One million UK residents warned to upgrade landlines before 2027

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 12:04 · Archive

One million UK households and businesses must upgrade to digital phone lines before Openreach shuts down the old PSTN network on 31 January 2027.

One million UK households and businesses must switch to digital phone lines before Openreach shuts down the old Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) on 31 January 2027. Those who do not upgrade could lose service or be transferred to a basic emergency phone system without features such as voicemail.

The PSTN has been in place since the 1870s. The UK government says the transition is necessary because the copper-based system is declining in reliability. Ofcom has said most users are unlikely to experience significant disruption. The original switch-off date was December 31 2025, but was delayed due to concerns about vulnerable and rural users, particularly those relying on telecare alarms.

Digital lines are expected to provide more reliable service, better-quality calls and improved blocking of unwanted calls. Openreach director of customer migrations James Lilley said: 'It's very hard to get [customers] to read and react and do something.' Telecom companies, including BT, are supplying vulnerable customers with free back-up battery packs to ensure phones remain operational during power outages, since digital systems depend on mains electricity whereas the old PSTN does not. Openreach has stated that there will not be a single day when all customers lose service.

How it is being reported

• One million people warned to act before major UK landline changeOne million UK households and businesses risk losing landline access as Openreach retires the PSTN.Oxford Mail · 2 Nov, 11:36
• One million people warned to act before major UK landline changeOne million UK households and businesses risk losing landline access as Openreach retires the PSTN.Oxfordshire Guardian · 2 Nov, 11:36

In this story: Openreach · BT · Ofcom · UK

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