Short answer: Fax machines and franking machines that use an analogue phone line will stop when the copper network is switched off by January 2027. Fax moves to email-to-fax or fax-over-IP, and franking machines move to IP-enabled models through your franking provider. Both are straightforward if planned early. Part of the wider PSTN and ISDN switch off.
Fax machines
A traditional fax machine dials over an analogue line, so it loses its route when the line goes. The common replacements are:
- Email-to-fax: keep a fax number that receives faxes as PDF to your inbox and lets you send from your computer. No physical machine needed.
- Fax-over-IP (FoIP): a service that carries fax traffic over the internet.
- Analogue telephone adapter (ATA): where a physical machine must stay, an ATA connects it to a VoIP line. Simple, but email-to-fax is usually more reliable.
Franking machines
Some franking machines download postage credits over an analogue line. These need an IP-enabled model or a connectivity upgrade. Contact your franking provider, for example Pitney Bowes, FP Mailing or Quadient, as most have already moved their fleet to broadband-connected machines.
What to do
- List every fax and franking machine and check how each connects.
- Decide, for fax, whether email-to-fax removes the need for a machine at all.
- Contact your franking provider for an IP-capable unit.
- Confirm the change before the analogue line is removed.
Frequently asked questions
Will my fax machine work after the PSTN switch off?
A traditional fax machine on an analogue line will stop when the line is withdrawn by January 2027. Most businesses move to an email-to-fax or fax-over-IP service that keeps a fax number and delivers faxes as PDF. Where a physical fax must stay, an analogue telephone adapter can connect it to a VoIP line.
What happens to my franking machine?
Franking machines that download postage over an analogue line need an IP-enabled model or a connectivity upgrade. Contact your franking provider, such as Pitney Bowes, FP Mailing or Quadient, as most have already moved to broadband-connected machines.
Can I keep a physical fax machine?
Yes, in many cases. An analogue telephone adapter connects a fax machine to a VoIP line, though for most businesses email-to-fax is simpler and more reliable.
Still relying on fax or franking over a phone line?
We will help you pick the right digital alternative and make sure nothing is missed before the line goes. See the full ISDN and PSTN switch off guide.