Is BT switching off landlines completely?

Analogue copper lines will stop working by January 2027. Phone calls will instead travel over broadband through BT’s Digital Voice or any VoIP service. You still dial and answer with a normal handset; only the network behind it changes.

Will my landline still ring after January 2027?

It will ring only if the service has moved to a digital platform before the cut-off. Households and firms that switch to the Digital Voice service or another VoIP line keep normal ringing and caller ID. Staying on copper after the deadline means silence.

What happens if I stay on analogue past the deadline?

PSTN numbers left on copper will be ceased by the supplier. Alarm systems, card machines, lifts and fax devices linked to that line will fail. Restoring service then takes a fresh order, extra cost and added wait.

Can I keep my phone number when I change to Digital Voice?

Yes, your existing number can be ported to any digital provider. Submit a port request before cancelling the old line to avoid loss. The process is regulated, and most transfers finish within one to ten working days.

Do I need new handsets for BT Digital Voice?

Many modern cordless or corded phones work when plugged into the router with an adapter. BT also offers handsets that include Digital Voice support for extra features. Very old pulse-dial models may need replacing.

How do power cuts affect Digital Voice phones?

Digital Voice needs mains power for the router, so a blackout stops calls. Ofcom rules say vulnerable users must have at least one hour of backup, usually a battery pack. Businesses can add an uninterruptible power supply to keep phones online during outages.

What is the cheapest way for a small firm to meet the deadline?

Moving to a cloud VoIP plan that uses existing fibre broadband is the lowest-cost path. Choose a provider that ports numbers free and supplies adapters so present phones can stay. Bundling calls and lines in one package often cuts monthly bills by about 30 %.

BT Landline Switchover 2027: Act Early, Stay Connected

BT has extended its deadline for landline switchover to 2027, yet every copper line will still shut off in the end. According to Openreach, when the BT landline switchover 2027 takes effect, calls will run over broadband Digital Voice, leaving alarms, card machines, Lift Alarms, Alarms or care lines out of service if you wait. Backed by 200-plus five-star reviews, Discover how the 2027 PSTN and ISDN switch-off will affect your business. Read our 6 step guide to future-proof your communications and stay connected.

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Transitioning to a Digital Future

The UK’s Shift from PSTN and ISDN to Digital Voice

The UK is on the brink of a significant transformation in telecommunications, moving away from the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) such as analogue voice, copper lines and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) which older PBX Phone systems use.

By 31 January 2027, all remaining PSTN and ISDN lines will be withdrawn, marking the end of an era for analogue voice and copper line systems.

This transition is driven by the need for more efficient, reliable, and flexible communication solutions. As businesses increasingly adopt cloud-based technologies, the limitations of PSTN and ISDN become apparent. The VoIP Shop offers advanced VoIP phone systems that not only meet the demands of modern communication but also provide enhanced features and scalability.

Switching to VoIP means businesses can enjoy improved productivity, cost savings, and seamless integration with existing systems. As the UK moves towards a fully digital landscape, now is the time to embrace the future of business communications with The VoIP Shop.

How to Migrate your PSTN and ISDN Line to Digital Voice and Fully Hosted Cloud VoIP Phone Systems in 6 Easy Steps

The BT PSTN and ISDN landline switchover in 2027 is coming fast, but migrating now keeps calls flowing and assists business in planning a smooth migration from legacy PSTN copper landlines and older ISDN Lines to Digital Voice and Fully Hosted Cloud VoIP Phone Systems

Follow these steps to quickly transition your legacy PSTN and ISDN landlines to Digital Voice and Fully Hosted Cloud VoIP Phone Systems with The VoIP Shop and ensure seamless communication. Our guide makes it easy to retain your main number while upgrading to a modern VoIP system

6 Simple Steps to migrate from your legacy PSTN and ISDN landlines to Digital Voice and Fully Hosted Cloud VoIP Phone Systems:

1. Check current PSTN or ISDN Lines in Place: Our experts will audit and check your current telecom supplier invoices to give you a full breakdown of your current BT WLR PSTN and ISDN lines. This includes what line type it is, what services and care levels you have, the address details, number of lines or channels and if you have any active broadband and call packages

2. Check current Phone System, PBX and handsets: We also check what type of current phone system, PBX or handsets you have We then present this as report to you to you with recommendations for migration to more modern Digital Voice and Fully Hosted Cloud VoIP Phone Systems. We then book a call to report these findings to you and discuss migrating your WLR estate to a future-proof IP voice Digital Voice and Fully Hosted Cloud VoIP Phone System

3. Check current Broadband, Broadband Speed and Router in place: We Check your broadband to make sure you have a stable fibre broadband connection as good internet is the backbone of Digital Voice.

