The era of traditional copper landlines hanging above UK streets is coming to a close as the country shifts towards “Digital Voice” services by January 2027. This transition signifies a significant change in UK communications, with BT’s Openreach network implementing the “Stop Sell” program to phase out copper-based broadband and phone services in favor of broadband-enabled calling.
Providers like BT, Sky, Plusnet, and TalkTalk are no longer allowed to offer new copper-based services in affected areas. Openreach has expanded this initiative to cover 238 exchange locations and approximately 1.69 million premises. Once enacted, customers seeking new services will need to transition to full-fiber broadband and digital phone services.
The Stop Sell program is being rolled out nationwide, impacting around 14.2 million properties across 1,432 exchanges by early June. James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, emphasized the importance of the program in facilitating the UK’s shift to modern full-fiber technologies and enhancing communication efficiency and reliability.
Digital Voice, BT’s advanced home phone service, enables digital calling over broadband, offering enhanced features such as Multi Call, conference calling, and call diversion to mobile phones. Upgrading to Digital Voice should not disrupt how households use their phones, as the service is included in the broadband package at no additional cost. The focus is on modernizing communication infrastructure and preparing for the nationwide shutdown of the legacy copper-based Public Switched Telephone Network.