The short version
General information, not advice
- The old copper landline network is being retired
- All landlines will move to digital VoIP
- Phones will connect via your broadband router
- Power cuts may disrupt service without backup
- Vulnerable users must be offered additional support
See it step by step
From the copper phone line to digital voice
Step 1 of 8
The old copper line
Until now, most landlines have run on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). A copper line runs from the telephone exchange to a socket in your wall, and the phone plugs into that socket.
The network was designed decades ago.
The copper line carried its own power. That detail matters later.
Wording from the Switch4Good guide, VoIP and the landline switch-off, checked 4 October 2026. The drawing shows no switch-off date: the timetable is being confirmed against a primary source.
The UK's old copper phone network (PSTN) is being switched off, and every landline is moving to digital technology that runs over a broadband connection.
This guide covers why it's happening, what Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) means, how it affects households, and what vulnerable customers in particular need to know.
This is general information about UK telecom changes. It is not personal advice.
Why the landline network is being switched off
The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) was designed decades ago and runs on copper that is now expensive and awkward to maintain. Providers are moving everyone to digital networks for several reasons: the copper is outdated and costly, fibre broadband carries faster and more reliable services, digital lets voice and internet run together, and manufacturers have stopped making PSTN equipment. BT Group will retire the PSTN network by 31 January 2027, and Openreach confirmed on 24 September 2026 that this date has not changed. Some providers will move you sooner. The copper network is being withdrawn for everyone; there is no way to keep the old service running.
What VoIP is
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) lets you make calls over broadband instead of a copper line. Rather than plugging the phone into a wall socket, you plug it into your broadband router, a digital adapter, or a dedicated VoIP handset. Your voice is turned into digital data and sent over the internet. When the broadband is stable, call quality is usually as good as the old landline or better.
How it affects households
For most homes the change is straightforward but real: you need broadband to have a landline, the phone connects to your router, and if the broadband drops the phone stops working. The bigger shift is power. The old copper lines carried their own power and kept working through an outage; a digital service won't, which is the change most people feel.
Power cuts and emergency calls
Because VoIP runs on electricity, both your router and any fibre equipment need power. In a cut, the phone service can fail and you may not be able to dial 999. Providers have to identify vulnerable customers and offer something to cover this, such as a battery backup unit, priority support, or an alternative way to reach emergency services. If you depend on a landline for medical reasons, tell your provider straight away.
Alarms and telecare
Some devices still lean on the old analogue lines: burglar alarms, lift emergency lines, telecare pendants and careline systems. Not all of them work with digital voice. Before you migrate, check that your alarm provider's kit is compatible, that any telecare device is supported, and how long its backup battery lasts. Skipping that check can leave a safety system silently out of action.
Your rights during the move
Providers have to give advance notice, explain the changes clearly, offer suitable alternatives for vulnerable users, and keep emergency access working. Ofcom oversees the transition.
Ofcom https://www.ofcom.org.uk Phone: 0300 123 3333
If the service fails during migration, you may be owed compensation under Ofcom's Automatic Compensation Scheme, where your provider takes part in it.
What to do now
Check whether your provider has already migrated you, ask about backup battery options, test your alarm and telecare compatibility, confirm you can still reach emergency services, and keep a mobile charged as a fallback. The switch is coming regardless, so a few checks now save trouble later.
Source: Openreach, "Openreach to protect broadband connections as PSTN closure approaches", 24 September 2026, checked 4 October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Traditional landlines are ending
- Broadband becomes essential for calls
- Battery backup important for vulnerable users
- Phone numbers remain the same
Common questions
Will I lose my landline number?
No. You can usually keep your number when migrating to digital voice.
Do I need fibre broadband?
Not necessarily fibre, but you must have broadband.
What happens if I refuse migration?
The copper network will be withdrawn nationally.
Can I use my existing phone?
Often yes, using a digital adapter.
What if I am vulnerable?
Inform your provider. They must offer additional support.
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