4. Provide a Migration plan: To migrate from your current PSTN or ISDN Lines, Legacy analogue or ISDN Phone System (PBX) and handsets along with a proposal for Fully Hosted Cloud VoIP Phone System

5. Pick your migration and main number port date: Choose a quiet trading day at least ten to fifteen working days ahead. We book the slot before engineer diaries fill up. Our support teams setup your new VoIP Phone system and ship a pre-configured VoIP handsets. We can also send engineers to setup and install on site if you require. On the Go Live or migration (port date) The new VOIP handsets are Plugged in, make test calls, and run a card transaction if you use a terminal. Once the number ports over, customer calls will ring on your new service and your migration is now complete. This whole process is fully project managed for you

6. Final Step is to Cancel PSTN or ISDN Lines, Legacy analogue or ISDN Phone System: You can then cancel the old PSTN or ISDN line with your previous provider, beating the 2027 shutdown with zero downtime. Your migration from the legacy PSTN or ISDN Lines, Legacy analogue or ISDN Phone System (PBX) and handsets to the modern Digital Voice and Fully Hosted Cloud VoIP Phone System is now complete

BT’s Copper Cut-Off Arrives 2027 — Switch Early, Keep Every Call

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5 Risks of Waiting Until the Last Minute

Service blackout – Leave migration too late and your copper line may simply stop on switch-day, cutting phones, alarms, card readers and lift phones until an IP route is live.

Engineer backlog – Openreach and partner installers already warn of limited slots; a last-minute rush will create capacity bottlenecks and delay new kit for weeks.

Number loss or port errors – Porting thousands of lines at once raises the chance of mis-routes and missed windows, which can leave firms without inbound calls.

Weaker support terms – Providers say future contracts may carry reduced service-level agreements for late movers, meaning slower fault repair and higher downtime costs.

Rushed, ill-fitting solutions – Businesses that panic-buy in 2026 risk picking systems that fail to cover their real needs because there is no time left for testing and staff training.

Acting now avoids these pitfalls, locks in the right VoIP plan, and ensures a smooth transition before the BT landline switchover 2027 deadline.

Who Must Switch and When?

The new BT landline switchover 2027 timetable does not treat every customer the same. Deadlines depend on the service running over each copper pair, and some user groups need to act much sooner than others.

Homes With Only a Landline

Households that still plug an analogue phone straight into a wall socket will receive at least four weeks’ written notice before their local exchange moves to Digital Voice.

If no broadband exists at the address, BT will install a basic IP line free of charge, yet the change will still take place by 31 January 2027.

Ordering broadband early avoids last-minute engineer shortages and lets residents keep existing numbers without fuss.

Swtich Your Home Landline

Businesses on ISDN or PSTN

Companies using ISDN30, ISDN2 or plain PSTN trunks face a tighter window. BT Business “strongly advises” firms to migrate by December 2025 so sites can test fire panels, card readers and lift lines well ahead of the national shut-off.

Orders for new ISDN circuits stopped in 2023, and Openreach will withdraw remaining channels region-by-region through 2026 before the final stop date in 2027.

Early movers avoid congestion and gain IP features, while late entrants risk downtime and call-routing costs.

Swtich to VoIP Phone System

Telecare, Alarms, Payment Terminals

Roughly two million people rely on pendant alarms, payment terminals or lift phones that dial over copper. After faults were reported during initial roll-outs, BT paused forced migrations and now switches vulnerable lines only when:

a compatible digital device is fitted, a battery pack is provided, and the unit is live-tested by an engineer. A joint campaign launched in 2025 urges carers to register vulnerable users so these checks happen well before the 2027 cut-off. Businesses running chip-and-PIN or alarm panels on PSTN should budget for IP converters or mobile back-ups this year.

Swtich to VoIP Phone System

Copper Lines Are Ending Soon: Upgrade to VoIP Before It’s Too Late

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Digital Voice vs Analogue Lines

Digital Voice sends speech as data over broadband, whereas an analogue line moves an electrical signal along copper wire. Handsets plug into a router, not a wall socket, so sound improves and extra tools come built-in. Because service depends on local power, a battery pack or mobile back-up is essential before the BT landline switchover 2027.

Call Quality and Added Features

HD Calling widens speech frequencies, giving clearer voices when both ends use Digital Voice or an EE mobile. Users may hold two calls at once, run three-way chats, block nuisance numbers with Call Protect, and divert calls to mobiles without new hardware. None of these perks work on legacy PSTN or ISDN lines.

