How Do I Know if I'm Ready for the Big Switch-Off?

In 2017, the BT Group announced they were going to switch off the existing telephone network in December 2025 and that traditional phone lines would no longer be available. This has now been extended to January 31st, 2027, to give people more time to migrate to new digital-based connections.

Large numbers of people in the UK still have a landline for calls, and we want to help you prepare your home for this change.

What Home Services Will be Impacted by The Big Switch Off?

No longer supported
Supported services

Faxes

Analogue Phones

Analogue Security

Pendant Alarms

All analogue services and devices that require a traditional "dial tone", such as the ones above will need to be transitioned to an All-IP alternative to be compatible. Essentially, these home services may require updated models to be compatible with the new digital-based internet connection.

VOIP

Computers

Smart Devices

What does this mean for me?

As of September 2023, traditional phone lines have been removed as a product from all providers and all newly purchased products should now be digital based across the UK.

If you want to continue using a home telephone after January 2027, you MUST have an Ultrafast Full Fibre or All IP internet connection with an internet-compatible phone/device, referred to as VoIP.

Anyone who has not moved to an Ultrafast or All IP service with a VoIP subscription (for a home phone) will no longer be able to make calls or use services that rely on analogue transmission.

How ready are you?

This is one of the biggest and most disruptive changes to the telecoms market in its lifetime and Your Co-op will be here to help guide you through it and provide you with a better service than ever before.

Whether you're excited by the prospect of the very fastest internet speeds or just need a basic voice service to maintain home-based calling, we can tailor to your needs.

What do I need to do?

What do I need to to do?

I do not have internet service but still want to make landline calls

To be ready you can either

Change your current landline to a Full Fibre/All IP broadband line with a VoIP service.
Use an alternative voice service (calling device) such as a mobile phone to make calls after 2027.

I have an internet service and still want to make landline calls

You are nearly there.

To be ready you will have to change your current internet service to a Full Fibre/All IP broadband line with a VoIP service to continue making home-based phone calls.

I have an internet service but don't want to make landline calls

You are nearly there.

To be ready all you need to do is upgrade your current internet service to a Full Fibre/All IP equivalent. We also advise that you ensure you still have an alternative voice service, such as a mobile phone if you need to make important calls such as to the emergency services.

I have a Full Fibre/All-IP service and still use a traditional landline to make calls

You are nearly there.

All you need to do is change your traditional landline to a VoIP service.

I have a Full Fibre/All-IP service and don't want to make landline calls

Congratulations you are ready!

However, we advise that you ensure you still have an alternative voice service such as a mobile phone. In the event of a power cut, you may need it to make important calls such as to the emergency services. If you don't have a mobile phone of your own, we can provide a free mobile and SIM with your broadband package.

What is VoIP?

On any new Ultrafast or All-IP services, calls will be delivered over that internet connection using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) rather than the "dial tone" services that have been used for landlines.

Find out more about VoIP phones.

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How Do I Know if I'm Ready for the Big Switch-Off?