February 3rd 2024
ISDN SWITCH OFF COUNTDOWN: KEY DATES & INFORMATION
The countdown has begun for the ISDN Switch Off. BT will terminate all ISDN and PSTN lines in just over a year. Millions of businesses and consumers must migrate to new digital technologies such as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone systems and FTTP or SoGEA broadband.
Last year marked a significant milestone in the run-up to the switch off. BT officially reached its Stop Sell phase, meaning you can no longer order broadband or PSTN systems that use the old copper network.
With traditional phone line sales ceased, you must switch to a cloud system before further disruption. In this blog, you’ll discover the key dates of the PSTN Switch Off and how to prepare.
ISDN Switch Off Timeline
November 2017
In 2017, BT Openreach set a 7-year road map to implement fibre lines and cease ISDN and PSTN networks. These changes encouraged millions of customers to consider alternatives compatible with the new digital network.
December 2020
Salisbury, a city in Wiltshire, became the first pilot location to have full FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) coverage. All existing Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) services, including ISDN and Analogue lines, moved to the new FTTP and IP voice services.
October 2021
By October, 169 exchanges (locations) had moved to the Stop Sell phase. BT Openreach slowly progressed with their 7-year plan despite delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
April 2023
The first two pilot locations, Salisbury and Mildenhall (Midenhall migrated in May 2021), began their end-of-life process. BT Openreach terminated all analogue services, leaving these locations powered with fibre technology.
September 2023
In September 2023, organisations could no longer order copper-related (or ‘WLR’) products. This month marked the full Stop Sell, preparing millions of organisations for the end-of-life phase.
May 2024
BT Openreach delayed the ISDN Switch-off from December 2025 to January 2027. This gave more time to mobilise non-engaged telecom providers and end customers and resolve challenges vulnerable customers have faced.
December 2025
All existing legacy Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) contracts will be ceased. After this, BT Openreach will issue new terms for WLR products, including a three-month termination notice period. This will allow customers to transition with better flexibility.
January 2026 - December 2026
Businesses will continue migrating to digital IP solutions. Those who transition early benefit from seamless connectivity, avoiding the disruption when ISDN/PSTN officially switches off.
January 2027
The ISDN Switch Off countdown has ended. BT Openreach will plan to switch off the analogue network by January 31st, 2027. By this point, most of the population will rely on fibre services, allowing them to benefit from a cost-effective hosted phone system.
Businesses unable to get FTTP are provided an alternative, SoGEA (Single Order Generic Ethernet Access). SoGEA provides your business with superfast business broadband without a landline.
What Do I Need to Do?
Any service connected to the ISDN/PSTN network will cease to work by January 2027. Your phone system, CCTV, alarms and intercom systems will all be impacted. It’s time to move to IP and cloud technology.
At Lily, we offer a cloud-based phone system which delivers voice and video data over the internet. Our VoIP solution eliminates costly on-premise hardware, allowing you to scale as your business grows. Along with cost-savings, your team can take calls and work anytime, anywhere. See productivity rise and create a mobile workforce with Lily.
You’ll also need to assess your current internet connection and whether it supports smarter, digital technology. We recommend upgrading to SoGEA or FTTP broadband for ultra-fast, reliable internet.
Prepare for 2027 - Get VoIP with Lily
Ready to make the switch? Reach out to us today and we’ll prepare your business for the ISDN Switch Off. Make the transition to digital a seamless journey with Lily.