For many UK households, the landline is still a vital part of everyday life. Even in an age of smartphones, having a traditional home phone number provides familiarity, reliability, and in many cases, necessity. Elderly relatives often prefer calling a landline, businesses may have your number saved, and it’s often the contact point for schools, doctors, or local services. In short, the landline still holds value, even if broadband no longer feels worth the rising monthly costs.
Over the last few years, broadband prices in the UK have steadily increased, often bundled together with services people don’t want or need. Many providers push packages that tie broadband, TV, and phone into one deal, making it difficult to separate them. If you only want to keep your landline number, you may feel like you’re being forced into paying for broadband you barely use. This has left many customers asking a straightforward question: “Can I cancel broadband but still keep my landline?”
The short answer is: not in the traditional copper-wire sense. The old Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is being phased out, and BT has already announced that all analogue landline services will switch to digital by 2025 (now 2027). That means the classic standalone landline is disappearing — but that doesn’t mean you have to lose your number.
Instead, the modern solution is digital telephony, often called VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). With VoIP, your landline number is hosted online, not tied to a physical copper line. This gives you far more flexibility: you can keep your number, use it through a simple handset adapter, or even route calls through a mobile app. Most importantly, you can cancel your broadband contract with your current provider and still retain your landline identity, usually at a much lower cost.
So while the traditional setup is changing, there are clear ways to keep your landline without being stuck in a broadband bundle.
The 2027 Landline Switch-Off (and the Stop-Sell)
The UK’s traditional phone system is being phased out. For decades, households and businesses have relied on the copper-based PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). But these legacy services are no longer fit for purpose, and Openreach is retiring them. The official landline switch-off date is now set for 31 January 2027, following a delay from the original 2025 deadline.
That doesn’t mean it’s business as usual until then. Since September 2023, Openreach has enforced a nationwide stop-sell on all new PSTN and ISDN services. In practice, this means customers can no longer order new analogue phone lines or traditional “landline only” packages. If you already have one, you can keep it for now, but no new connections are available.
This stop-sell has major implications. Historically, services like ADSL broadband or simple line rental were delivered over copper lines, tied directly to the PSTN. With the network being retired, providers are no longer allowed to sell these options. Instead, they must offer fibre-based services such as FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) or SoGEA (Single Order Generic Ethernet Access). These products don’t rely on a separate landline — they’re designed for an all-IP future where voice calls are delivered digitally.
For customers, this means that the traditional “landline only” option is disappearing. You can’t simply take out a new line for phone calls without broadband. Even those still on ADSL or FTTC (VDSL) will eventually be migrated, as analogue services are withdrawn exchange by exchange in the run-up to 2027.
The good news is that this doesn’t mean you have to lose your phone number. Instead, numbers can be ported to digital solutions such as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). These services allow you to keep your landline identity, even as the underlying copper network is switched off.
So while the PSTN switch-off marks the end of the traditional analogue landline, modern replacements are already in place — and understanding them is key if you want to keep your number without being tied into unwanted broadband bundles.
Why Cancelling Broadband Breaks Your Landline
For many households, the landline and broadband have always felt like separate services. You paid line rental for your home phone, and broadband was just an optional add-on. But in practice, the two have been tied together for years — and that’s where the problem starts if you’re hoping to cancel broadband but keep your landline.
Traditional landline services in the UK were delivered over the PSTN copper network, the same infrastructure that carried ADSL or FTTC (VDSL) broadband. Your “phone line” was the foundation, and broadband ran on top of it. That’s why line rental was bundled into every broadband package: the two services were technically inseparable.
Now that the copper network is being retired, the relationship has flipped. Instead of your phone line being the primary service, providers are building everything around broadband. Today’s fibre products such as FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) and SoGEA (Single Order Generic Ethernet Access) no longer come with a traditional analogue line at all. If you want a home phone number, it has to run digitally — usually via a VoIP service layered on top of your broadband connection.
