Time for a "big switch-up” as PSTN switch-off looms

Openreach Copper exchange

With 12 months remaining until the PSTN switch-off, Openreach is issuing a stark warning to British businesses to unchain their network from legacy copper infrastructure or face rising costs and connectivity issues.

The humble copper wire has been the backbone of our telecommunications here in the UK and around the world for over a century – keeping our hospitals, schools, and emergency services connected, and powering everything from card machines on our high streets, to vending machines, smart meters, CCTV, and even sluice gates.  

During this time – most phone calls in the UK have been handled by BT’s copper based public switched telephone network (PSTN) – an analogue system which connects people using specific phone numbers.

But being around for as long as it has, the PSTN’s become outdated and difficult to maintain. Skills and parts are increasingly difficult to come by and new digital services like Voice over IP (VoIP) - where voice calls are transmitted the same way your broadband works, are becoming the norm.

Openreach’s parent, BT Group will retire the PSTN network by 31st January 2027 – and Openreach has been working to withdraw any Openreach products that work over it – which come under the umbrella term of Wholesale Line Rental (WLR).

As the January 2027 deadline enters its final countdown, Openreach has made clear that all technical barriers to migration—including protections for vulnerable telecare users—have been resolved. Consequently, the deadline is locked, and the focus has shifted to the urgent withdrawal of legacy copper products.

There are currently still roughly 2.8m lines on the PSTN network that need to migrate – with more than half a million of those serving business premises.  CPs and businesses that fail to migrate will face these higher charges before losing service altogether as the network is phased out.

• Openreach has previously confirmed both a special pricing offer on migrations to SOGEA and a tiered price increase for legacy Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) products. In some cases, it is already cheaper today to be on new All-IP products than remain on old WLR services:
  • April 1, 2026: Prices rise by 20%.
  • July 1, 2026: Prices rise by a further 40%.
  • October 1, 2026: A final 40% increase, effectively doubling the rental cost of legacy lines compared to 2025 rates.

James Lilley, Director of All-IP at Openreach, said: "There’s no time left to stall. We’ve spent the last year ensuring telecare customers can be migrated safely through our 'Prove Telecare' service, removing the final barrier to the switch-off. Now, the reality is simple. The PSTN analogue network is obsolete, becoming harder to maintain and significantly more expensive to run. We are passing those costs on to providers who continue to sell legacy products. If your business is still on this copper service, you will start to pay a premium for a service that will be switched off in 12 months. Most major Communications Providers moved their customers to digital long ago. If your provider hasn't contacted you, you need to ask why."

While many Communication Providers (CPs) have already migrated much of their customer base, a number of smaller or specialist providers have been slower to act. Openreach warns that businesses remaining with these providers face unique risks tied to equipment failure. Beyond phones, critical hardware including fire and burglar alarms, payment terminals, will need to be migrated. For example, the latest data reveals more than 12k lift lines and around 500 lines serving CCTV networks – need to be upgraded.

Openreach is calling on businesses that believe they may be impacted as the PSTN is phased out to follow a three-step process: Review, Test, Switch.

1. Review your assets: Businesses should start by reviewing their connectivity estate to identify any equipment still relying on PSTN. If you are unsure, contact your service provider; do not assume you are safe.
2. Test: Testing this equipment can be done for free at Openreach’s test labs, ensuring compatibility with All-IP networks.
3. Switch: Finally, businesses should switch to a digital solution as soon as possible. Openreach is offering a range of resources to help businesses through the transition, including support for edge cases and temporary solutions if needed. Businesses still unsure how they are impacted by the switch-off should contact their service provider. 

For more information on how to start the transition, visit the Openreach website Upgrading the UK to digital phone lines