the uk's old copper telephone network, the one that has carried landline calls for over a century, is being switched off. openreach is retiring it nationally, and the deadline for the whole country is 31 january 2027.
this is not an earth thing. it is happening to every provider, every exchange and every copper line in the country, and every provider is writing to their customers about it.
your calls move off the copper line and onto a digital connection instead, carried over your broadband. it is usually called digital voice, and it is the same technology whether you are with us or anyone else.
the practical difference is where the phone plugs in. instead of a socket on the skirting board, the handset plugs into the back of your router. if you are already on full fibre, most of this happens quietly in the background.
if you are still on an older copper-based service, we will be in touch to move you onto a suitable replacement before the switch-off reaches your area.
your number does not have to change
in almost every case you keep the number you have always had. it is ported across to the new line. if you would rather take a new number instead, that is your choice too, but it is not automatic either way. tell us which you want and we will set it up.
what you need to do
for most people, very little. we work through the switch-off area by area and move customers across as we go, so there is usually nothing to book or arrange. if we have already emailed or texted you about your line, follow the link in that message. it is matched to your address.
the one thing worth doing is not leaving it. if the switch-off reaches you and nothing has been arranged, the copper line simply stops working. we would much rather move you on a day that suits you than have your phone go quiet without warning.
the one real trade-off: power cuts
an old copper line drew its power from the exchange, so a corded phone kept working in a blackout. a digital line does not. it runs through your router, and the router runs on your mains electricity.
ofcom requires every provider to offer at least one solution that keeps you able to reach 999 for a minimum of an hour during a power cut at your home, free of charge, to customers who depend on their landline. usually that means a battery backup unit that sits between the wall socket and the router. if you have no mobile signal at home, or no mobile at all, ask us about it.
before you switch, tell us about alarms
fall pendants, telecare alarms, lift phones, some older card terminals and a few medical devices dial out over the phone line. they may need testing or a small change on the new line, and some need replacing altogether. we will not complete a switch until that has been checked.
we have written about telecare and the switch-off separately, because it is the part that matters most and the part most likely to be missed.
common questions
pricing stays about the same for the equivalent service. where a faster or more reliable connection is available at your address for a similar price, we will tell you before anything changes.
your copper line stops working when the switch-off reaches you. that is true with any provider, because it is a network change rather than a company decision. it is worth acting before then so you can pick the day.
if your broadband still runs over copper, yes, it moves to a new service as part of the same change. if you are already on full fibre, your broadband carries on exactly as it is and only the phone side changes.
sometimes. if the router you have is not compatible with the new line, we will sort that out with you as part of the move. if the one you have works, keep it.
give us a ring on 01403 214069 or email earthbroadband@hometelecom.co.uk. we would rather answer a question now than have it go wrong on the day.
