Is your business being switched-on?
Phone, broadband and ISDN services
The UK telecommunications industry is switching on broadband, ISDN and phone services in the UK to enable you to benefit more quickly from the new services that are being made available on BT's next generation network. Voice, broadband and ISDN lines are being migrated at different times and through different activities.
New next generation services such as Ethernet (for businesses) and broadband are already being delivered. If your service provider chooses to deliver next generation services such as broadband to their customers, then subject to the completion of engineering work in your local exchange, you could be switched onto new services in the future.
With very few exceptions, private circuits will not be affected directly by this work taking place in the exchanges. Most private circuits will continue for several years after the introduction of the new products.
Pilot phone switched-on activity in the South Wales area
Our programme of initial phone service migration activity in the South Wales area is currently due to continue later this year, approximately 75,000 lines in that area are already working on the new network.
Please note that current switched-on activity in the South Wales area does not include ISDN or Featureline services.
ISDN
ISDN services will have a separate switched-on date and your service provider will be able to update you on this in the near future. We advise you to keep in touch with your service provider about the process for ISDN migration activity.
Broadband services – further information
Broadband services will have a separate switched-on date from phone services. New broadband services are being made available to service providers in a phased way, and it is then their decision when they make those available to their users. Currently just over 10 million homes are connected to telephone exchanges that can support next generation broadband services.
For your information, with regard to broadband there are many factors that affect broadband service availability and speed. These include electrical interference, faulty wiring and the equipment that is connected to the network as well as distance from the exchange. Please note that the upgrade to BT’s next generation Broadband platform will not resolve any existing Broadband service availability/speed issues. This is specifically where you have been informed that this is due to your distance from the local telephone exchange.
Mobile Phones
Your mobile phone isn't directly affected by the switched-on programme.
Getting the country switched-on is a massive project for the UK's telecoms industry, taking place over a number of years. Plans for switching-on and other details may change.