27-02-2025
BT events to advise on switch from analogue to digital landlines
The impending switch from analogue to digital landlines is the subject of an awareness drive by BT, which will host events across Yorkshire and the Humber in March - including at four locations in the Bradford area.
The event series to inform about the switch - which is due by the end of January 2027 - will include visits to Bradford, Shipley, Keighley, and Ilkley.
BT experts will be on hand to discuss the changes and necessary steps that customers must take.
According to a spokesperson for BT, "landlines in the UK are going digital to replace the 40-year-old analogue landline technology which has become increasingly fragile.
"For most customers, this industry-wide upgrade will see calls made over a broadband line."
Vicky Hicks, senior engagement manager at BT, said: "The landline is here to stay, and for the majority of customers, making the switch simply means plugging your phone into a broadband router instead of into a wall-mounted phone socket.
"This will bring new benefits like advanced spam call blocking.
"On average, we prevent 15,000 scam calls a day from reaching our customers.
"Thanks to upgrades to Yorkshire and the Humber's broadband infrastructure, most homes and businesses have access to superfast broadband using the Openreach network.
"This means most of our customers won't experience much of a difference in their service when they make the switch."
A new, more advanced battery back-up unit is now available to BT customers, enabling digital calls to be made in the event of a power outage.
The new battery is smaller and lighter than the current version and features a standby mode which can be used during prolonged power cuts.
Customers who identify as vulnerable, have additional needs, or who use a telecare alarm system will not be switched until spring 2025 at the earliest, BT also confirmed - this is to allow time for data sharing agreements to be put in place, and at-home support for telecare users to become available.
A dedicated landline service will be offered to customers who don't use broadband, until a digital solution becomes available (or 2030, if that comes sooner).
The Bradford area events will take place at the following locations and times: City Library, Bradford, on March 25 from 10am to 2pm; Shipley Library, Shipley, on March 17 from 10am to 2pm; Keighley Library, Keighley, on March 18 from 10am to 2pm; and The Clarke Foley Centre, Ilkley, on March 11 from 10am to 4pm.
