Landline Switch-Off 2027: What You Need to Know

Traditional UK landlines are being replaced by digital phone services, with the old Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) due to close on 31 January 2027. If you still use a traditional landline on the Openreach network, your provider should move you to a digital alternative before the deadline, but the change is not simply about getting rid of your home phone.

What is happening to old landlines?

The traditional landline network, known as the Public Switched Telephone Network, is being retired because it is ageing and becoming harder to maintain. On the Openreach network, the PSTN is due to close on 31 January 2027, after which traditional phone lines will no longer operate in the way they do today.

For most households, the practical change is that the home phone service will move to a digital connection. Instead of plugging the handset directly into the old telephone socket, it will usually connect through a broadband router or other digital equipment supplied or supported by the provider. You can still have a home phone and, in many cases, keep the same handset and telephone number.

When are analogue landlines being switched off?

The confirmed Openreach/PSTN switch-off date is 31 January 2027. The migration is already under way, so customers should not wait until the deadline before speaking to their provider.

The date is particularly relevant to services that use the Openreach traditional phone network. Other network operators have their own migration plans and do not necessarily use the same deadline, so your provider is the best source of information about the arrangements for your particular service.

Who will be affected?

You are likely to need to take action if your home phone still uses the traditional landline network. This includes people with a phone-only service as well as households whose landline and broadband package still relies on the old network.

You may already be on a digital service without realising it. If your provider has already moved your phone service onto a digital connection, the January 2027 PSTN closure does not mean you need to start the process again. Check with your provider if you are unsure how your current service works.

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What will replace the old landline?

Digital phone services normally carry calls over a modern digital connection, often using your broadband router. The exact setup varies between providers, so you may be asked to plug your existing phone into the router or use an adaptor or other equipment.

This is a change in how the phone service is delivered, not necessarily a change to the idea of having a home phone. Openreach says many households will be able to keep using their existing handset, and customers can usually keep their existing telephone number when they switch.

Will I need a new phone?

Not necessarily. Openreach says many existing handsets will continue to work with a digital phone service, although some older phones may not be compatible. Your provider should tell you what equipment you need and whether your current handset can be retained.

Do not buy a new phone simply because you have heard about the switch-off. Wait for your provider’s instructions and check the equipment requirements for your particular service.

What happens if I use a landline for an alarm or telecare device?

This is one of the most important things to check before the switch. Telecare devices, personal alarms, health-monitoring equipment and some security systems can use the telephone line to connect to a monitoring centre or other service. Equipment that was designed around the old network may not work automatically on a digital connection.

Tell your phone provider if you have a care alarm, health pendant, medical device, security alarm or any other connected equipment using the line. You should also speak to the company that supplies or monitors the equipment so it can be tested or upgraded where necessary. Do not assume that a working telephone means connected equipment will also work after the move.

What happens if there is a power cut?

Traditional landlines could continue to work during a local power cut because the telephone network supplied power to the line. Digital phone services normally need electricity in the home, so a power cut can affect the ability to make calls.

Ofcom says customers should tell their provider if they do not have a mobile phone or do not have enough mobile signal at home to call the emergency services. Providers must consider additional support for customers who could be particularly affected, and backup arrangements may be available depending on the circumstances.

What if I do not have full-fibre broadband?

Lack of full-fibre broadband does not automatically mean that you will lose your home phone. Openreach says providers can offer alternative services capable of supporting a digital phone line, including for households that do not have full fibre available.

If you have a phone-only service, or you live in a building where full fibre is not available, contact your provider and ask what digital option is available at your address. The solution can vary depending on the local network and your existing service.

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What happens if I do nothing?

The traditional PSTN network is due to close on 31 January 2027. Openreach says eligible customers who have not moved may be placed onto Emergency Voice and Access Continuity (EVAc), a temporary, limited emergency voice-only service. It is intended as a last-resort measure and does not provide all of the features available on a normal digital phone service.

Openreach’s latest guidance says eligible broadband services may also be kept running where technically possible after customers are moved to EVAc. This is not a permanent alternative to migrating away from the old network, and customers will still need to move to modern services in the longer term.

Do I need to contact my provider?

Yes. If you still use a traditional landline, contact your phone provider now rather than waiting for the deadline. If your provider contacts you about the switchover, respond to them and explain any circumstances that could affect the move, such as telecare equipment, poor mobile coverage, accessibility needs or reliance on the landline during power cuts.

Your provider should be able to explain what digital service is available, whether you can keep your existing handset and number, and what you need to do before the old network closes.

Does this affect everyone in the UK?

The 31 January 2027 date is the confirmed deadline for the Openreach/PSTN switch-off. It should not be treated as a single universal date for every landline network in the UK. Ofcom says other companies with their own networks, including Virgin Media O2 and KCOM, also plan to retire their old landline networks, but their arrangements and dates are separate.

If you do not know which network your phone service uses, check with your provider. That is more reliable than assuming that every household is affected in exactly the same way.

What should you check now?

• Whether your home phone still uses a traditional landline connection.
• Whether your provider has already contacted you about moving to digital.
• Whether you rely on the landline because you do not have a mobile phone or have poor mobile signal.
• Whether a telecare, personal alarm, health-monitoring device or security system uses the phone line.
• Whether your current handset and telephone number can be retained.
• What will happen to your service during a power cut.

Information checked

This article was checked against current information from Openreach and Ofcom, including their guidance on the 31 January 2027 PSTN switch-off, digital landline migration, vulnerable customers, telecare, power cuts and the EVAc last-resort service. Other network operators’ plans have been treated separately where relevant.

General information: This article is for general information based on sources available when it was checked on 29 September 2026. Telecoms arrangements can change, and individual customers may have different requirements depending on their provider, equipment and circumstances. Check with your phone provider or the relevant equipment provider for advice about your own service.