On 31 January 2027, the UK’s old copper phone network switches off for good. If your business still uses a traditional landline, or anything that plugs into one, it’s time to make a plan.

The good news is that there’s still time to do this calmly. This guide explains what’s changing, what’s affected, what happens after the deadline, and the simple steps to get ready.

What is the PSTN switch-off?

PSTN stands for Public Switched Telephone Network. It’s the copper phone network that has carried UK landline calls for decades.

That network is being retired and replaced with digital lines, which carry calls over an internet connection instead of copper wire. You may hear this called “All IP”, “digital voice” or “VoIP”. They all mean much the same thing: your calls go over broadband instead of the old network.

Around 15 million lines have already moved across. According to Openreach, about 1.2 million are still to go, and 350,000 of those belong to businesses.

It’s not just your phones

Most businesses think first about their desk phones. But the old network often supports other things that nobody looks at twice, such as:

• Alarm systems that dial out to a monitoring centre
• Lift emergency phones
• Door entry and gate systems
• Card payment machines
• CCTV and remote monitoring links
• Fax machines and franking machines
• Older broadband connections, which some businesses don’t realise depend on the copper line

These are often the ones that get missed, because they were installed years ago and have worked quietly ever since. If any of them still rely on the old network, they’ll need moving over too.

What happens after 31 January?

Openreach has confirmed a temporary safety net for lines that haven’t moved by the deadline. It’s called Emergency Voice Access, and it now covers business lines as well as homes.

It’s designed as a last resort. It keeps basic access to essential calls and, where the line allows it, keeps linked broadband running. But it is:

• Temporary. It isn’t a way to stay on the old network long term.
• Limited. It’s a basic service, and Openreach says it may not work on every line.
• More expensive. The wholesale cost is around £35 a month per line before VAT, and what you’d pay your provider would be higher. That’s more than modern digital options cost today.

The switch-off date itself hasn’t changed. As Openreach’s migration director put it: “No one should wait for the PSTN to close before upgrading.”

In short, the safety net is there to catch lines that slip through. It isn’t a reason to wait.

Why the cost of waiting is going up

There’s also a money reason to act sooner rather than later.

Throughout 2026, Openreach has raised the wholesale price of old analogue lines three times: in April, in July and again on 1 October. As a result, the wholesale cost of these lines is now roughly double what it was in 2025. Openreach has been open about the reason. It wants to encourage businesses to move before the network closes.

How much of that reaches your bill depends on your provider. Either way, staying on an old line means paying more for a service with only a few months left to run. The post-deadline safety net costs more again.

How Liverpool is doing

Liverpool is leading the UK’s major cities in the move to digital. According to Openreach, just over 6% of the city’s old lines are still to switch.

That’s a strong position. But it still means tens of thousands of lines left to move, and the last few are often the trickiest. These tend to be the forgotten lines running an alarm or a lift in the corner of the building.

Five steps to get ready

1. Make a list of everything that uses a phone line. Start with your phones and your broadband, then walk the building. Look for alarm panels, lift phones, door entry, card machines and anything else with a cable running to a wall socket.

2. Check your bills. Your phone bill will show how many lines you’re paying for. It’s common to find lines that nobody remembers setting up.

3. Speak to your equipment suppliers. Alarm, lift and door entry providers can confirm whether their kit will work on a digital line or needs an upgrade.

4. Check your contract dates. If your phone contract ends soon, now is a good time to review your options instead of rolling onto another term.

5. Plan the move, then test it. Once you’ve moved to a digital line, test everything. That means making calls, triggering the alarm, and checking the lift phone and card machines.

Frequently asked questions

Will I need new phones?
Not always. Some existing handsets can work with an adapter plugged into your router. Older phone systems may need upgrading, and a modern cloud phone system often turns out to be simpler and cheaper to run.

Will I keep my phone number?
Yes. In almost all cases, your existing numbers can move across with you.

What happens in a power cut?
Digital phones need power to work, unlike old copper lines. For most businesses a simple battery backup covers this. It’s worth thinking about for anything critical, such as alarms and lift phones.

What if I haven’t moved by the deadline?
Your line should be moved onto the temporary Emergency Voice Access service, not cut off outright. But it’s basic, it costs more, and it won’t last. Anything you haven’t checked, like an alarm dialler, may still not work properly on it.

Is the switch-off being delayed?
No. The date is still 31 January 2027. The safety net only protects lines that miss it.

How Gardner Systems can help

We’ve been helping businesses in Liverpool and across the North West with their communications since 1985. We can look at what you have today, tell you what’s affected, and move you over with as little disruption as possible.

Start with a free telephony audit. Take a photo of your phone system, the wall socket your lines plug into, and a recent phone bill. Send it to sales@gardnersystems.co.uk and we’ll come back with a clear picture of what needs to change, if anything.