People are being told the deadline will not change and they should not wait
A service relied upon by more than two million people across Britain is set to be turned off in 16 weeks. The PSTN, the traditional copper analogue telephone network, is moving over to a digital system – affecting many every day activities. And people need to act as the deadline will not be pushed back.
The intention is for the majority of it to be deactivated in January 2027, with those whose landline service is bundled with their broadband connection receiving it digitally instead. The technology that supports the landline network, known as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), is being phased out by the telecommunications industry as the ageing system deteriorates.
Landlines, along with other devices dependent on the PSTN, will need to be upgraded to newer digital technologies. The PSTN has been operational for many decades and officials state it has now reached the end of its usable lifespan. According to the Government, the PSTN is failing owing to a shortage of replacement parts and, more frequently, environmental factors including storms or heat-related faults.
Among the systems that rely on PSTN is telecare. AgeUK says the system uses technology to enable people to live more independently and securely in their own homes – such as a device that triggers an alert if gas is accidentally left on, or a personal alarm enabling someone to summon assistance following a fall.
These will be impacted by the changeover. Communication providers have been collaborating with local authorities to identify telecare users.
Providers are offering additional support to telecare users throughout the migration process, including complimentary engineering visits and battery back-ups for telecare devices and landlines where required. Now a fresh official warning has been issued to households across the UK. OpenReach, the organisation responsible for managing the physical telephone network, has published a new message on X warning customers that the deadline is fast approaching and urging them not to delay – or risk losing vital services.
The post states: “Many telecare users still need to migrate before the PSTN closes on 31 January 2027. Our temporary safety nets will help protect some services, but they’re limited and don’t replace migration. Providers should act now to help remaining customers move.”
Rebecca Park, a senior manager at OpenReach, delivered a video message alongside the post, making clear that the deadline is firmly set and encouraging customers to take action immediately rather than leaving it to the last moment.
She said: “The old analogue phone network or the PSTN will close on the 31st of January 2027. That date is not moving. We’ve already helped move over 70,000 telecare users to digital services through Prove Telecare and we’ve now put some extra safety nets in place for customers left on the old network when it closes. We’ve created a temporary voice only service called Emergency Voice Access or EVAC. Basic phone calls can still be made and received including calls to the emergency services.
“Capacity is limited. So if too many lines are left in one area, some customers could lose their service. And there’s another important change.
“Without action, some broadband services could be disrupted when the old voice network closes. So where it’s possible, we’ll separate and keep the broadband so it’ll carry on working when the voice service gets switched off. So to recap, the PSTN closes on the 31st of January, 2027. EVAC and broadband retention are temporary and limited safety nets which don’t extend the deadline. Don’t wait until the last minute and risk your service.“
What is telecare used for in the UK?
Telecare is used by around 2.3 million people for purposes such as personal alarm pendants, fall detection sensors, and home safety buttons, according to the government. The switchover will see these services transition to a digital system.
The government says on its webpage explaining the PSTN switchover: “Suppliers are no longer manufacturing spare parts and repairs of the network now rely on recycling parts from decommissioned parts of the network. Ofcom, the independent telecommunications regulator, reported that 2024 saw a 45% increase in the number of PSTN incidents reported. In 2024/25 there were over 2,600 major incidents on the PSTN.
“New digital phone lines will allow communications providers to offer clearer and higher quality phone calls. They will offer greater reliability, more secure and energy efficient networks and promote economic growth.
“Digital can also be used to block tens of thousands of calls from scammers every day.”
Citizens Advice warns that if you have a personal alarm or other safety technology at home, it could be affected when you are switched to a digital phone line, and advises informing your landline provider that you use a personal alarm. Their website states: “This is important – they’ll make sure you stay connected when the switchover happens. You can find their contact details on your phone bill or on their website.”
Citizens Advice recommends on its website that affected households check with their telecare provider whether their telecare system will function with a digital phone line. If it will, this confirms it is compatible.
If your telecare is compatible, both your telecare and personal alarm should continue to operate as normal following the switchover. If it is not compatible, it may be possible to use an adaptor for your existing telecare unit to make it work with a digital phone line.
If an adaptor is not a viable option, you may need to upgrade or replace your telecare system entirely. In this case, you should speak to your telecare provider to discuss the available options.
