Why switch to a digital phone line? Understanding the PSTN switch-off

[BethM]

Have you been contacted by our Sales team about moving to a digital phone line and wondered why? This blog post should help you understand why we're encouraging all customers to switch to digital services as soon as possible. 

What's happening? 

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is being phased out. If you have a traditional analogue phone line, it will run off the PSTN. Business customers with these traditional phone lines should switch to digital services by December 2025, ahead of the PSTN shutdown on January 31, 2027.  

Why is this important? 

As the switch-off nears, the PSTN is becoming more fragile and prone to faults. If you don't switch, your services may stop working. We stopped selling traditional phone lines in September 2023, so legacy voice or broadband services are no longer available. 

Will this affect you? 

Traditional phone lines support various services like alarms, EPOS machines, door entry systems, CCTV, and fax machines. If your broadband relies on a traditional phone line, you may need to upgrade it too. Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) services will also cease when the PSTN is switched off. 

Why is this happening? 

The current network is old and difficult to maintain. As a 20th-century technology, the PSTN can't meet the demands of modern communications. People are switching to mobile and internet communications, expecting more from phone services than traditional technologies can deliver. Digital is the answer. 

Openreach’s roadmap 

Openreach is enabling full fibre exchanges in phases across the UK. New exchanges are added to the rollout plan each quarter. Check Openreach’s website for more details and find out what the plans for your areas are. 

Future-proof your business 

It's important to plan ahead and explore digital alternatives sooner rather than later. Our team will guide you through the transition process to ensure a seamless migration. You can find all the available deals and contact our sales team.  

Do you have any questions about the PSTN switch-off? You can find more information, including some frequently asked questions. You can also Join the conversation by leaving a comment below or making a new post.