Guide
BT Copper Landline Shutdown: What UK Businesses Need to Do
BT Openreach is retiring the old copper phone network (PSTN and ISDN). Traditional landlines stop working on 31 January 2027. Your phone numbers can stay, but the service behind them has to move to a digital line.
Key dates
5 September 2023
Openreach national stop sell: new analogue (WLR) phone lines can no longer be ordered anywhere in the UK.
Now – 2026
Businesses move existing lines, phone systems and connected devices to digital services.
31 January 2027
Final PSTN and ISDN switch-off. Remaining analogue and ISDN services stop working.
Note: this is separate from Openreach's longer programme of closing copper exchanges, which runs to 2030. The phone service deadline is 31 January 2027.
What is affected
Analogue business lines
Replaced by cloud phone systems that run over broadband.
Read about analogue business linesISDN and on-site phone systems
SIP trunking keeps your existing PBX working over the internet.
Read about isdn and on-site phone systemsAlarms and lift phones
Safety-critical lines need a digital-compatible unit or signalling path.
Read about alarms and lift phonesCard machines and fax
Older dial-up terminals must move to IP, 4G or Wi-Fi.
Read about card machines and faxFive steps to move off copper
- List every phone number, line and ISDN channel your business pays for.
- Identify devices plugged into phone sockets: alarms, lift phones, card machines, franking and fax.
- Check fibre availability (FTTP or SoGEA) at each site.
- Choose a replacement: cloud phone system, Microsoft Teams calling or SIP trunking.
- Port your numbers and test every device before 31 January 2027.
Unsure about costs? See the cost and impact comparison or browse the switch-off FAQ.