Router, VoIP Adapter, or New Handset: What Equipment Do You Need for a Digital Landline?

Written by George, on 27 Mar, 2026. Last updated 27 Mar, 2026

With the UK’s copper‑based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) being switched off in January 2027, every household will soon rely on digital voice for landline calls. Instead of drawing a dial tone from the wall socket, your phone will connect to your broadband router and calls will travel over the internet. This means your home phone will depend on your electricity supply and you may need different equipment depending on the type of phone you want to use. Below is a guide to the three common setup options – plugging a phone into your router, using a VoIP adapter, or buying a new digital voice handset – so you can decide which is best for your home.

Understanding the Digital Voice Switchover

The move to digital voice is more than a marketing change; it is a network upgrade. The traditional PSTN carried both the voice signal and a small electric current, which allowed corded phones to work during power cuts. When the network is retired, calls will be delivered over your broadband connection using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Some providers refer to this as digital phone or digital voice. After the switchover:

Wall phone sockets will go dead: once your home is migrated to digital voice, the copper line will no longer carry a signal. Your phone must instead connect to the router.
Power matters: digital voice relies on your electricity supply; to keep calling during power cuts you’ll need a battery back‑up unit or a mobile phone.
Equipment may need replacing: you may need a new router or adapter to connect your current handset. If you use telecare or alarm devices, check their compatibility.

Three Ways to Connect Your Phone

1 – Keep your existing phone with a VoIP adapter (ATA)

An Analogue Telephone Adapter (also called a VoIP adapter or ATA) lets you keep your current corded or cordless phone. The adapter converts analogue voice signals into digital data for transmission over the internet and back again. In practice you:

Connect the adapter to your router via an Ethernet cable.
Plug your phone into the adapter’s phone port.
Power the adapter – some models plug into a mains socket and pair wirelessly to the router or use Ethernet and power from the router.

Once connected, the adapter converts your voice into digital packets and your existing handset should work as it always did, including with your current telephone number. Phonely offers simple plug‑and‑play adapters; if you have an analogue phone you can purchase a VoIP adapter to continue using it. Their adapters come pre‑configured and require no complicated instructions.

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Advantages	Considerations
Keep your familiar phone handsets Cost‑effective; only a small adapter is required Simple plug and play setup	Requires space near your router or a power socket Phones may not work in a power cut unless you have a battery back‑up Some legacy handsets and telecare devices may not be compatible

2 – Plugging your phone directly into your router

Some broadband routers act as an analogue telephone adapter themselves. Providers such as BT supply hubs with a green phone port for digital voice; if your phone is near the hub you can plug it directly into the phone socket on the back of the router.

There is a caveat to this however – it only works if your broadband and phone service are bundled with the same provider. For example, services like BT Digital Voice are tied to the provider’s own broadband and compatible router. That means less flexibility, because you cannot easily mix and match providers or switch later without changing your setup. While it seems convenient, this approach can also work out more expensive over time.

Pros	Cons
No separate adapter needed Simple setup if you already use that provider’s broadband service	Usually only works if your broadband and phone service are bundled with the same provider Less flexibility to switch provider later Can work out more expensive over time

3 – Buying a dedicated VoIP phone

Unlike analogue phones, an IP phone connects directly to your broadband network without an adapter. IP phones have a built‑in VoIP client and often offer advanced features. Some providers offer digital voice handsets that pair wirelessly with their routers; Phonely’s digital voice handsets are examples.

To set up an IP phone:

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Connect the IP phone to your router using an Ethernet cable or Wi‑Fi.
Configure the phone using the settings provided by your VoIP provider (Phonely pre‑configures its phones so you can just plug and play).

IP phones are common in offices but are increasingly popular in homes, especially for people who want a fresh handset or extra features.

Pros	Cons
No adapter needed Modern features such as HD call quality and extra calling functions Good option if you want a brand new handset	Higher upfront cost than keeping your existing phone May need more setup or configuration

Preparing Your Home

For a comprehensive checklist – including how to deal with extension sockets, choosing battery back‑up units and ensuring telecare compatibility – read our Preparing Your Home for Digital Voice guide. This guide explains what changes during the switchover, the three connection methods, and offers step‑by‑step advice on power cuts and alarm compatibility.

Why Choose Phonely

Phonely specialises in digital voice services for homes and small businesses. Whether you want to reuse your existing phone with a plug‑and‑play VoIP adapter or upgrade to a modern digital voice handset, Phonely provides pre‑configured hardware and UK‑based support. The company also offers advanced scam‑blocking features and call‑guard technology, and you can keep your existing number at no extra cost.

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