What’s changing and when?
Traditionally, landlines have been delivered through an analogue network, but this is being replaced by digital technology. The new system is called 'Voice over Internet Protocol' (VoIP), but you may also hear the terms 'Digital Voice' (from the landline provider BT) or digital phone.
Once you've moved to the new digital system, your landline will mainly work as it always has, although there'll be some differences – for example, it won't work if there's a power cut unless you have a battery backup.
The changeover has started, and some people have already been moved to the digital system.
For almost all networks, the changeover will have happened by December 2025.
The BT network, which is used by some other telecoms providers, will close by December 2025. Most other companies with their own networks, like Virgin Media, plan to follow the same timescale.
BT has now started to contact a limited number of customers, having paused its changeover programme, and will begin to roll out the programme on a region-by-region basis from summer 2023. However, they aren't currently switching certain groups, including:
- people aged 70 and over
- people with additional needs
- people who only have a landline (and not broadband)
- people with telecare alarms
- people with no mobile signal at home.
Other companies have also started rolling out digital systems. In some areas, changes to the network will mean that everyone needs to move to the digital system. You may also be moved to the new system if you decide to move to a new phone and broadband package.
If you haven't been moved over yet, don't worry – your phone company will get in touch with you when they want you to make the change.
Its happening, zero will be different tho, basically they are just using different cables.