Openreach switch off delayed to 2027: What you need to know

It feels like we’ve been talking about the upcoming PSTN (copper, ISDN, phone line) switch off for a long time now, patiently waiting for the December 2025 cut off date to come and telephone and broadband services as we know them to change forever.

Well, here’s the headline. It’s just been announced that the PSTN switch off has been delayed to January 2027. The announcement was made in a few words in this report from BT Group, the quote being: “Following the industry-wide pause to non-voluntary migrations in December 2023, we now expect to have migrated all customers off the PSTN by the end of January 2027.”

And that’s it. Just like that, the 2025 Switch Off date is no more, and we’re all headed towards a new date in 2027… Or are we?

We caught up with Zen’s Voice and Unified Communications Portfolio Manager Jodie McGovern to get her insight into this announcement.

“It is important to remember”, says Jodie, “that the purpose of the PSTN and ISDN switch off is the technology is coming to the end of its serviceable life. In 2023, the number of PSTN incidents increased by 20%, and in the same year there was a huge 60% increase in hours lost for customers on the PSTN.”

In other words, the existing telephone network is becoming unfit for purpose, making the upcoming switch off not only beneficial but necessary.

And Jodie’s opinion is that the delayed switch off date is good for vulnerable customers, but the rest of us should continue to keep our eyes firmly fixed on December 2025.

“While BT’s revised timeline allows more time to migrate vulnerable customers, Zen remains steadfast in adhering to our original plan, with the aim of completing the majority of migrations by December 2025. Any remaining migrations after this date will be exceptional cases such as telecare, but we will have a plan in place.”

“Customers reliant on lift lines, alarms and CCTV services could also benefit from the additional time afforded by the extension, though their focus should remain on seeking digital alternatives as soon as possible.”

Zen’s position remains clear, according to Jodie. We will continue to work towards the original switch off date of December 2025, with an understanding of and commitment to the needs of users who may need a little more time to complete a smooth transition.

For those users who continue to rely on analogue services, who may be adversely affected by a 2025 switch off, the news is good. An extra 13 months should allow any potential problems to be ironed out. But for the vast majority of users, this isn’t a licence to keep their old connections running for another year. The broadband industry is changing fast, and analogue services continue to be withdrawn from exchanges up and down the country. December 2025 remains the most important date in the calendar, and any existing copper-based services still running after that date will be subject to new terms including a three-month termination notice period.

The advice remains unchanged. It’s time to get ready for the switch off. You can find out more about the PSTN switch off here.