The traditional system has been in service since the 19th century.
The transition is expected to be straightforward (Image: Getty)
Brits relying on the copper-wire telephone system will be facing its permanent switch-off by January 31, 2027. BT OpenReach will shut the UK’s ageing analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), bringing an end to the traditional system that has been in service since the 19th century. This means that instead of plugging a telephone handset directly into a traditional wall socket, home phones will now plug into a broadband router.
The upgrade promises clearer call quality, greater reliability, and fewer faults than the deteriorating analogue network. However, it will change how landlines operate. Because digital landlines rely on broadband and mains electricity to function, they will stop working during a power cut unless households have a backup power solution in place.
For the vast majority of consumers, the transition is expected to be straightforward. But officials and telecoms providers are urging households to act now rather than leave it until the last minute, advising consumers to contact their provider as soon as possible to arrange the switch.
Residents should also make sure equipment connected to phone lines – such as telecare devices, health pendants, burglar alarms, CCTV systems, and payment terminals – are fully compatible with the new digital network and transition to modern broadband options, such as Full Fibre, where available.
Public Switched Telephone Network (Image: Getty)
Among the systems dependent on PSTN is telecare. AgeUK says the system uses technology to enable people to live more independently and securely in their own homes – such as a device that triggers an alert if gas is accidentally left on, or a personal alarm enabling someone to summon assistance following a fall. Those households will be affected by the switchover. Telecoms companies have been working alongside local councils to pinpoint telecare users, officials say.
Companies are also reportedly providing extra support to telecare users during the transition, including free engineering visits and battery back-ups for telecare equipment and landlines where necessary. Now a new official warning has been issued to households as the deadline nears.
OpenReach is now alerting customers that the deadline is rapidly approaching and urging them not to put it off, or risk losing essential services.