retail customers.

Vodafone told ISPreview in September that October 2026 marks the start of formal withdrawal and cease notices for customers left on its legacy wholesale services, subject to contract terms and customer protections, and that vulnerable customers remain a priority. ISPreview reported that orders placed after 30 September may not complete before the old service stops. If you have had a letter from a smaller provider about your line, act on it this week.

What changes when your line goes digital?

Direct answer: Your phone plugs into your router or an adapter instead of the wall socket, you keep your number, and most handsets still work. Anything else that uses the line, such as an alarm, needs checking first.

If full fibre reaches your home, the new line can be full fibre. If not, your provider can run a digital service over the existing copper to the street cabinet. If you only have a phone line, Openreach says your provider should help you find the most suitable digital option, which may be a voice-only service rather than a big broadband package. Our guide to broadband without a landline explains the choices.

Before you move: what to check
What you haveWhat to do
Telecare alarm or pendantTell your landline provider and your telecare provider before the move. Ask for the alarm to be tested on the new line
Burglar or fire alarm that uses the phone lineAsk the alarm company whether it works on a digital line, or needs an upgrade
Your phone handsetMost handsets keep working. Your provider will tell you if yours won't
Fax machine or anything else that dials outCheck with the maker or supplier. Some older kit won't work
Your phone numberYou keep it

What protections are there for telecare users and power cuts?

Direct answer: Providers in the Government's charter agreed not to move telecare users until their device is confirmed to work, and Ofcom requires at least an hour of emergency calling in a power cut, free to customers at risk because they depend on the landline.

The protections that apply if you or a relative are vulnerable
ProtectionWhat it means for youSource
Telecare comes firstProviders in the Government's December 2023 charter agreed not to move telecare users until their device is confirmed to work on a digital lineHouse of Commons Library, quoting the charter
Power cutsAt least one way to reach the emergency services for at least an hour, free to customers at risk because they depend on the landlineOfcom guidance
Battery backupBT's Battery Back Up keeps its hub and Digital Voice working for at least an hourBT Help
Time to respondThe March 2026 Fixed Telecoms Modernisation Charter gives customers who haven't replied at least 30 days before service stopsUK Parliament statement, 24 March 2026
Tested on the dayOpenreach's Prove Telecare sends a trained engineer to test the alarm on the new lineOpenreach
EnforcementOfcom fined Virgin Media £23.8 million in 2025 for putting vulnerable telecare customers at riskOfcom

A digital landline won't work in a power cut without backup, because the router needs mains power, and GOV.UK points to a mobile phone as the usual fallback. The protections only work if your provider knows you need them, so tell them about any telecare alarm, health device or reliance on the landline. More than 70,000 telecare users have already been moved safely with Openreach's Prove Telecare engineers, as reported by ISPreview.

Is a call about the switchover a scam?

Direct answer: If the caller asks for money or bank details to keep your line working, treat it as a scam. The switchover itself shouldn't involve any fees, so hang up and call your provider on the number on your bill.

Which? has reported fraudsters posing as BT, sometimes already knowing people's names and addresses. Its advice is clear: "the digital switchover does not involve any fees". Councils running careline and lifeline services have issued the same warning, and add that engineers should come by appointment, not unannounced.

Why moving off an old line can be good news for your bill

Direct answer: Most households can move to better broadband for the same money or less. Full fibre reaches 82% of UK homes, broadband prices fell 6% on average in real terms, and customers in contract pay £7 to £9 a month less than those out of contract.

If you've been with your provider for years you may well be out of contract, and Ofcom's figures show out-of-contract customers pay more. Moving off copper is a natural moment to check your deal, use the speed calculator so you don't pay for speed you won't use, and ask about a social tariff if you're on Universal Credit or certain other benefits.

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What should I do now?

Direct answer: Find your provider's letter, tell them about any alarm or health device, compare what reaches your address, and order your move before 31 January 2027.

From an old line to a digital one, in four steps

1

Check

Look for a letter from your provider about "digital voice" or "digital landline". If your phone plugs into the wall socket, you are probably on the old network.

2

Tell

Tell your provider about any telecare alarm, health device or extra needs, and ask for a free battery backup if you depend on the landline.

3

Compare

See what full fibre or modern broadband reaches your address. Ask whether moving is free, whether you need a new contract, and confirm you keep your number. Our guide to avoiding exit fees helps if you want to leave your provider.

4

Move

Order before 31 January 2027, then test your phone and any alarm on the day the line changes.

