Act now: Avoid the risks of the PSTN switch-off

Table of contents

The history bit: why is PSTN switching off?

That sounds essential. But what happens if I do nothing?

Act now and avoid the risk of doing nothing

Take your next step before the PSTN switch-off

The PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) switch-off is coming, and it will be fully shut down in the UK by January 2027.

But what does this mean? Ahead of this date, every legacy phone line and broadband connection across the UK will need to be upgraded to a fully digital service that uses internet protocol (IP) across a fibre-based network.

Despite the initial announcement coming in November 2017, and the target completion date originally set for December 2025, there are still many businesses that aren’t ready for the switch-off. In fact, only 18% of small businesses currently have a post-PSTN solution in place – and 12% aren’t even aware that PSTN and ISDN will be switched off at all.

While the delay does give businesses extra time to prepare, it’s important that plans are put in place sooner rather than later. This is a major change and a failure to act can bring risks and disruption to business communications and operations – so you need to be ready.

The history bit: why is PSTN switching off?

PSTN has served us all well. Perhaps you can recall memorising your friends’ and family’s landlines – and chatting tethered to your wall – before mobile phones became commonplace. But PSTN can no longer keep up with the demands of today’s communication.

The traditional PSTN network, which is made from copper cables and was installed as far back at the 1800s, has become fragile, increasingly costly and difficult to maintain. Recent research has found a 45% increase in the number of PSTN resilience incidents reported.

As a result, the analogue network is being replaced and upgraded to a far more resilient network: fibre. All traditional PSTN lines, such as analogue or digital phone lines, will be fully obsolete following the switch-off

That sounds essential. But what happens if I do nothing?

The top line is, everyone across the UK, including businesses, currently using PSTN based services will need to upgrade to a new service ahead of January 2027.

We appreciate this is a big change. And if you don’t yet feel prepared for this shift, you’re not alone. Traditional telephony remains a consistent choice for businesses to communicate with customers, colleagues and suppliers. So much so that, according to research from Zen, over a third of respondents say that their digital transformation scaling has been put on hold.

And as we’ve already noted, almost one in five small businesses don’t have plans in place for life after PSTN.

Getting started with the shift straightaway isn’t just about improving technology and connectivity, it’s also about making sure you avoid the risk of staying static.

Act now and avoid the risk of doing nothing

So, what are the risks?

Firstly, there’s the disruption to phone connectivity. Imagine, you have an important sales lead – and you need to get in touch straightaway. When your phone is your first port of call for communication, significant downtime can mean you miss out on sales and customer calls. Impacting your brand experience and bottom line.

Did you know that it isn’t just your communication system that would be affected? Any CCTV, EPOS system, alarm and entry/exit system and lift emergency line that is reliant on a traditional analogue comms system will stop working without a digital alternative – leading to major security and safety concerns.

Last minute decisions can have a long-term impact – so it’s important to get started soon for the best chance for immediate success. Forced and rushed changes with minimal preparation may mean implementing technology that isn’t appropriate for your business, which can result in higher costs later down the line and disruption to operations.

Waiting to the last minute also mean increased costs in the migration to new services. With time running out, there may be a higher demand for upgraded technology and limited availability of resources for implementation.

You’re also risking falling behind the competition in your market. Businesses that have already transitioned will be benefiting from enhanced digital features, flexibility, speed, accessibility and the efficiency of fibre and IP-based solutions. This is in addition to avoiding the security vulnerabilities of legacy technology. Being a leading name in your industry relies on getting ahead of the PSTN switch-off.

Take your next step before the PSTN switch-off

If your business is currently using ISDN/PSTN telephony or broadband services, now is the time to start exploring the benefits of upgrading to fibre-based technology –so you can avoid the risks. Our free monthly webinars provide you with the support and information to support you through the transition – helping you understand the opportunities and technology available. You can reserve your seat at future webinars today.

With a number of choices moving forward, from VoIP to SoGEA, Focus Group can guide you through the transition and help you get ready for the future of business communication. Plus, you can read more about the PSTN switch-off in our blog: The unexpected impact of the PSTN switch-off.

Get in touch with our team.