The old analogue phone network is being retired. If your business still uses traditional phone lines, ADSL broadband, alarm lines or other copper-based services, you need a plan. Drakos Systems helps Northern Ireland businesses check what is affected and move to the right alternatives before services stop working.
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Call or email Drakos Systems to check what your business needs to move before the deadline. Serving businesses across Belfast, Lisburn and Northern Ireland.
The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is the traditional analogue phone network that has been in use for decades. Openreach is retiring it and moving services onto an all-IP digital network. The current deadline for the PSTN and ISDN retirement is , with many areas and exchanges migrating earlier.
It is worth being precise about what this means. The PSTN and legacy copper-based services are being retired. It does not mean every copper cable is physically removed on that date, but copper-based broadband is affected as well as analogue voice, so this is not something only phone lines need to plan for. Businesses still using traditional phone lines, ISDN or copper-based broadband should check their migration path with their provider: depending on availability that may mean Full Fibre, another digital broadband service or another suitable alternative. For business telephony the key point is that any phone line, ISDN circuit or connected device depending on analogue PSTN or ISDN must be reviewed and migrated before the deadline.
This is not optional, and it applies to businesses of every size and sector. The more useful way to treat it is as a forced review point: if you have to change the old service anyway, it is the right moment to check whether the whole setup could work better. Keep what still makes sense, and modernise what does not.
Openreach has confirmed that the deadline remains . Lines that have not moved to a modern digital service by then may be placed on a temporary, limited last-resort service called EVAc, which is designed to keep basic calls working for a short period while the migration is completed. It is more expensive than a modern digital service, cannot be ordered in advance and is not a reason to delay. The practical message from Openreach is simple: do not wait for the network to close before upgrading. Sources: Openreach Big Switch Off and UK government guidance on moving landlines to digital.
PSTN switch off planned before the deadline
The switch off affects more than just desk phones. Many businesses are surprised by the range of services that rely on old analogue lines.
Any desk phone connected to a traditional PSTN or ISDN line. This includes single lines, multi-line systems and older PBX setups.
ADSL and ADSL2+ broadband services run over copper phone lines. If your broadband is delivered this way, it will need to be replaced with a fibre or alternative service.
Many intruder alarms and fire alarm systems use a dedicated phone line to report to a monitoring centre. These need checking and replacing with an IP or 4G alternative.
Lifts are required by law to have an emergency phone connection. Most older installations use a PSTN line. These will need to be replaced before the switch off.
Some older EPOS and card payment terminals use a phone line as their primary or backup connection. Check with your payment provider whether your terminals are affected.
Door intercoms and access control systems that dial through to a phone may use a PSTN line. IP-based alternatives are available.
If your business still uses a fax machine, it almost certainly relies on a PSTN line. Online fax services and email are practical alternatives.
Out-of-hours numbers, remote offices, warehouses or yard offices connected via old phone lines may all be affected. Check every site, not just the main office.
The retirement covers more than single analogue lines. ISDN is going too, and businesses on ISDN usually have larger, multi-line systems that need a planned migration rather than a simple like-for-like swap.
If you run ISDN30 or PRI you likely have a DDI range (a block of direct-dial numbers), a set number of concurrent calls, and a PBX that was sized around them. A sensible migration reviews the DDI range, how many simultaneous calls you actually need, whether the existing PBX can take SIP trunks, and whether a hosted system would serve you better. This is planning work, not a single line order, and it is best done well before the deadline rather than in a rush.
In plain terms, a DDI (Direct Dial In) is a phone number that rings straight through to a person, team or department without going via a switchboard. Businesses on ISDN30/PRI often have a whole range of them.
Not every business needs to throw everything out. Some existing systems can potentially be retained using SIP trunks or a suitable gateway, while others are genuinely better replaced. It depends on the specific system, so we assess rather than assume.
Factors that decide it include the make and model, its age, the software and licensing, whether it genuinely supports SIP, whether it is still supported and secure, handset compatibility, and what you need the system to do in future (remote working, mobile integration, growth). We will tell you honestly where reuse makes sense and where replacement gives better support, security and functionality.
