BT’s traditional copper phone network – the Public Switched Telephone Network, or PSTN – is being switched off. Openreach has confirmed the final date is 31 January 2027, and it has said there will be no further extension. If your business still uses traditional phone lines, ISDN, or anything else that plugs into a phone socket, now is the time to act.
Here is what the switch-off means, what it affects, and the simple steps to move your business onto a modern VoIP phone system before the deadline.
What is the copper line switch-off?
For decades, UK phone calls have run over copper wires connected to local telephone exchanges. That technology is now more than a century old, expensive to maintain and increasingly unreliable. The UK telecoms industry is replacing it with digital, internet-based calling – often called Voice over IP or VoIP.
The switch-off was originally planned for December 2025, but was pushed back to give providers more time to move vulnerable customers safely. The new date, 31 January 2027, is now final.
Key dates
- September 2023 – Openreach stopped selling new analogue phone lines and new ISDN lines nationwide.
- 2023–2027 – exchanges are being migrated area by area, and traditional broadband that relies on a phone line is gradually being withdrawn where full fibre is available.
- 31 January 2027 – the PSTN is retired. Openreach has said there is no extension to the deadline.
- From 1 February 2027 – lines that have not moved will be transferred to a temporary “Emergency Voice Access” service. Openreach describes it as limited, temporary and more expensive than digital alternatives – it is a safety net, not a solution.
As of mid-2026, Openreach reported that more than a million lines still needed to move – including around 350,000 business premises. If yours is one of them, you are not alone, but time is running short.
What does it affect?
It is not just your phones. Anything that relies on a traditional phone line could stop working, including:
- Business phone lines and older on-site phone systems (PBX)
- ISDN2 and ISDN30 lines
- Broadband that runs over a phone line, such as ADSL and some FTTC connections
- Card payment terminals that dial out over a phone line
- Intruder and fire alarm diallers, and monitored alarm systems
- Lift emergency phones, door entry and gate systems
- Fax machines and some CCTV or monitoring equipment
- Telecare devices and personal alarms
What should your business do now?
1. Audit your lines. Check your phone bill for terms like line rental, PSTN, WLR or ISDN, and list every number and every device plugged into a phone socket – including alarms, card machines and lift phones.
2. Talk to your equipment suppliers. Ask your alarm company, card terminal provider and lift maintenance company whether their equipment is ready for digital lines. Many devices need an upgrade or a 4G/IP alternative.
3. Check your broadband. Digital calls run over your internet connection, so it needs to be reliable. Full-fibre or SOGEA broadband is ideal, and a backup connection is worth considering if phones are critical to your business.
4. Choose your replacement phone system. For most small and medium businesses, a hosted VoIP phone system is the simplest and most cost-effective option. If you have a newer on-site phone system you want to keep, SIP trunks may be an option.
5. Keep your numbers. Your existing landline numbers can be transferred (“ported”) to your new system, so customers can still reach you on the same number.
6. Don’t leave it to the last minute. Engineers, number transfers and equipment upgrades will be in heavy demand as the deadline approaches.
Why VoIP is an upgrade, not just a replacement
Moving to VoIP is not just about keeping the lights on. A modern cloud phone system gives you features that used to need an expensive on-site switchboard:
- Take calls on desk phones, mobiles and laptops – from the office, home or on the road
- Ring groups, opening hours, call menus and call queues
- Voicemail to email, call recording and call reporting
- Add or remove users in minutes as your team changes
- Typically lower monthly costs than traditional line rental
How STORM 360 can help
STORM 360 helps businesses across Ayrshire and Glasgow make the switch with as little disruption as possible. We start with a free phone line audit, check your broadband, design your new phone system, port your existing numbers and switch you over at a quiet time – then train your team and support you afterwards from our office in Ayr.
Our VoIP plans start from £9.99 per user per month, with no contract.
Find out more about our VoIP phone systems → or call us on 01292 264415 to book your free phone line audit.
