Last Updated on September 15, 2026 by Tim FitzGerald

The January 2027 ‘copper switch-off’ has caused quite a bit of confusion and uncertainty. Openreach is shutting down legacy equipment and copper connections at the local telephone exchanges. It does not mean that all copper will be removed – some will exist for the ‘final mile’ between the green fibre cabinets and many homes.

Broadband connections that are still on the original ADSL system, before part-fibre to the cabinet became mainstream, will stop working. Landline calls will no longer work via the traditional phone socket, as these will only go as far as the local green cabinet where they convert the broadband to a fibre connection.

All Openreach-based broadband will be full or part fibre. Landline calls will route over the Internet, via new digital phones, a modern router or WiFi phone adapters. Only a few traditional lines will remain, in exceptional circumstances. 

You’re most likely to be affected if:

• You use a BT/Openreach based provider
• You still plug a landline phone into a phone socket, or use a red button emergency system, or older home alarm system.
• You have separate bills for your landline and broadband
• You haven’t renewed your broadband in many years and/or it’s less than about 20Mbps.

You are probably OK if:

• You have a full fibre broadband box
• You have a part-fibre or superfast broadband plan
• Your landline plugs into the router or adapters
• You upgraded broadband and agreed to get rid of the landline number
• You use a different provider such as Trooli or Virgin Media

Keep an eye out for emails and letters from your provider, and act quickly if you need to, so that you don’t lose the landline or broadband. The engineers and installers are now working flat out to upgrade everyone. 

Openreach has also placed limits on old part-fibre services, with incentives for full fibre. If your provider is using the ‘changeover’ to upgrade you to full fibre, make sure that you get a good deal and don’t be forced into accepting higher prices with TV boxes and WiFi boosters if you don’t need them. Do some checks on comparison sites first, and remember to ask about landline services if you still need them. 

If your provider makes it difficult or expensive to modernise your service, or won’t let you keep a landline number, we would love to hear your feedback so that we can protect our most vulnerable clients. If you want any advice about your own circumstances, send us an email or web message.