PSTN switch-off for UK businesses: alarms, lifts, card machines and the device estate (2026 to 2027)

Business guide, reviewed 21 June 2026

The quick answer

The copper phone network closes on 31 January 2027, and it takes far more than your desk phones with it. Alarms, lift lines, card machines, fax and door entry all need migrating. This is an independent, plain-English checklist of what stops working and how to move each system in good time. For the phone system itself, see our ISDN switch-off guide.

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What does the PSTN switch-off mean for my business?

The copper phone network closes on 31 January 2027, so any business service that runs over a copper line must move to a digital alternative before then. That covers phone systems and ISDN, but also alarms, lift phones, card machines, fax and door entry.

This is not only about desk phones. The biggest mistake businesses make in 2026 is assuming that having full fibre broadband means the phone estate is already sorted. Anything that plugs into a traditional phone socket and dials out is at risk, and more than 500,000 business lines were still on the PSTN as the final phase began (Openreach, 2026).

The deadline is locked, and the stop-sell on new copper products has been in force since September 2023, so planned migrations are far smoother and cheaper than a forced disconnection on your exchange's switch-off date. Recovering a service after it has been cut off costs more than moving in advance (Openreach, 2025).

Which business devices stop working after the switch-off?

Anything that dials out over a copper line. That means ISDN phone systems, alarms with copper signalling, lift emergency phones, card terminals that dial out, fax machines, CCTV diallers, door entry and building management lines. Modern IP handsets and mobile devices are unaffected.

The business non-voice estate at risk from the PSTN switch-off, and the replacement path for each (Comms-Express, 2026; Cloudswitched, 2026; Stride Communications, 2026).
Device or serviceRisk after switch-offAction and replacement path
ISDN2 or ISDN30 PBX phone systemStops workingSIP trunking (keep a SIP-ready PBX), or hosted VoIP or Microsoft Teams calling. See the ISDN guide
Intruder or fire alarm (copper signalling, Redcare)Signalling fails; insurance riskDual-path IP and 4G or 5G communicator; BT Redcare closed in December 2025
Lift emergency phoneStops; legal and safety breachIP or cellular autodialler with battery backup; contact your lift maintainer now
EPOS or card terminal (dial-out)Card payments failEthernet, Wi-Fi or mobile-connected terminal. See card machines and EPOS
Fax (legal, medical)Unreliable over IPMove to a fax-to-email service; fax over IP is prone to failure
CCTV dialler, door entry, building managementMonitoring or access failsIP-based or cellular (IoT or M2M SIM) alternative
Modern IP handset or mobileUnaffectedNo action needed

What about my alarm and lift phone?

These are the urgent ones. Alarm signalling over copper must move to a dual-path IP and cellular communicator, and lift emergency phones are a legal safety requirement that need an IP or cellular replacement with battery backup.

Do not leave alarms and lifts to the end.

BT Redcare alarm signalling closed in December 2025, so any alarm relying on a copper path must move to a dual-path IP and cellular communicator now to keep insurance valid. Lift emergency phones must stay connected under the lift safety standard BS EN 81-28:2022, and they are often powered by the copper line itself, so a digital replacement needs its own battery backup (Stride Communications, 2026; TalkingVoIP, 2026).

The device-side work is usually carried out by your alarm or lift maintainer, not your broadband provider, so contact both well before the deadline. Engineering demand and hardware lead times rise sharply as 2027 approaches, and a lapsed alarm path can breach the conditions of a commercial insurance policy. For monitored home and care alarms, see our care alarm and telecare compatibility guide.

How do I audit and migrate the whole estate?

Work through five steps: audit every line and device, map every number, choose your connectivity and voice, migrate the non-voice devices, then plan a tested cutover before cancelling the old lines.

  1. Audit every line and device. Walk the premises and list every line and anything connected to it: the phone system, alarms, lift phones, card machines, fax, CCTV diallers, door entry and building management. A single missed analogue line can mean a failed alarm or a non-working lift phone.
  2. Map every phone number. Record all of them, including main numbers, direct dial-in (DDI) ranges, fax, freephone and premium numbers, so each one can be ported. Missing a single published number can cause real disruption.
  3. Choose connectivity and voice. Move to full fibre (FTTP) or SOGEA as the data bearer, then pick SIP trunking to keep a SIP-ready PBX, or a hosted or Microsoft Teams cloud phone system. Look for a strong uptime service-level agreement and UK support.
  4. Migrate non-voice devices. Put each device on a specific path: dual-path IP or cellular for alarms and lift phones, Ethernet or mobile terminals for card machines, fax to email for faxing, and IoT cellular SIMs for remote monitoring.
  5. Plan the cutover and port numbers. Agree a date, port your numbers (typically 10 to 15 working days), add battery or UPS backup for critical sites, and test every device after the change before the old lines are cancelled.

Step one starts with your postcode

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Will the copper price rises affect my business before 2027?

Yes. Openreach is doubling the wholesale price of copper (WLR) lines during 2026, with rises on 1 April, 1 July and 1 October, so a business still on copper voice will see costs climb before the network even closes.

Each step is a deliberate push to migrate: plus 20 per cent in April, then plus 40 per cent of the base price in July, then another 40 per cent in October, doubling the line over the year (Openreach, 2025; ThinkBroadband, 2025). For a business with several legacy lines, that adds up quickly, and in many cases a digital service is already cheaper than the post-rise copper price. The full schedule, in pounds and pence, is on our copper line price rise tracker.

How do I switch without downtime, and keep my numbers and static IP?

Plan a parallel cutover. Number porting typically takes 10 to 15 working days, so map every number first. A static IP can be carried across or re-provisioned, and you can confirm whether the line uses CGNat before ordering.

Downtime is avoidable with a planned cutover: provision the new service, port numbers on an agreed date, and keep the old lines live until the new ones are tested. Power resilience matters because digital voice runs over your router and needs local power, unlike the old line-powered copper, so critical sites should add a UPS or battery backup.

If you rely on a fixed public address for VoIP, CCTV, a VPN or IP allowlisting, plan the static IP alongside the move. Our static IP business broadband guide covers which providers include one, CGNat and the alternatives, and our switching without downtime guide covers the cutover in more detail.

Questions people ask

Is the deadline really fixed?

Yes. The PSTN closes on 31 January 2027, the date is locked, and the stop-sell on new copper products has been in force since September 2023. Lines not migrated by then move to a basic emergency voice service until they are switched across (Openreach, 2025, 2026).

Does business broadband qualify for One Touch Switch?

A gaining-provider-led switching process for business is being introduced during 2026, and business lines already follow most of the switching rules. When you move, your new provider increasingly handles the process, but confirm the exact steps with them.

What is the difference between business broadband and a leased line?

Standard business broadband is a shared, best-effort service, often the same line as a residential product with business support added. A leased line is a dedicated, uncontended connection with guaranteed speeds and a stronger service-level agreement, at a higher price. Match the choice to how critical your connectivity is.

Do I need a static IP for VoIP after the switch-off?

Only if you keep voice infrastructure on premises that needs a fixed address. Cloud-hosted phone systems remove that requirement entirely. If you do need inbound access for CCTV or a VPN, confirm the line is not on CGNat before ordering.

Who arranges the migration for my alarm or lift?

Your connectivity provider can replace the underlying lines, but the alarm or lift maintainer should confirm and carry out the device-side change. Contact both well before the deadline, because engineering demand and hardware lead times rise as 2027 approaches.

Further reading and official guidance

We link to the primary government, regulator and standards sources so you can confirm your obligations directly.

Sources