Millions of legacy telephone connections are being moved to digital services as Openreach prepares to retire the UK’s old public switched telephone network on January 31, 2027. The change could affect households, businesses and equipment that still relies on traditional phone lines.
Legacy Telephone Network Will Be Retired In January
Openreach has reminded communications providers that the retirement of the old PSTN network is scheduled for January 31. The company says the deadline will not be postponed.
The network relies largely on traditional copper infrastructure and is being replaced as the UK moves towards digital and fibre-based communications.
Landlines Are Not Disappearing Completely
The switch-off does not mean every household will lose access to a landline.
Customers who still want a home telephone can generally move to a Digital Voice service, with the handset connected through a broadband router rather than the traditional telephone socket.
Households that have already moved to mobile phones may notice little change.
Alarms And Other Equipment Could Also Be Affected
The transition goes beyond traditional landline handsets. Equipment that relies on the old telephone network can also be affected, including:
- Payment terminals
- Security alarms
- Fire alarms
- Personal care and TeleCare alarms
- Other business systems using legacy telephone connections
Older people and vulnerable customers who rely on care alarms are a particular concern.
Vulnerable Customers Need Extra Support
Age UK has warned that people who depend on landlines or TeleCare systems should not be left without a working connection.
Telecoms analyst Paolo Pescatore has also called for a wider public information campaign, including direct communication with customers who may need assistance.
Some people may face additional barriers because of illness, dementia, concerns about scams or a lack of support from family members. Openreach advises consumers to contact their telephone or broadband provider as soon as possible to check what action is required.
Some Customers May Need Alternative Arrangements
Not every property is ready for a fibre connection.
Openreach has previously said customers without fibre may be moved to SOTAP for Analog, a transitional service that can allow an existing telephone connection to continue operating through equipment installed at the local exchange.
The exact arrangement depends on the customer’s location and communications provider.
Businesses Are Being Urged To Act Now
The switch-off also affects businesses and organisations that still use analogue connections. Openreach says the remaining migrations are increasingly complex because some connections support critical operations.
James Lilley, Openreach’s director of All-IP, urged businesses to identify their remaining analogue services, coordinate with their communications provider and test replacement systems before the deadline.
Waiting until the final weeks could make it harder to arrange engineering work and complete migrations on time.
What Customers Should Do Before January
Anyone still using a traditional landline should contact their provider to establish whether their service is affected.
Customers should also check whether home equipment such as alarms, payment systems or personal care devices relies on the old telephone network.
Openreach has published information about the transition through its Big Switch Off programme.
With the January 31, 2027 deadline approaching, households and businesses that have not yet checked their connections have limited time to arrange any required changes.
