The PSTN Switch-Off: What Your Business Needs to Know Before January 2027

On 31 January 2027, the UK's old analogue phone network (PSTN, along with ISDN) is being switched off for good. No new analogue lines have been sold since September 2023, and wholesale prices for the remaining ones are rising through 2026 to encourage the last businesses to move. Every business still on the old network needs to be on a digital, internet-based (VoIP) service before the cut-off.

It's not just your phones

Plenty of other equipment quietly relies on the same phone line: intruder and fire alarms, lift emergency phones, door entry systems, card payment terminals, and even some broadband connections. It's worth checking with each provider directly, as some of this hardware may need replacing, not just reconnecting.

What to do now

●      List everything connected to your existing phone lines, not just handsets

●      Check with your alarm, lift and payment terminal providers that they're switch-off ready

●      Get a quote for a hosted VoIP or SIP solution well before late 2026

Treat this as a planned upgrade over the next few months rather than a last-minute scramble next January.

How Vivo IT can help

We can review what's connected to your phone lines and get you moved to VoIP with nothing missed. Get in touch for a straightforward chat about your setup and timeline

This article had AI assistance