The Great British Switch Off: What It Means for Your Customers
The UK’s traditional copper-based telephony services are on their way out, making room for a fully digital future. This transition, known as the Great British Switch Off, means the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) will be retired.
While the final switch-off has been pushed back to 2027, that doesn’t mean you should sit back and relax—businesses that don’t prepare could find themselves without critical services like phone lines, broadband, and even security systems.
What is PSTN and Why is It Being Switched Off?
PSTN has been the backbone of the UK’s communication network for decades, relying on copper wires to keep landlines, ISDN services, and some broadband connections running.
But times have changed, and maintaining this ageing infrastructure is no longer practical. The future is digital, with full-fibre broadband and cloud-based telephony offering faster, more reliable, and future-proof solutions.
For the full rundown, check out: Everything You Need to Know About the Great British Switch Off.
Copper Wires Are Everywhere – And That’s a Problem
You might think the switch-off won’t affect your customers, but PSTN isn’t just about traditional phone lines. Your customers may be relying on these old networks for all sorts of things, including:
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Broadband connections (ADSL, FTTC)
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Card payment terminals
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Alarm and security systems
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Lift emergency lines
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Fax machines
These systems are quietly running in the background, but when the switch-off happens, they won’t work unless they’ve been upgraded.
The Risks of Doing Nothing
If your customers aren’t prepared or ready when the switch-off happens, they could be left high and dry with:
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No phone lines – making it impossible to reach customers or suppliers.
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No internet connection – if you’re still on ADSL or FTTC broadband.
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Disruptions to payments and security – card machines and alarm systems could stop working.
The switch-off may have been delayed, but don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security. The time to act is now. Read more here: The Great British Switch Off Delayed – But Don’t Delay Your Switch.
How Can You Help Your Customers Get Ahead of The Switch?
As a trusted partner, you play a crucial role in helping your customers navigate this transition smoothly. Here’s how you can support them:
- Educate and Inform – Keep your customers informed about the switch-off and its implications. Provide resources and information on the benefits of transitioning to Cloud Voice.
- Assess Their Needs - Conduct assessments to understand your customers' current communication setups.
- Offer Tailored Solutions – Recommend switching to full-fibre broadband, VoIP, and cloud-based phone systems.
- Reviewing third-party services – Make sure their alarm systems, payment terminals, and other essential services are ready for the change.
- Talking to the experts – Utilise the expertise and resources available from Chess to support your efforts.
The switch-off isn’t happening tomorrow, but smart businesses are acting now to avoid disruption later.
Get your customers future-ready today.
About the author
Chess
Chess is one of the UK’s leading independent and trusted technology service providers, employing more than 240 skilled people across the UK, supporting over 18,000 organisations.
We believe IT should work for you, reduce costs, deliver efficiency, keep you secure, enhance your work-life balance, improving performance. At Chess, we’re passionate about our unique culture and our continuous investment in our people to be industry experts.
We’re extremely proud that our people voted us No.1 in ‘The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work for’ list 2018, and we continue to celebrate more than 17 years in the top 100.