Power-cut Limitations and Battery Packs

Analogue corded phones keep ringing during outages because the exchange powers them. Router-based Digital Voice stops if mains fails, so Ofcom now requires providers to supply a free battery unit or other solution for anyone relying on 999 access or telecare. BT engineers fit the pack during migration, and users should test it yearly while keeping a charged mobile handy.

Don’t Risk Lost Calls in 2027 — Make the Move to Digital Voice Today

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Switchover Checklist for Small Businesses

A short plan helps a small business move well before the BT landline switchover 2027 and keeps the till ringing on change-over day.

Audit Every Device on Copper

Make a list of every handset, alarm, lift phone, fax or chip-and-PIN box that still feeds off the old network. Openreach will pull WLR and ISDN services by January 2027, so each item must gain an IP adaptor, a mobile SIM or a new unit before stock and engineer time run out.

Schedule Number Porting

Porting a single line needs around ten working days; multi-channel circuits take longer. BT Wholesale already asks resellers to reserve diary space early so late movers are not left without an inbound line. Send your Letter of Authority, pick a go-live window that avoids peak trading, and lock your slot while capacity is wide open.

Setup your Phone System

To set up the phone system, first ensure that the number port is booked in. Next, configure the welcome messages and set up call groups to efficiently manage incoming calls. Then, establish voicemail settings and install the necessary phones and apps. Once everything is in place, thoroughly test the phone system to confirm functionality. After completing these steps, the digital VoIP phone system will be ready for use.

Why BT Pushed the Final Date to 2027?

BT originally planned to shut the Public Switched Telephone Network in December 2025, yet on 21 May 2024 it shifted the cut-off to 31 January 2027. Tests and real-world cases showed many analogue telecare alarms and safety devices failed during early migrations, so extra time was needed to make the change safe for every user.

New measures—free battery packs, clearer labelling, road-show support and an industry code—must now be in place before forced moves resume, giving vulnerable customers confidence while letting firms plan around the BT landline switchover 2027 deadline.

Pause for Vulnerable Users Explained

About two million people depend on pendant alarms, medical monitors and other devices that call for help over copper lines. Early roll-outs cut some of these lifelines, prompting BT and regulators to halt mass switching until fixes were proven.

Under the new code, anyone flagged as vulnerable is moved only after their equipment is tested, a battery back-up is fitted and a carer contact is logged. A June 2025 campaign urges users to register special needs, and engineers now carry out in-home checks before porting numbers

New Rollout Timetable by Region

BT restarted its customer-led programme in 2024 and gives at least four weeks’ notice before each switch:

Autumn 2024: Northern Ireland, London
Winter 2024: East Anglia, East Midlands
Spring 2025: Yorkshire & Humber, North East, Scotland
Summer 2025: North West, Wales, further Scottish exchanges
Autumn 2025: West Midlands, South West
Winter 2025: South East

Pilot areas Salisbury and Mildenhall are already digital, and the South West is slated to be the last large region before a single national

“switch day” on 31 January 2027.

FAQs

Answers to some of our most commonly asked BT Landline Switchover 2027 questions…

Is BT switching off landlines completely?

Analogue copper lines will stop working by January 2027. Phone calls will instead travel over broadband through BT’s Digital Voice or any VoIP service. You still dial and answer with a normal handset; only the network behind it changes.
Will my landline still ring after January 2027?

It will ring only if the service has moved to a digital platform before the cut-off. Households and firms that switch to the Digital Voice service or another VoIP line keep normal ringing and caller ID. Staying on copper after the deadline means silence.
What happens if I stay on analogue past the deadline?

PSTN numbers left on copper will be ceased by the supplier. Alarm systems, card machines, lifts and fax devices linked to that line will fail. Restoring service then takes a fresh order, extra cost and added wait.
Can I keep my phone number when I change to Digital Voice?

Yes, your existing number can be ported to any digital provider. Submit a port request before cancelling the old line to avoid loss. The process is regulated, and most transfers finish within one to ten working days.
Do I need new handsets for BT Digital Voice?

Many modern cordless or corded phones work when plugged into the router with an adapter. BT also offers handsets that include Digital Voice support for extra features. Very old pulse-dial models may need replacing.
How do power cuts affect Digital Voice phones?

Digital Voice needs mains power for the router, so a blackout stops calls. Ofcom rules say vulnerable users must have at least one hour of backup, usually a battery pack. Businesses can add an uninterruptible power supply to keep phones online during outages.
What is the cheapest way for a small firm to meet the deadline?

Moving to a cloud VoIP plan that uses existing fibre broadband is the lowest-cost path. Choose a provider that ports numbers free and supplies adapters so present phones can stay. Bundling calls and lines in one package often cuts monthly bills by about 30 %.