BT to switch off old landline phones in 84 new UK locations

BT's Openreach has confirmed the switch-off of old landline phones in 84 new UK locations - residents are urged to check their postcodes immediately.

The latest batch of areas transitioning from outdated copper networks to advanced technology has been unveiled by BT's Openreach, with 84 locations earmarked for an upgrade within the next year. This significant move will halt the sale of traditional analogue services to over 880,000 premises across the UK.

The country is progressively moving towards a digital era, with antiquated copper lines being superseded by superior Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) connections.

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This modernisation isn't merely enhancing broadband capabilities; it's transforming home phone systems as well. Households will transition to VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), a digital communication method that routes calls via the internet.

This cutting-edge service offers features such as Multi Call and three-way calling for conference calls, plus call forwarding to any number, including mobiles. Digital Voice promises superior call quality, but it necessitates a compatible Digital Home phone, reports the Daily Record.

With this update, numerous households will enjoy improved broadband speeds, courtesy of Openreach cables used by leading Internet Service Providers like Sky, Vodafone, Plusnet, and TalkTalk.

In line with the "Stop Sell" directive being enforced, ISPs will now be required to provide new customers with considerably faster FTTP connections.

Openreach has declared that a "Stop Sell" instruction is issued when 75 per cent of buildings connected to an exchange are able to access ultrafast Full Fibre. This means individuals seeking to change, upgrade or re-grade their broadband or telephone service will have no other option but to transition to the new digital service offered over the Full Fibre network.

However, it's crucial to highlight that existing clients in these exchange areas who as of yet cannot avail of Ultrafast Full Fibre at their properties will remain unaffected and can keep utilising their current copper-based services until they can access Full Fibre.

We've provided below the full list of locations where traditional copper wires are in the process of being phased out.

James Lilley, Openreach's Head of Managed Customer Migrations, made remarks on this digital leap: "We're moving to a digital world and Openreach is helping with that transformation by rolling out ultrafast, ultra-reliable, and future-proofed digital Full Fibre across the UK. This game changing technology will become the backbone of our economy for decades to come, supporting every aspect of our public services, businesses, industries and daily lives."

He further commented, "Already, our Full Fibre network is available to close to 14 million homes and businesses, with more than 4 million premises currently taking a service. Taking advantage of the progress of our Full Fibre build and encouraging people to upgrade where a majority can access our new network is the right thing to do as it makes no sense, both operationally and commercially, to keep the old copper network and our new fibre network running side-by-side."

Lilley also highlighted the shortcomings of outdated systems: "As copper's ability to support modern communications declines, the immediate focus is getting people onto newer, future proofed technologies."

The full list:

• Portlethen

• Aberdeen

• Addingham

• Alderminster

• Appleton Roebuck

• Ashington (Northumberland)

• Greater Manchester

• Wigan

• Sheffield

• Greater London

• Barking and Dagenham

• Doncaster

• Bishop Auckland

• Bridgend

• Burnham-on-Sea

• Glasgow

• Buxton (High Peak)

• Carlisle

• Gillingham (Kent)

• Chesterfield

• Trefor

• Coalville

• Heage

• Rippingale

• Saintfield

• Rugby

• Greater Manchester

• Manchester

• Leicester

• Exeter

• Flamborough

• Ipswich

• Grimsby

• Rayleigh

• Cannock

• Houghton-le-Spring

• Huddersfield

• Ilkeston

• Ilkley

• Kidsgrove

• Luton

• Leven

• Haywards Heath

• Llanbrynmair

• Cardiff

• Wakefield

• Mareham le Fen

• Chatham

• Moore

• Greater Manchester

• Tameside

• Motherwell

• Southwark

• New Mills

• South Cave

• North Kelser

• Oldham

• Penistone

• Pontardawe

• Raunds

• Rearsby

• Craigavon

• Ross-on-Wye

• Rotherfield

• Chelmsford

• Scotter

• Scunthorpe

• Sherburn (County Durham)

• Skegness

• Solihull

• Blackpool

• Southend-on-Sea

• Stotfold

• Stratford-upon-Avon

• Antrim

• Leicester

• Torquay

• Tregynon

• Ellington (Northumberland)

• Bradford

• Havering

• Waltham on the Wolds

• Rotherham

• Brighton and Hove