We’re switching from analogue to digital landlines

Landlines in the UK are going digital. The existing analogue technology (the PSTN - Public Switched Telephone Network) which has supported phone and broadband services for decades is being retired and switched off at the end of January 2027. 

The good news is the landline is here to stay. For the vast majority of customers, they’ll make calls the same as they do today but using ‘Voice over IP’ technology that works over their broadband connection.  

The decades-old analogue copper infrastructure has become increasingly unreliable. It no longer meets the connectivity standards expected in today’s digital age. Supported by Government and Ofcom, the nationwide move to digital landlines is delivering a more reliable and resilient service fit for the future. Similar upgrades are already underway or complete in countries including Australia, Germany, France and the Netherlands.

BT is investing more than any other provider into the UK’s digital infrastructure to support next-generation connectivity and services.

BT is continuing its nationwide customer engagement campaign to support households and businesses to move away from the copper network, particularly vulnerable customers – with enhanced protection, including free engineer visits and backup power where needed.

Customers are advised to wait until they are contacted by their provider, but to take prompt action when they are. Failing to respond to messages from your provider may result in disruption to your phone or broadband services as the switchover deadline approaches.   

Further information about the industry wide change can be found here:

UK Government website

UK transition from analogue to digital landlines 

Ofcom

Moving landline phones to digital technology: what you need to know

Elderly man sitting on a sofa with a cordless telephone
Elderly man sitting on a sofa with a cordless telephone

Home customers

Over three million UK households have now moved to digital landlines, providing a safer, more reliable service.

Digital Voice is BT’s new home phone service, delivered over a broadband connection.

For most customers, the switch to Digital Voice is as simple as connecting your home phone handset to a router rather than the phone socket on the wall.

Customers will be contacted at least four weeks before the switch to Digital Voice to ensure they are ready to make the move.

Over 99% of home phones are compatible and most customers will keep their existing number and the same price.

Supporting customers with additional needs remains BT’s top priority and will continue to be a core focus throughout 2026. Depending on their set-up, customers may need to confirm their preferred option, plug their phone into the broadband hub or book a free in-home engineer visit.  

More information and support are available at Connected Together or by calling 0330 1234 150.

Our next generation home phone

Delivered through your broadband connection, it gives you an improved service and crystal-clear calls.

Connected Together

Get ready for the digital landline switchover – for you or someone you support.

Case study - Marlene's story

Marlene came to our town hall event in Leeds after receiving her invitation to find out about Digital Voice.

Latest news on Digital Voice

Follow our announcements on the progress of the Digital Voice rollout.

Business customers

Alongside traditional phone services, the PSTN supports everything from alarm systems and traffic lights to ATMs. Customers who have devices connected to their landline will need to review the equipment they have connected, check with the manufacturer or service provider that it will still work on a digital landline, and replace the equipment if it is not compatible.

Our expert teams are working with business customers, large and small, helping them to embrace modern, digital alternatives. If you have any questions, please reach out to your account manager who will be able to advise you.  

Prepare your business for digital transformation

Visit business.bt.com

If you are a provider or manufacturer of any equipment that works using our phone network, and want to check whether it is compatible with a digital phone line, you can visit our digital services lab at Adastral Park near Ipswich. 

Customer stories

Find out how we’re helping businesses like yours prepare for the digital switchover.

Case study - York Supplies

Find out how we helped this local hardware store embrace future-ready tech in the digital age.

Lipa and Bob at the Digital Voice roadshow van
Lipa and Bob at the Digital Voice roadshow van

Frontier Economics: Switching off the PSTN: Migrating from analogue to digital landlines

Frontier Economics were asked to consider the industry wide benefits of switching off the PSTN and moving customers onto digital landlines. The report outlines why the upgrade is happening, the challenges, the benefits and conclusions on how a successful migration can be enabled.