Openreach's warning: the key figures
On 30 October 2026, Openreach warned that the UK's legacy Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is due for retirement on 31 January 2027. It estimated that about one million copper-based lines remain active, including 300,000 at business premises. These are estimates of connections, not a prediction that one million customers will lose their telephone service. The significant risk is that the remaining lines often support equipment that does not look like a phone. A shop, office or warehouse may have a modern broadband connection while its alarm, lift telephone or card terminal still communicates over an analogue circuit. That is why an inventory is more valuable than simply asking whether the main office handset works.
Will every landline stop working in January?
No. The deadline refers to retiring the old underlying network, not banning telephone numbers or voice calls. Providers are moving customers to digital voice technology, commonly using an internet connection. In many homes the existing handset can be plugged into a compatible router. The UK government says providers should contact customers before migration. Some people without broadband may be offered an interim dedicated landline service. Openreach describes EVAc as a limited and temporary last-resort service for certain unmigrated customers after January 2027. It is not a guaranteed substitute for planning a normal migration. Ask your own provider for the exact arrangements, especially if your property has poor mobile coverage or specialist equipment.
The devices businesses are most likely to overlook
Payment terminals, cash-handling systems, lift emergency telephones, fire alarm diallers, monitored intruder alarms, door-entry panels and automated gates can all rely on PSTN or ISDN. So can remote meters, industrial telemetry and building energy management systems. A device may have a digital screen and still contain an old analogue modem. Check the equipment model, connection type and manufacturer guidance rather than guessing from its appearance. For safety-critical systems, require an end-to-end test with the alarm monitoring centre or service provider after any change. A successful phone call from the reception desk does not prove that a lift emergency button or fire alarm has been migrated correctly.
A practical audit that a small business can start today
Collect the last three months of telecoms bills and list every telephone number, circuit and rental charge, including rarely used accounts. Walk through the premises to find devices connected to telephone sockets or old communications cabinets. Ask the facilities manager, alarm installer, payment supplier and lift contractor to identify legacy connections. Record each line's purpose, supplier, location, responsible person, replacement plan and test result. Give first priority to emergency and safety systems, followed by payment processing and building access. Never cancel an apparently unused line until its function has been traced. Contact the provider listed on the bill to agree migration dates and obtain written confirmation of the work.
Why large organisations need more time
A company with several offices or shops may have legacy circuits maintained by different suppliers under contracts signed years apart. A central IT inventory can miss a lift line controlled by a landlord or an alarm paid for locally by a branch. Openreach says straightforward migrations have largely been completed, leaving more complex installations. Appoint a named owner at each site, ask suppliers for compatibility evidence and book testing before the final cutover. Maintain a fallback plan for essential services. A migration order is not the same as a working replacement: the real completion test is whether the critical device communicates successfully with its intended destination.
Costs, legacy line price rises and what to compare
There is no single national price for switching. The cost depends on your current contract, router, broadband or dedicated voice service, and any replacement alarm, lift or payment hardware. Openreach said legacy WLR and ISDN rental increases took effect on 1 October 2026, with some 2025 legacy rental prices doubling and further increases indicated from February 2027. Those are statements about particular legacy products, not proof that every household's retail bill doubles. Request an itemised quotation showing installation, hardware, battery backup, monthly charges, supplier testing, support and cancellation fees. Compare the total first-year cost and reliability, not only the advertised monthly rate.
Power cuts and vulnerable customers
A traditional analogue phone could sometimes continue operating during a power cut because the line carried power. A digital phone connected through a broadband router may not work when mains electricity or the connection fails unless suitable backup is provided. Tell your provider if you rely on a landline for emergency calls, have limited mobile coverage or use a monitored telecare alarm. The UK government says extra support can include engineer visits and battery backup where needed. Ask how 999 access will work during an outage, and arrange a witnessed alarm test after migration. Ofcom's December 2025 enforcement against Virgin Media demonstrates why identifying and protecting telecare customers is an essential safety obligation.
What about homes with no broadband?
Having a landline does not automatically mean you must buy a general broadband package. Government guidance explains that some providers can offer an interim dedicated service for landline-only customers while a suitable digital solution is arranged. Availability and technical details depend on the supplier. Before accepting any offer, ask whether you can keep the number, whether your handset is compatible, whether an engineer is needed and how emergency calls will be protected. Do not cancel a working service before the replacement is activated and tested. If a relative is vulnerable, help them contact their existing provider using the number printed on a recent bill.
Avoid scams exploiting the deadline
Fraudsters can exploit a genuine technology change. Treat unexpected calls demanding bank details, an immediate upgrade fee or remote access to a computer as suspicious. Hang up and contact the provider using its official website or an established billing number. Do not trust a caller merely because they know your address or quote the January deadline. Businesses should require a work order and approval from an existing supplier contact before anyone changes alarm, payment or telephone equipment. Keep a record of promised dates and engineer visits. A legitimate migration should be planned and verifiable, not completed under pressure from an unsolicited caller.
Your November-to-January action plan
During November, complete the circuit inventory and identify safety-critical or revenue-critical connections. In December, book installation work, confirm supplier availability and test replacement devices while there is time to fix failures. Before 31 January, obtain written confirmation that each important circuit has moved or has a provider-approved contingency. Recheck billing after migration so old services are not charged indefinitely. The central distinction is between a replacement that has been ordered and one that has actually passed an end-to-end test. Read Openreach's dated 30 October warning alongside current government guidance and Ofcom's rules for vulnerable customers.
Frequently asked questions
Will my phone number change? Often it can be retained, but confirm before switching. Will an old cordless handset work? Many can work through compatible digital equipment, although models differ. Does a business need a new alarm? The supplier must confirm compatibility and any necessary upgrades. Is this a law forcing everyone to buy broadband? No: the retirement is industry-led, and some voice-only arrangements exist. Can I leave the work until the last week of January? That is particularly risky for lifts, alarms, card terminals and multi-site systems because specialist replacements and tests can take time.