It comes as major providers continue to phase out analog copper landlines in favour of Digital Voice, a nationwide initiative that uses your broadband to make calls.
The move comes as providers phase out the old-fashioned copper landline network (Image: Getty)
BT has shared more than 130 new locations where “STOP SELL” notices for traditional landlines have been put in place as part of a wider shift away from the technology. It comes as major providers continue to phase out analog copper landlines in favour of Digital Voice, a nationwide initiative that uses your broadband to make calls.
The move will eventually affect all landline users, irrespective of who their contract is with. Telecom giants including BT, Sky, Vodafone, and TalkTalk have been told to end the sale of traditional landline connections to homes that already have full fibre infrastructure installed, The Sun reports. Millions of UK postcodes currently have access to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) cables, with a further 1.2 million added to the list, it was announced this week.
People setting up new phone and broadband plans will have to move to the new technology, as will those updating existing contracts, as per the outlet.
BT has assured customers that they won’t be left without a home phone service. (Image: Getty)
Existing landlines will eventually be wound down and move onto Digital Voice too, though copper-based plans will reportedly continue for customers where the full fibre isn’t available yet.
BT has stressed that no-one will be left behind by the changes, including those without broadband currently. “Rest assured, you won’t be left without a home phone service and you won’t pay more than you do today,” the firm said.
“By phasing out legacy copper-based services in areas where fibre is now widely available, we’re ensuring customers and providers move onto faster, more reliable, digital infrastructure.
“This approach not only reduces the cost and complexity of having to maintain both old and new networks but also supports the industry-wide migration ahead of the legacy copper-based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) now just over 12-months away, by which time everyone will need a digital phone line.”
While many may be uneasy about moving away from their current wired set up, using the digital platform – which supports HD or high definition voice – should improve call quality and clarity.
ISP Review, an independent industry site which reports on UK telecoms news has totted up a total of 132 locations where “over 75% of premises are able to get full fibre lines” and have been told to stop installing new analog landlines.
The 132 new locations where BT has issued STOP SELL notices by echange name and location
- Aboyne (AHW) – Aboyne
- Acomb (AAC) – York
- Airth (ATR) – Airth
- Avonmouth – Bristol
- BANWELL – Weston-Super-Mare
- Bardon Mill (BUM) – Tow House
- Barrow (BRR) – Bury St Edmunds
- Baslow (BCL) – Baslow
- BELMONT -Belmont
- Benburb – Tyrone
- Biddulph (BCG)- Biddulph
- Blackheath – Rowley Regis
- Bookham (L/BK) – Leatherhead
- Brean Down (JFN) – Burnham-on-Sea
- Burton On Trent (BT) – Burton upon Trent
- Carew (ZIU) – Sageston
- Castor (ZCI) – Castor
- Cayton Bay Uc (ZYA) – Scarborough
- Chalfont Drive – Nottingham
- Chatburn – Chatburn
- Cliffe – Cliffe
