Telecoms giant BT has announced the next 132 locations across the United Kingdom where it will permanently retire its traditional copper landline network. This move marks a significant acceleration in the nationwide shift to digital phone services.
The End of the Copper Line Era
The company is systematically axing its old-fashioned copper landline infrastructure to make way for modern, full-fibre broadband connections. BT states this transition is essential for creating a faster and more reliable digital infrastructure for the future.
In a statement, BT sought to reassure customers: "Rest assured, you won’t be left without a home phone service and you won’t pay more than you do today." The company emphasised that by phasing out legacy services in areas where fibre is now widely available, it is simplifying its network and reducing maintenance costs.
National Switch-Off Deadline Looms
This push is part of the industry-wide migration away from the analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), which is scheduled for complete shutdown in December 2026. This deadline is now just over 12 months away, by which time every household and business will require a digital phone line.
The transition has not been without controversy. Following a series of reported problems, the government instructed BT and other telecoms providers in December 2025 to stop forcing the change onto elderly and vulnerable customers, highlighting the need for careful handling of the switchover.
Full List of Affected Locations
The newly revealed locations span the length and breadth of the UK, from major cities to smaller towns. Residents in these areas will need to prepare for the change to digital landlines, which typically operate over a broadband connection.
The 132 locations include:
- York (Acomb & Dringhouses)
- Rawmarsh
- Kirkby In Ashfield
- Seaham
- Irvine (Stanecastle)
- Nottingham (Chalfont Drive)
- Multiple areas across Greater Manchester, including Rochdale (Middleton & Littleborough) and Bolton (Daubhill)
- Ryton
- East Leake
- Didcot
- Blackpool (North Shore)
- Birmingham (Selly Oak)
- Shrewsbury (Harlescott)
- Bristol (Avonmouth)
- Several parts of Greater London – including Hillingdon (Ruislip), Ealing (Greenford), Wandsworth (South Clapham), Enfield (Edmonton), and Lambeth (Streatham)
- Liverpool (Larklane)
- Stockton-on-Tees (Norton)
- Sunderland & Sunderland (Ryhope)
- Edinburgh (Liberton)
- Plymouth
- Weston-Super-Mare (Banwell)
- Numerous other towns and villages across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Customers in the listed areas will be contacted by BT or their service provider with details on how to upgrade. The move to digital lines is a pivotal step in modernising the UK's telecommunications landscape, promising improved reliability but requiring adaptation from all users.
