Fax machines after the PSTN switch off

Question 1

Will my fax machine work after the PSTN switch off?

Accepted Answer

Not if it plugs directly into an analogue phone socket. Traditional Group 3 fax machines rely on the tones and timing of the copper PSTN network. Once the line is retired on 31 January 2027, faxes will fail to send or receive. You'll need to replace the workflow with fax-to-email, a T.38 fax-over-IP gateway with an ATA, or move to secure email or a document portal.

Question 2

What is an ATA and will it keep my fax working?

Accepted Answer

An Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA) connects your existing fax machine to a VoIP line by converting analogue signals to IP. Basic voice ATAs often struggle with fax reliability — you need one that supports the T.38 fax-over-IP protocol and a SIP provider that also supports T.38 end-to-end. Even then, results vary, so ATAs are best used as a short-term bridge, not a long-term plan.

Question 3

What are my main replacement options?

Accepted Answer

Three practical paths: (1) fax-to-email — a cloud service issues you a fax number that delivers incoming faxes as PDFs to your inbox and lets you send from email; (2) T.38 SIP fax gateway — keep the machine, sit it behind an ATA on a T.38-capable SIP trunk; (3) retire fax entirely and move to secure email, e-signature, or a customer portal for the documents that used to travel by fax.

Question 4

Which industries still rely on fax and what should they do?

Accepted Answer

Healthcare (NHS referrals), legal, insurance, logistics and some financial services still receive faxes. If you can't stop the inbound flow, a fax-to-email service with a dedicated UK number is the cleanest fix — you keep the number, staff read PDFs, and there is no analogue line to maintain.

Question 5

Do franking machines have the same problem?

Accepted Answer

Yes if the franking meter dials a phone line to top up postage credit or send audit data. Modern Mailmark franking machines connect over LAN or Wi-Fi and are unaffected. Contact Royal Mail or your franking supplier (for example Pitney Bowes, Frama or Quadient) for an IP-connected replacement or an upgrade kit.

Question 6

What should I ask my fax or telecoms provider?

Accepted Answer

Ask: 'Does my fax line rely on PSTN or ISDN?', 'Do you offer a fax-to-email service that keeps my existing fax number?', 'If we keep the machine, can you provide a T.38 SIP trunk and a supported ATA?', 'What is the porting timescale for my fax numbers?', and 'Can you disconnect the old line once the new service is live?'

Question 7

Can I keep my existing fax number?

Accepted Answer

In most cases yes. UK fax numbers can be ported to a fax-to-email service or SIP provider, just like a voice number. Start the port early — it can take two to four weeks and any missed faxes during the switch will be lost.

Question 8

When should I migrate away from analogue fax?

Accepted Answer

Now. Openreach is already withdrawing PSTN products area by area. Waiting until late 2026 risks losing inbound faxes with no warning, especially for regulated documents. Most fax-to-email services can be provisioned within a week.

Question 9

What should I ask my fax or line provider before the PSTN switch off?

Accepted Answer

Use this checklist when you contact your fax or line provider: 1. Is our fax line an analogue PSTN line that will be withdrawn? 2. Can our existing fax number be ported to a digital or email-to-fax service? 3. Do you offer a compliant email-to-fax or secure document alternative? 4. Will fax over IP (T.38) be supported, and what reliability should we expect? 5. What are the costs, contract length and migration date options? 6. What happens to inbound faxes during the migration window? Also confirm the cost, lead time and the date the work can be completed, well before 31 January 2027.

Will my fax machine work after the PSTN switch off?

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Fax & PSTN switch off — FAQs

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