Openreach Tells UK Businesses to “act faster” on Legacy Phone Switch-Off
Network access provider Openreach (BT) has today warned businesses across the UK that they must “act now” in order to be ready for the old Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to be switched-off in favour of IP-based digital phone (VoIP etc.) services. But many are leaving it until the last minute, “risking network outages and malfunctioning systems“.
Just to recap. The legacy phone switch-off was last year delayed to 31st January 2027 in order to give broadband ISPs, phone, telecare providers, councils and consumers more time to adapt (details). The main focus of this was the 1.8 million UK people who use vital home telecare systems (e.g. elderly, disabled – vulnerable users), which aren’t always compatible with digital phone services because telecare providers were slow to adapt. But this overlooks that, for everybody else, many providers will still be working to the original Dec 2025 deadline to have their customers off the PSTN network.
According to Openreach, “many businesses” (we don’t get a solid estimate) are continuing to rely on outdated PSTN infrastructure and thus “risk both their operational effectiveness and bottom lines“. As legacy networks are decommissioned, systems such as payment terminals, security alarms, ISDN lines, and landline phones “will cease to work, potentially leading to significant disruptions“.
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James Lilley, Director of All IP at Openreach, said:
“The nationwide transition to an All-IP network is a huge undertaking, and ensuring vulnerable users are protected during the shift has been a priority. Now that we are confident we have addressed those needs and can safely transition vulnerable customers, the deadline is set. It’s time for businesses to act and unchain their networks from legacy infrastructure.
The digital world won’t wait for those that stall. Every day of delay risks disruptions, higher costs, and missed Opportunities.”
The industry-led shift is being driven by a combination of factors, such as the looming retirement of copper lines in favour of full fibre (FTTP), as well as future exchange closures and the declining reliability of the old phone network (Ofcom states that related fault rates substantially increased by 45% in 2024). Not to mention that it is not economically feasible to maintain both the old and new networks side-by-side long term.
The government and ISPs have already introduced various measures to protect consumers, particularly vulnerable users. But businesses don’t benefit from this and need to ensure that their own systems are up-to-date ahead of time. The best way to start this process is by contacting your current provider to discuss the issue.
Openreach said businesses should start by reviewing their connectivity estate to identify any equipment still relying on PSTN. The network operator added that testing this equipment can be done for free at their test labs, ensuring compatibility with All IP networks (details here). Openreach are also offering a range of resources to help businesses through the transition, including support for edge cases and temporary solutions if needed.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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I believe most card machines of the type installed in small businesses have the option of a phone or ethernet connection and the card companies prefer the broadband route anyway.
I haven’t seen a dialup card machine for years. Most of them are on 4G now in smaller businesses I use. I would expect the remaining ones to be replaced by the banks shortly (if they haven’t done it yet).
“Ofcom states that related fault rates substantially increased by 45% in 2024.”
That seems like a slightly suspect statistic.
(Unless part of the cause is altnets using PIA disturbing existing Openreach copper wiring and junctions when installing their own kit?)
This pertains solely to the PSTN , not the copper local access network. From the connected nations report “Meanwhile, there has been an increase in the number of significant network resilience incidents
reported to us. This includes a 45% rise in incidents regarding the legacy public switched telephone
network (PSTN), though there was a 55% decrease in the number of PSTN service hours lost, as
increasing numbers of customers have moved to digital voice services.”
Leave us to upgrade when we want . Not interested in been forced onto something that works perfectly fine. Not had a problem in 20+ years
The PSTN is an ancient piece of technology for which parts are hard to come by and which is well out of support, not to mention that the PSTN being ahut down is a requirement for Openreach to get rid of thousands of exchanges during the 2030s. You will have to upgrade to digital voice services — VOIP — whether you like it or not. Instead of being one of the businesses who stubbornly refuse to stop using legacy technology, upgrade to more modern — and safer — technology to avoid being named and shamed.
It’s a bit rich for them to complain that people aren’t upgrading, when a large percentage of properties don’t yet have access to fibre broadband.
For us to upgrade we would need to install VDSL and routers, which could be obsolete in less than a year and need replacing again when fibre becomes available. We can’t upgrade until Openreach upgrades and they’re about as clear as mud as to what that timeline might be. For a very large number of properties I doubt very much the copper will be replaced by fibre before 2027 and possibly not for years after.
Why would you need new routers? if the ISPs can manage to supply equipment that can be used on either line type, surely you can as well.
Openreach considers VDSL + VoIP to be an upgrade path from PSTN, and FTTP coverage is not an impediment to their desire to switch it off in 2027. Plenty of BT’s own customers use Digital Voice or Cloud Voice with VDSL.
Even ADSL will suffice for a lot of these use cases such as card machines and telemetry and so on.
Sorry, but you’re being completely misled by the wider media who have no idea what they’re talking about and who post misleading information without fact-checking.
Copper connections are NOT — i repeat, NOT — being shut down in 2027: the only thing that is being shut down is analogue phone lines. You will still be able to get a part-fibre broadband connection well after the PSTN is shut down, if you have no access to FTTP, via something called SOGEA, which is broadband-only FTTC. This can include a VOIP-based phone line, if your provider offers it, or you can ger VOIP phone service from any VOIP provider.
Therefore, if you have access to VDSL technology — aka part-fibre broadband — you need to upgrade, like everyone else, to a VOIP based service.
? … You’ve misunderstood – the copper ‘last mile’ and VDSL is going to be around for several years to come for many people.
Also, almost as a rule, routers that can handle VDSL (i.e. with an integrated modem) can also handle full fibre – no obsolecence or need to upgrade the router (for instance in the case of a BT/EE Home Hub).
It’s the exchange-based PSTN that’s getting switched off, meanwhile the copper will remain for many.
I think they don’t have FTTC available either, but it’s a bit of a rant so no sure
No one wants to have their phone go through their router. When we were forced to change we just simply stopped using the phone completely. Had non stop issues and drop outs and bad call quality and calls not even coming through when going through the router. Don’t force people into stuff they don’t want when the current stuff works fine, better in fact.
It won’t work at all in 18 months .
The ‘stuff’ is no longer manufactured or supported. BT exchanges will be closing.
Total nonsense. A digital line is more reliable and better quality
I see they have now started to advertise about the switch off. Left it pretty late to do so though