Why Are BT Getting Rid of Landlines?

BT, along with the wider UK telecoms industry, is retiring the old analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and moving customers to digital “landlines” delivered over broadband, often branded as Digital Voice. The national PSTN switch-off is scheduled for completion by January 2027. In practice, calls will still be made and received as usual, but instead of travelling over the copper voice network, they will run through an internet connection.

A major milestone in this transition has already taken place: the national stop-sell of legacy PSTN products such as Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) and ISDN. Since 5 September 2023, providers have been unable to order new traditional landlines or make certain changes to existing ones. This step is designed to accelerate migration and reduce reliance on ageing infrastructure that is becoming increasingly costly to maintain.

The big question… why are BT getting rid of landlines anyway?

The core reason for the change is that the PSTN is reaching end of life. It has served the UK for decades, but running both analogue and digital networks side by side is expensive and inefficient. By moving all voice traffic to IP (internet protocol), telecoms providers can simplify the network, lower maintenance costs, and introduce modern features such as improved call quality, remote working support, and easier integration with cloud services.

In short, the copper landline is being phased out — not the concept of a landline itself. By 2027, BT expects the vast majority of homes and businesses to be using digital voice services over broadband. With the stop-sell already in effect, now is the time for households and SMEs to understand what this means, plan ahead, and explore the options available before the final switch-off.

End of life for landlines explained

The decision to phase out traditional landlines is rooted in the limitations of the copper network. The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) was built decades ago, long before today’s digital demands, and while it has been remarkably reliable, it is now both outdated and costly to maintain. With millions of miles of copper cabling, constant upkeep is required to keep the service stable. As parts wear out, replacement parts and technical expertise are becoming harder to source, making the system increasingly unsustainable.

When the PSTN was designed, its purpose was straightforward: to carry voice calls. Internet access came much later, using copper lines for dial-up and later broadband. But internet over copper was essentially an afterthought, layered onto a network never intended to carry large volumes of digital data. Technologies like ADSL and VDSL squeezed more performance from the old infrastructure, but speeds were limited, and reliability often depended on how close a customer was to the local exchange.

Today, those limitations are clear. Streaming, video calls, cloud applications, and remote working have transformed the way both households and businesses use connectivity. Copper lines simply cannot keep up with the demand for speed, stability, and bandwidth. In contrast, full fibre (FTTP) provides ultra-fast, consistent connections, and when combined with VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), it offers a more modern, future-proof way to deliver landline services.

In short, BT is not getting rid of landlines as a concept, people will still be able to have a home or business phone. What’s changing is the underlying technology: the outdated copper PSTN is being retired in favour of digital voice over fibre, a solution built for the way we live and work today.

What is replacing BT landlines?

Traditional copper landlines aren’t disappearing without a replacement. Instead, they’re being upgraded to BT Digital Voice — a phone service that works over broadband rather than the old PSTN network. For existing BT customers, this means that once their copper line is switched off, they’ll make and receive calls through their BT broadband router instead.

At its core, Digital Voice is simply VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). VoIP technology has been around for years, and it allows voice calls to be carried over any internet connection. That means while BT’s version of Digital Voice is tied to BT broadband, the wider VoIP market offers much more flexibility.

For many households and SMEs, this flexibility is key. Not everyone wants or needs to stay with BT for their broadband. If full fibre (FTTP) isn’t available yet, VoIP still works perfectly well with alternatives like Starlink satellite broadband or 5G home broadband. And for those who want to save money or get faster speeds, pairing VoIP with newer fibre providers such as Cuckoo, Trooli, or Toob can be a great option.

The benefit of VoIP is that you can keep the concept of a “landline” — complete with your existing phone number — without being tied to outdated copper lines or locked into a single provider. Calls are clearer, the service is more resilient, and you’re free to choose the broadband supplier that best suits your budget and coverage.

In short, BT Digital Voice is the default replacement for BT customers, but it’s not the only path forward. With VoIP available from a wide range of providers, households and SMEs have more choice than ever in how they replace their old landlines.

Problems with BT’s approach

While BT Digital Voice is the default replacement for traditional landlines, its rollout hasn’t been without criticism. For many customers, the biggest issue is that Digital Voice only works if you also have BT broadband. This ties households and SMEs into a single provider, limiting the freedom to shop around for cheaper or faster broadband packages. At a time when new full fibre providers are offering competitive deals, being locked into BT can feel restrictive.

Another problem is limited flexibility. BT’s model is based on bundles and contracts, which don’t always align with what smaller businesses or cost-conscious households need. Alternatives in the wider VoIP market often come with shorter commitments, clearer pricing, and the ability to integrate with other services — something that BT’s one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t always deliver.

