Warning to anyone with UK landline as huge change means it will stop working for good – are you affected?
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LANDLINE users have been warned that a major change is coming to UK phone lines, with 137 UK areas the latest places to be affected.
Telephone providers are upgrading the landline network from analogue to digital, meaning that phone calls will be carried over a broadband connection instead of through copper wires.
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The old landline service is being switched off
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Many other countries, such as Estonia and the Netherlands, have already made this change, and the UK aims to have the majority of the system switched off by January 2027.
The change is being made as fibre optic broadband networks are much faster, more reliable and easier to maintain.
BT's Stop Sell list
BT's Openreach service has just announced 137 new locations on its Stop Sell list.
This means that the majority of homes in these areas are already connected to Ultra-Fast full fibre broadband.
Customers in these areas who want to upgrade or switch their phone service will have to do so through broadband, instead of copper wires.
Landline users are given 12 months' notice of the changes, so the 137 areas on the list have until July 2026 before they are officially put on the Stop Sell list.
James Lilley, Openreach's Managed Customer Migrations Manager, said: 'The stop sell programme is a critical part of ensuring that the UK's communication infrastructure is ready to meet the demands of the future.
"Taking advantage of the progress of our Full Fibre build and encouraging people to upgrade where a majority can access our new network is the right thing to do as it makes no sense, both operationally and commercially, to keep the old copper network and our new fibre network running side-by-side.
"As copper's ability to support modern communications declines, the immediate focus is getting people onto newer, future-proofed technologies."
The new technology, called Digital Voice, will have better call quality and a number of other features, such as three-way calling and call diversion.
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What do customers have to do?
For most customers the move to Digital voice will simply involve connecting a landline phone to a broadband router.
BT said that more than 99% of handsets are compatible with its digital home phone service.
Customers who are not vulnerable or landline only are being switched nationally across the UK.
The company will contact all customers at least four weeks before they are due to switch to make sure they are ready to move to a digital landline.
Full list of 137 new locations on the Stop Sell list
HERE'S the full list of areas that have been added to the list: Glarryford
Aghadowey
Pomeroy
Clogher
Fintona
Dromore/Tyrone
Drumquin
Ashby De La Zouch
Freeland
Adderbury
Broomfield
Woodham Ferrers
Framingham
Newhaven
Sacriston
Hoghton
Penrith
Dalston
New Brancepeth
Annbank
Newton Stewart
Ballingry
Lockerbie
Chudleigh
Milford Haven
Bala
Llandrindod Wells
Stourport
Fernhill Heath
Kessingland
Teversham
Silsoe
Saint Faith
Great Dunmow
Girton
Dymchurch
Shildon
Whitley Bridge
Whaley Bridge
Pencaitland
Durrington
Romsey
Plymstock
Midsomer Norton
Forden
Alsager
Haslington
Dyserth
Sandbach
Stonehouse
Hengoed
Amlwch
Pershore
Menai Bridge
Llandovery
Manningtree
Dickleburgh
Chestfield
South Milford
Dolgellau
Avebury
Lockeridge
Newton Tracey
Ogbourne St George
Sandon
Llanbedrog
Llanfrynach
Eskdalemuir
Long Bredy
Berriedale
Sanday
Llandyrnog
Dolwen
Dolgarrog
Chapelton
Pennyghael
Ulva Ferry
Buckland St Mary
Bishopswood
Hawick
Tottington
Eastwood
Purfleet
Locks Heath
Hook
Felling
Southbourne
St Austell
Stubbington
Lynemouth
Starcross
Loughborough
Easton
Wolverhampton
Ashford
Uxbridge
Woodford
Smallbrook
Wood St
Aylesbury
Ingleby Barwick
Leytonstone
Stockton
Sutton In Ashfield
Washington
Worle
Darlington
Holmfirth
Bedford
Goscote
Bishops Cleeve
Wolviston
Armthorpe
Barnwood
Desborough
Coppull
Trentham
Sale
Hexton
Appley Bridge
Manningham
Stoke City
Warsop
What if I am vulnerable?
Last year, BT had to pause the switchover after concerns that health pendants worn by vulnerable customers would stop working when older landlines were switched off.
Around 1.8 million customers use health pendants, which are emergency alarms worn around the neck.
If these pendants are connected through broadband rather than a landline then they may stop working during a powercut or if the internet fails.
BT has now begun contacting vulnerable customers to help them with any additional support they need.
Customers who do not have broadband will also be offered a dedicated landline service, which will allow them to use their landline in the same way they do today until 2030 or once a digital solution becomes available.
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