- Corby Glen (CMG) – Grantham
- Corwen – Crowen
- Crofton (ZEP) – Sharlston
- Cropredy (ZOW) – Wardington
- Darton – Barnsley
- Daubhill – Greater Manchester – Bolton
- Didcot – Didcot
- Dipton (DCU) – Annfield Plain
- Doune (DGJ) – Doune
- Downhall (DHL) – Rayleigh
- Draycott – Breaston
- Dringhouses – York
- Dumfries (DS) – Dumfries
- Dunston – Gateshead
- Dunure (DNR) – Dunure
- East Langton (ELT) – Foxton (Harborough)
- East Leake – East Leake
- Edmonton (L/EDM) – Greater London – Enfield
- Edwinstowe – Edwinstowe
- Fairford (FAC) – Fairford
- Garvald (GVD) – Garvald
- Germoe (GKO) – Goldsithney
- Glyndwr (GFY) – Carrog
- Grantham (GM) – Grantham
- Greenford – Greater London – Ealing
- Harbury (HRU) – Harbury
- Hardwicke – Gloucester
- Harlescott – Shrewsbury
- Havant (HFG) – Havant
- Heacham (HEM) – Hunstanton
- Heath And Reach (HRZ) – Heath and Reach
- Helensburgh (HPB) – Helensburgh
- Henham (FNM) – Henham
- Hopeman (HPI) – Burghead
- Hullavington (HVQ) – Hullavington
- Kenfig Hill (KGH) – Pyle
- Kibworth (KAY) – Kibworth Harcourt
- Kirkby In Ashfield – Kirkby-in-Ashfield
- Lapford (LVD) – Lapford
- Larkhall – Larkhall
- Larklane – Liverpool
- Leominster (LDS) – Leominster
- Liberton – Edinburgh
- Littleborough – Greater Manchester – Rochdale
- Llandyssul (LY) – Llandysul
- Llanilar (LIL) – Llanilar
- Llanilar – Lianilar
- Llansteffan (LLM) – Llansteffan
- Loganswell (LOW) – Newton Mearns
- Luton (LOL) – Luton
- Manorbier (MNF) – Jameston
- Market Bosworth (MFU) – Barlestone
- Mellor – Blackburn
- Midcalder – East Calder
- Middleton – Greater Manchester – Rochdale
- Middleton On Sea (MZD) – Bognor Regis
- Millom (MKF) – Millom
- Moelfre (MFE) – Moelfre
- New Luce (NLG) – New Luce
- North Shore – Blackpool
- Norton (XNB) – Stockton-on-Tees
- Plymouth (PY) – Plymouth
- Pontyates (PYH) – Pontyates
- Pontycymmer (PEK) – Pontycymer
- Porthtowan (PQW) – Mount Hawke
- QUATT – Alveley
- Rawmarsh – Rawmarsh
- Red Row (REO) – Hadston
- Romford South (L/RM) – Greater London – Havering
- Rossett (RFB) – Rossett
- Rothley – Mountsorrel
- Rothwell (RFK) – Rothwell
- Rowlands Gill (RGL) – Rowlands Gill
- Royston – Royston
- Rudyard (RUD) – Leek
- Ruislip – Greater London – Hillingdon
- Ryhope – Sunderland
- Ryton (RGI) – Ryton
- Salhouse (SAH) – Rackheath
- Sapcote (SCT) – Stoney Stanton
- Saundby (XYU) – Beckingham
- Scarinish (SCL) – Scarinish
- Seaham – Seaham
- Selly Oak – Birmingham
- Shap (SGA) – Shap
- Skelmanthorpe (SMH) – Clayton West
- Slamannan – Slamannan
- South Clapham – Greater London – Wandsworth
- Southport (SP) – Southport
- Spennymoor (SON) – Spennymoor
- Stanecastle – Irvine
- Sticklepath (XAG) – South Zeal
- Stobo (SDP) – Stobo
- Streatham (L/STR) – Greater London – Lambeth
- Street (SUG) – Street
- Sunderland – Sunderland
- Sutton Elms (SEM) – Broughton Astley
- Tarskavaig (TVI) – Tarskavaig
- Teignmouth (TG) – Teignmouth
- Thrapston (TCS) – Thrapston
- Todmorden (TM) – Todmorden
- Trearddur Bay (TRR) – Trearddur
- Velindre (VLD) – Waungilwen
- Waterbeck (WWA) – Kirtleton
- Watton At Stone (WDH) – Watton at Stone
- Wellesbourne (WEE) – Wellesbourne
- West Auckland (WEY) – Bishop Auckland
- West Ayton (WYF) – East Ayton
- Whitehaven (WN) – Whitehaven
- Wishaw – Wishaw
- Wombwell – Wombwell
If you’re not sure if Openreach is available yet you can use BT’s postcode checker to find out.