Customer feedback also highlights practical challenges with BT Digital Voice. Some reviews mention difficulties during the setup process, such as needing new handsets or adapters that don’t always arrive on time. Others raise concerns about call reliability, particularly in areas with patchy broadband coverage. Unlike the old copper system, where a landline would work even during a power cut, Digital Voice depends entirely on your internet connection and electricity supply. Without backup options, this can be a major drawback for vulnerable customers, telecare systems, or businesses that rely on 24/7 phone access.

Finally, there are mixed reviews around customer support. Some users report smooth migrations, but others describe long wait times or a lack of clear guidance on what Digital Voice means for their existing setup. Combined, these factors show why many people are looking beyond BT and considering independent VoIP providers that offer greater choice, transparency, and flexibility.

Alternatives to BT landlines and BT Digital Voice

The good news is that the end of traditional copper landlines doesn’t mean the end of having a reliable home or business phone. While BT Digital Voice is the default option for BT broadband customers, there are many alternatives to BT landlines that give households and SMEs greater freedom, flexibility, and control.

Independent VoIP providers like Plexatalk offer a simple way to move away from the restrictions of BT bundles. Because VoIP works over any broadband connection, you’re free to choose the internet provider that suits you best — whether that’s a big name like Virgin, a challenger like Cuckoo, or even Starlink or 5G broadband in harder-to-reach areas. This flexibility makes VoIP a more future-proof option, especially as more full fibre networks roll out across the UK.

Another advantage is that you can keep your existing landline number when switching to VoIP. Number porting ensures continuity, so your customers, clients, or relatives can still reach you without disruption. Unlike BT Digital Voice, which ties your phone service to BT broadband, independent VoIP gives you a landline number that moves with you, wherever you choose to take your internet service.

Independent VoIP providers also tend to offer clearer pricing and shorter contracts, along with advanced features such as voicemail-to-email, call recording, and mobile apps — often included as standard rather than as costly add-ons. For SMEs in particular, this can mean a better balance of affordability and functionality compared to being tied into BT’s model.

In short, you don’t have to accept being locked into BT broadband to keep a landline. By choosing a VoIP provider like Plexatalk, you can enjoy all the benefits of modern digital telephony while keeping your options open.

How to Switch

Moving away from traditional landlines — or from BT Digital Voice — to an independent VoIP provider is much simpler than many households and SMEs expect. The process is designed to keep your existing number active and minimise any disruption.

The key step is number porting. This allows you to transfer your current landline number from BT (or another provider) to your new VoIP service. Once ported, calls to your old number will automatically route through your new provider, meaning your customers, clients, or family can keep contacting you exactly as before. There’s no need to change business cards, signage, or marketing materials.

Because VoIP works over the internet, your phone service will run seamlessly alongside any broadband connection. That means you can choose whichever internet provider offers the best deal or coverage for your area — whether that’s BT, Virgin, or newer challengers like Trooli, Toob, or Cuckoo. Even alternative connections such as Starlink satellite or 5G broadband can support VoIP with ease. This flexibility ensures you’re never locked in to one supplier for both phone and broadband.

The switch itself is straightforward. Typically, you sign up with your chosen VoIP provider, request number porting, and connect either an adapter to your existing handset or use a VoIP-compatible phone or app. During the porting process, your line will continue to work, and once the switchover is complete, your calls will automatically move over to the new system.

In practice, switching can be as quick as a few days, with minimal downtime. For SMEs and households alike, it’s a hassle-free way to modernise your phone setup, reduce costs, and gain flexibility long before the 2027 landline switch-off deadline.

Switch to VoIP today and keep your landline

BT may be retiring the UK’s traditional copper landlines, but that doesn’t mean you have to lose the familiarity or reliability of having a home or business phone number. The PSTN switch-off is about replacing outdated infrastructure, not removing the option of a landline altogether. The good news is that modern VoIP services make it easy to keep your number, gain new features, and stay connected — without being tied into BT broadband.

Independent providers such as Plexatalk give households and SMEs the flexibility that many feel is missing from BT’s approach. With simple number porting, you can move your existing landline number onto a VoIP service that works over any internet connection — whether that’s fibre, 5G, or even satellite broadband. Unlike the copper network, which is costly and difficult to maintain, VoIP is designed for the future, offering clearer call quality, mobile apps, voicemail-to-email, and the freedom to choose the broadband provider that best suits your needs.

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For SMEs, the benefits go even further: lower costs, transparent pricing, shorter contracts, and customer support that understands the importance of uptime and responsiveness.

So while BT may be getting rid of traditional landlines, you don’t have to lose your number or your independence. By making the switch now, you can get ahead of the 2027 deadline, avoid last-minute disruption, and modernise your communications on your own terms.

BT may be getting rid of traditional landlines, but you don’t have to lose your number. Plexatalk is a flexible alternative.

FAQs – Why we’re losing the traditional landline