UK Households Warned Over Digital Phone Transition As January 2027 Landline Deadline Nears

UK households that still use a traditional landline are being urged to check whether they are ready for the digital phone transition, with BT’s old analogue network due to be retired on 31 January 2027.

The change does not mean landline phones are disappearing. Instead, calls that traditionally travelled over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) will increasingly be made using internet-based technology such as Voice over Internet Protocol, commonly known as VoIP or Digital Voice.

For most households, the change should be relatively simple: an existing telephone may be connected to a broadband router rather than directly to the traditional wall socket.

However, people who use telecare alarms, health pendants, security systems or other devices connected to their phone line may need additional support or replacement equipment.

Fresh concerns about household readiness emerged after a OnePoll survey of 2,000 UK adults with a landline, commissioned by broadband provider Community Fibre, found 45% did not fully understand what they needed to do ahead of the analogue switch-off.

What Does the Digital Phone Transition Mean for UK Households?

The digital phone transition replaces the ageing analogue technology behind traditional landline calls rather than removing home phone services altogether.

Under a digital system, calls travel over an internet connection. In many homes, that means plugging the telephone into the router or into an adaptor supplied by the communications provider.

Ofcom says most customers should be able to continue making and receiving calls in much the same way as they do today, and customers moving to a digital landline should normally be able to keep their telephone number.

Providers are expected to explain whether a new router, adaptor or handset is required and arrange the necessary equipment.

Households should not assume that moving to digital voice necessarily means they must immediately buy a full-fibre broadband package.

Government guidance says some providers can offer other digital solutions, while households that do not currently use broadband may be offered an interim dedicated landline service.

In some cases, that arrangement could remain available until a permanent digital alternative is introduced or until 2030, whichever comes first.

The government says more than two-thirds of UK landlines have already been upgraded to VoIP, meaning the transition is already well under way rather than being something that begins suddenly in January.

Openreach separately estimated on 31 July that around 1.5 million lines were still operating on the old copper-based phone network, including approximately 350,000 business premises.

Is Every UK Landline Being Switched Off on 31 January 2027?

Not quite. The widely reported 31 January 2027 date relates particularly to BT’s retirement of the PSTN used across the Openreach network.

Ofcom’s latest consumer guidance says customers using the BT Openreach network should have moved to a digital landline, or another service allowing them to continue using a home phone, by that date.

However, companies operating their own networks may have different timetables.

Ofcom specifically says other operators, including Virgin Media O2 and KCOM, also intend to retire older landline networks but that their final switch-off dates have not all been set.

That means households should check information from the company that actually provides their phone service rather than assuming every UK telephone line will stop working simultaneously.

Telecare Alarms and Power Cuts Are the Biggest Issues to Check

For many households, moving a handset from a wall socket to a router may be the only noticeable difference.

The more important issue is equipment that quietly relies on the old telephone connection.

The Community Fibre research found that, before taking the survey, 48% of landline users did not realise the transition could affect devices other than telephones. These can include personal alarms, telecare systems and some security equipment.

Government guidance also identifies alarm systems, telecare devices and door-entry systems among equipment that may need upgrading.

Anyone with a care alarm, health pendant, personal alarm or other device connected to a landline should therefore contact both their telephone provider and the organisation that supplied or monitors the device.

Ofcom says a provider can help establish whether the equipment will continue working and, where necessary, pause a migration until a safe arrangement is in place.

There are additional safeguards for telecare customers.

Under government-backed industry commitments, communications providers have agreed that known telecare users should not be moved to a digital landline without confirmation that a compatible and functioning telecare solution is in place.

The charter also makes clear that the communications provider retains ultimate responsibility for its end customer.

What Happens to a Digital Landline During a Power Cut?

This is another important difference between traditional and digital phone services.

Traditional corded analogue phones could often continue operating during a household electricity failure because power was supplied through the telephone line itself.

Digital landlines generally rely on a broadband router and therefore require mains electricity.

Ofcom says consumers who depend on their landline and do not have a working mobile phone or reliable mobile reception should tell their provider before migration.

Where a customer needs the landline to contact emergency services and does not have a suitable alternative, their provider must offer a free backup solution, such as a battery unit.

Ofcom requires at least one hour of emergency-call availability, while some companies provide longer backup periods.

This may be particularly important for older people, disabled customers, people with health conditions and households in locations with unreliable mobile reception.

What Should Households Do Before the Switch?

Most consumers do not need to dismantle their phone setup or arrange a new service immediately. The first step is to establish whether their current line has already been converted and watch for communications from their provider.

Households that remain unsure can take five practical steps:

1. Check who provides the landline by looking at the latest phone or broadband bill and ask that company about its migration timetable.
2. Identify everything connected to the telephone line, not just the phone. Check personal alarms, telecare equipment, security alarms and other devices.
3. Tell the provider about additional needs, particularly if someone is elderly, disabled, has a health condition, uses telecare or needs help installing equipment.
4. Check power-cut arrangements if the household has no mobile phone or unreliable mobile coverage.
5. Compare packages carefully if changing provider, while checking contract terms, equipment requirements and whether the existing telephone number can be retained.

Ofcom’s One Touch Switch system means customers changing landline provider generally contact the new company, which then manages the switching process. Consumers should check for any early termination charges before leaving an existing contract.

The new survey suggests that greater clarity may still be needed.

Some 47% of respondents who were not confident about managing the transition said they had not seen enough information, while 33% were confused about what action was required. Another 22% were unsure who was responsible for arranging the change.

The important distinction is that households should not normally have to organise the technical network migration by themselves. Their communications provider is expected to contact them and explain the process.

But customers do have an important role in telling providers about circumstances the company might not otherwise know about, particularly telecare equipment, health needs and lack of reliable mobile reception.