One million people risk losing landline phone access unless they upgrade to digital lines
The warning comes as the UK prepares to retire its old analogue phone network and complete the switch to digital lines.
BT-owned Openreach are phasing out the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a system in place since the 1870s, with a full shutdown planned for January 31, 2027.
James Lilley, director of customer migrations at Openreach, said: "It’s very hard to get [customers] to read and react and do something."
BT to switch to digital landlines by January 2027
Moving to digital lines is expected to provide a more reliable service, better-quality calls and improved blocking of unwanted calls.
Despite these benefits, around one million residents and businesses remain on the old network.
Those who do not upgrade in time could lose service or be transferred to a basic emergency phone system without features like voicemail.
The UK government says the transition is necessary due to the declining reliability of the copper-based PSTN, and Ofcom has said most users are unlikely to experience significant disruption.
The original switch-off date was set for December 31, 2025, but concerns about the impact on vulnerable and rural users, particularly those relying on telecare alarms, led to a revised timeline.
Under the PSTN Charter, providers have agreed not to migrate customers using telecare devices unless their equipment is confirmed to be compatible with digital lines.
Telecom companies, including BT, are supplying vulnerable customers with free back-up battery packs to ensure phones remain operational during power outages.
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Unlike the digital system, the traditional PSTN does not depend on mains electricity and will continue to function during a power cut.
Openreach has stated that there will not be a single day when all customers lose service.
Tens of thousands of customers are reportedly switching to the new system each week, Lilley said a rise in scams had made it harder to get consumers to respond to letters about the change.
Have you switched to a digital phone service yet? Let us know in the comments.
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