When is the PSTN Switch Off and what price increases are coming?

If you are accountable for connectivity, here’s the straight answer: the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) will be switched off on 31 January 2027 and will no longer support traditional copper-based phone and ISDN services.

If you do not migrate before then, services will stop. Alongside this, legacy line costs are rising sharply in 2026: 20% on 1st April, 40% on 1st July and a further 40% on 1st October 2026 (effectively doubling costs compared with today).

This matters now because the cost of doing nothing is rising quickly, and the deadline isn’t far away.

What the PSTN switch off means

The PSTN is the traditional copper-based network that carries phone calls and some older data services. It is being retired in favour of IP-based services delivered over fibre or modern broadband. The industry deadline is 31st January 2027 - after this date, legacy PSTN services will cease and must be replaced with digital alternatives.

For senior leaders and IT teams, this isn’t just a telco change. It affects telephone systems, alarms, lifts, payment terminals and any device still riding on copper infrastructure.

When the price rises happen

Price increases are staged in 2026 to accelerate migration and reflect the rising cost of maintaining the ageing network:

• 1st April 2026 – 20% rise
• 1st July 2026 – a further 40% rise
• 1st October 2026 – another 40% rise

By October, the wholesale cost of legacy line rental will be around double today’s level.

For organisations that still pay for WLR-based or other copper services, this means significantly higher line rental throughout 2026 if migration is not complete. 

What happens if you delay

If your estate still relies on PSTN or other copper-based connectivity in 2027, you could face:

• Service interruptions across phones, alarms, lifts, payment terminals
• Emergency fallback solutions with limited features
• Higher migration costs under compressed timeframes

Many businesses discover late that it’s not just the phone system they need to migrate — it’s every device or system still tied to copper lines. That’s a project that needs planning, testing and co-ordination across functions. 

A simple planning checklist

To stay in control of costs and risk:

This provides clarity and avoids last-minute cost spike and disruption.

WHAT NEXT?

The deadline is fixed. The 2026 price rises are fixed. What remains in your control is how early and how smoothly you move.  Start with clarity:

• Confirm exactly where PSTN and copper lines still sit across your estate.

• Map the services attached to them.

• Align finance, IT and operations around a realistic migration plan before April 2026.

If you would like support reviewing your current exposure or shaping a clear migration plan, contact us below. We’ll help you assess the risks and move forward with confidence.