Openreach warns businesses: fewer than 100 days left to move off the old analogue phone network
Openreach has issued an urgent warning to communication providers and UK businesses: only three months remain until the permanent decommissioning of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) on 31 January 2027.
With fewer than 100 days left before the old analogue network is retired, any services still reliant on copper-based lines risk sudden and permanent disruption. While the majority of UK organisations have already transitioned to modern digital services, approximately one million copper-based lines remain active across the UK, including 300,000 within business premises.
Openreach warns that these remaining connections are among the most complex to migrate, meaning action needs to be taken now to avoid disruption.
While standard business phone lines are straightforward to upgrade, legacy circuits connected to specialist infrastructure require deeper investigation, testing, and potential equipment replacement. For example, large multi-site organisations may have multiple suppliers and undocumented legacy circuits, making migrations more complex.
Beyond standard landlines, critical systems still highly reliant on PSTN connectivity include:
● Payment terminals (EPOS) and cash handling systems.
● Lift emergency telephones and auto-diallers.
● Fire alarm communication panels and security monitoring systems.
● Building access controls, automated gates, and door entry units.
● Industrial telemetry and building energy management systems.
Failure to migrate these systems before 31 January 2027 poses severe operational, safety, and compliance risks. Unmigrated building systems could trigger immediate commercial building closures and supply chain delays if safety-critical systems cease to function.
Regional Breakdown of Legacy Lines Remaining:
● London and South East: 250,473
● Wales and Midlands: 233,033
● Northern England: 207,135
● Wessex: 156,141
● Scotland: 112,794
● East Anglia: 99,050
● Northern Ireland: 32,809
James Lilley, Director of All-IP at Openreach, said:
“Businesses and organisations that delay action are making things harder for themselves. The straightforward migrations have largely been completed. What's left are the complex connections that underpin critical operations, requiring careful planning, supplier coordination, and thorough testing. We are urging businesses to act now, audit their remaining analogue services, and work with their communications provider on a migration plan today.”
Leaving migrations to the last minute will be financially costly. The final phase of Openreach's announced rental price rises for its WLR basic product and other WLR variants, as well as legacy ISDN services, took effect on 1 October 2026, doubling the 2025 rental price for legacy lines - with further price rises in the pipeline from February 2027.
Conversely, Openreach has launched migration offers to make digital alternatives more cost-effective, including free or discounted connections for Communication Providers upgrading customers to SOGEA or migrating legacy voice-only lines.
From 31 January 2027, customers who have failed to transition may be automatically transferred to EVAc—a limited, temporary, last-resort phone service designed strictly to maintain access to essential calls. Where technically possible, Openreach will keep linked broadband services running. However, EVAc is a temporary safety net with limited capacity, and it is significantly more expensive than the modern digital alternatives already available.
Find out more about the PSTN switch-off by visiting Switching off PSTN across the UK | Openreach or contact press@openreach.co.uk.
Find out more about the PSTN switch off by visiting our website Switching off PSTN across the UK | Openreach or contact press@openreach.co.uk.
