{"id":2433,"date":"2024-04-30T11:51:41","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T11:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitaltradecenter.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/30\/how-will-the-landline-phone-switch-work-and-what-do-you-need-to-do\/"},"modified":"2024-04-30T11:51:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T11:51:41","slug":"how-will-the-landline-phone-switch-work-and-what-do-you-need-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitaltradecenter.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/30\/how-will-the-landline-phone-switch-work-and-what-do-you-need-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"How will the landline phone switch work and what do you need to do?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Landline services are changing in the UK.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The old system will be switched off in 2025 and landlines will use broadband to make calls.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

If you rely on a landline, you will still be able to make calls but the technology that powers them will be different.<\/p>\n

Here’s everything you need to know.<\/p>\n

I rely on a landline – can I still use it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Yes, you will still be able to have a landline in your home.<\/p>\n

The change means the landline will use the internet to make calls, rather than old copper network (known as PSTN, or public switched telephone network).<\/p>\n

The new system is called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) but providers also have their own names for it such as BT Digital Voice.<\/p>\n

What if I don’t have an internet connection at home?<\/strong><\/p>\n

For those without a broadband connection at home, your supplier will install one.<\/p>\n

If you only want to use broadband so you can keep your landline, that’s fine.<\/p>\n

Where broadband is just being used to power the telephone, your supplier should not charge you extra.<\/p>\n

Both BT and Virgin have committed to not charging customers any extra for landline-only broadband connections.<\/p>\n

I have broadband at home, does that make things easier?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you already have a broadband connection, the switch should be fairly straightforward.<\/p>\n

Your phone will be plugged into your router or a new socket, which in some cases will need an adaptor supplied by your provider.<\/p>\n

Will I need to get a new landline phone?<\/strong><\/p>\n

You should be able to keep your current phone. If it’s very old, you might need to upgrade it.<\/p>\n

Can I keep my current number?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, you can keep the same number.<\/p>\n

Once I’ve gone digital, will my landline work any differently?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your landline will still feel like your old landline after the switch – including a dial tone when you pick it up.<\/p>\n

Digital lines also provide clearer and better quality calls, providers say.<\/p>\n

If I’m not paying line rental for a landline, will my bills get cheaper?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unfortunately it seems like they won’t. In the eyes of phone providers, you’re still getting the same service – it’s just the technology that has changed.<\/p>\n

Here’s what a Virgin Media spokesperson said: “As customers will still be able to use their landline service, they will not see a reduction in their bills.”<\/p>\n

BT also won’t be lowering its prices after the switch. “You’ll still have the same service, and your price plan and bills will stay the same,” a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

When is the changeover happening?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The deadline for the switch is December 2025, but providers have already started moving people over.<\/p>\n

Your phone company will contact you when they want you to change.<\/p>\n

Why is the old network being switched off?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The analogue network dates back to the 19th century – and in some cases relies on infrastructure dating back that far.<\/p>\n

It’s becoming harder and more expensive to maintain, so it needs to be replaced.<\/p>\n

Switching to digital brings the phone network in line with other advances in the digital world.<\/p>\n

What about other devices that use a phone line?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Other devices including telecare services, personal alarms and security alarms use the phone network.<\/p>\n

Some existing devices will continue to work using digital phone services, but others will need to be replaced.<\/p>\n

If you use telecare services, you may want to let your phone provider know in advance of the switchover.<\/p>\n

You can also contact your telecare provider to check if your devices will work with a digital connection.<\/p>\n

What if there’s a power cut?<\/strong><\/p>\n

While some analogue phones will work in a power cut, that’s not the case for a digital phone unless it has a battery back-up.<\/p>\n

If you do not have a mobile phone – or mobile reception in your area – your provider should give you a battery back-up so you’re not cut off if there is a power cut.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

This post appeared first on sky.com<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Landline services are changing in the UK.\u00a0 The old system will be switched off in 2025 and landlines will use broadband to make calls. If you rely on a landline, you will still be able to make calls but the technology that powers them will be different. Here’s everything you need to know. I rely <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2434,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2433","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-science"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaltradecenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaltradecenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaltradecenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaltradecenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaltradecenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2433"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/digitaltradecenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2433\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaltradecenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitaltradecenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaltradecenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitaltradecenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}