Digital Switchover
The UK's analogue landlines are being switched off. Here's what's changing, who's affected, and how we can help.
What’s changing?
For decades, UK landlines have run on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), an analogue network carried over copper wires. That network is old, increasingly hard to maintain, and is being retired.
Landline calls are moving to digital phone lines, often called VoIP or digital voice, which carry calls over a broadband connection. In most homes that means your phone plugs into your broadband router instead of the wall socket.
The old analogue phone network is being switched off across the industry. The widely published target date is 31 January 2027. Digital landlines use your broadband instead.
Who’s affected?
Almost everyone with a traditional landline, at home or at work, will need to move to a digital option. If you already make calls over broadband, you may have moved already. If you’re not sure, ask your current provider.
Things to check
Some equipment uses the phone line in ways you might not think about. Check these with the company that supplies or maintains them, and tell us about them when you switch:
Can I keep my phone number?
Yes, in most cases, and it’s free.
Moving your existing number to us is free, for homes and businesses. Our staff arrange it by hand, and it usually takes a few working days. Or choose a new UK number instead.
Many existing corded and cordless phones work with a digital line by plugging into the router. If yours doesn’t, we’ll talk you through the options.
No home internet? You can get a new landline number with a digital phone line over broadband. Already have broadband from someone else? Our digital phone works over any provider’s connection.
Moving to digital with Telqaris
Check
We check full fibre availability at your address and ask what your line is used for today, including alarms, telecare and payment terminals.
Plan
We recommend full fibre and the right digital phone setup, arrange your free number port, and agree a switch date with you.
Switch
On switch day your number moves to your new digital line. We help you connect your phone or set up your apps and devices.
Power cuts & vulnerable customers
Digital landlines need mains electricity, so they won’t work in a power cut unless there’s a battery back-up. Your mobile phone is usually a practical alternative for calling 999 in a power cut. If you rely on your landline to call 999, for example because you have no mobile phone, no reliable mobile signal at home, or you use a telecare alarm, please tell us, and your telecare or alarm supplier, before you switch. We’ll give you a free solution, such as a suitable battery back-up for the equipment we install, so you can still call 999 for at least one hour in a power cut.
Get ready for the switchover
Tell us your postcode and how you use your landline today. We’ll help you move to digital, with your number ported free.