Full Fibre and the Landline Switch-Off: What Changes for Your Home Phone and Broadband

The UK's old copper telephone network is being retired. Home phone lines are moving to digital services that run over a broadband connection, and providers have committed to finishing the move by January 2027. For most households the change is small: the phone plugs into the router instead of the wall. It matters more if you rely on a landline for a telecare alarm, or have no mobile signal at home, because a digital line needs power.

Full fibre and part fibre

• Part fibre runs fibre to a street cabinet and copper from there to your home. Speed falls with distance from the cabinet.
• Full fibre runs fibre all the way into your home. It is faster and more consistent, and needs an engineer to install a small box, called an optical network terminal, inside.
• Cable is a separate network in some areas, also capable of high speeds.

Which of these reaches your address decides what you can order. Checking your postcode shows what is available.

What changes for your home phone

• Your provider will contact you before your line is moved. You do not usually need to do anything until then.
• The phone plugs into the router, or into an adapter the provider sends.
• Your number normally stays the same.
• Some older equipment connected to the phone line, such as some alarms and card machines, may need checking with its supplier.

Power cuts

A digital phone line needs the router to have power. In a power cut it stops working unless there is a battery back-up. Providers must offer a way to call emergency services during a power cut to customers who rely on their landline, such as those with a telecare alarm or no mobile signal. If that is you, tell your provider.

Do you need to change provider?

No. Your current provider moves you. The switch-off is, however, a sensible moment to check whether full fibre has reached your address and whether your contract is ending.

How Wisemium helps

Add your broadband and home phone to Wisemium with their price and contract end date, and they are kept on record. Start with your postcode to see the broadband Wisemium lists for your address, including full fibre where it reaches you.