The UK’s old copper phone network is being switched off on the 31st of January 2027. If your business still relies on traditional landlines, ISDN or other services connected to the old network, now is the time to check what needs to change.

If you don’t make the switch by then, your landline phones and many other critical business functions may well go offline all at once.

Here’s what you need to know about the PSTN switch-off and the options available to your business.

What is the PSTN switch-off?

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is the old network that has supported traditional landline services for decades. Much of it relies on copper infrastructure, which is now being retired as the UK moves towards newer digital networks.

The copper switch-off means these old connections will no longer support traditional phone services after the 31st of January 2027.

You may also have heard this referred to as the BT copper switch-off, BT analogue switch-off or the Openreach copper switch-off. They all relate to the wider move away from the UK’s old analogue and copper-based telephone infrastructure.

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), which businesses have often used to connect multiple copper phone lines, is also being phased out.

For businesses still using these services, this means you’ll either need to transition your landline to a VoIP solution, or ensure your existing hardware is prepared for the new digital infrastructure.

Who is affected by the copper switch-off?

If your business has already moved away from traditional copper-based telephony, you may not need to do anything.

But if you still use traditional landlines or ISDN, it’s worth checking your setup now.

Approximately 350,000  businesses across the country are still reliant on the old lines, which means that, when the deadline comes, there’ll be an unprecedented rush to get a solution sorted.

As you might expect, you do not want to be a part of this rush.

So, it’s time to check your systems, and don’t just check your phones. Depending on your business and existing infrastructure, copper connections may also support:

• Payment systems
• Booking systems
• Alarm systems
• Lifts and emergency phones
• Door entry and gate controls

If any of these rely on the old network, they’ll need to be addressed before the switch-off.

This is especially important for businesses where taking and receiving calls is business critical. For hospitality organisations, for example, losing phone service could mean losing the ability to take bookings or readily deal with customer enquiries.

What solutions are available to you?

The good news is that the PSTN switch-off doesn’t automatically mean you need to replace your entire phone system.

You have two main options:

Connect your existing system – SIP trunking

If you’ve invested in a phone system that still works well for your business, you may not need to replace it.

SIP trunking allows a compatible phone system to connect to the new digital network using an internet connection or dedicated Ethernet connection. Simply put, it replaces the old copper phone connection with a digital one, while allowing you to continue using your existing phone system.

This can be a good option if your current equipment is compatible, you’ve invested heavily in your existing system, or there’s a particular reason you need to keep your phone system on site.

It does mean you’ll still have a physical phone system to manage, so it’s worth considering whether your existing equipment is likely to meet your needs for the years ahead, or if you’d prefer a cloud-based solution, such as option number two…