HOME \ BLOG \ Analogue phone line switch off UK: What action is needed?

Analogue phone line switch off UK: What action is needed?

Apr 2022 • 6 min read

In 2025, the UK will hang up on analogue phones for good and switch to fully cloud-based solutions. This impacts everyone, at home and at work. And it’s not just your phones you need to think about. It’s everything that’s currently connected to your old phone network such as door entry systems, lifts, CCTV, EPOS machines, and much more. For businesses, this is an incredible opportunity, but without careful preparation 2025 could be a year of chaos, disruption, and unprecedented costs. Is your organisation ready for the deadline? In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the upcoming changes and how ITVET can help you prepare. 

What is PSTN?  

The analogue phone line, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), is an aggregation of the world’s circuit-switched telephone networks. The traditional system relies on underground copper wiring or more recently fibre optic cables to transmit information from one location to another. Traditionally PSTN was the most reliable way to make phone calls and was relied on for a host of other uses. Do you remember dial-up internet?

In 2017, BT announced a phased approach for the PSTN switch off and they have already started the process. The switch is happening everywhere, not just in the UK. Estonia and the Netherlands have already completed this switch, and countries like Germany, Japan, and Sweden are making good progress.

Diagram of old telephone service network

What is cloud-based VoIP? 

So, what is cloud-based VoIP? Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) delivers communications using your internet connection. When making a call, your voice is converted into a digital signal, compressed, and sent over the internet. This digital data is then uncompressed into sound on the receiving end.  

Why is the PSTN switch off happening?

PSTN has been around since the 1800s and is out of touch with the demands of modern communications. Technology and the way we communicate have dramatically changed over the decades. The BT analogue switch off reflects how businesses work in a remote climate of instant messaging and video calls while the use of emails and cold calls are in steady decline.

Benefits of using VoIP

The move to digital is better for us in the long run. One of the main benefits of using VoIP for business is that it’s cheaper to buy, run, and maintain. Traditional phone systems are expensive. VoIP doesn’t require a separate system or additional hardware. It simply uses an existing internet connection. As well as cheaper infrastructure it also dramatically reduces call costs especially when it comes to international calls.

VoIP also offers enhanced features and benefits you don’t get with traditional phone systems. For example, VoIP provides you with the ability to customise your communications and divert calls across your team using an online portal to manage call traffic. 

One of the other main benefits of using VoIP is that it’s completely cloud-based. This means you can make calls and access your systems on any device, from wherever you are, helping facilitate remote working and business continuity.

What systems will be affected by the BT analogue switch off? 

When you assess your property portfolio, retail space, office, or even your home, you’ll soon see analogue technology is much more than your phone system. Many key systems are still hardwired with landlines to enable them to work. This means the BT analogue switch off will have a huge impact.

Systems that run on analogue may include: 

  • Door entry systems  
  • Lifts  
  • CCTV  
  • Alarms  
  • EPOS machines  
  • Payment systems 
  • Lifts  
  • Footfall counters
  • Temperature sensors 

Lots of these systems, including fire alarms and lifts, are high priority. It’s essential to migrate them away from analogue in line with a careful analysis and reconciliation of all services and connections. This structured audit should be conducted by network experts like ITVET. Full consideration needs to be given to minimising any downtime and avoiding power cuts and emergencies. 

Is there any rush?

2025 seems like a long way off yet, but there’s a lot to do. Don’t let the PSTN switch off deadline creep up on you. Start planning now to prevent any disruption and downtime.

The benefits of planning now 

  • Minimise disruption time â€“ Careful planning ensures minimal disruption to key systems like your access control system and lifts when switching from analogue to digital. This may be done by spacing out the on-site work and prioritising back-end solutions to introduce the digital connection. At ITVET, we use a case-by-case plan with a bespoke approach to remove all analogue technology. It takes cautious inspection and planning of each system to ensure a seamless transition.  
  • No downtime â€“ Cautious planning helps avoid downtime. Careful consideration of every part of your business ensures that all your systems are moved to digital by the deadline and none are missed.
  • You have more time to balance out the costs â€“ With a three-year deadline, budgets can be agreed upon and implemented. For example, property managers have time to construct a plan that works for them such as altering the service charge for their tenants. 
  • More time to construct outside-the-box solutions â€“ The phasing out of analogue lines before the complete PSTN switch off doesn’t mean you have to purchase brand new hardware. We have innovative solutions to create a new digital connection. This involves retrofitting your hardware which is better for the planet than buying brand new and has huge cost savings. For example, we use an Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA) device which converts the signal into an IP mode, allowing the service to continue.

How can ITVET support your PSTN migration? 

At ITVET, we see the analogue phone switch off as an exciting opportunity to seize change and think outside the box. Digital solutions open the way for innovations and efficiency, and they’re more user-friendly than their traditional counterparts.  

Here’s our approach

  • Bespoke plan â€“ We understand each case is different and requires a different timeframe and strategy. We coordinate our bespoke plan through a systems audit, on-site visits, back-end monitoring, and constant communication.  
  • Support all the way â€“ Our IT support team is truly accessible. There’s always a human voice at the end of the phone at any time. Our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd line engineers are trained to a higher technical standard than is expected within our industry enabling them to resolve complex, strategic service requests quickly and efficiently.  
  • Smooth plan with minimal downtime â€“ We’ve completed these projects multiple times in preparation for the complete analogue phone switch off in 2025. With our extensive experience and cautious planning, you can expect a smooth PSTN migration that doesn’t impact your business.  
  • Sustainable solutions â€“ We prioritise the planet in how we work. To do this, we think outside-the-box, using sustainable solutions such as retrofitting analogue hardware.  

Analogue phone line switch off UK: Is your organisation ready for the 2025 deadline? Don’t panic! We’re here to help.  

A seamless VoIP migration with ITVET

Get in Touch

Our IT solutions and support help businesses to run smoothly and securely

  • Blue triangle bullet point

    Rapid resolution times

  • Blue triangle bullet point

    Microsoft Solutions Partner

  • Blue triangle bullet point

    Cyber security experts

  • Blue triangle bullet point

    Tailored IT services to suit your needs

  • Blue triangle bullet point

    Switching to ITVET is easy

  • Blue triangle bullet point

    24/7 IT support from our UK-based team