PSTN switch off FAQs

Get ready for the big switch off

What is the big switch off?

Youmightveheardaboutthebigswitch-offhappeningon31stJanuary2027,butwhatexactlydoesthatmean?

Basically, the country is retiring the traditional landline phone network, which has been around since the 1800s. The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is the same system that’s run phone lines through copper wires for decades, and soon, it’s going to be switched off for good.

When that happens, regular landline phones won’t work anymore. Instead, voice calls will happen over the internet using VoIP, or Voice over IP. Everything will run through broadband connections. It’s not just phones, though. Things like alarm systems, fax machines, and even card machines that use the old network will also stop working unless they’re updated.

The whole point of the switch is to move away from outdated, hard-to-maintain copper lines and onto faster, more reliable digital services. It’s a big change, but one that’s designed to keep up with how we communicate today.

More PSTN resources

FAQs

01

Services will be switched off in January 2027. Customers have been unable to purchase any new PSTN services since September 2023. When the switch off was originally announced, the target date for the retirement of the PSTN was 2025. That has now been moved to January 2027; however, due to the lack of availability of new parts, Openreach do not expect this date to move again.

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

Time to navigate what's next

Complexity doesn’t need to be complex. Tell us about your business challenge and we'll help you solve it.

By submitting, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.