The Great Switch-Off

If you don’t know, the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) Network’s are coming to the end of their life. What this means is that the traditional plug-in telephone socket on your wall will only be used for delivering internet access rather than an actual telephone line. We already can’t sell you a traditional telephone line, and the rest of them will be getting the plug pulled (yeah, I know, terrible pun) on January 31st, 2027 – otherwise known as “The Great Switch Off”. From a technology point of view, PSTN has been around in one form or another since the late 1800’s when Alexander Graham Bell first invented it. It’s changed a bit of course – to start with, the telephone exchange needed an operator to ‘exchange’ calls.

These days, it’s an automatic thing based on a phone number, but it’s just an automatic version (ATM) of the same switching technology – plugging lines together. We’ve seen developments like ADSL and VDSL designed to run at higher frequencies alongside a telephone line, but again, it’s still a dated technology that won’t scale as bandwidth and computer use increases. It’s already starting – a lot of television content is now internet only (ala Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, etc), and Sky seem to be aiming for this in the future rather than a satellite dish (Sky Glass/Sky Stream).

But we need to make sure nobody or nothing is left behind. Well, the first response of a lot of people is “well I don’t use my landline anymore, so it doesn’t really matter to me – bring it on”. But a lot of businesses still use PSTN and ISDN based telephone systems in the office, and a lot of people don’t realise that a lot of things use that landline as well – burglar alarms, fire alarms, telecare services, fall/trip alerts for vulnerable people, lift alarms, etc. And those going dead will not only be an inconvenience, but downright dangerous too. Where these systems are safety systems, the need for resilience goes up. In a power cut for instance, your internet going offline could be annoying, but the chances are all your desktop PCs have gone offline too, so it’s not really a huge issue. But the emergency services not being aware of a fire alarm could lead to a loss of life. Somebody could be stuck in a lift for many hours because the lift alarm went offline in the power cut, the emergency services reaching a vulnerable person could be significantly delayed because their trip/fall alarm wasn’t able to call home and seek help.

BT also sold a product as a part of PSTN called BT Redcare – designed so the alarm system not only called home in the event of a break in/fire etc, but it was also constantly monitored. So, if somebody cut the phone line, the emergency services would know about it quick. But if you need this level of monitoring, it needs a modern solution now. Solutions are coming on the market to help address these needs – for instance, placing a customers’ router and WiFi on a backup battery/UPS. Or for a business, installing multiple internet connections in a resilient setup including for instance Mobile Broadband alongside Leased Lines – two totally different infrastructures. Or working with one of the Alt-Nets, like Giganet, CityFibre, Wildanet, Trooli, Jurassic, Cuckoo, etc. to provide multiple different circuits to ensure greater reliability. The options are numerous, and it’s a confusing world to get the best cost-effective solution, especially once safety is taken into account.

So, what would we recommend?

At the heart of any successful transition away from PSTN and ISDN is understanding exactly what systems are in place and how they depend on the old technology. This sounds simple, but it’s often more complicated than you might expect. Sometimes, alarm systems and other critical services use phone lines that you didn’t even know existed. Our approach is to thoroughly assess your current infrastructure—whether that’s checking phone lines, reviewing contracts, or working with vendors to get a clear picture of your setup. Once we understand what’s at risk, we can work with the relevant service providers (like alarm or lift companies) to determine how to transition to a modern, resilient solution. This includes considering power backups, failover systems, and alternative communication methods.

With all this information, once we’ve built an understanding of what’s where we then work with the vendors (i.e.: your fire alarm or lift people) to understand what systems they are using, what they need and their recommendations for The Great Switch Off. We then look at your own telephone calls too – our own Business Telephone Systems scale from one user up, and can be integrated to not only desk phones, but mobiles and desktop PCs too. Our plans are risk assessed – for instance, there may be multiple solutions for a lift alarm e.g.: – a) replacement with a Mobile SIM, b) upgrades to network infrastructure to provide failover and battery backup or c) possibly replacement with a local sounder and a rule that the lift should not be used by a sole occupant of the building. In some buildings, c) might be an acceptable solution. In a block of flats, definitely not. And that’s why we do this with your existing vendors, with your Health & Safety/Fire Risk Assessment teams and your own teams to work within every constraint.

Final Thoughts

The key takeaway here is to plan ahead. You can’t stop this happening, and waiting until the last minute could lead to expensive fixes, rushed decisions, and, worst of all, safety systems that don’t work when you need them the most. By starting early, you’ll have more time to ensure everything is ready well before the switch-off date in 2027.

The Great Switch-Off is a major change, but it’s also an opportunity to upgrade and future-proof your systems. Whether you’re a business or someone with critical safety systems at home, planning for this transition is key to avoiding disruption and ensuring that your services remain reliable. Start your preparations today to stay ahead of the curve! Need help navigating “The Great Switch-Off”? Get in touch with us today, and let’s start working on a customized plan for your needs.