What Is an Internet Phone? A Simple UK Guide

If you’ve been told your old landline is being switched off, or you’ve heard terms like “VoIP”, “digital voice”, or “internet calling” and felt confused, you’re not alone. Millions of UK households are in exactly the same position. What most people are really asking is: what is an internet phone, and do I need one?

This guide explains everything in plain English, no jargon, no technical knowledge required.

What Is an Internet Phone?

An internet phone is a telephone that makes and receives calls using your broadband connection, rather than the old copper telephone line that runs under the street.

You may have heard it called a VoIP phone (Voice over Internet Protocol), a digital voice phone, or simply a digital landline. They all mean the same thing: a home phone that works over your internet connection instead of the traditional copper network.

An internet phone looks, sounds, and works exactly like the phone you already have. You dial numbers the same way, your calls sound clear, and you keep the same phone number. The only difference is what’s happening behind the scenes, your voice travels over broadband instead of copper wire.

If you’ve ever made a call on WhatsApp, Skype or FaceTime, you’ve already experienced internet phone technology, it uses the same principle of sending your voice as digital data over the internet. An internet phone service does the same thing, but with a proper UK phone number and your existing handset.

Why Is Everyone Switching to Internet Phones Right Now?

The UK’s old copper telephone network, known as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), is being permanently switched off by January 2027. Every major provider in the UK, including BT, Sky, and Virgin Media, has already started moving customers over.

This means that by 2027, every home in the UK with a landline will need to have switched to an internet phone service. This is not optional, the old infrastructure is being physically decommissioned across the country.

If you have a landline today, your current provider will contact you at some point before the deadline. But many people are choosing to switch on their own terms, so they can pick a service that suits them, rather than simply being moved across automatically.

Understanding what an internet phone is now means you can make an informed choice before someone makes it for you.

How Does an Internet Phone Work?

Here’s the simple version: when you speak into an internet phone, your voice is instantly converted into small packets of digital data. Those packets travel over your broadband connection to the person you’re calling, where they are converted back into sound, all in a fraction of a second. The result is a clear, natural phone call.

The entire process is invisible to you. You pick up the handset, hear a dial tone, and dial a number, exactly as you always have.

For this to work in your home, you typically need one of the following:

• A VoIP adapter – a small device that plugs into your router. You then plug your existing phone handset into the adapter. Your normal phone works exactly as it always did.
• A dedicated internet phone handset – a phone built specifically to connect directly to your router or Wi-Fi network, without needing a separate adapter.

Phonely includes a free VoIP adapter with every plan, so most customers can keep their existing handset and be set up and calling within minutes of it arriving.

Do You Need a New Phone for an Internet Phone Service?

In most cases, no. Your existing handset, whether it is a cordless phone, a phone with an answering machine, or a large-button phone, will work perfectly with a VoIP adapter.

The adapter plugs into a spare port on your router using a standard ethernet cable. You then plug your phone into the adapter using the same telephone cable it uses today. That is it. Your phone rings when someone calls, you pick it up, and everything works as it always has.

Internet Phone vs Traditional Landline: What Are the Differences?

The day-to-day experience of using an internet phone is very similar to a traditional landline, but there are some meaningful differences worth understanding before you switch.

What is better with an internet phone

• Lower monthly cost – No separate line rental charge. Internet phone services such as Phonely start from £9.97/month, compared to BT Digital Voice within a BT broadband package at around £28.40/month with calls then charged at 20.9p/minute on top.
• More features – Internet phone services can offer call blocking, scam call screening, and call recording, advanced features that were simply not possible on the old copper network.
• Flexibility – You can take your number with you if you move house, even if you move to a new area or country, and many services let you manage your phone from an app on your mobile.
• Better or equal call quality – Over a decent broadband connection, internet calls are typically clearer than traditional landline calls.

What to be aware of

• Requires a working broadband connection – An internet phone will not work during a broadband outage. This affects very few people, but it is worth knowing. Phonely customers have access to a mobile failover option so they are never completely cut off if their broadband goes down.
• Needs your router to be powered on – Unlike old copper-line phones that could sometimes work during a power cut, an internet phone needs your router to have power. It is sensible to keep a mobile phone charged as a backup for emergencies.

