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Ministers must delay a digital switchover deadline or millions of people will be left isolated without phones and internet, a charity boss has warned. The copper network that powers traditional landline phones is expected to be switched off in January 2027. But nearly 60% of adults over 50 are unaware that the switchover is coming, the chief executive of Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) said.

Elizabeth Anderson insisted the deadline must be pushed back to 2030. She added: “While for many of us the transition is easy, for those most in need of a landline telephone connection and those not confident with technology, the change is very overwhelming.

“Despite nationwide workshops and celebrity endorsements, the reality is that much of the switchover has relied upon friends, family, neighbours and community groups filling the gaps.

“The DPA has heard from people needing to travel hundreds of miles on return trips to support older relatives to set up new equipment, because of a lack of skills and confidence among older people to swap out connectivity equipment”

Some campaigners have suggested that analogue systems are becoming unreliable, with a bigger risk that vital calls and alerts will fail.

Other European countries, such as Estonia and the Netherlands, have already completed their digital transition.

The UK’s switch-over deadline was originally scheduled for 2025.

Despite this, Ms Anderson said: “The digital switchover is particularly challenging for those in rural areas, with concerns about power cuts remaining huge, with battery back-up units only being mandated to cover one hour’s power for phone calls, and only free of charge in some circumstances.

“Alongside a delay, providers must be made to follow several conditions, including a guarantee that all older people, or those identified as vulnerable, will receive the same level of in-home support as those known to have telecare, and that no household will risk losing internet access as part of the switchover.

“There must also be an end to forced migrations where there is no indoor 4G or 5G mobile signal, and a mandatory provision of battery back-up units for all over the age of 60, with long-term health conditions, or those on Universal Credit.

“The digital switchover impacts our parents and grandparents, our friends, our neighbours. If the deadline isn’t pushed back to 2030, people we know will be left disconnected.”

A Department for Science, Innovation and Technology spokesman said: “While the switchover to digital phone lines is an industry decision, over 92% of traditional landlines have already switched over and the vast majority of customers are now able to enjoy higher quality and more resilient services.

“We’ve worked closely with operators to ensure people stay connected – with safeguards now in place to protect vulnerable consumers such as free battery back-ups and engineer visits. Any landline users who have not yet been switched should contact their provider to arrange an upgrade.”