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PSTN Switch Off delayed until 2027 but what does this mean for your business?

If you follow our blog the PSTN Switch Off is probably familiar news to you now, but have you heard the recent Openreach announcement that the switch off has been delayed until 2027? The announcement was made in a recent report by BT Group- “Following the industry-wide pause to non-voluntary migrations in December 2023, we now expect to have migrated all customers off the PSTN by the end of January 2027.” Now it would be easy to postpone any planned upgrades you were considering but we would strongly advise you to continue working towards a 2025 cut off date. Here’s why:

The existing telephone network is still reliant on outdated technology, meaning the switch to IP Telephony should remain a priority

The reason for the PSTN & ISDN switch off has not changed. The technology is coming to the end of its serviceable life and has become outdated since its installation in the 1980’s. Whilst it still functions it no longer compares to digital services such as IP Telephony and Voice over IP. According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations UK Report 2023:

• In 2023, the number of PSTN incidents increased by 20% 
• In 2023, there was a 60% increase in hours lost for customers on the PSTN

The stop sell on all PSTN & ISDN Services remains in place

A stop sell is now in place on analogue services (since September 2023). The stop sell on PSTN means that you can no longer activate new analogue lines or add additional channels to an existing ISDN. If you’re looking for a new broadband or telephone connection, whether you are moving to a new premises or changing supplier, you’ll no longer be able to order any service that relies on the old copper telephone network. The stop sell will also impact monitored alarms, EPOS machines, door entry systems, CCTV, fax machines and more if they rely on the analogue network.

Why the delay?

The postponement of the PSTN & ISDN Switch Off is largely due to difficulties in ensuring that vulnerable customers would be transferred smoothly to digital services by this date. Approximately 2.3 million people in the UK currently rely on personal alarms that are dependent on the old network. Delaying the final switch off until January 2027 aims to enable the complex migration of safety-critical telecare devices to be carried out safely.

So what should I do?

Whilst the extension to the switch off dates allows more time for vulnerable customers to be migrated to digital services, our advice to businesses remains to continue to work towards the original switch off date of December 2025. The extra 13 months announced by Openreach should allow for any potential issues that arise with transferring vulnerable customers over to be ironed out but shouldn’t be seen as a reason for all businesses to keep old connections running for an additional year. The broadband and telephony industry is evolving quickly and the stop sell can impact businesses in way they didn’t expect with no warning. Legacy analogue services remain outdated and struggle to keep up with the demands of modern business. Upgrading to digital services ensures you remain in control of your connectivity and communications, and that your operations are future proofed for years to come. 

It’s time to get your business ready for the switch off. You can view our handy ‘Guide to the PSTN Switch Off’ here. 
Our team would be happy to talk you through your options ahead of the switch off, just give us a call on 0330 122 0550.