One year to go: 5 things you may still not know about the PSTN Switch Off
4th January 2026
By 31st January 2027, the UK’s old copper wire landline system, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), is being switched off to be replaced by a fully digital Internet-Protocol (IP) based network, a more reliable, speedier form of connectivity.
This “Big Switch Off” has been a long time coming, but that doesn’t mean all businesses are prepared for it, or aware of what it might mean for their daily dealings.
Here are a few key things you may not know about the PSTN Switch Off, and how it will affect your business, so you can begin the transition with time to spare.
Remember: this is your one-year warning!
It’s not just landlines that are affected
Replacing a few landline phones may not seem like a big disruption, especially when you still have months in which to do it, but landlines are not the only thing which will be impacted.
The PSTN Switch Off will affect alarms, lifts, payment terminals, fax machines, and other systems that rely on analogue phone lines. Many businesses don’t realise how many services are connected to the PSTN network, all of which will need to be replaced, or reconnected to an IP based network.
“Working today” doesn’t mean “working after the switch off”
Your phone line and other services may be working fine today, or even as we enter 2027, but that does not mean they will be once the old network is switched off.
Even if your phone line or system is currently functioning, it may stop working entirely once the old copper network is retired . . . that’s unless you upgrade to an IP-based alternative. By beginning the transition now, you will avoid the difficulties of trying to run a business without a working phone network.
Power outages will have a bigger impact
While IP based networks are faster, clearer, and less prone to faults, they do come with their own vulnerabilities, particularly in the event of a power outage.
Traditional PSTN lines carried their own power. Digital phone services rely on electricity and broadband, meaning they will not work if anything interferes with either.
To protect your business from any disruption during and after the PSTN switch off, you may need to invest in a form of battery backup or resilience planning to stay connected.
Upgrades can take longer than expected
Businesses have a year to transition to an IP network, but it’s not simply a matter of installing new phones.
Moving to IP or other digital alternatives often involves audits, new hardware, and internal network checks, as well as staff training to ensure every employee is familiar with how the new network and hardware work.
Leaving it until the end of the year or the beginning of 2027 could mean rushed decisions or disruption resulting from inadequately trained staff or improperly installed hardware.
Doing nothing is a business risk
Even without a looming deadline, any competent business leader knows the value of staying ahead of the latest technological developments, to guarantee the continued relevance and competitive edge of their company.
Failure to prepare for the Big Switch Off is not only a necessity, but an opportunity to make your business more efficient and therefore more competitive.
Doing nothing, on the other hand, could result in loss of inbound calls, failed safety systems, interrupted payments, and operational downtime. All of this can be avoided with early planning.
To ensure your business is well-prepared for the PSTN switch off, enlist the support of experts to help you switch over to IP with minimal disruption to regular business functions. They will do the hard work for you, ensuring a smooth transition to a new, more efficient way of doing business.
Contact Everflow today!
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