Northumberland County Council - Digital Switchover

The UK’s telephone network is changing. Between now and 2025 most telephone providers will be moving their customers from old analogue landlines over to new upgraded landline services using digital technology.

The switchover is being led by the UK telecommunications industry and services in the UK such as home phones and healthcare devices will be switched over.

This may include:

Home phones (traditional landline)
Amplified phones (for those with hearing loss)
Personal telecare products
Fall and motion detectors
Portable healthcare devices such as ECG or oxygen monitors

Make sure you know what to expect and be prepared.

What do I need to do?
Your telephone provider will contact you to give you a switchover date and to check in and discuss what you need to do to make sure your service isn’t affected.

If you have telecare safety devices
If you or someone you know depends on their landline and/or use a telecare device connected to a phone line such as a fall monitor, lifeline or personal alarm, then please contact the provider of this service to find out how this device will be affected.

Vulnerable users are entitled to a backup battery free of charge from their provider if they have critical services running such as telecare/telehealth.

In an emergency
You should tell your telephone provider now if you have no other way of making emergency calls.

What if I have no broadband, internet or mobile phone?
Contact your telephone provider now.

What happens now?
Your telephone provider should contact you before the switchover to let you know if you’ll be affected. Please contact your telephone provider directly (BT, Virgin etc) if you have any concerns about the switchover.

Digital Voice is coming to Northumberland

Throughout June, BT will be heading to Northumberland where a team will be on hand to tell you what Digital Voice is, why the change is necessary and what it means for you.

Although the landline isn’t going away, we know that you might have questions or would like to know more about this industrywide change.

You don’t have to pre-book, just turn up.

Hexham

Date: Friday 14 and Monday 17 June
Time: 9am - 3pm
Location: Hexham Town Centre (The Shambles), Market Place, Hexham, NE46 1XQ

Prudhoe

Date: Tuesday 18 June
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: Prudhoe Library, 58 Spetchells, Front Street, Prudhoe, NE42 5AA

Cramlington

Date: Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 June
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: Cramlington Library, The Hub at Cramlington, Forum Way, Cramlington, NE23 6YB

Morpeth