Openreach Help Migrate Legacy UK Phone and Broadband Lines Split by Provider

As the closure of the UK’s old Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) based broadband services draws ever closure to its deadline, Openreach has now launched a new special offer to help migrate customers that split their old broadband and phone lines between different providers.

Just to recap. The legacy phone switch-off was previously delayed from the original Dec 2025 date to 31st January 2027 in order to give broadband, phone, telecare providers, councils and consumers more time to adapt (details). The main focus of this was on the UK people who use vital home telecare systems (e.g. elderly, disabled – vulnerable users), which aren’t always compatible with newer IP-based digital phone services (telecare providers were slow to adapt).

In most cases such upgrades merely involve a fairly seamless change of service, managed by your telecoms provider (ISP), which often results in customers needing to connect their home phone into the back of either a broadband router or Analogue Terminal Adapter (ATA); instead of directly into the socket on your wall or skirting board (NTE5 sockets). Special solutions also exist for telecare users.

Today around 1.5 million UK lines (down from 1.9m in June 2026) are yet to be migrated to modern services (e.g. full fibre broadband, SOGEA hybrid broadband or VoIP style phone solutions). One of the problems is that some consumers split their old broadband and analogue phone services between different Communication Providers (CP), which can add an extra layer of complexity.

Openreach are this week attempting to help tackle that challenge by launching a new special offer that offers free connections for most of these lines, which should help migrate customers to modern digital platforms (e.g. SOGEA hybrid broadband-only lines, fully unbundled MPF or pure copper SOTAP lines).

Openreach Briefing Statement

On a Split-CP line, the phone line (WLR) and Broadband (+SMPF or +FTTC) are supplied by two different CPs. Either of those CPs, whichever places the first qualifying migration order, can take up this offer for that line. The CP placing the order handles all contact with the End User about the migration and makes sure any service no longer needed is ceased. Openreach is not responsible for those End User communications or cessations.

The expectation is that CPs associated with this cohort of lines can identify their own assets. Nonetheless, Openreach would be willing to provide to a CP their specific list of assets for targeted application of the offer.

Migrations from WLR+Broadband to MPF or SOTAP

CPs will be charged the prevailing connection charge for these journeys, then rebated the full amount afterwards so that the effective connection charge is free.

Qualifying orders for these journeys must be:

➤ Migrations from existing WLR+Broadband (WLR+SMPF or WLR+FTTC) services to MPF or SOTAP;

➤ Completed between 08 September 2026 and 31 January 2027 (inclusive).

Migrations from Split CP WLR+Broadband to SOGEA

The existing WLR to SOGEA offer [WLR008/26] which is due to end on 31 October 2026 is being brought under this Special Offer and extended for Split CP WLR+Broadband services to SOGEA migrations only. CPs will be charged the prevailing connection charge, then rebated the applicable amount afterwards so that the effective connection charge reflects the discounted rate for the applicable journey.

Qualifying orders for these journeys must be:

➤ Migrations from existing WLR+Broadband (WLR+SMPF or WLR+FTTC) services to SOGEA;

➤ Completed between 01 November 2026 and 31 January 2027 (inclusive).

Further details of the pricing and services can be found here, but in short Openreach are trying to take as much of the cost obstruction to such migrations out of the equation as possible, which in most cases will make it free.