From the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
What the retirement of analogue landlines means for you
Communications providers in the UK are replacing the technology they use to provide fixed telephone networks (landlines). For most customers, the upgrade is expected to be complete by January 2027. [Locally, it has already occurred in Friston and around the Maltings. If you can no longer dial six-digit phone numbers for local calls, but have to prefix with '01728', this notice no longer applies to you.]
In November 2017, the telecoms industry announced its intention to retire analogue [that is, non-digital] telephone networks such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). ... For most consumers and businesses, this change will be straightforward. Nobody will have to lose their landline service because of this change, as there will still be the option for a ‘landline only’ service, should a customer not wish to purchase a general internet connection. Communications providers will continue to be bound by the same regulatory obligations as they are today.
The upgrade of the UK’s telephone lines is not a UK Government programme and does not result from a Government decision or policy, and therefore specific questions about how the upgrade programme might affect you should be directed to your service provider.
Analogue networks have been in operation for decades and have reached the end of their serviceable life. The telecoms industry is finding it difficult to source the parts required to maintain or repair connections as suppliers are no longer manufacturing them. ...
New digital phone lines will allow communications providers (such as BT, Virgin Media O2, Sky and Vodafone) to offer consumers and businesses clearer and better quality phone calls, as well as [a service that is] more resistant to severe weather, as the cables used are waterproof, and less prone to damage during a storm or other severe weather events. ...
The exact migration process will depend on your communications provider and the equipment they use. If you already have an internet connection, the change may be as simple as plugging your phone into your broadband router rather than the socket on the wall.
Communications providers will contact their customers ahead of the migration taking place, so you do not need to take any action until your provider contacts you directly. You should look out for communications material from them, and be careful not to confuse this with marketing material. ...
You can read the full the GOV.UK article at
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-transition-from-analogue-to-digital-landlines
[The Parish Clerk recently received (and forwarded on to Councillors) a communication from a firm called Phonely on this subject, including their useful checklist, produced below for your information. Obviously, they are a commercial firm seeking business, so we don't specifically recommend them, and usual sensible caution should be exercised. If you are concerned about the phone service migration, for example if you have a personal-alarm or health-monitoring system, you should contact your service provider, as recommended in the UK Government article mentioned above.]
You can download the checklist above by clicking upon it.