This is why cancelling broadband almost always means losing your landline and its number. Once you tell your provider you want to stop broadband, the system automatically closes the line, and the attached landline ceases to exist. In the past, you might have been able to “unbundle” services and keep a phone-only plan. But under the stop-sell rules now in place, providers are no longer allowed to offer standalone copper-based lines.
The net effect is that landline services are now locked into the digital future. You can’t just strip away broadband and expect the phone line to stay active — the technology that supported that setup is going offline.
For customers who only want to keep their number without paying for an expensive fibre package, the answer lies in porting their landline to a dedicated VoIP service. This modern alternative lets you retain your number without being forced to pay for broadband you don’t use.
The Real Options to Keep Your Number
If you want to cancel broadband but still keep your landline, the first step is always the same: port your number to a VoIP service. Once your number has been moved off the copper network and into the cloud, you’re no longer tied to broadband bundles or line rental charges. From there, you can decide how you actually want to use your number. With our service, you’ve got three flexible options:
Option 1: Use It Like a Normal Landline (via app or extension)
Once your number is hosted on VoIP, you can carry on using it just like a traditional landline — only smarter. Calls can ring through to a simple desk phone, or you can pick them up on a mobile app or laptop. It feels like the landline you’ve always had, but with extra benefits such as voicemail-to-email, call history, and portability. This setup is ideal if you still want to answer calls directly but don’t want the baggage of a broadband contract.
Option 2: Forward Calls to Your Mobile
Prefer not to install an app or use extra devices? No problem. Once your landline number is on VoIP, we can set it to automatically forward all calls to your mobile. That way, friends, family, or customers can keep dialling your landline, but you’ll receive the call wherever you are. You don’t need to change your habits, and callers won’t even know the difference.
Option 3: Voicemail-to-Email Only
Sometimes, you just want to keep your landline number alive for reputation and familiarity. Maybe it’s on old paperwork, business cards, or online listings. In that case, you can set it up as a voicemail-only line, where every call goes straight to voicemail and the message is delivered instantly to your email inbox. You’ll never miss important messages, and your number remains active at a fraction of the cost of a broadband package.
No matter which option you choose, the crucial point is this: you can only keep your landline in today’s market by moving it to VoIP first. From there, you’re free to use it the way that best fits your needs.
How Plexatalk Solves This
One of the biggest frustrations for UK households is that the major broadband providers tie everything together. If you want to keep your landline, you’re often forced to keep paying for a broadband package you don’t really need — and in many cases, you’ll end up with a TV or mobile bundle thrown in as well. At Plexatalk, we do things differently.
We believe you shouldn’t have to pay for services you don’t use. That’s why our solution is simple: we separate the landline from broadband entirely. By porting your landline number to Plexatalk’s VoIP service, you can keep your number without being locked into a broadband contract.
Here’s how it works:
- Keep your number – Whether you’ve had the same landline for years or it’s the one all your contacts know, we’ll port it to our VoIP system so you don’t lose it.
- Use it anywhere – With Plexatalk, your landline isn’t tied to a wall socket. You can answer calls on a mobile app, a VoIP desk phone, or even your laptop. Going on holiday? Working from home? You’ll still be reachable on your landline number.
- No copper line required – The old PSTN copper network is being switched off, and with it, the idea of “landline only” packages. Plexatalk works digitally from day one, so you’re not dependent on ageing infrastructure.
- Future-proof by design – The national PSTN switch-off is scheduled for January 2027, but our service is already fully digital. That means once you’ve switched, you won’t have to worry about future migrations. You’re ready for the all-IP future now.
Whether you want to answer calls directly, forward them to your mobile, or just keep your number alive with voicemail-to-email, Plexatalk gives you the flexibility to choose. Most importantly, you’ll only pay for the service you actually need — not an expensive broadband bundle you’ll never use.
In short: if you’ve been asking “Can I cancel broadband but still keep my landline?” — Plexatalk is the answer.
