Are You Ready for the Big Switchoff in 2027? Here’s Why You Need to Plan Ahead

2027 might seem like absolutely ages away, but time has a habit of creeping up on us! And, for businesses across the UK, it’s going to be a momentous year for communications – simply because BT is making one big change that will alter how you connect with customers and clients forever.

In this guide, we’ll take you through what the big switchoff in 2027 is all about, what it means for your business, and how you can prepare in the meantime. Let’s get started.

What is the big switchoff happening in 2027?

BT’s big switchoff refers to the shutting down of the old PSTN and ISDN networks, which are the traditional copper cabling systems we’ve relied on for decades to make and receive calls through.

While traditional telephony has absolutely served us well over the years, communication has evolved massively in the decades since the network was first set up, meaning that BT has decided to bite the bullet and oversee a complete re-provisioning of our cabling.

The good news is that, at home, we probably won’t notice much of a difference. It means we’re all having to move to VoIP, or voice over internet protocol – part of our name!

What’s going to happen to businesses?

Businesses across the UK will need to make sure it has a VoIP contract and compatible hardware in place for VoIP by 2027. Otherwise, they’ll be left without any kind of communication – because PSTN and ISDN will have bitten the dust!

We recommend that UK business owners start planning ahead for the switch as soon as physically possible. Leaving moving over until the very last moment could mean a loss of business right at the worst possible moment.

Why should I move to VoIP?

There are some incredible benefits to moving over to VoIP regardless of the switchoff. For example, you can expect a faster, more robust calls system – no need to worry about weather affecting line quality, for example.

VoIP is also built to support modern communications services, such as video conferencing through Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Unfortunately, traditional PSTN and ISDN simply aren’t cutting it when it comes to supporting efficient communication – and BT has realised this.

In fact, BT has given us all a little extra time to move away from PSTN. The switchoff was originally set for 2025 – however, you now have some breathing space to start planning ahead.

And honestly, why wouldn’t you move to VoIP? With VoIPer, you have access to a raft of incredible call handling and analytics features, and it’s always easy to scale your business communications setup as your enterprise grows and adapts.

VoIP is a cost-effective solution to managing business calls, too. Given it’s a more reliable option compared to older PSTN setups, you’ll spend less time and money having to fix up and change aspects of your telephone and internet service.

On top of that, more uptime means there’s less chance of you losing money through having to close down your business temporarily. Imagine if a massive network outage on PSTN takes your office offline for a few hours – that’s a lot of revenue lost!

With a reliable VoIP provider, you’re protected against the absolute worst case scenarios, and you can save some serious time, money, and hassle.

Planning ahead to leave PSTN

The great news is that setting up VoIP is painless provided you work with a reliable operator such as VoIPer. We’ll help you cleanly move away from older PSTN and ISDN onto a faster, more reliable alternative in a matter of hours.

However, it still pays to plan ahead. In fact, BT recommends conducting a complete risk assessment before you switch anything over. That means considering any potential loss of business during the switch, and making sure you have devices and software available to adapt to VoIP.

Ultimately, we strive to reduce your business downtime as much as possible – but it pays to have a backup plan and to set expectations for your team before you cement anything in your calendar.

Our team will also help you navigate what to do on the first day of using your VoIP service, and will help you get to grips with your new network and all the software that comes with it.

Leaving PSTN might seem scary, but BT has now set a deadline that we all need to follow – meaning acting swiftly is a priority. Leave moving over until the last minute, and you could be left high and dry. Don’t let this happen!

What will happen to old equipment?

Unfortunately, old telephony equipment that previously worked with PSTN won’t work properly with VoIP connections – meaning you’ll need to invest in headsets and phones that can adapt to IP conversations.

Don’t worry – this isn’t a massive investment compared to the fantastic savings you’ll make by switching to VoIP long term! Think about the fact you’ll no longer have to pay for line rental, or have to take time away while your PSTN setup is fixed.

Again, our team is always on hand to help. If you’re struggling to find a range of VoIP phones to connect up to your new service, we will help point you in the right direction.

Don’t be afraid of the switchoff!

The big PSTN swtchoff is a good thing! Everyone moving towards VoIP means we can all expect faster, more reliable connectivity moving forward – and you have plenty of time to research and set up ahead of time.

That said, it’s wise to act now – because time has a habit of slipping away! VoIPer’s superb range of VoIP features will help you embrace digital communications with ease – meaning you and your team can hit the ground running far ahead of 2027, and start reaping the benefits ASAP.

If you’d like to know more about the benefits of VoIP for your firm, reach out to VoIPer today – let’s find you a scalable, supportive package.