The UK Digital Upgrade 

Why go digital?

Whether it's businesses asking employees to work from home or parents providing online schooling in their living rooms - connecting us all to the internet has become more important than ever.

Openreach’s new ‘Full Fibre’ network will be consistent and reliable for decades to come, but the UK's also preparing for another huge technological change, akin to the digital TV switchover nearly a decade ago.

By December 2025, the historic analogue network, used to make most phone calls from our landlines and also used for broadband, will have reached the end of its life. And the new digital phone network will take its place.  

What does this mean for customers and businesses?

This means that around 16 million lines need to be upgraded to alternative digital products over the next five years. 

It won’t just impact landlines either, many other services rely on the traditional analogue network. Like emergency lines in lifts. Or care alarms, which enable the vulnerable to call for emergency help in their homes. Even payment services – like chip and pin or contactless devices in shops, which allow us to buy goods and services without cash.

This is a big transformation being led by the UK’s broadband and phone companies, but with the 2025 deadline looming large, we know that more action needs to be taken now to ensure the UK is ready and able to transition everyone to digital  smoothly,  with minimal disruption.

Watch the event

Hosted by the brilliant Clare Balding, the virtual event covered:

• What Full Fibre can do for you
• Why a digital network is important
• The timeline and rollout plans
• Compelling case studies from those who're already benefiting from the new digital platform right now and
• How to address the challenges to come and also take advantage of the opportunities and benefits the new digital platform will bring
• Panel question and answer sessions covering questions raised during the presentations.