BT Group has announced their intention to push back the date for the switching off of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The original date we’ve all been working towards was December 2025. BT Group announced the reset of this date to 31 January 2027.
This follows an industry-wide pause and the introduction of the Government’s Charter to protect vulnerable customers, especially telecare users, while making the switch from analogue to digital landlines.
The move is designed to allow more time for new technologies, improved awareness campaign and for vulnerable customers and those with additional needs, including telecare users, to be better informed and protected.
This announcement affects Openreach lines (most of the providers use their lines, BT, Sky, TalkTalk, PlusNet, Vodafone, EE), but won’t affect some who run their own networks, eg Virgin Media, HyperOptic, City Fibre and a few others. Please speak to your provider about the telephone digital switchover.
The NPC will remain a part of the Digital Voice Advisory Group and raise concerns as and when necessary.
BT says they know that people might have questions or want some more information on the switch-over, so they are coming to towns in person as part of their regional rollout. They will have a team on hand to explain what Digital Voice is, why the change is necessary, and what it means for you. You don't have to be a BT customer or pre-book, just turn up.
You can find the dates and locations further below.
For most customers, the switch to Digital will be as simple as connecting your home phone handset to a router rather than the phone socket on the wall. For most it is a simple and free transition to Digital with no home installation work.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/digital-voice
They claim over 99% of phone handsets are:
· Compatible with the digital home phone service.
· If yours isn't compatible, they have a range of handsets that you can add to your order.
· You can keep your current phone number in most cases.
· Digital Voice prevents the majority of scam calls, provides clearer call quality and allows users to easily divert calls to their mobile if they’re out of the house.
· Customers will be contacted four weeks before making the switch, to help ensure they’re ready to make the move.
Initially, they won’t be proactively switching over customers (where this information is available):
• with a healthcare pendant
• who only use landlines
• with no mobile signal
• who have disclosed any additional needs
BT say they will take extra time and will provide additional support to customers who are over 70 and are ready to make the switch. If customers want to make the switch to Digital Voice, they can contact BT at any time to do so.
For most customers, the switch to Digital Voice will be as simple as connecting your home phone handset to a router rather than the phone socket on the wall.
Here are dates for late June/early July.
Boldon
19th June, 10:00 - 16:00
The Village Hall, North Road, Boldon Colliery,
NE35 9AR
North Shields
21st June, 09:00 - 15:00
Royal Quays Retail Park (carpark by House of Bebe), Coble Dene, North Shields, NE29 6DW
Whitley Bay
24th - 25th June, 10:00 - 16:00
Morrisons (carpark), Hillheads Road, Whitley Bay, NE25 8HN
Sunderland
27th June, 10:00 - 14:00
Sunderland City Hall, Plater Way, Sunderland,
SR1 3AA
Rothbury
28th June, 09:00 - 15:00
High Street (by Turks Head),
Rothbury, NE65 7TE
Washington
19th - 20th June, 09:00 - 15:00
Speculation Place Car Park, Washington,
NE37 2AS
Wallsend
21st June, 09:00 - 15:00
Forum Shopping Centre carpark, (between Wetherspoons and Aldi), Wallsend, NE28 8JR
Ponteland
26th June, 10:00 - 16:00
Dobbies Ponteland (carpark), Street House Farm, Ponteland, NE20 9BT
Hartlepool
27th June, 10:00 - 14:00
Community Hub Central, 124 York Rd,
Hartlepool, TS26 9DE
Alnwick
28th June, 09:00 - 15:00
Market Place, Alnwick,
NE66 1HS
South Shields
20th June, 10:00 - 16:00
Morrisons (carpark), Ocean Road, South Shields, NE33 2HT
Cramlington
24th - 25th June, 10:00 - 16:00
Cramlington Library, The Hub at Cramlington, Forum Way, Cramlington, NE23 6YB
Morpeth
26th - 27th June, 10:00 - 16:00
Dobbies Morpeth (carpark), Heighley Gate, Morpeth, NE61 3DA
Amble
27th June, 10:00 - 16:00
Morrisons (carpark), Coquet Enterprise Park, Amble, NE65 0PE
SCOTLAND
Edinburgh
10th July, 10:00-15:00
Nicolson Square, 25 Nicolson Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9BX
Engagement Events
Eyemouth
2nd July, 10:00 to 16:00
Eyemouth Co-op carpark, 30-40 High Street, Dicksons Yard, Eyemouth, TD14 5EU
Galashiels
4th-5th July, 10:00 to 16:00
Langlee Community Centre (Blue Room), Marigold Drive, Galashiels, TD1 2LP
Livingston
9th-10th July, 10:00 to 16:00
Dobbies Garden Centre (carpark), Beughburn, Houstoun Mains, Livingston, EH52 6PA
Falkirk
11th-12th July, 10:00 to 16:00
Morrisons (carpark), Hope Street, Falkirk, FK1 5BU
Hawick
2nd-3rd July, 10:00 to 16:00
Morrisons (carpark), Mart Street, Hawick, TD9 9NQ
Bonnyrigg
8th-9th July, 10:00 to 16:00
Lasswade Library, 19 Eskdale Drive, Bonnyrigg, EH19 2LA
Lerwick
11th July, 11:00 to 15:00, 12th July, 10:00 to 13:00
Shetland Library, Lower Hillhead, Lerwick, ZE1 0EL
Kirkcaldy
15th-16th July, 10:00 to 16:00
Morrisons (carpark), The Esplanade, Kirkcaldy, KY1 1SL
Perth
17th-18th July, 10:00 to 16:00
Morrisons (carpark), Caledonian Road, Perth, PH1 5XD
Musselburgh
3rd-4th July, 10:00 to 16:00
Musselburgh Library, 10 Bridge Street, Musselburgh, EH21 6AG
Thurso
8th July, 10:00 to 15:00, 9th July, 10:00 to 12:00
Thurso Library, Davidson's Lane, Thurso, KW14 7AF
Dunfermline
10th-11th July, 10:00 to 16:00
Dobbies Garden Centre (carpark), Fife Leisure Park, Whimbrel Place, Dunfermline, KY11 8EX
Download the dates
Find out more about Digital Voice
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