Whether you like it or not, old UK landlines are being sent to the history books. The deadline for the switch over to so-called ‘Digital Voice’ has been set for January 2027, and that’s when homes are being urged to move over to the new system and begin using the internet to make calls rather than old copper wires. It’s a seismic change to the way we all keep in touch and, in a bid to help speed up the process and get more people moved off ageing copper technology, BT’s Openreach service is slowly announcing ‘Stop Sell’ alerts.

This is where suppliers such as BT, Sky, Plusnet and TalkTalk will no longer be able to offer copper-based phone and broadband services to new customers and those switching deals.

Stop Sell alerts have already been issued throughout the past few years, and now there’s a new announcement which will hit 238 new exchange locations, covering a whopping 1.69 million premises across the UK.

Once the update comes into force, consumers will have to sign up for full fire and digital calling.

As Openreach explains, “Stop Sell is triggered when a majority (75%) of premises connected to a particular exchange can get ultrafast Full Fibre. Customers who then want to switch, upgrade or re-grade their broadband or phone service will have to take a new digital service over our new Full Fibre network.”

By early June, ‘stop sell’ rules will have been activated in 1432 exchanges across the UK – meaning around 14.2 million premises are under active Stop Sell

“Our stop sell programme is a vital step in accelerating the UK’s transition to a modern full fibre future,” James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, explained.

“As copper’s ability to support modern communications declines, the immediate focus is getting people onto newer, future proofed technologies.”

“By phasing out legacy copper-based services in areas where fibre is now widely available, we’re ensuring customers and providers move onto faster, more reliable, digital infrastructure. This approach not only reduces the cost and complexity of having to maintain both old and new networks but also supports the industry-wide migration ahead of the legacy copper-based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) now just under eight months away, by which time everyone will need a digital phone line.”

HERE IS THE FULL LIST OF NEW LOCATIONS

Farnsfield • Quor • Sileby • Tibshelf • Layton • Hetton Le Hole • Marton • Pinxton • Spofforth • Cudworth • New Ollerton • Rottingdean • Castle Donington • Blidworth • North Carlton • Jarrow Bilsthorpe • Illingworth • Strensall • Harefield • Cosham • Donnington • Ramsbottom • Shettleston • Brediland • Filton • Dudley • Cheetham • Dinsdale • Garston • New Oakley • Bingley • Maltby • Upton Park • Markyate • Potters Bar • Churchdown • Pollok • Shawbury • Polmont

Brierley Hill • Epping • Cowley • Wembley • Strood • Scotstoun • Dunfermline • Headington • Halifax • Parsons Green • Haworth • Darwen • Radcliffe On Trent • Cuckoo Oak • Newton Mearns• Farnworth • East Herrington • Earl Shilton • Atherstone • Winterbourne • Braunstone • Kenilworth • Collyhurst • Wigton •Jedburgh • Wester Hailes • Langside • Godalming • Norwich CityAberdeen Kingswells • Welwyn • Hurley • Wareham • Maryport • Cleator Moor • Mold West

Braintree • Ridgewell • Saint Osyth • Moreton Morrell (MXL) Lighthorne • Slade Green • Gravesend • Repton • Castle Douglas • Annan • Lanchester • Cockfield • Rushyford • Epworth • Finningley • Ranskill • Keadby • Bewdley • North Berwick • Walkerburn • Drymen Killearn • Falfield • Coleford • Bredon • Alton • Southwold • Mauchline • Lochgelly • Kirkby • Kirkby Lonsdale • Oakham • Narborough • Wrexham North • Ruthin (RGH) • Tynygongl • Stow • Barwick In Elmet • Bearsted • Woburn Sands • Great Barford • Forth • Tinto • Burnopfield

• Ebchester • Bedlington • Dudley (DYE) • Corbridge • Tuxford • West Haddon • Bozeat • Machen • Swanton Morley • Martham • Terrington St John • Warboys • St. Michaels • Burghfield Common • Stocksbridge • Bishopston • Glantawe • Crynant • Pencader • Pembroke • Knebworth • Wilmslow

Chapel En Le Frith • Corsham • Borth • Henlade • Hawick • Heathfield • Castleham • Camborne Wychbold (WYG) • Whitby • Needham • Watton Dummy • Holme On Spalding Moor • Holbrook • Hightown Caerleon • Cockermouth • Hebden Bridge • Otham (OTM) • Gourock (GHU) • Folkestone • Harrington • Pentyrch • Ferndale • Scartho • Birchwood • Corby • Bloxham • Clydach • Keswick • Nelson • Measham • Ambleside • Cinderford • Treharris • Llanfairfechan • Amble • Mundesley • Broseley • Flookburgh • Brackley • Penclawdd • Hassocks • Braithwaite • Cardigan • Tenbury Wells • Waltham • Hexham Swanage • Washingborough • Norwich West • Tiptree • Leabrooks • Belper • Welwyn Garden • Mablethorpe • Heckington • Stottesdon • Penybont • Machrie • Pilling • Trefeglwys •

Tummelbridge • Capel • Cotheridge • Hanmer • Bratton Clovelly • Temple • Auchengray • Kilcreggan • Pilning • Menmuir (MUR) • Auchenmalg • Buchlyvie • Aberfoyle • Arden • Canon Pyon • Back • Dalchreichart • Craigie • Crosshill • Latheron • Llanfairtalhaiarn • Great Whittington • Hartburn • Penhow • Nantyderry • Madderty • Cairngorm • Plaistow • Dormans Park • Llangennith • Cynghordy • Hilderstone • Cressage • Cleehillstone • Dunscore