Forum Topic

Landlines

I have just been informed by a friend that landlines will be obsolete in a couple of years - I cannot believe this as there are many many  people out there who still have no internet- so I would be so interested to know how this could happen ???  Is this true ?

Helen Bamberger ● 1898d27 Comments

BT's network providing landline phone service will be switched off on 31 December 2025.There will be no change to consumer services.  Your existing phone line will be switched over to use an internet-based network at a street cabinet or in the exchange and there will be no change to the service.The impact is really for business customers as services using the existing phone network network won't be sold from September 2023 and businesses will need to move to new services by the end of 2025. There are areas in the country where existing services can't be ordered as existing equipment has run out of capacity and only new services can be ordered.The existing phone network dates from the 1980s and 1990s so really it is similar to what happened back then when digital equipment replaced older electrical and mechanical equipment.

Michael Robinson ● 1897d

It will probably come eventually but it's going to take a lot longer than that. I refuse to take calls on my mobile because I choose not to be at everybody's beck and call whenever and wherever I am. That's not going to change any time soon!

Susan Kelly ● 1897d

Ggreat Susan - not all are feeling safe with the Internet - loads are feeling unsafe these days ...

Helen Bamberger ● 1897d

We have a poor internet signal locally and prefer to use the landline, as on the mobile the connection often breaks up. I expect there are others in the same situation.

Katrina Black ● 1897d

Yes I am very lucky if I have one bar on the mobile so I only use my landline - why should I have to go outside to make a call - I am also sick of scams on my mobile - hence I only give my landline number- hopefully the 'powers' that be will I understand this.

Helen Bamberger ● 1897d

I am one of those sad, misguided souls(!) who has not got, and doesn't want a mobile! I have no end of trouble with various things - banks for example who ask for a mobile no. and simply will not accept a landline number on their forms, drives me nuts. I also noted when visiting the-at-long-last and  finally opened Isleworth library, the other day - users now have to pay to park and you have to pay by using a mobile? There are still a lot of us out here not permanently attached to these blasted gadgets - please will someone just take note?

Vanessa Smith ● 1897d

Ditto ditto Vanessa 😡

Helen Bamberger ● 1897d

You really need two mobiles on different networks so you have a good signal.

Nicholas Beard ● 1897d

For once, Vanessa, I entirely agree with you - the assumption that everyone has a mobile is incredibly annoying. There are still many parts of the country with poor or no mobile signal.

Richard Greenhough ● 1897d

No Nicholas - no other mobile contracts work for us in a bottom floor flat -  for us - such a problem -  not good as we live in London where we should get a good service - which we don't - I see other people having to walk outside to make a call  - rubbish !!!!

Helen Bamberger ● 1897d

Forgive me, but what Michael was saying is that landlines for domestic premises are scheduled to to be switched to an internet-based service up to street cabinet level. The final leg to homes will sill be a fixed line. This has nothing to do with mobile phones. A landline will still be a landline. However this change is already happening. Virgin have their own network and increasingly landline services are being delivered via the router which has phone sockets. The real question is why ISPs are still allowed to bundle a phone service with broadband, using pricing structures that effectively force customers to take a phone. Younger folk have no want of fixed landlines - or indeed other old-fashioned things like television and radio!

Bruce Hammal ● 1897d

Yes, it does seem that Helen's friend has misunderstood the situation and is spreading unnecessary alarm.

Susan Kelly ● 1897d

Even if you have a mobile, there will be times when you forget to take it with you or choose not to do so.Re parking at Isleworth Library and Leisure Centre/Redlees Park, on a quick look when passing, the first three hours would appear to be free which should be adequate for most purposes.

Anne England ● 1897d

What is true is that most existing landline telephone apparatus will be obsolete once the switch to IP phones has taken place. So, there will still be landlines, but not analogue landlines.

Andrew Jones ● 1897d

Have a spare mobile in your car!

Nicholas Beard ● 1897d

Once the change has been made, I suspect BT (or your provider) will supply a gizmo to convert your current telephone.Something similar was done back in the day when we went from hard-wired telephones to the plug-in version. I worked for BT during these times and we handed out new (cheapo) phones out to help people along. This has nothing to do with mobiles (and you won't be forced to use one). It is new technology and not something to be scared of.

Gordon McDonald ● 1897d

I first heard the story on the 5pm news on Radio 4 when they used the old BT ads actor to enlarge the tale. I expect Helen's friend heard that too. Much more detailed and less alarmist info on this website. Thank you to all who gave informed info.

Katrina Black ● 1897d

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9892033/Landline-phones-axed-2025-Digital-switchover-leads-fears-elderly-struggle-cope.html

Susan Kelly ● 1897d

Thanx everyone- enough going on with everything - but thanx for the added info.

Helen Bamberger ● 1897d

Here's the BBC's take on it all, probably a bit less histrionic than the Daily Mail's version I would think. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58233420

Bruce Hammal ● 1896d

My landline is with Virgin so I suspect that it already comes through the fibre optic cable that delivers my internet. Anyone know if that's right?

Susan Kelly ● 1896d

Correct And just incase you dont need a landline BT now offer fibre without having a phone line. I have not paid for a land line charge for about 3 years with BT. The line is active but ive not had any phones plugged in for 2 years now as ive the mobile. Because of that the call charges are a lot more for not paying the line charge But i get its not an option for all

Julian Pavey ● 1896d

I have the same and the calls are now more like  pay as you go,

Janice Evans ● 1896d

I'm not sure about the early Virgin routers (or hubs as they like to call them) but certainly the Superhubs 3 and 4 have phone connectors built into them. The phone line can indeed then be carried on the same cable as the broadband However my Virgin installation pre-dated this arrangement so I have the service on what is usually referred to as a "Siamese" cable which is actually two separate cables which can be split and run to different locations, one for the broadband and the other for the phone.  (My router is in an understairs cupboard - not the ideal location for a phone!) As it happens my Virgin cable got damaged and I had to have a new one. I was insistent that they used another Siamese cable so I could continue to have the phone elsewhere than where the router is placed. The house alarm is also connected to the phone line. Come the day they insist on switching to a combined cable I'm not sure what I'll do but there will need to be a bit of head scratching unless I want extra wiring surface-run around the house. (One of the downsides of having these fancy engineered wooden floors all over the place  is that you can no longer get under the floors.)

Bruce Hammal ● 1896d

Sorry Susan - I forgot to answer your question! Just look at your Virgin  router (or hub). Mine has two sockets marked "TEL" on it. If yours does and  there's something plugged into either of them your phone service is coming via your broadband. Unless it's a recent installation I think that's unlikely and you're more likely to find you have a traditional white master phone socket somewhere with your phone plugged into that.

Bruce Hammal ● 1896d

I think the phone is separate though right next to the router.

Susan Kelly ● 1895d

Looks like you're future-proofed then!

Bruce Hammal ● 1895d