UK PSTN Switch Off Information
What is the PSTN Switch off?
By 2027 the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) will be closed.
At this point, every phone line in the UK will have been moved to the fully digital network, using Internet Protocol (IP) over fibre-based services.
There is already a PSTN stop-sell in place which means you can no longer purchase the legacy voice and broadband services and therefore, must now utilise the new digital technologies available.
How does this affect me?
You will have to move your voice services from PSTN to IP Technology before 2027.
Not only will this shutdown affect your voice services, but you may also have to upgrade your broadband services.
Any equipment that currently uses the PSTN will no longer work. This can affect faxes, care alarms, lifts, alarms etc.
We aim to have all UBT customers moved by the end of 2025, to ensure that they are well prepared for the switch-off and can start to benefit from the improved service and cost benefits.
Why are BT Openreach making this change?
The PSTN Network is a legacy 20th-century technology that can no longer provide the requirements of 21st-century communications. New technologies increasingly rely on mobile and internet technologies that the traditional telephony network can no longer support.
The Roadmap
BT Openreach is currently rolling out its new full fibre network (known as Fibre to the Premises or FTTP), throughout the UK.
Is Full Fibre available in my area?
If you wish to find out if your address is full fibre-enabled, then please use this link to our broadband checker to see what services are available.
We urge all our customers to plan ahead and explore the operational and cost benefits of the new IP Technologies available. Please get in touch and our team of specialists will guide you through this transition process and ensure you have a seamless migration and a future-proof solution.
For assistance, you may contact our dedicated support team at: [email protected]