BT will be holding an event in Basingstoke this month to help raise awareness about the upcoming change from analogue to digital landlines, and its new home phone service Digital Voice.

The company will be in Hampshire during March to visit communities and talk to customers about how landlines will be changing over the coming years. In addition, there will be demonstrations of the new service and products. 

BT will host two sessions in Basingstoke this March, taking place on Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22 from 10am to 4pm at Sherfield on Loddon Garden Centre, Wildmoor Lane, Sherfield on Loddon.

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An industry-wide shift from analogue to digital landlines will see BT and many other UK telecom operators provide services over a broadband line, similar to work taking place in Australia, New Zealand and Sweden. 

This once-in-a-generation upgrade to future-proof the UK’s landlines is essential and will replace technology that is fast becoming obsolete.  

The roadshows form parts of BT’s regional awareness-raising approach, with the South East of England the latest area to be visited by advisors.   

Senior engagement manager at BT, Vicky Hicks, said: "We will be visiting the area to talk to as many customers as possible about the switch to digital landlines and answer any questions they may have. 

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“Events will be held across the region so we can make sure our customers can meet us face-to-face and learn more about the changes. Those who are ready to make the switch will be supported to do so. 

“The landline is here to stay, and for the majority of customers, making the switch simply involves plugging your phone into a broadband router instead of into a wall-mounted phone socket, bringing new benefits such as advanced spam call blocking.

“For almost all customers, moving to Digital Voice will be a simple and free transition with no home installation work required.

"They’ll still have the same service, and their bills will stay the same. In addition, more than 99 per cent of phone handsets work with Digital Voice and for those that don’t, BT has a range of handsets that customers can order.”   

BT is working closely with local authorities and telecare providers to help identify customers with additional needs and those who use telecare devices ahead of the switch. This will allow the company to ensure that it can put the right support in place for those customers. 

The company has also committed to supporting vulnerable customers throughout the switch, having signed up for the governments charter, and is urging customers who feel they may need additional support with the transition to get in touch.

More information can be found at bt.com/help/.