In the UK, a significant upgrade to the communications network is fast approaching, with just six months remaining before the switch-off of the country’s old copper phone system. This change will see the traditional landlines replaced by Digital Voice, a new platform that utilizes broadband connections for making calls, moving away from the century-old copper wire technology.
Households are urged not to overlook this transition, as failure to switch to Digital Voice could lead to the loss of existing landline services. The recent ‘Don’t Put Off the Switch’ campaign, led by Clare Balding, emphasized the importance of checking landlines to ensure readiness for the digital shift.
The momentum towards the switch is evident, with BT’s Openreach serving “stop sell” notices at an additional 112 telephone exchanges. This action prevents broadband providers, including BT, Sky, Vodafone, and Plusnet, from selling or transitioning customers to older copper-based services in those areas.
The Stop Sell program is activated when a majority of premises within an exchange have access to ultrafast Full Fibre, prompting customers to opt for the new digital service over the advanced Full Fibre network for any broadband or phone service adjustments.
With 1,572 exchanges now under Stop Sell regulations, covering approximately 15.4 million homes and businesses nationwide, the move to full fibre and Digital Voice is set to deliver enhanced benefits such as faster internet speeds, more reliable connections, and a modern phone service aligned with today’s digital demands.
To ascertain if their residence is impacted, individuals can use the Openreach postcode checker tool. Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, James Lilley, emphasized the importance of transitioning to future-proof technologies to support the industry-wide migration and prepare for the legacy Public Switched Telephone Network switch-off in six months, marking the necessity for a digital phone line for all.