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The wider industry is currently heavily focused on Openreach and BT’s looming end date for the old analogue phone and legacy broadband network (PSTN/WLR), which is due to be switched-off on 31st January 2027. But wholesale provider Vodafone (VodafoneThree) has set a more ambitious target of 1st October 2026 and it’s putting pressure on some of their ISP partners.
Broadband, phone, telecare providers and councils are currently working feverishly to migrate everybody across to IP-based voice and modern broadband connections (SOGEA / FTTC etc.) before the 2027 deadline (details). But the main focus of this remains on the people who use vital home telecare systems (e.g. elderly, disabled – vulnerable users), which aren’t always compatible with newer IP-based digital phone services (telecare providers were slow to adapt).
In most cases this upgrade usually involves a fairly seamless change of service, managed by your broadband or phone provider, which often results in customers needing to connect their home phone into the back of either a broadband router or Analogue Terminal Adapter (ATA); instead of directly into the socket on your wall or skirting board (NTE5 sockets). Special solutions also exist for telecare users.