Telephony
The 2027 landline switch-off, explained
The old phone network is being retired by the end of 2027. Here's what's actually changing, who it affects, and how to be ready without leaving it to the last minute.
The UK's traditional phone network — the copper-based PSTN that's carried calls for decades — is being switched off. Openreach is retiring it, and the national target is to complete the move by the end of 2027. After that, every phone line runs over the internet instead. This isn't a Cobalt thing or a sales push; it's an industry-wide change that affects every business and home still on an old line.
What PSTN and ISDN actually are
PSTN is the standard analogue line most people picture when they think 'landline'. ISDN is the older digital version many businesses use for multiple lines and phone systems. Both are being withdrawn. If your phones, alarms, door entry, card machines or lift lines still run over either, they'll need to move to an internet-based service before the switch-off reaches you.
What replaces it
Calls move to VoIP — voice over the internet. For a business, that usually means a cloud phone system; for a home, a simple service that runs over your broadband. You keep your number, and in day-to-day use it works much as it always has. The difference is what's behind it: software and a good connection instead of copper in the ground.
Why not just wait until 2027
Two reasons. First, the switch-off is happening area by area, so your line could go before the national deadline — leaving it late risks a scramble. Second, moving early means you can pick the right system calmly, port your numbers cleanly, and pick up the extra features (one number across desk and mobile, call recording, integrations) rather than just swapping like-for-like under pressure.
What to check now
List anything that relies on a phone line, not just the handsets: alarm panels, lift emergency phones, door entry, card terminals, fax lines and franking machines. These are the things that catch businesses out at switch-over. We'll audit what you've got, tell you what moves easily and what needs a different plan, and handle the move so there's no gap in your phones.
FAQs
Common questions
When exactly is the landline switch-off?
The national target is to complete the move by the end of 2027, but it's happening gradually across the country. Some areas are already affected, so the safest assumption is that your line will move before the deadline rather than on it.
Will I lose my phone number?
No. Your existing numbers port across to the new internet-based service, so customers carry on calling the same number with no change at their end.
Do I need new handsets?
Often you can keep working much as before — sometimes with new handsets, sometimes with an adapter, sometimes with apps on devices you already have. We'll tell you exactly what your setup needs rather than selling you kit you don't.
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