Preparing for the UK PSTN Switch-Off: What you need to know
By January 2027, the UK’s ageing PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and ISDN infrastructure will be retired. Hard to believe? Over 14 million residential and nearly 6 million business PSTN connections still existed in September 2023. Alarmingly, only 18% of small and 26% of large organisations have a digital alternative in place. Time is ticking—and delayed action means risking serious downtime.
1. Who’s at risk?
Small businesses: 22% still rely on analogue lines .
System downtime: PSTN landline faults surged by 45% last year .
Legacy devices affected: Lift emergency phones, fire alarms, EPOS systems, CCTV and security alarms all depend on copper lines. No upgrade = inevitable failure.
2. Why make the switch now?
Avoid costly interruptions: By 2027, any system relying on copper lines won’t work.
Stay fully compliant with health and safety standards—fire panels, access control and lift phones need active communication links.
Say yes to modern benefits: Digital services offer real-time visbility, faster data speeds, enhanced reliability, and better operational control than obsolete PSTN landline technology.
3. What you can do today
| Step | Action | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Audit systems | Identify every device using copper lines. |
| 2 | Plan a migration | Prioritise critical systems like lifts, alarms, and CCTV. |
| 3 | Upgrade legacy lines | Install digital bridges—no need to replace hardware. |
| 4 | Test backup | Ensure emergency communications remain live (battery or cellular). |
4. Why it matters to you
Business continuity: Never lose access to alarm systems or elevator comms.
Safety assurance: Meet regulatory standards for emergency alerts.
Future-proofed operations: Go digital now to unlock remote monitoring and cloud control.
5. Need help making the switch?
Our specialists help cut through complexity and deliver smooth migrations—no disruption, no guesswork. Connect legacy lifts, alarms, access doors and critical systems to reliable all-digital infrastructure. Stay connected, compliant, and future-ready.
Don’t wait for January 2027—prepare now. Download our PSTN Migration Checklist or contact our team for a tailored audit. Let’s ensure your critical systems stay live through the transition.
Ready to make the switch?
Don’t wait for January 2027—prepare now. Download our PSTN Migration Checklist by filling out the form below or contact our team for a tailored audit. Let’s ensure your critical systems stay live through the transition.
Download our ‘PSTN switch-off’ checklist now…
FAQs: UK PSTN Shutdown & Landline Replacement
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The PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) shutdown refers to the UK’s nationwide switch-off of traditional copper landlines and ISDN services by January 2027. All voice and data services must migrate to digital IP-based alternatives.
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The final switch-off is scheduled for January 2027, but Openreach implemented a “stop-sell” of new PSTN services from 5th September 2023. This means you can no longer order or modify legacy phone lines.
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Any organisation using legacy phone lines will be affected—including systems like:
Lift emergency phones
Fire & intruder alarms
Access control systems
Retail EPOS terminals
Building management systems
Standard voice phones
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No. If your lift phone relies on PSTN or ISDN lines, it will stop working unless upgraded to a digital solution such as ControlFreq’s LANDLINE-4G retrofit communicator.
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A digital landline alternative is a replacement solution that uses 4G or fibre broadband instead of copper-based infrastructure. These solutions offer increased reliability, redundancy, and real-time monitoring.
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Delaying migration could result in:
Disrupted critical services
Regulatory non-compliance
Missed emergency alerts
Unplanned downtime and costs
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ControlFreq offers PSTN landline replacement solutions that retrofit existing systems without major hardware changes. We ensure seamless migration, real-time monitoring, and multi-network redundancy.
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Start by auditing your current systems. ControlFreq offers a free consultation and PSTN migration checklist to help you plan and implement a future-proof solution.
