PSTN Switch-Off 2027: Information Hub

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is the network of copper wiring that has kept the UK connected since the late 1800s. It is expensive to run and maintain, and is becoming obsolete, as people are now connecting digitally rather than via telephone.

For these reasons, Openreach has decided PSTN will reach the end of its life in January 2027. It will be replaced by an internet-enabled network, befitting modern life.

PSTN currently supports a number of Openreach products bought by communications providers and sold onwards to households and businesses in various line rental, broadband, and call packages.

Openreach products that will be affected by the PSTN switch-off include:

• Broadband
• Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
• Wholesale Line Rental (WLR)
• Shared Metallic Path Facility
  
  

If your business uses any of these products, you’ll need to find a digital solution before January 2027.

At M247, our digital experts and technical teams can help with everything from assessing your current hardware, to identifying the best connectivity and communication solutions for your unique business needs.

Want to find out more about our solutions and what we can offer your business?

BT Openreach recognises the need for a network suited to the demands of modern life and business. The replacement of PSTN with a high-speed, high-availability, fibre-first network will future-proof the national communications network for businesses and consumers alike, while saving them money.

This is because the current PSTN lines are costly for both Openreach and customers.

FTTP and VoIP connectivity will provide businesses with a single, unified solution to telecoms and internet access, instead of paying for multiple packages.

Because many of the communication and connectivity solutions we use today have been built on the PSTN network, the impact of the switch-off will be wide-ranging. 

The PSTN cabling currently supports: WLR, ISDN2, ISDN30, Local Loop Unbundling Shared Metallic Path Facilities, Narrowband Line Share and other classic products, all of which will be affected when PSTN is mothballed. 

It will also impact traditional broadband, Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) broadband and Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSL), which use PSTN’s copper wiring as the basis for delivering services. They will cease to work, like the previously mentioned products and ISDN.

The impact of the switch-off will vary from business to business, depending on how reliant they are on PSTN and ISDN.

Businesses will need to identify and review all the hardware and functions that are connected to and working through the phone lines, including things like lifts, door alarms, fax machines, CCTV systems, traffic light monitoring and even panic alarms.

The switch-off will also signal an end to the maintenance and recovery of phone lines, so it’s essential that businesses have migrated and settled into new infrastructure well ahead of the January 2027 deadline.

An easy way to check if your business relies on PSTN is to look for a box on the wall where lines might be coming in. Any lines or connections that don’t come in via your router or internet connection could be a sign you’re connected via the PSTN.

If you’re still not sure if, how or where you might be using the PSTN, contact your communications provider or the manufacturer of the equipment and ask them if they work on a digital phone line.

Just be aware that, even if you think you’re connected via fibre broadband, you may be running on an FTTC service. This means you are still relying on old copper wiring to deliver connectivity to your premises.

Openreach has already begun a phased withdrawal of PSTN services. In its two trial sites – Salisbury and Mildenhall – services will be completely withdrawn by December 2022.

The rest of the network will be switched off in December 2025, although the FTTP Priority Exchange Rollout means this will happen sooner in some areas.

VoIP will be the main replacement technology for ISDN. VoIP – or Voice over Internet Protocol – allows telephone services to be delivered over the internet, resulting in better call quality, greater flexibility and lots of additional features.

SIP Trunks will be another popular replacement technology, enabling VoIP by connecting phone systems to the new public network from an IP system. SIP – or Session Initiation Protocol – can connect to the majority of existing systems.

Other cloud-based solutions – like unified communications, hosted telephony and hosted contact centres – are also likely to be popular choices among businesses.

The FTTP Priority Exchange is a scheme that allows Openreach to stagger the rollout of digital services. 

When FTTP reaches 75% in a certain area, that is designated a Priority Exchange and a Stop Sell notice is given on all analogue services. This means customers in a Priority Exchange area can no longer purchase new copper-based products or services. 

12 months after the Stop Sell notice is issued, the Public Switched Telephone Network will be switched off in that area. Openreach also aims to stop selling all PSTN services in September 2023, so any customers who are still in active PSTN areas and are looking to buy products or services after that will only be able to access digital ones.

Openreach has an updated list of all Priority Exchanges.

You can download this list here.

From 2027, all businesses will need good broadband connectivity to support even the most basic telephony functions.

In the age of digital voice communications, however, it’s worth considering how connectivity could be the defining factor of success; the better your connectivity, the better your business will be able to capitalise on the huge range of digital solutions aimed at delivering flexibility, speed, resilience and cost-effectiveness, as well as superior call quality.

Not necessarily. Digital services mean your tech must be able to work through a router, so while this might mean you need to invest in new handsets, some legacy models will support VoIP with the addition of an adapter.

The ‘softphone’ capabilities of VoIP means calls can be made from any internet-enabled device. This includes laptops, tablets and desktop PCs. So, if you’re running a remote or hybrid team, it might be that all you need to do is ask individual users to download an application that turns their device into a ‘softphone’. This will reduce the number of handsets your business needs.

The best thing to do is audit all your hardware and identify everything that is currently relying on PSTN. Only when you’ve done that will you be able to consider the best digital solutions for your business needs.

Start preparing for the switch-off.

While 2027 might sound like a long way off, it’s important to remember that some areas will go digital before then, and 2027 will be here before we know it.

With the PSTN switch off, businesses should audit their current setup and assess future business needs. By doing so, they can create new digital comms and connectivity solutions that will better support their internal processes and future growth.

In the age of the hybrid workplace, digital really does pave the way for businesses to grow. The PSTN switch-off presents businesses with a golden opportunity for digital transformation.

If you’re a current M247 customer and have PSTN lines with us, we’ll be in touch in the coming weeks to let you know your migration options.