PSTN Switch-Off: Why UK Businesses Must Act Before 2027
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areas can no longer order or renew copper-based services such as traditional landlines or ADSL broadband. Instead, only fibre or VoIP-based services are available. By mid-2025, more than 1,500 exchange areas and millions of business premises are already affected. This makes the PSTN switch-off more of a current issue than a future one.
The UK’s PSTN and ISDN networks will be fully retired on 31 January 2027. This deadline marks the end of copper-based services that have supported business communication for over a century. Originally scheduled for December 2025, the switchover was delayed to give more time for businesses to prepare, but that does not mean organisations can afford to wait. The process is already underway, with Openreach rolling out its 'Stop Sell' programme in hundreds of areas. Businesses that delay risk disruption and unnecessary costs. What’s Happening: Openreach is phasing out copper services step by step. Under the Stop Sell policy, companies in affected
What This Means For Businesses
The change impacts far more than just phone calls. Many everyday systems still rely on PSTN connections, including: - Desk phones and legacy PBX systems
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