Openreach says landline phones will switch off across Britland in 100 days, with no extensions
Deadline set for January
Openreach has reminded customers that its legacy public switched telephone network, or PSTN, is due to be retired on January 31, 2027. The company says the date will not be extended.
People and businesses still connected to the old network could face disruption when the service ends. The transition is part of a wider government effort to move the UK to digital, high-speed networks built on fiber-optic infrastructure.
More than phone calls
PSTN connections support more than conventional landline calls. Point-of-sale terminals, fire and security alarms, and personal care alarms used by elderly and vulnerable people can also rely on the network.
The old service depends on copper cabling, which the move to fiber-based digital networks is intended to replace. Openreach has been preparing for the change for nearly a decade.
Support for vulnerable customers
The deadline has previously been pushed back at least once after the government asked providers not to require vulnerable customers using systems such as TeleCare to switch before fixes were available. A speaker quoted by The Register called for advertising, targeted contact and door-to-door help for older and vulnerable people. He said providers should continue trying to reach customers who have not responded and offer individual practical support.
Key points
- Openreach says the PSTN network will close on January 31, 2027, with no further postponement.
- The shutdown could disrupt payment terminals, alarms and personal care systems as well as landline calls.
- Customers without fiber may be moved to SOTAP for Analog to keep using an old-style phone line.
- Openreach says rental costs for legacy business lines have doubled since last year.