Openreach Launches Alternative UK Analogue Phone Line Product

Openreach has today notified UK telecoms providers that their SOTAP Analogue product will, following a “successful pilot” (here), get its full commercial launch on 28th October 2025. This is a phone line service that does NOT require broadband to work and will be targeted at vulnerable users who would otherwise struggle with migrating to an All-IP (internet) based phone service.

The industry-led legacy phone service switch-off (PSTN/WLR) was last year delayed to 31st January 2027 in order to give broadband, phone, telecare providers, councils / CNI users and consumers more time to adapt (details). The focus of this remains on the 1.8 million UK people who use vital home telecare systems (e.g. elderly, disabled – vulnerable users) that aren’t always compatible with digital phones, usually because telecare providers were slow to adapt. But we should add that, for everybody else, many providers will still be working toward the original Dec 2025 deadline.

Openreach and BT have introduced a number of new complementary services and products to support this change, one of which is their “temporary” Pre-Digital Phone Line (PDPL) product. This is supported by Openreach’s SOTAP Analogue (Single Order Transitional Access Product for Analogue) product, which is an exchange-based IP-voice service that replicates how the old service worked, albeit over a more modern network (i.e. it does NOT require broadband, new kit, an engineer visit or battery back-up to function).

Just to be clear. This is a standalone product that will be available “nationally”, even in areas that have already been upgraded to all-IP broadband technologies (e.g. FTTP and FTTC / SOGEA). However, this is only intended to be available to vulnerable and edge case users on existing lines (not new customers), such as those who would otherwise “face challenges” in migrating to normal internet (IP) based phone solutions by the deadline.

According to today’s new briefing, SOTAP Analogue will now officially become commercially available from 28th October 2025 and attracts an annual rental of £127.80 +vat (£10.65 per month). But the price you pay at retail will be higher than this due to the need to add 20% VAT, profit margins and account for other service features/costs etc. Migrations to this line will also attract a connection fee of £30.91 +vat (see wholesale costs).

However, this remains a temporary solution, which allows enough time for the most challenging / vulnerable and CNI users to find a modern digital solution. But it will eventually be retired too through the future closure of Openreach’s old exchanges, which is expected to occur at full speed from 2030 onwards.