Sometimes. Existing handsets can occasionally be retained where they are compatible with the new platform. In other cases, replacing the phones gives better support, security and features. We check compatibility rather than issuing a blanket "all phones must be replaced". Common business handsets, including Yealink and Poly (Polycom) devices, may or may not carry over depending on the platform, and we confirm before recommending anything.
Because the switch off forces a review, it is worth understanding what a modern business phone system can do that an old analogue line or ISDN PBX cannot. Where supported by the chosen platform, that includes:
This is the difference between simply replacing the old line and reviewing the whole setup. Our advice is consistent: keep what still makes sense, and modernise what does not.
Drakos Systems helps businesses across Northern Ireland work through the PSTN Switch Off in a sensible order. We start by checking what you currently have, then recommend what to replace first based on business risk.
Voice over IP (VoIP) is the main replacement for PSTN lines. Calls are made and received over a broadband connection rather than a copper phone line. For most businesses, a hosted VoIP system provides the same features as a traditional phone system, plus additional features such as call recording, mobile apps, auto-attendant, call queues and Microsoft Teams integration.
Key points for Northern Ireland businesses:
See our VoIP phone systems page for more detail on what a managed VoIP system includes.
One concern businesses raise about moving to VoIP is that if the broadband fails, the phones fail too. This is a fair point. Drakos Systems can advise on 4G and 5G SIM backup options that keep key services running during a broadband outage.
A router with an active SIM slot can automatically switch to mobile broadband if the main line drops, keeping VoIP, cloud software and other key services online while the fault is fixed. This is not suitable for every site, but for businesses where phone availability matters a great deal, it is worth discussing.
See our broadband failover page for more information.
A planned migration avoids surprises and keeps you in control of the timing. The usual order is:
Tell us what phone system and broadband you currently have and we will let you know what needs to move and when. No jargon, no pressure.
The deadline for retiring the PSTN and legacy copper-based services is 31 January 2027, with many areas migrating earlier. It does not mean every copper cable is physically removed on that date, but businesses still using traditional phone lines, ISDN or copper-based broadband should check their migration path with their provider. Depending on availability, that may mean Full Fibre, another digital broadband service or another suitable alternative. For business telephony the key point is that analogue PSTN and ISDN dependencies must be migrated before the deadline.
ISDN is part of the retirement, so ISDN2, ISDN30 and PRI services need to be migrated before the deadline. Businesses on ISDN30 or PRI usually have larger systems and a range of direct-dial numbers, so a planned migration is sensible rather than leaving it late.
Typically SIP trunks into a compatible PBX, or a move to a hosted cloud phone system. The right choice depends on the existing system, how many concurrent calls you need and your DDI range. We assess the current setup before recommending an approach.
Existing numbers, including 028 numbers and DDI ranges, can often be ported so customers reach you on the same numbers. Porting depends on the current provider and number status, so it is checked rather than guaranteed. Do not cancel the old service until the port is confirmed complete.
Possibly. Some systems can be retained using SIP trunks or a gateway, and some handsets carry over where they are compatible with the new platform. Others are better replaced for support, security and features. We review the specific system and handsets before advising, rather than assuming.
The PSTN Switch Off is the retirement of the old analogue Public Switched Telephone Network. Openreach is moving services to an all-IP digital network by 31 January 2027, though many areas are moving earlier. Any service that relies on a traditional analogue phone line will need to be replaced or moved.
Office phone lines, ADSL broadband, alarm lines, lift phones, fax machines, door entry systems, card payment terminals connected over phone lines, out-of-hours numbers, and remote sites that still use old ISDN or PSTN connections may all need to be reviewed.
Yes. Drakos Systems can review your current phone lines, broadband, router and VoIP options for Northern Ireland businesses. We handle number porting, handset supply, call routing and ongoing support.
Start by listing every service that uses a phone line or ADSL connection. This includes office phones, alarm monitoring lines, lift emergency phones, door entry, EPOS systems and any broadband service delivered over copper. Once you know what is affected, you can plan replacements in the right order.
VoIP depends on broadband. If the main broadband line fails and there is no backup, calls will stop. Drakos Systems can advise on SIM backup and broadband failover options to keep VoIP and other key services running during a broadband outage.
Serving Belfast, Lisburn and Northern Ireland. Speak directly with the person who scopes, installs and supports your system. Onsite across Northern Ireland, remote where suitable.