What is the digital switchover? Everything you need to know about the analogue phone switch off

Updated – May 21, 2024

The digital switchover, which will see all traditional landlines in the UK will be switched off, has been delayed from 2025 to 2027. 

The analogue, copper wire phone network (also known as public switch telephone network - or PSTN) is still being retired, meaning you’ll no longer be able to use your landline phone from January 2027. 

If you have other systems connected to your phone line, like alarms, telecare systems, CCTV, or even some half-hourly electricity meters, then they’ll stop working too. 

Unless you make the switch to digital. 

But what does that mean? And why is the old system getting switched off anyway? If you’re one of the 62.1% of business owners still using a landline in 2024, here’s everything you need to know.  

What is the digital switchover?  

To keep your landline and other PSTN systems running, you’ll need to switch to a digital, internet-based alternative such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).  

In 2016, it was announced that all analogue phone lines in the UK would be updated to digital internet-based services by 2025. Openreach, the BT Group company that looks after all UK phone and broadband lines, has pushed this back to 2027.

Even so, if you currently use a landline in your home or business, you’ll be affected by the switch. It might be a good idea to start thinking about switching to digital as soon as possible.  

Bionic can help you switch to superfast business broadband and a VoIP telephone line to help future-proof your business and maybe even get ahead of the competition.  

VoIP phone services offer loads more features than current landline tech, so switching now could make a difference to how you do business. We’ll take a closer look at the pros and cons of switching later on, but first – why are we going to the trouble of switching everything off? 

Has the digital switchover been delayed?

Originally planned to be completed by the end of 2025, the digital switchover has now been delayed until January 2027. This has been done so that broadband providers, telecare providers and consumers have more time to adapt.

One of the major concerns is that telecare and alarm system providers haven't sufficiently upgraded their systems. Although some internet service providers (ISPs) can provide a limited battery backup to keep VoIP phones running if there's a power cut, these systems don’t always work properly with older alarm or telecare monitoring systems. This could put millions of vulnerable customers at risk.

But the switchover will still be going ahead, so you should still plan to switch to digital as soon as possible.

Why is the analogue copper landline network being switched off?   

The digital switchover is happening because the current PSTN system needs updating. The ageing analogue system is becoming increasingly expensive to run, and although a lot of work is needed to switch to digital, using the internet to make calls should be more cost-effective and even offer clearer calls with faster connection speeds.  

The first copper phone line network was set up in 1877 and was designed to transmit voice calls. That’s why internet speeds aren’t as fast when data is sent along copper wires. 

The first fibre lines were introduced in 1977. This meant larger amounts of data – not just voice calls – could be sent more quickly and paved the way for the current broadband network.  

The copper wires will no longer be used when PSTN is switched off, meaning all voice calls and other systems that were connected to the network will need an internet connection to work. 

Digital voice services are already being offered by some phone companies, but the main phone providers (BT, Sky, TalkTalk) have different timescales for their mandatory switchovers. However, they are on target and expect all home phone and business customers to be digital by 2027. 

The switch won’t just affect landline phones, it will affect anything that connects to PSTN, including alarms, CCTV, and door-entry systems. To avoid disruption when the switchover happens, you should check with your provider to see if these systems will be digitally compatible or if they’ll need upgrading. 

What will replace landlines in 2027?  

Although the official date of the digital switchover is the start of 2027, the test rollout has already begun and many businesses have switched to VoIP. A study from Snom, pioneers in IP phone technology, found that the UK is switching to VoIP faster than other European countries.  

But it looks like there’s still a lot of work to be done. Figures from a National Business Communications survey show that while more than two-thirds (62.1%) of businesses still use a landline, more than a third (37.9%) have no idea what the big analogue switch-off is

That’s why it’s important to get on top of things now. Sam Hollands, Connectivity Operations Manager at Bionic, has said: “The digital switchover is running to schedule, but if businesses don’t make the switch sooner rather than later, there could issues as the final switch-off date approaches. 

“A high volume of last-minute applications could mean some providers can't keep up with demand. This could leave some businesses without phone services until they connect to VoIP or another compatible service. That’s why it makes sense to future-proof your business by making the switch now.” 

What is VoIP?  

Although the acronym may sound confusing, VoIP or ‘Voice Over Internet Protocol’ just means voice calls can be made via the internet rather than using a wire like the current system. 

