If your first thought is ‘What is PSTN?’ then let us explain!

The Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) is what most people describe as ‘Landlines’. PSTN is the traditional copper wire telephone system designed for analogue voice communication, that techies like us call ‘PSTN’ or ‘ISDN’.

Openreach announced (quietly) their plans to withdraw PSTN services by December 2025. Their aim is that all UK phone lines will be running on a fully digital network. That means that you’ll need to move your traditional phone line over to a full VoIP system (Voice over Internet Protocol) – a digital based service.

The digital network uses internet protocol (IP) across a fibre based service, and VoIP phones have been in use for not just a few years, but around two decades! It’s not complicated and comes with lots of benefits. If you’re already on a VoIP system, you won’t need to do anything – you’re ahead of the game!

To find out more about VoIP telephone systems, take a look at our website here: https://www.viawire.net/telephone-systems/

The plan goes into action in 2023

As of September 2023, Openreach will no longer supply Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) or Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). This means that in just over a year, the only ‘Landline’ option available to purchase will be running on a VoIP service.

In December 2025, any existing landlines will simply stop operating as the service will cease altogether. That also applies to ISDN broadband services. As the saying goes ‘ The Future is Digital’!

There will still be fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) however no phone systems will be able to run on the network. This will affect both commercial and residential buildings. On a person level, if you have an elderly relative who has not yet ‘gone digital’, they’ll need to be persuaded or lose their communication with their nearest and dearest!

What to do

If you’ve already got a VoIP phone system – sit back and chill, you don’t need to do anything.

If you have a phone which runs on a private network (i.e. Virgin) your service will be affected, however this is something your provider will manage before the switch off – so you can chill out too.

If you’ve got a traditional PSTN or ISDN system, the sooner you get your moved over to digital the better.

Don’t wait until 2025 when everyone will be realising, they need to do something and the companies that provide VoIP services have diaries jammed to capacity with installation projects. Start early, get your phone system moved to VoIP and you’ll be all done and dusted by the time the panic sets in. The plus is that you’ll also get all the added benefits earlier too!