Connect Your Business with Barker Telecommunications

We offer a large variety of phone systems, as one system does not always fit all. We will take the time to get to know your business  and give advice on the solutions that would be the best fit. We will configure and install however our team of engineers will always be on hand to make changes to the configurations later on down the line if required. 

20/05/2024: BT has postponed the UK landline switch-off until early 2027 due to safety concerns and issues with telecare alarms. Here are the details:

Originally, BT planned to switch off all copper-based phone lines across the UK by the end of next year. This move would have affected millions of customers, moving them from traditional landlines to broadband-powered alternatives that rely on the internet for calls (similar to WhatsApp or Skype). These broadband-powered alternatives use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) or All-IP calls.

However, the process of switching households to Digital Voice landlines faced several challenges. Some BT customers lost access to their landline numbers, and others were stranded without a connection for days. The most significant impact was on the 1.8 million elderly and vulnerable people in the UK who rely on telecare safety alarms. These alarms failed to work on the new phone lines, prompting safety concerns.

As a result, BT decided to postpone the switch-off until early 2027. The revised timeline aims to ensure better safeguards and address the issues faced during the transition. While the delay is significant, BT emphasizes that the urgency for switching customers onto digital services continues to grow.

If you have any specific concerns or need further assistance, feel free to ask.

 01/02/2025: Please be aware that due to price increases by our suppliers in line with inflation plus additional allowed by Ofcom.  Bartel has now been forced to increase our line service charges, including broadband from the 1st April 2025. This is only the  third increase in our service charges in over a decade. Anticipated increases will be between 10% & 15%. Charges will apply on invoices dated from 1st April 2025.