If BT customers still want a landline, they will need to sign up for new Digital Voice technology which sees phones connected through a broadband router
BT is taking the next step in its controversial new home phone service rollout from this week – and will no longer be offering new customers traditional landline services.
Instead, if they still want a landline they will need to sign up for new technology which sees phones connected through a broadband router. This is the next step in the firm’s plans, which will see the old analogue copper wire system replaced by Digital Voice phones with the aim of switching around 10 million remaining households over by 2025.
While the copper wire system that has existed since Victorian times needs to be replaced as it is no longer fit for our modern era. But a campaign group has called for a halt to it, due to several reports of consumers being cut off from their phones – in some instances for as much as several days – since they were moved on to the new technology.
There are also worries the switch will leave older people in the lurch should they face problems with broadband connection or power cuts. Around 95% of over-65s have a landline – trusted, legacy technology which works in these instances.