ISDN & PSTN Switch Off delayed to 2027 – doesn’t mean you should be complacent
The Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) will close by 31st January 2027, at which point all UK phone lines will be fully digital, making use of fibre broadband. The Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) will also be discontinued in favour of more advanced broadband technologies.
These changes will affect your phone and broadband services, which will need to be upgraded.
The upgrade was originally planned to take place by next year but the deadline has been extended to allow the work to be completed. It’s happening because the existing phone lines are outdated (the copper cable network has been in use since 1876) and difficult to maintain; the upgraded lines will provide the services we rely on with the technology they need, aiming to “future proof” it.
What does this mean for UK SMEs?
As the entire phone network across the UK is going digital, this will affect every home and business’s phone and broadband services. Landline connections will be replaced by Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services that most of us are now familiar with in tools like Skype and Teams.
Legacy voice and broadband services will no longer be available to buy (this is known as the PTSN stop sell), so an upgrade is inevitable. It’s mostly a matter of when.
As with many changes, the PSTN/ISDN switch off presents both risks and opportunities.
The risks of the ISDN switch off
Businesses that don’t adequately prepare for the switch off risk losing their phone communications. And while many of us barely use landlines any more on a personal basis, businesses can be much more reliant on having a dedicated number customers and suppliers can get hold of us on. Failing to upgrade broadband in a timely manner could lead to delays in service improvements.
If you’re very last minute, even before the switch off date, you may find yourself dealing with overwhelmed service providers that have a backlog, so getting on top of the changes now will prevent service interruption and give you peace of mind.
The benefits of the ISDN switch off
A big change that feels like it’s being imposed on you is rarely something we relish, but if we’re not already set up for VoIP and fibre, the switch off might just prompt us into changes that really benefit our work.
Upgraded broadband tends to be faster and more reliable, which is invaluable to any business. VoIP is usually more cost efficient than ISDN, especially where line rental is concerned, and with good connectivity, many people find that call quality is noticeably improved.
VoIP services can also be scaled much more effectively than ISDN phone lines and numbers can reach people wherever they are based, rather than being reliant on set physical locations.
What if my business relies on copper cable networks?
If your business involves the use of ISDN or PSTN networks, for example if you install security system alarms, BT Openreach has factsheets that can help you to understand how these changes will affect your area specifically.
Questions to ask yourself
- What, about our current set-up, will require upgrading? For some, the transition to IP will be easy and seamless; for others, it will require specialised support
- Are we treating this with the urgency it deserves? (Clue: it’s more urgent than you think – don’t let the 2027 deadline fool you!)
- Do we have devices like burglar alarms, credit card processing machines, etc., that may require upgrades?
- Can we make the best of this situation to set up the most ideal network for our business as it is today, and as we grow?
If you have any more detailed questions about upgrading to VoIP telephone calls in advance of the switch-off of ISDN, we would be happy to work with you to get the best service to suit your needs. Working with a professional IT Support provider can help you understand the communications solutions available in more detail.
