Listen: final countdown for UK landlines as we’re being urged to act when contacted

From chatting with loved ones to handling everyday essentials, the home phone remains a lifeline for millions across the UK. But with the decades-old analogue network now being phased out, households are facing a major change — whether they realise it or not.

Research commissioned by BT shows many people delay taking action on service changes if everything appears to be working. However, as the existing network is phased out, failing to respond could result in a loss of service.

The UK’s ageing PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) runs on analogue copper infrastructure and has become increasingly unreliable. It no longer meets the connectivity standards expected in today’s digital age.

Supported by Government and Ofcom, the nationwide upgrade to Digital Voice will be completed by January 2027, delivering a more reliable and resilient service fit for the future. While over three million customers have already switched, many still need to take action to ensure their service continues without disruption.

Aston spoke to Chris Hockley, engagement manager at BT.

Photo by Anh Tuan To on Unsplash