Compare broadband at your address Read the household switch-off plan

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In summary

  • From 1 October 2026 Openreach charges providers double the November 2025 price for an old copper phone line.
  • That is a wholesale cost: no major provider has announced a matching rise, but smaller providers can pass it on, and IDNet already has.
  • The last date to order a move is 31 January 2027, and lines left behind face a limited emergency service or losing service.
  • About 1.2 million lines still need to move, while around 15 million already have.
  • Telecare users are protected by charters, Ofcom rules and engineer testing, but only if their provider knows about the device.
  • Moving is a good moment to check your deal: full fibre reaches 82% of UK homes and in-contract customers pay less.

Adrian's closing thought

I've no problem with Openreach using price to get the last lines moving. The old network is worn out and the deadline has already slipped once. What I'd ask of every provider is the unglamorous part done properly: a letter people can understand, a phone call that isn't a sales pitch, and a battery in the box for anyone who needs one. And if you're helping a parent through this, treat it as a chance rather than a chore, because for most homes the new line is better than the old one, and the bill doesn't have to go up.

Keep going: the guides behind this article

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James, A. (2026, October 1). Still on an old landline? From 1 October it costs your provider twice as much to keep it. BroadbandSwitch.uk. https://broadbandswitch.uk/insights/old-landline-price-rise-1-october-2026-what-to-do/

In a sentence: On 1 October 2026 Openreach's final price rise took the wholesale rental of an old copper WLR phone line to double its November 2025 price of £10.65 a month, a cost to providers rather than an automatic rise in customer bills, with about 1.2 million lines still to move before the 31 January 2027 deadline for ordering a digital replacement.

Frequently asked questions

Is my landline being switched off?

The old analogue network is closing, but your landline service carries on over a digital line. Your phone will usually plug into your router instead of the wall socket, and you keep your number.

When is the landline switch-off deadline?

Every traditional phone line must move to a digital service by 31 January 2027, which is also the last date for providers to order a move from Openreach.

Did landline prices double on 1 October 2026?

The wholesale price did. Openreach now charges providers double its November 2025 price of £10.65 a month for a basic old copper line. That is a cost to providers, not an automatic rise in customer bills.

Will my landline bill go up?

Not automatically. We found no major provider announcing a matching rise for customers on old lines, but smaller providers can pass the cost on: IDNet adds £12 a month including VAT from 1 October 2026. Check any letter from your provider and your next bill.

What happens if I don't switch by 31 January 2027?

Openreach says lines still on the old network may be moved onto EVAc, a temporary emergency voice-only service, or may lose service altogether. Moving before the deadline avoids that.

What is EVAc?

EVAc is Openreach's temporary emergency voice-only service for lines that haven't moved by the deadline. It keeps basic calls working for a limited time and may not support caller display, call forwarding or voicemail.

Will I keep my phone number when my landline goes digital?

Yes. Openreach says you can keep your existing number, and most existing handsets will work on a digital line.

Do I need broadband to keep a landline?

A digital landline needs a data connection. If you only have a phone line, your provider should help you find the most suitable digital option, which may be a voice-only digital service rather than a full broadband package.

Will my phone work in a power cut?

Not without a backup, because the router needs mains power. Providers must offer at least one way to reach the emergency services for at least an hour in a power cut, free to customers at risk because they depend on their landline.

What if I have a telecare alarm?

Tell both your landline provider and your telecare provider before the move. Providers in the Government's charter agreed not to move telecare users until their device is confirmed to work, and Openreach's Prove Telecare service tests the alarm on the new line.

Do I have to pay to switch to a digital landline?

The switchover itself should not involve any fees. Package prices vary by provider, so check whether a new contract is involved before you agree to anything.

Is a phone call about the digital switchover a scam?

If the caller asks for money or bank details to keep your line working, treat it as a scam. Hang up and call your provider on the number printed on your bill.

