Landline telephone services are changing

The UK’s telephone network is changing. The technology used to provide traditional landline voice calls is no longer fit for the future. The telephone providers are upgrading the landline network, also known as the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) from analogue to digital or IP (Internet Protocol), which means that in the future voice telephone calls will be carried in the same way as data over a broadband connection.

The current telephone network will close at the end of 2025. Between now and then the telephone providers will be moving their customers over to the new system. To prepare for this, from September 2023, in most cases you won’t be able to order new landlines as they exist today.

The change is led by broadband and phone companies. Government and the communications regulator, Ofcom, are supporting efforts to improve the UK’s telecoms infrastructure and are working with industry to help ensure they deliver a smooth transition. Ofcom has published a statement about the changes that are taking place, the roles and responsibilities of different organisations and its expectations of telecoms providers. Click here to view the statement on Ofcom’s website.

The change from analogue to digital will benefit everyone and aligns with the Government’s ambition that everyone in the UK will have access to full fibre or gigabit-capable broadband by 2025.

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Last updated: 22/06/2020