Landline phones will switch off across Britland in 100 days, no extensions – Openreach

Openreach has issued a stark reminder to customers that the legacy phone network is being officially switched off on January 31, and says the deadline will not be postponed.

The infrastructure arm of BT Group, Britain's biggest telecoms biz, circulated the warning this week in a letter to comms providers that use its network to deliver their services.

It informs them that any customers still on legacy public switched telephone network (PSTN) connections are at risk of disruption when these are retired at the end of January, 2027.

The switch-off could affect businesses and consumers alike. Beyond the plain old telephone, systems that rely on PSTN connectivity include point-of-sale terminals, fire and security alarms, and personal care alarms for elderly and vulnerable people.

The move is part of a wider government scheme to get the UK onto all-digital high-speed networks running on fiber-optic infrastructure, and the legacy phone service - with its dependency on copper cabling - was standing in the way.

Many households have now ditched landline handsets and instead use only mobile phones, yet for those who still want a landline, the changeover means plugging the phone into the back of a broadband router to access a Digital Voice service.

Openreach has been planning this move for the best part of a decade. It has already pushed back the deadline at least once, after the government asked telecoms providers not to force vulnerable customers who use phone-network systems such as TeleCare to switch until fixes are in place.

Nevertheless, public awareness seems low that analog phone services will soon be disconnected. "Openreach and all providers need to coordinate a much more cohesive campaign that reaches customers directly," said telecoms analyst Paolo Pescatore at PP Foresight.

"TV, billboards and newspaper advertising should reinforce a consistent message, supported by targeted letters, calls and door-to-door support for older and vulnerable people who need extra help," he told The Register.

"Customers need to understand what is changing, what action to take, and who will help them. Providers must take responsibility for ensuring people remain safely connected, especially those who rely on their landline or a care alarm."

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, agreed.

"With only three months to go, the digital landline switchover is entering a critical final phase. Most people have moved over without major problems, but nobody who relies on their landline or TeleCare should be left behind," she told us.

"Anyone with concerns should contact their provider, but the responsibility cannot rest with customers alone. Providers must not give up on people who have not responded. They need to keep trying to reach them and offer practical, individual support, recognizing that some may be unwell, living with dementia, worried about scams or without anyone nearby to help."

Openreach has a webpage with information regarding the switch-off. This advises consumers to call their service provider as soon as possible to ensure service is not interrupted.

The company previously told The Register that customers without a fiber connection will likely be switched to SOTAP for Analog (Single Order Transitional Access Product), where equipment is installed in the local telephone exchange to allow them to continue to use their old phone line as before.

Openreach has warned that commercial customers delaying migration risk significant disruption and unnecessary costs - leaving it until the last minute could make it harder to secure the requisite engineering support before the deadline hits.

"Businesses and organizations that delay action are making things harder for themselves," said James Lilley, Openreach Director of All-IP.

"The straightforward migrations have largely been completed. What's left are the complex connections that underpin critical operations, requiring careful planning, supplier coordination, and thorough testing. We are urging businesses to act now, audit their remaining analog services, and work with their communications provider on a migration plan today."

Earlier this year, the firm tried to drive home the message by announcing it was stepping up its charges to service providers and companies still operating legacy business lines, who will by now be paying double the rental cost compared to last year. (R)