References

  • Bromsgrove District Council. (n.d.). The digital switchover. Retrieved 1 October 2026, from https://www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/business/the-digital-switchover/
  • BT. (n.d.). Set up a Battery Back Up. BT Help. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.bt.com/help/landline/set-up-battery-back-up
  • Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. (n.d.). UK transition from analogue to digital landlines. GOV.UK. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-transition-from-analogue-to-digital-landlines
  • Dorset Council. (n.d.). Careline owners urged to watch out for scammers. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/?p=83983
  • Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. (n.d.). The digital switch over and how it will affect our lifelines. Retrieved 1 October 2026, from https://hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/info/200239/safeguarding_and_domestic_abuse/1167/home_safety_and_personal_security_system/4
  • House of Commons Library. (2026). The switch to digital landlines (CBP-9471). Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9471/
  • IDNet. (n.d.). WLR switch off. Retrieved 1 October 2026, from https://www.idnet.com/wlr-switchoff.php
  • Jackson, M. (2026a, September 17). Openreach list UK cities with most analogue phone lines yet to make digital switch. ISPreview. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/09/openreach-list-uk-cities-with-most-analogue-phone-lines-yet-to-make-digital-switch.html
  • Jackson, M. (2026b, September 24). Openreach confirm post-January 2027 measures for UK analogue phone switch-off. ISPreview. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/09/openreach-confirm-post-january-2027-measures-for-uk-analogue-phone-switch-off.html
  • Jackson, M. (2026c, September 29). Openreach extend discounts to help migrate legacy UK phone and broadband lines. ISPreview. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/09/openreach-extend-discounts-to-help-migrate-legacy-uk-phone-and-broadband-lines.html
  • Jackson, M. (2026d, September). Vodafone UK partners under pressure from Oct 2026 withdrawal of legacy copper services. ISPreview. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/09/vodafone-uk-partners-under-pressure-from-oct-2026-withdrawal-of-legacy-copper-services.html
  • Ofcom. (2023). Guidance: Protecting access to emergency organisations when there is a power cut at the customer's premises. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/telecoms-infrastructure/access-emergency-organisations-power-cut
  • Ofcom. (2025). Ofcom fines Virgin Media £23.8 million for putting vulnerable customers at risk of harm. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/vulnerable-customers/ofcom-fines-virgin-media-23.8-million-for-putting-vulnerable-customers-at-risk-of-harm
  • Ofcom. (2026a). Connected Nations: Planned network deployments 2026. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/connected-nations-planned-network-deployment/connected-nations-planned-network-deployments-2026
  • Ofcom. (2026b, February 26). New Ofcom research reveals how to cut phone and internet bills. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/bills-and-charges/new-ofcom-research-reveals-how-to-cut-phone-and-internet-bills
  • Ofcom. (2026c). Pricing and consumer engagement: Trends in the UK communications sector. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/multi-sector/pricing/2025/pricing-and-consumer-engagement-report.pdf
  • Ofcom. (2026d, July 28). Ofcom proposes to block new Openreach commercial offer to protect fair competition and keep long-term prices low. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/telecoms-infrastructure/ofcom-proposes-to-block-new-openreach-commercial-offer-to-protect-fair-competition-and-keep-long-term-prices-low
  • Openreach. (2025a, November 12). Openreach announces price changes to encourage digital adoption of newer, more reliable and better value technology. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.openreach.com/news/openreach-announces-price-changes-to-encourage-digital-adoption-of-newer-more-reliable-and-better-value-technology/
  • Openreach. (2025b). Openreach clears major hurdle to PSTN switch-off. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.openreach.com/news/openreach-clears-major-hurdle-to-pstn-switch-off/
  • Openreach. (2026a, February 5). Time for a "big switch-up" as PSTN switch-off looms. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.openreach.com/news/time-for-a-big-switch-up-as-pstn-switch-off-looms/
  • Openreach. (2026b, July 31). Openreach warns businesses: just six months left before the UK's old phone network is switched off. Retrieved 1 October 2026, from https://www.openreach.com/news/openreach-warns-businesses-just-six-months-left-before-the-uks-old-phone-network-is-switched-off/
  • Openreach. (n.d.). Upgrading your home phone line to digital. Retrieved 1 October 2026, from https://www.openreach.com/big-switch-off/digital-phonelines-for-homes
  • UK Parliament. (2026, March 24). Mobile and Fixed Telecoms Modernisation Charters and Protocols (HLWS1442). Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-03-24/hlws1442
  • Which?. (n.d.). Scam BT calls demanding payment for digital landline switchover. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/scam-bt-calls-demanding-payment-for-digital-landline-switchover-a5bXA2n7pMqD

Written by Adrian James, Broadband Editor at BroadbandSwitch.uk (LinkedIn). Reviewed by Dr Alex J. Martin-Smith, Founder (LinkedIn). Published 1 October 2026. BroadbandSwitch.uk is an independent comparison site. We earn nothing from social tariffs, and nothing in this article depends on which provider you choose. Corrections are logged publicly.

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