Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for supplying direct current to a telephone line. According to the invention, the current supply characteristic is programmable. The arrangement comprises a direct current supply circuit which detects the line voltage and supplies a line current in accordance with a preprogrammed current supply characteristic. The circuit includes a first more high-voltage part and a second more low-voltage part, in which programming of the current supply characteristic takes place. For the purpose of achieving programming, a first resistive component having a programmable resistance is arranged essentially parallel with a capacitor in the second part. The first resistive component determines the supply resistance of the circuit for low line currents.