1m elderly could be cut off by BT phone switch

Landline customers must move to broadband

- NATASHA WYNARCZYK

A MILLION households are set to be forced to transfer to broadband to keep their landline, with fears the elderly could be cut off.

The move, spearheaded by BT, will involve the old copper wire system being replaced by digital voice technology that connects via a router and uses the internet to make calls.

BT, whose Openreach network is used by other providers such as TalkTalk and Sky, hopes for this to be completed by December 2025.

But some 95% of those over 65 still have a landline in their home and may not necessarily have a broadband connection.