But this doesn’t mean you should delay your move to modern voice.
It feels like we’ve been talking about the analogue switch off for a long time, helping customers get ready for the transition. But it seems now we will be talking about it for a little longer…
Last month, BT Group quietly announced in its full year report that it would be delaying the UK-wide analogue switch off by more than a year. Instead of the original December 2025 deadline, the shutdown of the traditional copper-based network in the UK is now set to be completed by January 2027. The report stated: “Following the industry-wide pause to non-voluntary migrations in December 2023, we now expect to have migrated all customers off the PSTN by the end of January 2027.”.
So, does this mean you should wait?
While the deadline has been extended, we still recommend transitioning to digital voice services sooner rather than later.
Why is the Change Happening?
The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) has been the foundation of communication in the UK since the 1880s. The PSTN is built on copper lines, which are increasingly fragile and costly to maintain. In recent years, it has also become apparent that this traditional network is struggling to handle the increased data requirements of modern users. Therefore, a more robust connectivity system is needed.
And so, the analogue switch off will see both the PSTN and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) shut down for good and replaced by entirely digital lines – with the aim of providing a more efficient and reliable network for connectivity.
Why Has the Analogue Switch Off Been Delayed?
BT had initially planned for the switch off to take place in December 2025. However, such a large-scale transition does not come without its complexities. As more users and organisations have made the switch to digital services, a number of issues have surfaced.
One of the biggest concerns is the potential impact on those who rely on telecare support – a monitoring service for elderly, disabled, and vulnerable people who live alone.
Digital services are more prone to outages than copper connectivity. This means that the lives of vulnerable or elderly users would be put at risk in the face of power cut or shortage if their telecare systems were running solely on digital lines.
The delay of the analogue switch off will give telecare providers and local authorities additional time to rectify their services and ensure vulnerable people are appropriately supported in the face of an outage.
I Haven’t Switch to Digital Services Yet – Does This Mean I Should Delay Too?
Although the end date for PSTN has moved, it shouldn’t be used as an excuse to keep running legacy lines. Traditional phone systems are expensive, unreliable, and difficult to maintain. Putting off the migration to digital will only waste time and money. Moving to a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) system is the best way to ensure your business communications are both efficient and cost-effective. VoIP telephone systems enable communications via IP networks such as the internet. Rather than data being received through copper wires, VoIP transmits data through the cloud.
It’s also important to recognise that most lines will be withdrawn ahead of the 2027 deadline, and the majority of the industry is still working towards the December 2025. Any services running on legacy copper-based systems after this date will be increasingly unreliable and subject to more stringent terms and conditions.
Preparing for the Analogue Switch Off
At 848, our advice still remains the same, and moving to digital services sooner rather than later will save you time, money, and stress in the long run. As a BT Wholesale Partner, we have a wide range of flexible digital voices services available to make the transition easier and cost-effective.
To learn more, get in touch with a member of our team.