A lot of phone users already use VoIP systems without even realising it. For example, the most popular examples of VoIP are Skype and WhatsApp. Often VoIP options are good for businesses as calls and messaging costs less than regular calling or texting.  

If you want a little bit more tech talk, when using VoIP your voice is converted into a series of digital packets which are transmitted across the internet to your recipients. 

So that’s VoIP sorted, but what are the other alternatives on offer to replace analogue? When your devices get switched over, they will be using an IP system like VoIP or SoGEA, which will be connected by either FTTC or FTTP. 

As you’d imagine, there’s lots of jargon and loads of confusing acronyms, so let us break it all down into simple terms.  

What is the difference between voice and data traffic?  

Data is anything you send or receive via the internet. With data (like photos, videos and web pages) information doesn’t have to be sent in sequence and can be re-sent at any time.  

But with voice traffic (things like phone and video calls) the whole message has to travel in sequence in one continuous chunk. Think about it like this, a phone call would be all jumbled if your words were not sent in the correct order, with data it doesn’t matter as much. 

Although all these choices may sound overwhelming, the tech-enabled team at Bionic will be able to help you work out which option is best for you. 

What systems will be affected by the analogue switch-off?  

Although the digital switchover should run smoothly, you should check your systems for compatibility issues of ahead of time. It’s always a good idea to research the main systems you use in your business, so you’re not left in the lurch at the last moment.  

During the digital switchover, there will be changes to the way some older equipment works with new digital technology. If you use devices that are directly linked to your phone line (like telemetry devices) you should speak to the provider of those services to check if they will be compatible with the digital system. Below are some examples of other devices that may be affected: 

Textphones 

A textphone is a phone with a keyboard and a display screen, they are useful for deaf users as it allows them to communicate via typed messages rather than listening and speaking into the mouthpiece. 

A few different models of textphone have been analysed at the BT Digital Services lab during their switchover tests. The results concluded making textphone-to-textphone and text relay calls on IP networks was possible. However, the call quality can sometimes be affected by other data loading on the line. 

Keep in mind the free text relay service is available on the Relay UK app and is unaffected by the move to IP. The app can be used on any connected device like a phone, tablet, laptop or PC. 

Amplified Phones 

Amplified phones are specifically designed for users with hearing loss as they have louder volume and better pitch control. 

Amplified phones have been tested at BT’s Digital Services lab too. All the devices tested performed well, even when packet loss and loading were added. 

Intruder and telecare alarms 

Telecare alarms are automatic systems that alert help (for example a family member, care centre or medical aid) when the user presses a button. An intruder alarm protects your home or premises against break-ins and burglaries.  

If you have intruder or telecare alarms that rely on your current analogue system, it’s been reported that most modern devices should be compatible with IP. But it’s always best to check with your provider in case you need to update your devices to a newer model, especially if you run a business like a care home where residents' lives may be at risk if their personal alarms stop working. 

What happens to a digital phone line if there’s a power cut or broadband is down?  

The current analogue system is linked to your local telephone exchange which has its own power supply. At the moment your landline will work even if your electricity supply isn’t working, you’ll still be able to make calls if your electricity is down. 

But the new system will rely on your own electricity supply.  

This means if there is a power cut or outage in your home or business premises, you won’t be able to make or take landline calls using the digital network. Any other devices and systems connected to the digital network will also stop working during an outage.  

An alternative is to have a battery backup for your broadband router, then you will be able to access the internet even if there’s been a power cut. A mobile phone is also good to have as a backup.  

You can contact your provider directly to discuss your options or speak to the team at Bionic. Many of our preferred suppliers offer 4G backup as standard or as an add-on to make sure you’re never without a connection.  

When will the digital rollout and analogue phone switch-off happen?  

Tests are already happening in some parts of the UK and have been for the last few years. All analogue systems will be turned off by January 2027, but Openreach will switch off UK services at different stages.  

The first stage of the digital switchover is called the ‘stop sell’ phase and is already underway. Stop sell means that no new analogue services will be sold to customers after once an exchange area is 75% full-fibre enabled.

When this happens, no more traditional phone line services and FTTC broadband will be sold to new and existing customers in that area. Openreach has stopped selling traditional phone lines in all exchange areas as of September 2023. 

This means that no new customers will be able to sign up for analogue services and those who want new services will have to go digital. Customers with current analogue services won’t be able to change anything about their analogue tariff either.  

