Openreach to protect broadband connections as PSTN closure approaches
· New safeguards will preserve eligible broadband services where technically possible
· Wholesale pricing confirmed for temporary emergency phone service
· 31 January 2027 deadline remains unchanged
Openreach has confirmed new safeguards for the final closure of the analogue phone network, including measures to preserve eligible broadband connections and pricing for its temporary emergency phone service.
From 31 January 2027, customers who haven’t moved to a modern digital service may be transferred to EVAc, a limited last-resort phone service designed to maintain access to essential calls. Where technically possible, Openreach will now also keep linked broadband services running.
EVAc will cost Communications Providers £35 a month for WLR3 Basic and £38.60 for WLR Premium. The service is temporary, limited and more expensive than modern digital alternatives already available through providers. It is intended as a final safety net while providers complete customer migrations to modern digital alternatives.
The PSTN closure date remains unchanged. Broadband retention doesn’t extend the deadline, and providers remain responsible for helping customers move before the network closes.
James Lilley, Managed Customer Migrations Director at Openreach, said: “No one should wait for the PSTN to close before upgrading. Providers need to contact their remaining customers and help them move to a modern service now. But we also need a final safety net and preserving eligible broadband connections will reduce the risk of vulnerable people, businesses and essential services losing connectivity unexpectedly.
“EVAc is temporary, limited and more expensive than modern alternatives. It gives providers additional protection while they complete the job, but it’s not a reason to delay.”
PSTN closure relates to voice services, but a small number of broadband services still have a technical dependency on that legacy platform. That means they could be disrupted when the PSTN closes unless additional safeguards are put in place.
Under the updated approach, eligible lines that haven’t been upgraded may be moved temporarily to EVAc through their provider after the PSTN closes. And where technically possible, Openreach will keep linked broadband services running when a line is transferred.
The additional protection will be available to both residential and business customers, including some who may not realise their broadband depends on the PSTN. It could help maintain access to essential online services and safeguard business connectivity while providers complete the remaining upgrades.
Openreach estimates that around 1.2 million lines are still operating on the old, analogue, copper-based phone network, including around 350,000 business premises. A small number of lines could still be left after the 2027 deadline.
Since the closure of the PSTN was formally announced in 2017, Openreach has helped migrate around 15 million lines off the old copper-based network.
Openreach has also sped up the upgrade process, while keeping vulnerable customers safe, with the introduction of its Prove Telecare service - where specially trained engineers visit homes to test telecare devices and make sure they work on a new digital line before customers are upgraded. To date, we’ve safely upgraded more than 70,000 customers with telecare devices.
The move away from the PSTN is part of the UK’s wider digital transformation, replacing technology that has served the country for decades with modern, IP-based services that can support today’s connectivity needs.
Openreach has consistently urged businesses and providers to prepare early, warning that organisations that leave migration until the final weeks risk avoidable disruption and increased costs.
Anyone who’s unsure whether they’re affected should contact their communications provider – the company they pay their bill to - as soon as possible.
For further information about the move to digital phone services, visit Openreach’s ‘Big Switch Off’ website: Switching off PSTN across the UK | Openreach
ENDS
For further information
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Notes to editors
· EVAc Pricing:
£35 per month (WLR3 Basic), £38.60 per month (WLR Premium). This rental price will apply to all WLR3 single-lines - those already migrated to WLR3 (EVAc), those in the process of being migrated, and those waiting to be migrated.
Any WLR3 line, regardless of the underlying platform, will incur the increase in rental
Future price rises will be subject to a 28-day notification.
· EVAc provides a temporary, last-resort protection. It cannot be ordered in advance and will only be used after the PSTN closure for eligible lines that have not already migrated. Customers will still need to move to modern services such as full fibre or SOGEA in the longer term.
· EVAc Capacity is not unlimited and cannot be reserved.
· Broadband products potentially affected by loss of service where customers are moved onto EVAc include standard ADSL services, Fibre to the Cabinet services and G.fast, all of which use copper for at least part of the connection to the customer’s premises
· Single-lines not able to be migrated to WLR3 (EVAc) will be ceased by Openreach in tranches, if not already ceased by the Communication Provider (CP).
· The PSTN will close on 31 January 2027, after which Openreach will begin decommissioning the remaining legacy network assets. The introduction of broadband retention does not extend or alter that deadline
· Openreach is continuing to work with CPs on their migration plans and has introduced additional assurance processes to help protect vulnerable customers, such as Prove Telecare – helping move customers safely to a digital phone line, with an Openreach engineer completing the upgrade and checking that their telecare alarm still works.
