PSTN Shutdown

What you need to know

In 2027, the UK’s traditional telephone network (PSTN) will be fully switched off. That includes:

ISDN lines
Analogue telephone lines

If your business still relies on them, it’s time to plan your move to a modern voice solution.

What’s Changing?

Openreach is phasing out legacy infrastructure because:

ISDN and analogue lines are expensive to maintain
The tech is outdated and inefficient
Exchanges are moving to IP-based services

Originally planned for 2025, the final shutdown date has now moved to 2027. However, many exchanges are already no longer accepting new analogue or ISDN orders.

The sooner you act, the smoother your transition will be.

What should your Business Consider

So, now you know what’s happening, what can you do about it? What does your business need to consider with this deadline approaching?

Audit Your Current Phone System

What type of PBX do you use?
Is it SIP compatible?
Can it be upgraded or is it end-of-life?
How many analogue or ISDN lines do you currently have?
Is your system meeting your needs?

On-Premises vs Cloud Phone Systems

While many businesses are moving to cloud-hosted VoIP, you don’t have to.

Cloud benefits:

Lower capital investment
Easier scaling with subscriptions
Reduced engineering overhead
Less hardware on-site

On-premises option:

If you’ve invested in a compatible system, SIP trunks (VoIP delivered over internet) may be all you need.

Not SIP-ready? We can still connect your system via a gateway device for minimal cost.

Check Your Internet Connection

Some resellers say you can’t run VoIP on ADSL. That’s not true. A good-quality VoIP call only needs 100 Kbps in both directions.

For example:

A 5Mbps down / 1Mbps up ADSL line can support ~10 calls if dedicated to voice
FTTP or Ethernet increases capacity significantly

Business-grade broadband also comes with better support SLAs than domestic services.

Is your network ready?

Make sure your data network supports VoIP:

Use Gigabit switches (most modern hardware meets this)
Check that your core switches and routers are QoS enabled (Quality of Service)
Avoid using outdated hardware that can’t prioritise voice traffic

Without QoS, you risk:

Dropped calls
Audio delay or distortion
Poor user experience

How Litenet can help

We’ve supported businesses through decades of telephony transitions—from PBX systems to SIP and cloud-based VoIP.

Whether you’re:

Migrating from ISDN
Upgrading your PBX
Moving to the cloud
Unsure where to begin

…Litenet can assess your current setup and guide you to the right solution—on time and with minimal disruption.

Ready to prepare for the 2027 PSTN shutdown?

Let’s plan your transition—before the rush starts.

Call: 01908 794 794 Email: info@litenetuk.com

Or use our Contact Page below to start a conversation.