Full list of postcodes where UK landlines are being switched off soon

Openreach’s Stop Sell programme means households will no longer be able to sign up for traditional copper broadband and phone services

Whether you welcome it or not, the traditional copper landlines that criss-cross the UK are firmly on their way out. The nationwide transition to so-called “Digital Voice” services has been scheduled for January 2027, signalling the end of the ageing copper-wire telephone network.

Once the deadline comes into effect, households will make calls via their broadband connections instead. The shift represents one of the most significant overhauls to UK communications infrastructure in living memory, and in a bid to speed up the move away from outdated systems, BT’s Openreach network is pressing ahead with its “Stop Sell” programme.

Under these regulations, providers including BT, Sky, Plusnet, and TalkTalk are no longer permitted to offer new copper-based broadband and telephone services in affected areas.

Stop Sell notifications have already been rolled out across numerous parts of the UK in recent years, and Openreach has now confirmed a further expansion covering 238 exchange locations and approximately 1.69 million premises, reports the Mirror.

Once these changes come into force, customers looking to upgrade, switch, or take out new services will be required to move to full fibre broadband and digital telephone services, rather than the outdated copper network.

Openreach explained: “Stop Sell is triggered when a majority (75%) of premises connected to a particular exchange can access ultrafast Full Fibre. Customers wanting to switch, upgrade or re-grade their broadband or phone service will then need to take a new digital service over our Full Fibre network.” By early June, Stop Sell regulations will come into force across 1,432 exchanges throughout the country, affecting around 14.2 million properties.

James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, said: “Our Stop Sell programme is a vital step in accelerating the UK’s transition to a modern full fibre future. As copper’s ability to support modern communications declines, the immediate focus is moving people onto newer, future-proof technologies.

“By phasing out legacy copper-based services in areas where fibre is widely available, we’re helping customers and providers migrate to faster, more reliable digital infrastructure. This also reduces the cost and complexity of maintaining both old and new networks ahead of the nationwide shutdown of the legacy copper-based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), which is now less than eight months away.”

Full list of 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 City • Aberdeen 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

What is Digital Voice?

Digital Voice is BT’s next-generation home telephone service. This digital calling system, which connects households via broadband technology, provides modern features unavailable on traditional landline services, including Multi Call, three-way conference calling, and call diversion to any other phone number, including mobile phones.

Call quality should also be significantly enhanced with Digital Voice, although you will require a compatible Digital Home phone to benefit from these improvements.

For the majority of households, switching to Digital Voice will make no difference to how they use their telephone. The cost of the new Digital Voice and broadband service is incorporated within a single package price, with no additional charge for Digital Voice.