In short
The PSTN switch-off means traditional phone lines are being withdrawn: Openreach says all go digital on 31 January 2027, and BT no longer sells them. Broadband on an old phone line moves to SOGEA or Full Fibre, which need no line. Calls move to a digital line or cloud phone system, and alarms, card machines and lifts need checking.
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What is closing, and when
The PSTN (public switched telephone network) is the copper-based network that has carried traditional landline calls for decades. It is being replaced by an all-digital network in which calls travel over internet connections. Openreach says all traditional phone lines go digital on 31 January 2027; BT says traditional lines will be switched off by January 2027 and that it no longer sells them.
For the full timeline and what has changed along the way, our sister site has a detailed PSTN switch-off guide. This page focuses on what the switch-off means for your broadband.
What it means for your broadband
Many businesses still have broadband that rides on a traditional phone line: older fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) or ADSL services, where you rent a line and the broadband sits on top. When the phone line goes, the broadband needs a connection that does not depend on it.
| What you have now | Where it goes | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| FTTC broadband on a phone line | SOGEA (BT Standard Fibre), or Full Fibre where available | The same cabinet technology, with no phone service on the line. Usually reuses your existing copper. |
| ADSL broadband on a phone line | Single-order copper broadband, Standard Fibre or Full Fibre | Copper-only speeds stay low; most businesses take the chance to move up if they can. |
| Full Fibre (FTTP) | Stays as it is | Already digital. Calls need a digital line or cloud phone system. |
| A phone line with no broadband | A digital line or cloud phone system, plus a connection to run it on | Calls need an internet connection, so the line and broadband become one decision. |
BT says broadband without a phone line is available in most areas, though some BT Business Broadband lines still need a BT Business phone line; we check this for your address. See what is FTTC broadband, FTTC vs FTTP and BT Business Broadband only.
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Your broadband now carries your calls
After the switch-off, your phones depend on your internet connection. That raises the bar for the broadband:
- Stability matters more than headline speed. Voice needs little bandwidth but suffers from drop-outs and congestion. See broadband for VoIP.
- Backup matters. If the line fails, calls fail with it. Hybrid Backup switches to 4G automatically, and BT says static IP and IP voice keep working on it.
- Fix times matter. A fault now takes out phones as well as email. Prompt Care shortens BT's target fix time.
- Power matters. BT says that in a power cut you will not be able to make calls on a digital network. More on that below.
For very small businesses, a BT Digital Line can be bundled with Essential, Enhanced or Pro broadband; see BT Business Broadband and Phone and BT Cloud Voice Express. For teams, BT Cloud Voice is the multi-user option, and our sister site explains the connection BT Cloud Voice needs.
Devices to check before the line goes
The switch-off catches businesses out through the things plugged into the line, not the phones. BT's own guidance flags several of these:
| Device or system | What BT says, or what to check |
|---|---|
| Intruder and fire alarms | Some alarm systems depend on a traditional line; alarms that use the internet or a mobile network are available. Check with your alarm company. |
| Card machines (PDQ) | Many run over the internet or mobile network, but some need a traditional line. Check with your card machine provider. |
| EPOS systems | BT says you can only use EPOS systems that run over the internet and do not depend on a phone number. |
| Takeaway and restaurant systems | BT says systems that recognise customers or previous orders by phone number will not work with a digital line. |
| Lift emergency phones | BT says a digital line is not suitable for a lift service. Talk to your lift maintenance company. |
| Care pendants and telecare | Some are compatible with digital lines; others need a traditional line. |
| Phone extensions and old phones | BT says existing extensions and traditional phones will not work on a digital line. |
| Fax, franking and gate entry | BT lists these among the traditional products to check before you move to a digital line. Check door entry systems too, and ask each supplier. |
Our sister site covers these in more depth: alarm and special lines and card terminals.
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We can help you plan it and set it up, alongside your own team.
