The switch off of analogue phone lines marches on!
As per OpenReach's plan to switch off analogue phone lines, another Tranche of Telephone Exchanges has received a stop sell. This time it's Tranche 5.
A stop sell is, as it may sound, the ending of sales of new analogue equipment. Businesses and people who are the constituents won't be able to purchase ISDN, PSTN or any equipment that doesn't facilitate VoIP.
Take a look below, if you see your own area, it's time to start planning your future telephony and connectivity options.
Areas Affected
| Barry |
| Greater London - Richmond upon Thames |
| Paignton |
| Aberdare |
| Downpatrick |
| Magherafelt |
| Barnoldswick |
| Pelton |
| Magherafelt |
| Greater London - Bexley |
| Bidford-on-Avon |
| Brinscall |
| Caister-on-Sea |
| Cardiff |
| Castleford |
| Coleraine |
| Cheddar |
| Dungannon |
| Coleshill (North Warwickshire) |
| Cumnock |
| Ballymena |
| Denbigh |
| Dereham |
| Batley |
| Dromore |
| Earls Barton |
| Londonderry |
| Wye |
| Flint |
| Newry |
| Frodsham |
| Craigavon |
| Gillingham (North Dorset) |
| Glenborrodale |
| Tomatin |
| Great Eccleston |
| Newtownards |
| Glasgow |
| Bangor |
| Holywell (Flintshire) |
| Hullbridge |
| Kelty |
| Newry |
| Downpatrick |
| Kincardine |
| Lennoxtown |
| Limavady |
| Lymm |
| Lytham St Anne's |
| Maghull |
| Middlewich |
| Newtownards |
| Minster (Swale) |
| Craigavon |
| Mostyn |
| Pontarddulais |
| Poulton-le-Fylde |
| Ballynahinch |
| Seilebost |
| Paignton |
| South Elmsall |
| Edinburgh |
| Midsomer Norton |
| Craigavon |
| Whalley |
| Withernsea |
| Worthing |
When Will These Exchanges be Switched Off?
Wondering how long you have until analogue lines are permanently switched off?
You'll commonly see phrases like "2025 Switch-Off" mentioned however this can be misleading, 2025 is the national deadline when the entire country will have transitioned, however, to stop a massive nationwide rush of people transitioning their phone system, OpenReach is taking a staggered approach, and many areas will be facing a switch off much sooner than the national deadline.
If you see your area listed above, you have roughly two years from 2nd August 2022 before your lines are Switched Off (if you're still using an analogue phone line).