Openreach, the national telecoms infrastructure provider, has announced that by 2027 everyone will have been moved from analogue to IP voice telephone services; the UK’s switch to digital is well under way.

What is the digital transition?

Currently, most people have analogue phones that plug directly into a socket on the wall. As we see demand for technology such as laptops, tablets, and smart devices increasing, the UK’s communications infrastructure needs to be upgraded to accommodate increased capacity on the network.

This has resulted in national telecoms infrastructure providers upgrading their networks, gradually replacing analogue lines with digital ones, which will require phones to be connected to a router provided by the user?s communications service provider (phone company). Openreach plans to complete works by 31 January 2027, increasing system capacity and capability, as well as providing a foundation for future technological advancement.

WARNING

When buying a telecare product or service, be sure that the device conforms to the new digital technology standard.