Power cuts
A traditional phone line was powered from the exchange, so a corded phone usually kept working in a power cut. Digital lines are not. BT states that in the event of a power cut you will not be able to make calls on a digital network, and that extra support may be available if you do not have access to a mobile phone or are worried about being able to call emergency services.
For most businesses the practical answer is a charged mobile phone. If you have a lift, a lone worker, a care pendant or a site where a mobile signal is poor, plan specifically for power cuts, and ask your alarm or lift company what their equipment does when the power goes.
A switchover plan for your broadband
A simple order of work that suits most small businesses:
- Find out what you have. The access type at your address, whether your broadband sits on a phone line, and when your current contract ends. We can check this for you; see availability.
- List everything on the line. Walk the building: alarm panels, card machines, lift phones, door entry, franking machines, fax and any telecare.
- Contact each device's supplier and confirm whether it needs replacing, re-routing to a mobile or internet path, or nothing at all.
- Choose the broadband. Standard Fibre or Full Fibre, and the plan that fits; for many businesses that now includes Hybrid Backup.
- Choose how calls will work. A BT Digital Line for one or two numbers, or BT Cloud Voice for a team. Decide whether to keep your existing numbers.
- Order in the right sequence, so the new connection is live before numbers and devices move onto it.
- Test after go-live: calls in and out, alarm signalling with your alarm company, card payments and anything else that used the old line.
Do not leave it to the deadline. Line changes can need engineer dates and device changes can need supplier visits, and both take time to arrange.
How we help
We help businesses move broadband and calls onto BT's digital services together: checking the address, recommending Standard Fibre or Full Fibre and the right plan, planning numbers onto a Digital Line or BT Cloud Voice, and working through the list of devices with you so that nothing is left on a line that is about to go.
Contact us with your postcode and a rough list of what is plugged into your phone line today, and we will help you plan the move.
Why buy BT Business Broadband from Forever Communications
Forever Communications is part of Forever Group and an Authorised Supplier for BT. We supply BT Business Broadband to businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations, and we help with each step from first enquiry to go-live.
- The right connection for your address: we check whether your premises can get Full Fibre or another access type, and explain what that means for speed; see checking availability
- A plan that fits how you work: we help you compare BT Business Broadband plans, including BT Business Ultra, and decide which add-ons such as Hybrid Backup or a static IP are worth having
- A clear quote: charges, minimum term and what is included set out in writing; see what affects the price
- Installation planned with you: we explain what happens before and on the day; see BT Business Broadband installation
- Connected services in one conversation: phones with BT Cloud Voice, Wi-Fi and security, or a BTnet leased line when broadband is no longer enough
BT Business Broadband is a business service. Speeds, features, service levels and availability are BT's and are confirmed at order.
Frequently asked questions
Will my broadband stop working when the PSTN is switched off?
Broadband that runs on a traditional phone line has to move to a connection that does not need one, such as SOGEA (BT Standard Fibre) or Full Fibre. Full Fibre is already digital. We can check what your line needs.
When is the PSTN switch-off?
Openreach says all traditional phone lines go digital on 31 January 2027. BT says traditional lines will be switched off by January 2027 and no longer sells them. See the PSTN switch-off guide on our sister site.
Can I get BT Business Broadband without a phone line?
Yes, in most areas. Standard Fibre (SOGEA) and Full Fibre need no phone line. BT notes that some BT Business Broadband lines still need a BT Business phone line, so we can check your address. See BT Business Broadband only.
Will my phone work in a power cut after the switch-off?
BT says that in a power cut you will not be able to make calls on a digital network, and that extra support may be available if you have no mobile phone or are worried about calling emergency services.
Will my alarm or card machine still work?
It depends on the device. Some alarms and card machines need a traditional line, and others use the internet or a mobile network. Check with each supplier. See alarm and special lines.
Can I keep my business phone number?
Yes. Numbers can move to a BT Digital Line bundled with your broadband or to BT Cloud Voice. Plan the number move alongside the broadband change.
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