29 March 2021
A router can have a phone socket on the back to connect a regular phone or cordless base into. It uses VoIP to carry your calls over your Internet connection
VoIP is the method of using IP networks - your Internet connection - to carry voice calls. It's what Skype, DrayTEL, WhatsApp and other such services use for voice calls and is also how most modern businesses' phones are now connected. Under Openreach's analogue switch-off plan, VoIP will be used to replace all analogue voice services.
The analogue services being switched off in 2025 are known as the WLR (Wholesale Line Rental) services which include WLR3 analogue (a voice line), ISDN2, ISDN30, LLU SLU SMPF (Combined DSL and analogue voice lines), Narrowband Line Share and Classic products.
These services represent an estimated 16 million lines and channels (ISDN is counted by 'channels' as one ISDN line can have 30 channels). Note that some digital services such as ISDN are also included in the switch off, so it's more accurate to say that PSTN services are being switched off, not just 'analogue services'.
The physical lines to each house, of course, remain and will be used to run DSL services instead but without the analogue phone service alongside it.
If you need to connect analogue phones, you will have to receive your voice service over DSL (or another digital connection medium) and some sort of digital to analogue converter locally. That means you'll need a router which has phone ports on it (see photo below). These are widely available from many vendors, so if you're replacing your router, do consider one with VoIP/Phone ports to give you the option for later. You can then choose any VoIP service provider. Alternatively, come the switch off, your ISP may offer to upgrade your router because they'll want to sell your their own tied VoIP service to replace the analogue landline.
By Draytek