To reflect this change, at Bionic, we no longer offer traditional landline packages to help with the transition to fully digital services. You can read the full Openreach timeline here.

What steps should businesses take to prepare for the digital switchover?

If you’re currently using systems linked to the analogue phone network —  it’s best to start the transition now. To make sure your business is ready in time, follow these steps:

Conduct a digital readiness assessment

Digital readiness is basically the level of readiness a business has to move from traditional workflows (analogue in this case) to digital workflows using newer software and technology. This looks at processes but also employees’ skills too.

One way to figure out if you are ready is to carry out a digital readiness assessment and answer these core questions:

1. Which parts of your business are already digital? 
2. What needs to be digital? (equipment, payment terminals, for example)
3. Do your employees have the skills to use new digital technology?

Once you’ve answered these questions — it’s time to get planning.

Develop a digital transition plan

Using the answers to the questions above — you’ll need to make an action plan outlining what you need to do for the transition.

For example, part of your plan might look like this:

Once you’ve made an action plan for your business — it’s time to get digital!

Update or implement new technology

You may have found some systems that need replacing or upgrading to work with a digital system. 

• It’s best to upgrade to a digital phone system if you are currently using a traditional landline. There are several different VoIP handsets that are usually available, and in most cases, you can keep your existing phone number.
• You’ll need to transfer all your important files to a digital cloud system — think of customer and supplier details that you need to access regularly. A cloud system normally comes as part of a digital phone system in a web-based app that you can install on your business computer, laptop or smartphone.
• If you’re currently using analogue credit card terminals, these are unlikely to work properly with a digital phone system. You’ll need to upgrade to (wireless) payment terminals that connect to the internet through secure WiFi.
• If you’re using an outdated CCTV system, you might need to buy a video encoder so your existing system still works, but it’s worth checking with the manufacturer if you aren’t sure.
• Remember that if you don’t update all your systems that run on an analogue network, they will stop working when the switch is carried out.

Provide training to staff

Next, it’s time to train your staff. Upgrading to digital technology should improve the efficiency of your small business, but only if you’re employees know how to use it all. 

Consider planning after-hours training to talk them through process changes and how to use the new systems, so they can get familiar without the pressure of waiting customers or heavy workloads. 

Test and optimise systems

As with anything new, it doesn’t always go to plan the first time around. Expect some teething issues as your staff get used to new ways of working and monitor how your business operates using a fully digital system. 

If you’re using any adapters — like for VoIP telephone — check over time if they are reliable. If things aren’t working properly, it may be better, in the long run, to upgrade your equipment to a digitally compatible alternative.

Are there any legal compliances in place for businesses?

Since VoIP systems work by storing data online, you’ll need to be clued up on data protection regulations or (GDPR) if you aren’t already familiar with them. These regulations apply to all businesses in the UK, no matter your size. Find out more in our complete guide to GDPR for small businesses.

There are also other regulations that you should be aware of when using electronic communications, including The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) set out by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

These are regulations on marketing calls, emails and SMSs, website cookies and website security. And because a cloud-based VoIP system works online — it’s more at risk of being hacked. So it’s worth learning what to watch out for to keep them out — read more in our guide to VoIP hacking.

How will the digital switchover affect people or businesses in remote areas?

98% of the UK has access to an internet connection, and you don’t need ultrafast broadband to make business calls over the internet. So even if you’re out in the sticks, if you have a reliable internet connection you’ll easily be able to make the switch. 

If you need help choosing a new business broadband provider, Bionic can help you find a competitive deal that suits the needs of your business.

Will this make bills more expensive?

In a snapshot, no, it shouldn’t be more expensive. Although digital solutions use new technology, they are affordable. In a lot of cases, they are more cost-effective than analogue solutions because they are in higher demand. 

Many providers offer tailored packages based on how many people use the system, so you only pay for what you need. Not only that, but VoIP call rates are usually cheaper than the standard business rates on landlines.

How can Bionic help your business with the digital switchover?  

At Bionic, we know that changes like the digital switchover can be overwhelming, but our helpful team are on hand to ensure your business doesn’t suffer and the process can run as smoothly as possible. 

We can compare VoIP options and provide advice on different digital avenues that might be best suited to your business. The switchover is fast approaching, so why not get it sorted sooner rather than later? Contact us today by clicking ‘Start a Quote’ on the righthand sidebar or call our tech-experts on 0800 860 6830. 

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