Fewer than 100 days until the old landline network closes: what to do now
Openreach has confirmed the old analogue phone network shuts on 31 January 2027, and about a quarter of a million lines in London and the South East still haven't moved.
If you still have a landline phone that plugs into the wall socket, this one is for you. On 30 October Openreach, the company that runs most of the UK's phone lines, issued a fresh warning: there are now fewer than 100 days left before the old copper phone network is switched off for good. We get asked about this almost every week on home visits around Beckenham, so here is a plain-English guide to what it means and what to do.
What happened
The old network, known as the PSTN, is being replaced by phone calls carried over your broadband connection (often called "digital voice" or "digital landline"). Openreach says the closure date is 31 January 2027. It was originally planned for the end of 2025 and was pushed back once, and Openreach has said there will be no further extension.
According to Openreach, roughly one million copper-based lines across the UK are still to be moved, around 300,000 of them at business premises. The London and South East region has the largest number of any area, at just over 250,000 lines. Openreach's latest warning is mainly aimed at businesses, but the same deadline applies to every home still on the old system.
What happens to lines that haven't moved by the deadline? Openreach says they may be transferred automatically to a temporary emergency service called EVAc. It describes this as a limited, last-resort option for essential calls only, and more expensive than digital alternatives. Linked broadband will be kept running only "where technically possible". In short, it's a safety net, not something to rely on.
Who it affects
Many households have already switched without much fuss, often just by plugging the phone into the broadband router instead of the wall. You are most likely to be affected if:
- your home phone still plugs into the wall socket rather than the router;
- you have a landline but no broadband;
- you or a relative use a personal alarm or telecare pendant, or a burglar alarm, that dials out over the phone line;
- you rely on your landline in an emergency and have no mobile, or poor mobile signal at home.
Older people are the group we worry about most. A digital landline depends on the router having mains power, so unlike an old-style corded phone, it will not work in a power cut unless there is a battery back-up.
What to do now
- Check where your phone plugs in. If it goes into the router, you are probably already on a digital line. If it goes into the wall socket, contact your phone provider using the number on your bill and ask when you'll be moved.
- Tell your provider about any alarms or care devices. Telecare alarms, security alarms and similar kit may need testing, an adaptor or an upgrade. Speak to the alarm company too, as well as your phone provider, so nothing slips through the gaps.
- Ask about power-cut back-up. Government guidance says providers should offer at least one way to reach the emergency services for a minimum of one hour during a power cut, and that this should be free for at-risk customers who depend on their landline. If you have no mobile or no signal at home, ask for this.
- Keep a charged mobile handy. Even a basic mobile can call 999 on any available network.
- Check on older relatives and neighbours. Many people simply don't know this is happening. A five-minute chat could save a lot of stress in January.
- Watch out for scams. Fraudsters have used the switchover as an excuse to cold-call people. The switch itself is free, and genuine councils and care alarm providers won't ask for bank or personal details over the phone. Be just as wary of anyone who wants remote access to your computer. If you get a call like that, hang up and ring your provider back on a number you trust. You can report a scam call by texting "call" and the number to 7726.
When to get help
If the router is tucked behind the sofa, the cables are a tangle, or you're simply not sure whether your phone is ready, Home Computer Repairs can help. Our local technicians can visit you at home, check how your phone and broadband are connected, move your handset across to the router, make sure your Wi-Fi is working properly afterwards and explain things without the jargon. Find out more about our home visits and setup help, or call us on 020 8658 4366. We cover Beckenham and up to 10 miles around, and we're happy to help families sort things out for older relatives.