when will landline phones be eliminated?

Brie

OK so I've got a landline as well as broadband and I'm aware that the landlines will no longer function in the future.   But when will that be?  And how much warning will one get??

I did have a call from someone (Openreach?) who wanted to talk to me about it but I was quite literally just leaving to rush to work so I cut the call short and asked them to mail me everything.  They said they couldn't but could email me.  That was 2-3 weeks back and I've yet to receive anything.  

Will someone at some point simply turn off my landline?  I've got a deal where I get "free" international calls so I will need to find a way to continue that (not Whatsapp).  And what about if I'm mid flow with a phone/broadband contract?  Do I need to pay to get out of that or does it come with me?

elsien

Landline are not ending, they are changing with regards to the technology being used to supply them. So moving from the copper lines to digital technology which means they won’t work in a power cut unless you have a battery in place

But not changing until 2027 anyway. 


https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/landline-phones/future-of-landline-calls/

iniltous

Who is your provider ? ,
BT have a program of moving BT telephone customers onto Digital Voice which is their own version of an IP ( Internet Protocol ) service , so DV needs BT broadband to work …other providers may be doing similar things .
BT have the most phone only customers (that don’t have broadband ) , and customers that are worried about power outages etc that without a battery back up the DV  ‘landline’ phone won’t work, these are not currently in the migration program ( provided they have made this known to BT ) 

If BT are your provider , they are in the process of moving their ordinary broadband/phone  customers onto DV as that’s very easy , customers are told when to plug their  phone into the router, no one is just moved , they are told when it will happen .

DV has nothing to do with Openreach so it’s not going to be them that called , and I’ve never heard of BT calling anyone about DV , they send an email / letter stating the date the change is taking place so you know when to plug the phone into the router.

The small number of vulnerable ( over 70 with no mobile signal ) BT customers and BT customers with no broadband but a phone service don’t need to worry for another 18 months or so .

TBH , I doubt you are a BT customer so you would need to contact whoever provides your phone service .

FreeBear

elsien said:

Landline are not ending, they are changing with regards to the technology being used to supply them. So moving from the copper lines to digital technology which means they won’t work in a power cut unless you have a battery in place

Even if you have battery backup for the phone, the router still needs power. So if that also has battery backup, you need to hope that the cabinet down the street also has battery backup.

The alternative is an Emergency Backup Line (or EBuL) that uses the mobile network to ensure connectivity (it has an internal battery and a SIM card). Virgin can provide one if you are persistent enough and don't have a mobile phone. Don't know if other providers will supply an EBuL.

littleboo

elsien said:

Landline are not ending, they are changing with regards to the technology being used to supply them. So moving from the copper lines to digital technology which means they won’t work in a power cut unless you have a battery in place

But not changing until 2027 anyway. 


https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/landline-phones/future-of-landline-calls/

By 2027, not "until 2027"

J_B

Brie said:

I did have a call from someone (Openreach?) who wanted to talk to me about it but I was quite literally just leaving to rush to work so I cut the call short and asked them to mail me everything.  They said they couldn't but could email me.  That was 2-3 weeks back and I've yet to receive anything. 

Probably a scaremonger trying to force you to buy something you *may* not need!

Brie

J_B said:

Brie said:

I did have a call from someone (Openreach?) who wanted to talk to me about it but I was quite literally just leaving to rush to work so I cut the call short and asked them to mail me everything.  They said they couldn't but could email me.  That was 2-3 weeks back and I've yet to receive anything. 

Probably a scaremonger trying to force you to buy something you *may* not need!

She didn't give off scam vibes and claimed she wasn't selling anything.  I'm very good at saying no or that I'll think about it but can't commit today.  Then again she really didn't want me to hang up so you may be right.

Grumpy_chap

Our Virgin phone line was recently swapped from landline to VOIP.  The new router simply has a little plug adaptor in the back of it and all the phone connected to that just work in the same way as they always worked.  Same phone plugged into the same socket in the wall.

Our Post Office (BT Openreach) phone line has not yet been switched from copper.  I imagine it will be at some point.  I hope that TalkTalk (who took over the Post Office service) will be as easy to deal with for the transfer as Virgin.

Rob5342

Landlines aren't ending any time soo, all that's changing is that you'll plug your phony into your router instead of your phone socket. 

Most people use mobiles these days,  landline pbones will become less and less common but theyllystill be around for a good while yet. 

mongoose2009

theyre nit ending landlines 

they are replacing with fibr optic cables and they go along

so eventually you will be forced into a fibre connection

probably 2030 minimum

molerat

Daughter moved from TalkTalk FTTC to Sky FTTP.  OR removed her old NTE faceplate and put the ONT onto the backbox.  Plugged the phone she had unplugged from the old NTE into the back of the router.  Job done, seamless transition.