Comparing it the the analogy TV switch off is not the same, as that didn't involve having to visit every premises in the UK within 5 years.
Nor does this. It's pretty much the same process. The TV switch over required people to buy and configure a set top box. This switch over requires them to install and configure a VoIP adaptor. The only people who will need a home visit are the relatively small number of people who can't connect a small plastic box to their LAN and unplug their existing telephone from the master socket and plug it into the small plastic box.
Granted people who don't currently have broadband will need to get it installed but I assume there's some kind of plan for that. Possibly a small router/VoIP adaptor that can be plugged into the master socket. Still doesn't require a home visit for most people.
The only area of complexity is probably configuration. Currently I believe most VoIP systems are manual but hopefully the industry can spec up an autoconfiguration framework. Shouldn't be all that difficult to piggyback something of DHCP, DNS. Or maybe they can do something with PPP.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
