The end of analogue phone lines, how do I switch my aunt?

[Owen Smith]

I've just read online BT/Openreach saying the deadline is end of January 2027 and there are over a million people who have done nothing. Well, my elderly and definitely vulnerable aunt has only a BT analogue phone line and I can't work out what I could do for her. She wants to keep her existing number, and I can't find any product I could order that would get her broadband and then switch the phone to voip. I could do it easily with a change of number, but retaining the existing phone number which she wants seems to be difficult.

In spring 2025 she received a letter saying her phone would switch soon and BT would be in touch to explain her options. There has been nothing since. We're waiting for BT to offer a bundle of some sort that provides broadband and switches her existing number to voip. But I'm starting to fear that one morning her phone line will simply be cut off.

 

[EEPhil]

I know nothing first hand. I gave up the land line when it got pulled down by workmen and Openreach refused to fix it ("Can't climb someone else's scaffolding").

Two neighbours of mine have switched from the old copper wire to broadband - both BT/EE. One definitely ended up with the same phone number, not sure about the other. I was confused as to whether it was the landline or mobile that ended up with the wrong number. From what I could tell the neighbour (80+ years old and hard of hearing) had Openreach fit the necessary bits and bobs, but it seemed as though they also changed the SIM in her mobile (Eh? some sort of linked service???). She grumbled about the change of number and got it sorted. So if I understand correctly - all numbers are as they were.

 

[Owen Smith]

This is in a building of 45 retirement apartments. I'd much rather they got communal broadband, then I could get a voip number on that. But no, each apartment just has copper phone wiring to it and if you want broadband you have to get it yourself. Plenty of them do. The phone wires were all installed when the place was built about 20 years ago.

It doesn't help that I live 140 miles away, and my brother who lives 10 miles from our aunt sees her less often than I do. It really ought to be his job. I can't suddenly arrange to be at her apartment if BT want to come on some random day of the week, I'm at work 140 miles away.

I will be up there for two weeks over Christmas, but of course that's a terrible time to try to get things done with a phone line.

 

[Owen Smith]

BT's site for this clearly says wait to be contacted about the switch:

Digital Switchover - About BT | BT Plc

We’re switching from analogue to digital landlines. The existing analogue technology (the PSTN - Public Switched Telephone Network) which has supported phone and broadband services for decades is being retired and switched off at the end of January 2027.

www.bt.com

I love all the stuff about keeping a charged mobile phone for making 999 calls in power cuts. My aunt does not have a mobile, wouldn't be able to cope with one, and has adamantly refused to try when we've suggested it. For a start she wants a phone in the lounge and another next to her bed, and regards it as a serious step backwards that you're supposed to remember to take the phone with you when you go to bed.