Digital Switchover
The UK's telephone network is changing. By January 2027, most telephone providers will be moving their customers from old analogue landlines over to new upgraded landline services using digital technology. For more information click here.
Published: 25 October 2026
| Digital Switchover
The UK’s telephone network is changing. By January 2027, most telephone providers will be moving their customers from old analogue landlines over to new upgraded landline services using digital technology. The switchover is being led by the UK telecommunications industry and services in the UK such as home phones and healthcare devices will be switched over. This may include:
Your telephone provider will contact you to give you a switchover date and to check in and discuss what you need to do to make sure your service isn’t affected. If you or someone you know has a telecare safety device, who depends on their landline and/or use a telecare device connected to a phone line such as a fall monitor, lifeline or personal alarm, then please contact the provider of this service to find out how this device will be affected. Vulnerable users are entitled to a backup battery free of charge from their provider if they have critical services running such as telecare/telehealth. You should tell your telephone provider now if you have no other way of making emergency calls and if you have no broadband, internet or mobile phone. Your telephone provider should contact you before the switchover to let you know if you’ll be affected. Please contact your telephone provider directly (BT, Virgin, etc) if you have any concerns about the switchover. Useful links
For more information, please also visit Northumberland County Council: https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/economy-and-regeneration/projects-and-programmes/inorthumberland/digital-switchover |