Openreach warns UK firms over copper switch-off deadline

Openreach is warning time is running out for UK businesses still using copper networks that are being switched off for good in January 2027—and many business owners don’t realise how much this could affect them.

As the company that manages most of the UK’s telecoms infrastructure, Openreach is warning that this isn’t just an upgrade that can be ignored. When the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) goes dark, anything connected to it stops working.

What happens when your payment terminals can’t connect? When security alarms fall silent? When the office phones that customers rely on suddenly go dead? It’s not just inconvenient; it could be devastating for unprepared businesses.

James Lilley, Director of All-IP at Openreach, said: “The nationwide transition to an all-IP network is a huge undertaking, and ensuring vulnerable users are protected during the shift has been a priority. Now that we are confident we have addressed those needs and can safely transition vulnerable customers, the deadline is set.

“It’s time for businesses to act and unchain their networks from legacy infrastructure. The digital world won’t wait for those that stall. Every day of delay risks disruptions, higher costs, and missed opportunities.”

For the average UK business owner, this transition from copper networks might sound intimidating. What exactly needs changing? Where do you even start? The good news is that Openreach has broken it down into three manageable steps:

1. First, take stock of what you’ve got. Look around your premises and identify anything that plugs into a phone socket. That ancient fax machine gathering dust in the corner? The alarm system installed years ago? The card machine your customers use? All these need checking.

2. The second step is testing. Openreach has set up free testing labs where businesses can bring their equipment to see if it’ll work with the new digital networks.

3. Finally, it’s time to switch. This means contacting your service provider and arranging your upgrade to digital lines. They’ll sort you out with the right solution based on what your business needs.

Some businesses are putting this off because they’re worried about disruption or cost, but waiting will cost more in the long run. Some providers are shutting down their old networks even earlier – some as soon as December 2025 – and the closer we get to these deadlines, the busier installation teams will become.

The new all-digital networks aren’t just a necessary replacement; they’re actually better in pretty much every way. Call quality is clearer, connections are more reliable, and you get access to features that simply weren’t possible with the old technology.

This transition away from copper networks isn’t just happening in the UK. Countries worldwide are making similar transitions, recognising that maintaining two parallel networks – one digital and one analogue – is expensive and inefficient. The future is digital, whether small business owners are ready or not.

For many local shops, the payment terminal is the biggest concern. Imagine the Saturday morning rush at your local bakery when suddenly none of the card machines work. Or consider a small security firm whose alarm systems can no longer contact their monitoring centre when triggered.

The good news is that solutions exist for nearly every situation. Some equipment will work fine with a simple adapter, while other systems might need replacing. The important thing is figuring this out now, not in a panic when services start failing.

Businesses often leave this to the last minute, and it rarely ends well. The ones that plan ahead get to choose how and when they upgrade.

While January 2027 might seem distant, telecoms experts warn that the final year will see a mad scramble as millions of businesses finally confront the inevitable change. Getting ahead of the curve isn’t just prudent – it could save your business from serious disruption.

For businesses uncertain about where to begin, the first step is straightforward: call your current phone or internet provider. They should be able to explain your options and help plan your migration to digital services. Openreach also offers resources for businesses struggling with unusual setups or special requirements.

The message is clear: this isn’t an if, it’s a when. The plug is being pulled on the UK’s century-old copper network, and businesses that ignore this reality risk finding themselves suddenly disconnected in a world that’s moved on without them.

(Photo by Lucut Razvan)

See also: Broadcom’s latest Ethernet switch tackles AI demands on networks

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Tags: broadband, connectivity, copper, europe, networks, openreach, pstn, telecoms, uk