Openreach has reminded businesses and consumers that the UK’s legacy landline network will be switched off on January 31, 2027. The company says there will be no extension to the deadline, leaving users less than 100 days to prepare based on its latest warning.
The change will retire the copper-based Public Switched Telephone Network, or PSTN, as services move to digital Internet Protocol and fibre-based connections. Openreach, BT’s infrastructure arm, says the ageing network is more difficult to maintain, more vulnerable to faults and unable to meet modern usage demands.
Around 15 million lines have already been migrated from the old network, although some homes, offices and business systems still rely on PSTN connectivity. Openreach specifically highlights point-of-sale terminals, fire and security alarms, and personal care alarms used by elderly and vulnerable people as systems that may need upgrading.
James Lilley, Openreach’s Director of All-IP, said the simplest migrations have largely been completed, while the remaining connections are more complex and may support critical operations. He urged organisations to audit their analogue services, coordinate with suppliers and test their replacement arrangements before the deadline.
Openreach says moving to digital phone lines should provide greater reliability, improved call quality and better tools for blocking unwanted calls. Users who have not yet made the transition are advised to contact their service provider as soon as possible rather than waiting until January 2027.
Those who have not switched by the deadline may experience limited service and could be moved to Emergency Voice and Access Continuity, or EVAc. This temporary emergency voice-only service is intended to keep basic calls working for a limited period while a longer-term digital option is arranged.
Sources: TechRadar.