Liverpool tops major UK city league table in move to digital phone services

Liverpool is leading the way among the UK's major cities, to upgrade homes and businesses to new digital services – with just six per cent of legacy lines left to migrate before the old legacy copper-based network is switched off at the end of January 2027.

Openreach data, which looked at major cities and their surrounding areas, reveals the historic port city is leading the transition from analogue to digital services, across ten of the UK’s largest urban centres, with less than 20 weeks to go before the ageing analogue phone network or Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) – shuts down for good.

Other cities that made it into the top five in the race to make the digital switch are Manchester with just over seven per cent, followed by Cardiff with just over eight per cent, and Leeds with around 8.6 per cent, and Cardiff. [1]

Trailing in the bottom five with the largest percentage of legacy lines still left to migrate, are London with around 13 per cent, followed by Glasgow with just over ten per cent and Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh with around nine per cent.

The good news is that across all ten cities and their surrounding areas, around 90 per cent of legacy lines - more than six million, have already migrated to digital services, over the last five years, but leaves around 600k lines still to be migrated ahead of the PSTN switch-off.

James Lilley, Director of All-IP at Openreach, said: "When it comes to preparing for the switch-off, our Northern cities appear to have a head start. But the bigger story is the progress being made right across the UK, with more than 90 per cent of legacy lines across ten major cities and their surrounding areas already upgraded to digital alternatives."

"That means around seven million copper-based services have made the switch. But with more than 600,000 lines still to migrate, there's no room for complacency."

"Many organisations may have already upgraded their phone line but may not realise how many other services still rely on the old network, from payment terminals and lift alarms to security systems, door entry systems and building management technology. Once the PSTN is withdrawn, those services could stop working unless they've been upgraded or replaced."

"The reality is that the final migrations are likely to be the most complex and business critical. The organisations that act now will have more time to identify hidden dependencies, test new solutions and make the transition smoothly. Those that leave it until the last-minute risk unnecessary cost, disruption and pressure as the deadline approaches."

Openreach is urging those city-based businesses to speak to their service provider today, understand which services could be affected, and make sure they have a clear migration plan in place.

"Inaction is no longer about uncertainty but preparedness, and those who wait risk leaving customers exposed to avoidable service disruption. The consequences go beyond technical issues – they can lead to lost revenue, operational difficulties and a poorer experience for customers,” Lilley added.

Nationwide, Openreach estimates around 1.5 million lines are still operating on the old copper-based phone network, including around 350k business premises.

Businesses that delay the move risk significant disruption, operational challenges and significant unnecessary costs.

Openreach has launched a range of migration offers, meaning moving to digital alternatives can often be the more cost-effective option for customer[2]. At the same time, it has also introduced price increases on these legacy Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) services to encourage migration to digital alternatives, with charges set to double by October 2026.[3]

Any businesses that are unsure whether they're affected should contact their communications provider as soon as possible.

For further information about the move to digital phone services, visit: Upgrading the UK to digital phone lines | Openreach

ENDS

Notes to editors 

It’s not just phone services that will be impacted by the January 2027 switch off. Any building technology using traditional phone connectivity to send or receive data or voice calls may be impacted. Key systems include:

• Lift emergency telephone and auto dialler systems
• Fire alarm communication panels and diallers
• Building intercoms and door entry systems
• Electronic access control platforms
• Automated gate and barrier entry units
• Lone worker and emergency call points
• Cash handling and ATM monitoring
• CCTV backhaul connections
• Industrial telemetry
• Building energy management systems

Pricing incentives to encourage digital migration:

Openreach has added to existing migration incentives by launching a connection special offer – providing free or discounted connection for Communication Providers (CPs) who upgrade their customers to SOGEA - an alternative service providing a digital line where full fibre is not yet available.

The connection offer complements existing incentives, including the Equinox pricing scheme, ‘try before you buy’ offer for new-to-network Full Fibre orders, as well as a recently launched special offer on existing Ethernet Access Direct (EAD) lines for speeds of 1Gbps or below.

Openreach offers free connection for CPs migrating customers on legacy voice only lines.

[1] Numbers calculated using Openreach regional patch data including the wider metropolitan areas served by each city’s postcode districts.

[2] For example, CPs could save around £21 annually by moving a customer from a WLR 80Mbps + FTTC product to an 80Mpbs SOGEA equivalent.

[3] On 1 October 2026 the WLR basic rental price will see a final 40% increase, effectively doubling the rental cost of legacy lines compared to 2025 rates.