Step-by-Step: How to Cancel Broadband but Keep Your Landline
If you’re ready to cut the cord on expensive broadband bundles but still want to keep your landline number, timing is everything. Cancel too soon and you could lose your number forever. Follow this step-by-step process to make sure the transition goes smoothly:
Step 1: Don’t cancel your broadband yet
It’s tempting to call your provider straight away and cut costs, but hold off. If you cancel your broadband before your number is safely ported, the provider will usually shut down both services — broadband and landline together. Once that happens, your number may be unrecoverable.
Step 2: Port your landline number to Plexatalk
The first real step is to begin a number porting request. Plexatalk will handle the process of moving your landline number off the old copper network and onto our digital VoIP platform. This ensures your number remains active, even after the PSTN is switched off. Porting normally takes a few working days, during which your service continues as usual.
Step 3: Wait for porting to complete
Once the porting process is finalised, your number is now hosted by Plexatalk. At this point, you’ll be able to pick up calls using your chosen method — whether that’s our mobile app, a VoIP desk phone, or simply forwarding calls to your mobile.
Step 4: Cancel broadband with your old provider
Only after your number is safely ported should you contact your broadband provider to cancel your contract. At this stage, you no longer need their service to keep your landline. Your old provider will close the account, but your number will stay active through Plexatalk.
Step 5: Start receiving calls the way you want
From now on, your landline number works entirely independently of broadband. You can take calls on your mobile, PC, or VoIP handset — whichever setup suits you best. And because the number is hosted digitally, you’re fully prepared for the 2027 PSTN switch-off.
By following this process, you can cancel broadband with confidence, protect your landline number, and enjoy a simpler, cheaper setup that works on your terms.
Frequently Asked Questions – Cancel Broadband and Keep Your Landline
Can I keep my landline number without internet?
Yes. By porting your number to a VoIP service, you can keep it active without home broadband. Calls can reach you via a mobile app, desk phone, or be forwarded to your mobile.
Do I need FTTP to use VoIP?
No. VoIP works with any internet connection — mobile data, office WiFi, or even forwarding calls to your mobile. You don’t need fibre broadband at home.
What happens to my alarm or careline device?
Many alarms and careline systems won’t work on VoIP. Check with your provider for digital-compatible equipment or an upgrade before switching.
Will I lose my number in 2027?
No. Once ported to VoIP, your number is future-proof. The PSTN switch-off won’t affect it.
Can I keep using my old landline handset?
Often yes, with an adapter that connects your traditional handset to VoIP. Or you can use a VoIP desk phone or mobile app instead.
Is VoIP reliable during a power cut?
VoIP relies on power and internet. During an outage, calls won’t work unless you have backup power or forwarding enabled to your mobile.
Is VoIP cheaper than keeping broadband?
Yes. Broadband with a landline often costs £30–£50/month. VoIP plans to keep your number active typically start from £4/month.
Keep Your Landline Without Broadband
The writing is on the wall for traditional landlines. The old copper network is being retired, and providers no longer allow you to separate your phone line from broadband. That means the familiar “landline only” package is disappearing, and by 2027, the PSTN will be switched off completely.
But losing your broadband doesn’t have to mean losing your number. The only way to cancel broadband and keep your landline is to move it to a VoIP service. Once your number is hosted digitally, you’re no longer tied to a broadband bundle or line rental fee. You can choose exactly how you want to use your number — answering calls on a mobile app, redirecting them to your mobile, or keeping a voicemail-only line for recognition and trust.
That’s exactly what Plexatalk offers. We make the process simple: we handle the porting, we set up your preferred call option, and we ensure your number is ready for the 2027 switch-off well in advance. No copper, no forced broadband, no hidden extras — just a landline that works on your terms.
So if you’ve been asking “Can I cancel broadband but still keep my landline?”, the answer is yes — with Plexatalk.
Want to cancel broadband but keep your landline? See our home pricing here and business pricing here.