The Big Switch Off

Simplifying the PSTN and ISDN Switch Off

The telecommunications industry is abuzz with talk of the PSTN and ISDN switch off, but the facts can sometimes get lost in the noise. We’ve created this blog to help you understand what’s happening and how to prepare your business.

What is the PSTN and ISDN switch off? The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) has been in use since 1876 and is now outdated and costly to maintain. It will be replaced with modern technology, and the PSTN will cease operation in 2027. This switch off also affects Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines, which will be discontinued by the end of December 2027.

What should I do if I have an ISDN line? ISDN lines will need to be upgraded to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems before December 2027. VoIP requires a good quality internet connection to function smoothly.

When will Openreach start withdrawing services? Openreach has begun trialling the withdrawal of services in Salisbury and Mildenhall, aiming for complete withdrawal by December 2022. Other exchanges will follow closer to December 2027.

Will my broadband be impacted? If your broadband is supported on a single line, your provider will migrate it to a single service with no line rental. If you use your line for voice, you’ll be offered a VoIP alternative. Ultrafast fibre broadband users with no voice services won’t see any changes.

What happened in 2023? From September 2023, Openreach stopped installing new Single PSTN Lines or ISDN. Line transfers are still accepted if there are no changes to the installation.

What should I do now? If you’re on an ISDN contract, you don’t need to act immediately. However, when your contract is up for renewal, you’ll likely need to switch to a hosted telephony solution. To futureproof your business, ensure you have a business-grade broadband solution and assess your hosted telephony options.

What happens in 2027? Providers will aim to migrate all PSTN services to alternative solutions by December 2027. Any remaining services on the PSTN network will be withdrawn by December 2027, leaving businesses and consumers without service if they haven’t switched.

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Having had a complete nightmare with our previous provider Adam came in to see us and immediately saw where we were going wrong, he promised that moving to Intellect would make a real difference and save us from the nightmare we had been in.
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Adam helped us at a time when we were really struggling with our previous telecoms supplier, having lost service Adam showed us a new solution which we migrated all our services over to have never looked back since. All in all they were a very helpful team and I would recommend to all.

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