topic Re: BT to switch off UK landlines in Home Phone

BT to switch off UK landlines

iancol1 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:15:13 GMT

This article suggests my phone line will be affected:

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2136043/bt-switch-off-landlines-94-locations#comments-wrapper

Is Talktalk going to get involved? What do I need to do? Some mention, for instance, of needing a battery back up.

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

Gliwmaeden2 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:35:15 GMT

@iancol1, Talktalk has been involved for years.

Eventually we will all need to switch to Full Fibre for your broadband. Not everyone keeps a phone service with their ISP, as their mobile service may give a reliable signal. Otherwise VOIP does need to be ordered at the same time as any broadband upgrade to Full Fibre.

You would need to discuss with Talktalk if you had worries about the phone service being vulnerable when wifi is down / power cuts etc.

From time to time use the Talktalk main site postcode checker to see what's available in your area - but I would always discuss your options by following up on the phone / Chat.

Not sure why that article even mentions Skype as an option - it was withdrawn from service earlier this year. Users were encouraged to use Microsoft Teams instead. It's one of many calls options that don't require extra fees, whereas VOIP usually does. Talktalk has a £2 monthly charge for it, in addition to actual call costs / boosts.

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

siphosethu-TT — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 07:30:31 GMT

Hi there @iancol1, please note that the information @Gliwmaeden2 has provided is correct.

Appreciate you very much @Gliwmaeden2, thank you.

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

iancol1 — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 08:52:00 GMT

Thanks both for the prompt responses. Is it fair to assume that Talktalk will be notified by BT about the switch and then they'll contact customers to sort out any action arising?

In the meantime, I don't have full fibre, just fibre to the nearest junction box, then wires to my address, which limits speed to <30MB/sec. Are you saying this wouldn't be good enough?

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

Gliwmaeden2 — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 09:01:24 GMT

@iancol1, it's Openreach, not BT, that runs the infrastructure of copper lines.

All ISPs have been working in tandem with Openreach and Cityfibre (and other operators) to install the infrastructure. Sometimes there's a monopoly on the Full Fibre with a favoured ISP for a while, so it's not always available to all providers, just because the cables are already installed in the street.

When Talktalk has a deal, they sometimes offer customers a free upgrade. Otherwise you just have to take the initiative and keep checking yourself on the postcode checker.

You must get the upgrade to Full Fibre to use Talktalk's VOIP.

When the copper line goes for calls, you won't have Internet over copper at all. No, part Fibre would not be good enough as the whole thing gets switched off.

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

mandisa1-TT — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:45:14 GMT

Thank you so much for the support @Gliwmaeden2

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

iancol1 — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:53:38 GMT

Hi and thanks again for the prompt response, if unwelcome! You seem to be saying that when the change goes live I'll lose everything, unless I go for full fibre. If that's the case, I wonder if Joe Public is going to be told that his cost of living is going to go up to accommodate it. Most users will probably appreciate and benefit from full fibre but I can think of people who won't and they'll probably be the ones who'll struggle to pay for it.

Whilst I've got your attention, can you explain the meaning of the red numbers by the user icon? I click on it and the next menu shows no clues. How do I know what they mean?

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

mandisa1-TT — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:04:52 GMT

Can you please send us a screenshot.

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

Gliwmaeden2 — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:18:45 GMT

Re the red numbers, you will find they represent notifications of "likes" or mentions in a post on a thread. Private Messages will show up with a number on the message envelope to the right of the notifications bell.

@mandisa1-TT, the red numbers are not a complicated issue, though I have noticed recently that instead of then showing the number of messages on the bell, no number shows there. So that needs reporting. It still works for showing numbers if it's a PM.

Regarding "losing everything" / costs of Full Fibre:

Like the current situation, there will always be good deals offered to encourage customers to stay, or you can shop around.

While there are annual price increases @£3 each April, increased costs have been built in, covering the cost of the huge upgrades going on across the country to build new infrastructure. So whether on old or new lines, costs are heading inexorably upwards.

Customers have long since not been able to get a telephone only service with Talktalk and most other ISPs, so Broadband has been built into the phone service for many years, even for people who didn't have a computer or smartphone to make use of the Internet.

For better or for worse, we are being taken along a path of digitisation .... the only way to save costs would be to not install the Full Fibre, and use a local library / Internet cafe occasionally to keep up with communication from your bank, emails, bills.....unavoidable really unless you insist on paper billing.

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

iancol1 — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:23:06 GMT

Hi again, and many thanks for informing me, including the red number point. I've written to my local councillor to see what he knows about this and the possible hardships arising for those less digitally literate.

If I get anything useful back I'll repost here. Meanwhile, time to start researching full broadband and battery back up.

Thanks again.

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

mandisa1-TT — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:40:34 GMT

Thank you for the support @Gliwmaeden2, I was unclear of the red number @iancol1 was referring to and thank you for covering everything, indeed that is correct there are always promotional deals available, with good discounts.

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

iancol1 — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 15:13:25 GMT

I can't find anything useful on the Talktalk website. Technical help is too simplistic and gets nowhere. Any useful links would be appreciated. Meanwhile, my councillors are on the case and sent me this link: https://digitalphoneswitchover.com/home-users/ It looks far too siimple, eg If you already have broadband, the switchover could be as simple as unplugging your phone line from the wall-mounted socket and plugging it into the back of your broadband router. Really?

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

iancol1 — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:55:47 GMT

Hi all,

I qiueued for an hour on the TT site, waiting for e human being after frustrating the chatbot to death. It was a wasted hour as all I got back was they'll email me when something happens. Subject closed.

Thanks for all your help. I'll archive this for now,

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

Gliwmaeden2 — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 17:00:58 GMT

@iancol1, you are probably better to use the forum search engine for specific questions, as there's a good collection of articles there.

For example:

https://help-centre.talktalk.co.uk/Setting_up_my_service/New_order/How_Full_Fibre_is_installed

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

iancol1 — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 22:52:10 GMT

Great, thanks.

Re: BT to switch off UK landlines

mandisa1-TT — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 07:19:33 GMT

Hi @Gliwmaeden2 Thank you so much for the support.