The PSTN Switch-Off:
Is Your Business Ready?
The UK is preparing for a once-in-a-generation infrastructure shift: the retirement of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
Elite Group is here to help you navigate the change.
The PSTN Transition Explained
If you remember the UK’s analogue TV switchover between 2007 and 2012, you’ll understand the scale of this transition. Almost a decade on, the UK is preparing for a comparable shift within its telephone network: the PSTN switch off.
First announced by Openreach in 2017, the phased retirement of PSTN was originally scheduled for completion in December 2025 but has now been extended to January 2027.
While that deadline might seem distant, it is now just over 12 months away. Businesses relying on analogue phone lines, payment terminals, telecare systems or alarm monitoring need to act early. Procuring and migrating to all-IP solutions takes time, and delaying can lead to service disruptions, compliance risks, or missed savings.
What Is PSTN?
PSTN is the analogue network built on copper wiring that has underpinned UK landlines for decades. It connects traditional phone calls and supports older broadband services such as ADSL, FTTC, and legacy digital services, including ISDN.
It also underpins a surprising number of business-critical systems:
- Phone systems
- Outdated broadband setups
- Payment terminals
- Fax machines
- Alarm systems and security systems
- Door and gate entry systems
- Emergency lines in lifts
Once the switch-off takes place, those copper lines will go dark. While some systems may still function physically, their underlying PSTN, ISDN, or older broadband connections will no longer work unless they have been upgraded to modern digital alternatives.
| Date | What’s Happening | What This Means for You |
|---|---|---|
| November 2025 | Industry announcement at the Communications Providers Forum | Formal confirmation of the withdrawal milestones for Wholesale Line Rental services |
| February 2026 | First price increase | If you are still using legacy services, your costs will rise |
| Q1 2026 | First regional exchange closures begin | Businesses in affected regions must migrate immediately to avoid service disruption |
| February 2026 | Openreach expands communications and begins direct outreach | Expect direct contact if you have not started migration planning |
| July 2026 | Second price increase | Costs rise again for customers still consuming legacy services |
| Q2 to Q3 2026 | Further regional exchange closures | More regions lose access to PSTN and ISDN and migration must be underway |
| October 2026 | Third price increase | Final increase applied and costs significantly higher compared to today |
| Q4 2026 | Additional regional exchange closures | Remaining copper based services withdrawn in phased areas |
| October 2026 | Emergency Voice Access contract replaces the January 2026 Wholesale Line Rental contract | Businesses must migrate to Emergency Voice Access or modern digital alternatives |
| February 2027 | Wholesale Line Rental fully withdrawn and Integrated Services Digital Network services cease | All remaining legacy lines stop working and migration must be complete |
Elite Group - With You Every Every Step Of The Way
Complete the form or click the chat icon and one of our dedicated PSTN specialists will reach out to you directly. We will guide you step-by-step, recommend the right technologies, and make sure your business is fully prepared for the switch off.
At Elite Group, we pride ourselves on holding your hand through the entire process from first audit to final migration. Our skilled staff combine deep technical knowledge with a vendor agnostic approach, ensuring you get the right technologies for your business, not just the ones tied to a single provider.
Here is how we support you:
- ✔ Line audits to identify PSTN and ISDN dependencies across your organisation
- ✔ Migration planning to VoIP, SIP, and Unified Communications solutions tailored to your needs
- ✔ Hardware compatibility checks to ensure your existing systems integrate smoothly with new technologies
- ✔ Sector specific guidance for professional services, legal firms, and motor retail businesses
- ✔ Vendor agnostic recommendations so you benefit from the best solutions available in the market, not just one brand
- ✔ Dedicated project support from skilled staff who guide you step by step, ensuring clarity, compliance, and zero disruption
Why You Need to Act ?
- It will be switched off: By January 2027, PSTN and ISDN and copper-based broadband services, ADSL and FTTC services will cease entirely. Any business still relying on copper lines will lose service.
- Costs will rise before the deadline: Legacy line rentals and maintenance charges will get progressively more expensive as the cut-off approaches.
- Providers will be busier: Thousands of UK businesses need to migrate at the same time. Migration projects take weeks or months to plan and deliver, so delaying risks bottlenecks and missed deadlines.
- Compliance: Critical business systems must meet modern digital standards. Failing to upgrade risks noncompliance, operational disruption, and reputational damage.
- Migration takes time: Procuring, testing, and deploying IP solutions is not instant. Early action ensures you can build migration into your business roadmap without downtime.
- Futureproof your business: Moving now unlocks modern digital services, better resilience, and scalable communications that grow with your organisation.
What Can Replace PSTN Services?
Cloud Phone Systems (VoIP)
Rather than relying on traditional phone lines to connect calls, cloud phone systems utilise VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology that converts analogue voice signals into digital transmissions, so they can be transferred across an internet connection. The ‘cloud’ element stems from the fact that systems are hosted in secure data centres off-site by a third-party provider, saving businesses the time, hassle and cost of needing to install new, expensive hardware.
Cloud Phone SystemsUnified Communications (UCaaS)
Far more than a simple phone system, unified communications platforms (also cloud-based) present businesses with all the communications tools they need to thrive, including: Voice calls Instant messaging Email Video conference Collaboration tools File transfers By housing everything a colleague needs in a single, easy-to-use app, your team can enjoy seamless comms while boosting productivity.
UCaaSContact Centre as a Service (CCaaS)
Similar to unified communications, contact centre as a service (CCaaS) is an all-in-one platform your business can use to interact with customers in whatever format they prefer, including live chat and video conferencing options. It can also be integrated within existing CRM setups, so you have access to all the customer data you need right at your fingertips, letting your team provide the most personalised service possible.
CCaaSSIP Trunking
Don’t want to replace your existing phone systems? You don’t have to – SIP trunking creates a virtual connection, letting you connect your current PBX to the internet. This allows you to make VoIP calls as well as utilise tools like video conferencing, unified communications and more. It’s cost-effective, quick to install and easy to scale as your business grows.
SIP TrunkingSOGEA
Created exclusively as an alternative to PSTN services, Single Order Generic Ethernet Access is a “broadband-only” product that still runs on the existing copper wiring. But the key difference is that it only uses them to deliver data, not voice signals. Meaning it will remain immune when the switch-off happens if you adopt a VoIP service for your phone calls, which will rely on your internet connectivity.
SOGEALeased Lines
A dedicated, private internet connection for your business, leased lines bypass PSTN lines with their own infrastructure, offering you impressive, symmetrical internet speeds. Because the connection is exclusive to your premises, you won’t struggle with lagging speeds during peak times.
Leased Lines