About the landline switch

Sky's digital landline switch: what to expect

In brief

  • Sky Talk customers are being moved onto Sky's digital voice service as part of the national PSTN switch-off.
  • Sky sends equipment and setup instructions by post; most homes do not need an engineer visit.
  • Your Sky landline number stays the same. Your existing handset usually continues to work once plugged into the new Sky router.
  • If you depend on the landline for emergencies or telecare, ask Sky specifically for their free battery backup or mobile solution.
  • Scam calls pretending to be from Sky are common. Sky will not ask for payment during the switch.

What is Sky doing about the landline switch?

Sky is part of the national programme to retire the UK's analogue phone network. Sky Talk (the home phone service) is moving from the old copper line to a digital service that runs over your Sky Broadband. The underlying Ofcom rules are the same for every provider: migrate customers safely, give notice, protect vulnerable users.

Once you have been switched, the phone plugs into a port on the back of the Sky router instead of a wall socket. Your number stays the same. 999 continues to work while the router has power.

When will Sky switch my line?

Sky gives at least 30 days' notice by letter or email before a migration. If you have a Sky Talk line and have not been contacted, you can call Sky on 0333 7591 310 to ask for your expected date.

Sky is deliberately slower for customers who have registered a vulnerability or who use telecare. If you rely on the landline for any safety reason, make sure Sky knows this (see the Priority Services Register section below) and they should not force a migration before a safe alternative is in place.

What Sky sends you

Most customers receive in the post:

The setup is usually straightforward: unplug the phone from the wall socket and plug it into the labelled phone port on the new hub.

Does the Sky landline switch cost anything?

No extra charge from Sky for the migration itself, the equipment they send, or the battery backup if you qualify. Your Sky Talk plan and call charges do not change because of the switch.

Indirect costs can still apply if a connected device (telecare alarm, old fax machine, older payment terminal) has to be replaced. Check each device with its supplier before your line changes.

What to ask Sky when they call

Fake Sky upgrade calls

Scammers call customers claiming to be from Sky and asking for bank details, remote access to a computer, or upfront payment for "the switch". Sky will never do any of these things. If a call feels wrong:

Common questions about Sky's digital landline switch

Will my Sky landline work in a power cut?

Not on its own. Sky's digital voice service needs the broadband hub to be on. If you are on the Priority Services Register or depend on the landline, Sky supplies a free battery backup unit that keeps the phone usable for up to an hour during a power cut.

Can I keep my Sky phone number?

Yes. Your existing Sky Talk number moves with you onto the digital service automatically. No porting form, no gap in service.

Does Sky force the switch?

Not immediately. If you have a telecare alarm, a safety-critical device, or a registered vulnerability, Sky should pause your migration until a safe alternative is agreed. You cannot stay on the old analogue network indefinitely, though: the whole network shuts down by January 2027.

Will my old Sky Talk phone handset still work?

Most corded and cordless phones work fine when plugged into the Sky Broadband Hub's phone port. Very old or niche models may not. Sky's letter should list any known incompatibilities.