More than 637,000 copper landlines are still in use across ten major UK cities, with London alone accounting for almost 236,000 lines, according to new research. The traditional analogue phone network is set to be switched off in January 2027, and providers have been urging customers to move to the new Digital Voice service.
Digital Voice uses broadband technology to make calls, replacing the ageing copper cables that have been in use for more than 100 years. The new system offers clearer call quality and features such as call diversion, three-way calling and improved protection against nuisance calls.
Which areas have the most copper lines left?
Using data from BT's Openreach network, the experts at Phonely have drawn up a league table showing the areas with the biggest number of copper lines remaining. London tops the list by a huge margin, with almost 236,000 lines still to be switched.
Leeds comes in second with 62,411 lines, followed by Manchester with 55,961, Sheffield with 51,870 and Bristol with 43,775. Liverpool has 42,351 lines remaining, Edinburgh 39,132, Cardiff 37,959, Birmingham 37,825 and Glasgow 30,653.
That means more than 637,000 copper lines remain across these ten major cities alone, highlighting the scale of the work still to be completed before the January 2027 deadline.
What should households do before the switch?
Bryn Thompson, Director at Phonely, said: “More than 637,000 lines still to be converted across just ten major city areas is a significant number, particularly with the January deadline getting closer.
“For many households, the change can be relatively straightforward. It doesn't necessarily mean buying a new telephone or losing the phone number you've had for years.
“We'd encourage people to check in with parents, older relatives or anyone they know who depends heavily on their home phone. This is particularly important if they use a personal alarm or other equipment connected to their phone line.
“Our advice is not to panic, but don't ignore the change either. Speak to your current provider, find out whether your line has already been moved to digital and ask what you need to do if it hasn't.”
Phonely is urging households to take a few simple steps before the old network is switched off. First, check whether your phone service has already been moved to digital. Customers should also make sure their existing handset is compatible with their new service.
It's also worth checking what will happen to your existing phone number. In most cases, households can keep the number they've had for years when moving to a digital service, but customers should confirm this with their provider.
Power cuts and connected equipment
Another important check involves personal alarms and other connected equipment. Telecare devices, health monitoring equipment and anything else that relies on the old phone line should be checked to make sure it will continue working after the switch.
Finally, households should think about what happens during a power cut. Unlike traditional landlines, Digital Voice services require electricity to work. Anyone who relies on their landline should therefore ask their provider what backup options are available.
With the January 2027 deadline now approaching, households still using a traditional copper landline should check with their provider rather than waiting for the switch-off date to arrive.