Are Internet Phones Safe from Scam Calls?

This is one of the most important questions UK households are asking, and rightly so. Phone scams targeting landline users have become a serious problem, costing UK victims hundreds of millions of pounds each year. Older people are disproportionately targeted.

Internet phones can actually offer much stronger scam call protection than traditional landlines ever could. Because calls travel as digital data, it is possible to screen, analyse, and block suspicious calls in real time, something that simply was not technically possible on the old copper network.

Phonely’s service includes CallGuard, an AI-powered scam call screening system that has been endorsed by police forces across the UK and recognised by the BBC’s Scam Safe campaign. CallGuard automatically screens incoming calls, plays a warning message to callers so that scammers hang up, and blocks known scam numbers before your phone even rings.

For elderly relatives or anyone who has already been targeted by phone scammers, this protection is often the single biggest reason families choose Phonely over other internet phone providers.

How Much Does an Internet Phone Service Cost?

Internet phone services vary considerably in price and in what they include. Here is a straightforward comparison:

• Phonely – From £9.97/month. Includes 1,600 minutes of free UK calls, a free VoIP adapter, and built-in scam call protection via CallGuard. No hidden charges.
• BT Digital Voice – Included within BT broadband from around £28.40/month. Calls are charged at 20.9p/minute beyond a small free allowance. No scam protection included by default.
• Other broadband providers – Most are simply moving customers to a basic digital voice service as part of their broadband package, with no additional features and no scam call protection.

The key difference with Phonely is that the service has been built specifically for landline users, particularly those who rely on their home phone and want peace of mind from scam call protection, rather than being an afterthought within a broadband bundle.

How to Switch to an Internet Phone Service

Switching to an internet phone service is simpler than most people expect. With Phonely, there are three steps:

• Choose a plan – Pick the Phonely plan that matches your calling habits and the level of scam protection you need. Plans start from £9.97/month.
• Keep your existing number – In most cases you can transfer your current landline number to Phonely. This is known as number porting and typically takes around 5–7 working days.
• Plug in and start calling – Your free VoIP adapter arrives by post. Plug it into your router, connect your existing handset, and you are ready to make and receive calls, no engineer visit needed.

There is no disruption to your broadband service during the switch, and our UK-based support team is available if you need any help along the way.

Internet Phone FAQs

What is an internet phone?

An internet phone is a telephone that makes and receives calls over your broadband connection instead of the old copper telephone line. It is also known as a VoIP phone, a digital voice phone, or a digital landline. The calling experience is identical to a traditional phone, you simply dial and speak as normal.

Do I need broadband to use an internet phone?

Yes. An internet phone requires a working broadband connection. Any standard UK broadband connection, including ADSL, fibre, or cable, provides sufficient speed for high-quality internet calls.

Can I keep my existing landline number when switching to an internet phone?

Yes, in most cases. You can transfer (port) your existing landline number to an internet phone service. With Phonely, number porting typically takes 5–7 working days and is handled for you as part of the signup process.

Is an internet phone the same as VoIP?

Yes. Internet phone, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), and digital voice all describe the same technology, a phone service that works over your broadband connection instead of the old copper telephone network.

Will my existing phone handset work with an internet phone service?

Yes, in most cases. You will need a small VoIP adapter that connects between your existing handset and your router. Phonely includes a free adapter with every plan, so you do not need to buy a new phone.

What happens if my internet goes down, can I still make calls?

An internet phone will not work during a broadband outage. This is rare but worth planning for. Phonely customers have access to a mobile failover option, and we recommend keeping a mobile phone charged for genuine emergencies.

Are internet phones safe from scam calls?

Internet phone services can include far stronger scam call protection than traditional landlines. Phonely’s CallGuard system screens incoming calls automatically and blocks known scam numbers before your phone rings. It has been endorsed by UK police forces and featured in the BBC’s Scam Safe campaign.

When does the UK copper landline network switch off?

The UK’s old copper telephone network (PSTN) is being switched off by January 2027. Every home currently using a traditional landline will need to have moved to an internet phone service before this date. Your current provider is required to manage your migration.