The End of Analogue Phone Lines

 Very interesting.  Thanks for that David.  

Would think you will simply have to buy a digital phone 

It's not the handset it's the telephone line which is currently over copper to the exchange. I don't know if people might need new phones to work on the new system?

David

For the speeds needed for a Digital phone, copper would be fine 

I will ask of our tame BT engineer tomorrow on our socially distanced dog walking posse (dogs excepted, we have tried)

Great group all real world life ,  for up to date correct reliable info

although not everyone every day

although not everyone every days

It's ok JVB you've got a few years yet to find out.

I doubt it. 15 years ago we had a phone through the internet which we mainly used and an ordinary number on another phone in the bedroom. 

Have you read the link I provided? It seems that all the copper lines that currently service the consumer telephone lines will be disconnected for telephone connections and phones will move over to using VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) via the internet. It's not something that is new as many companies have been employing this method for some years as a cost saving measure. 

David

One big advantage of the current system is that your standard plug in phone (not the wireless ones) work in a power cut. If large scale these can take out local cell towers, meaning no mobile.

Whilst all for progress, in this respect it does seem a bit retrograde.

Ofcom have a big detailed section on the switch. We still use our land-line a lot but we won't need to worry about trees falling on the wires in future. We're only just getting reliable internet connections locally. In a power cut you'll still need a fully charged mobile phone everything else will stop working including Voip.