What's happening?
The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is being switched off. This means that if you’re a business customer with a traditional phone line, we’re advising you to move over to a fully digital service by the end of December 2025 – well in advance of the PSTN being switched off by 31 January 2027.
By then, every phone line in the UK will have moved to a fully digital network that uses Internet Protocol (IP) across a fibre-based service.
As the switch off nears, the PSTN is becoming more fragile and prone to faults. This means if you do not move over, your services may no longer work.
Services this will affect
Traditional phone lines aren't just for making voice calls. There are also various products and services called special services that use these lines, such as alarms, EPOS machines, door entry systems, CCTV, fax machines, and more.
If your broadband relies on a traditional phone line, you may also need to upgrade this too.
The Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) will also stop working when the PTSN switch-off happens.
Why is this happening?
Our current network is old, fragile, and difficult to maintain. As a 20th century technology, the PSTN is unable to keep up with the demands of 21st century communications.
Traditional phone usage is changing everywhere as people switch to mobile and internet communications. We all expect much more from modern phone services than the traditional technologies can deliver.
This is why digital is the answer.
What does this mean for my business?
You need to move from a traditional phone line to the latest IP technology at the earliest opportunity. We’re advising all business customers to plan now and complete this by the end of December 2025.
Openreach’s roadmap to a full fibre network
To make the transition as seamless as possible, Openreach is enabling full fibre exchanges in a phased approach across the UK. Openreach will add new exchanges to the rollout plan each quarter.
You can read more about the switch-off on Openreach’s website. In the Resources section, you can download the list of exchanges Openreach has announced so far.
What broadband options are currently available in my area?
Find out what broadband options are currently available in your area by entering your postcode using our find my deals feature.
The PSTN stop sell
We’ve stopped selling traditional phone lines in all exchange areas as of September 2023. The PSTN stop sell means you can no longer purchase legacy voice or broadband services.
The PSTN stop sell is a major milestone in the UK’s transition to more advanced and efficient communication technologies. By upgrading to IP solutions, your business can benefit from enhanced features, improved scalability, and cost savings.
With the stop sell in place, it's important to plan ahead and begin exploring IP alternatives sooner rather than later. Our team will guide you through the transition process to make sure you have a seamless migration.
Need more help? Check out our frequently asked questions:
How will the PSTN stop sell affect my existing analogue phone lines?
Will I be able to add or make changes to my current PSTN phone lines after the stop sell?
What's available to replace PSTN for my business communications?
What's Voice over IP (VoIP) and how's it different from traditional phone services?
Will moving to an IP-based solution require significant changes to my current phone system setup?
How will the quality of calls be affected when moving from PSTN to IP alternatives?
Can I keep my existing phone numbers when switching to an IP-based solution?
Are there any specific requirements or infrastructure changes needed to switch to IP alternatives?
How secure are IP-based communication systems compared to traditional PSTN lines?
Will the cost of my phone services change with IP alternatives?
What extra features and capabilities can IP solutions offer?
Can IP-based solutions integrate with other communication tools and software we currently use?
Are there any limitations or potential challenges in moving from PSTN to IP?
Any questions?
Call us on 0800 028 2075. We’re available 8am–6pm, Monday to Friday.