On 31 January 2027 Openreach retires the old copper phone network (the PSTN). Calls will run over broadband instead. Most homes have already moved to Digital Voice, but many small businesses still have equipment that relies on an analogue line.
What could stop working
- Older office phone systems and ISDN lines
- Fax machines and franking machines
- Burglar and fire alarm diallers, lift phones and door entry systems
- Older card payment terminals that dial out
- Phones that need to work in a power cut — Digital Voice does not, without a battery backup
What to do before 31 January
- List every device plugged into a phone socket.
- Check your broadband is fibre-based and stable enough for calls.
- Ask your alarm company whether your system is digital-ready.
- Move your numbers to a VoIP phone system before the deadline, not on it.
We will check it for you
We offer a free switch-off check for businesses in our area: we look at what is plugged into your lines, tell you what needs to change, and move you across with no downtime. Call 01480 702110 or send us a message.
See our business phone systems for what you can move to.